WWE Hell in a Cell 2011: 20 Things We Learned

WWE Hell in a Cell came and went this past Sunday night down in New Orleans. We we treated to a wild and entertaining PPV with two title changes, the introduction of a new (old) title belt and a couple of arrests.  

Two weeks removed from Night of Champions, Hell in a Cell didn't look to be a spectacular PPV having a decent-looking card. However, Hell in a Cell exceeded anybody's expectations. We saw to a few surprises and some memorable moments as well.

After all the crazy happenings at Hell in a Cell, the WWE universe has learned 20 things.

20. Christian Is a Master Technician

If you did not know by now I'm here to inform you: Christian is a technician in the ring. Christian is one of the best there is when it comes to putting on a match.

Christian makes a match flow smoothly and knows how to effectively counter any move there is. His match with Sheamus at Hell in a Cell is a testament to that fact.

There are few guys that have ever stepped foot in the squared circle that can make anyone look good in the ring. Christian is one of those guys. It is a complete joy to watch him perform.

19. Sheamus Is a Future Main Event Star

Sheamus picked up a win over Christian at Hell in a Cell in a great opening bout. These two work well in the ring together and, as I alluded to in the last slide, Christian always gives his all in any match.

Yes, Sheamus is a two-time world champion, but his push over the last couple of months is turning Sheamus into a major star in the WWE. He is over with the crowd and brings an interesting and different feel to the mic with his Irish folk stories.

He also is good in the ring as he is a power wrestler, but he has a unique move set with great finishers. Sheamus has the tools needed to be a top guy and to remain there for a while. He may not end up supplanting Randy Orton as the face of Smackdown, but he'll be 1b.

18. Sin Cara Needs More Time

After Sin Cara's (Mistico) match with Sin Cara (Hunico), it's apparent that Sin Cara still needs more time to get used to the WWE style of wrestling.

Their match was a forgettable one and by far the least entertaining of the night as it drew chants of "boring" from the New Orleans crowd. Both superstars had a few good spots in the match, but that's it.

Nothing was spectacular about this at all. With Sin Cara's (Mistico) win over Hunico Cara, I think this means that he proved he was the real Sin Cara.

Whatever the case may be, Sin Cara needs some more time to adjust. Hopefully he can soon, because he does look good at times, but just needs to put on good matches consistently.

17. The Tag Team Division Is Alive—For Now

Whether you like their name or not, Air Boom is a breath of fresh air to the tag team division. Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne work well together and I feel are good compliments to each other.

They are exciting to watch in the ring. Their tag team titles match against Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger was a good match. As JR said during Hell in a Cell, it was "the best tag team match on PPV in quite some time." He was right about that.

There have been times when the tag team division seemed as if it were going to be revived, only to once again be neglected. If it is on its way to making a comeback, it's beginning with Air Boom!

16. Dolph Ziggler Will Be a Star

Even though Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger lost to Air Boom, I feel that Ziggler put on a really good match. I'm not saying Swagger was complete garbage, but Ziggler looked good.

Ziggler is very talented in the ring, his mic work has improved and he just has the "it" factor. Vickie Guerrero has really helped Ziggler along the way, as she has done with anyone else she has managed, but I think it may soon be time for Ziggler to walk alone.

Ziggler no longer needs Guerrero, as he is ready to shine. I expect that around early next year we see Ziggler start to breakout.

15. Beth Phoenix and Natalya Won't Be Together for Too Much Longer

The third time is the charm. After unsuccessfully capturing the Divas Championship at Summerslam and Night of Champions, Beth Phoenix was finally able to defeat Kelly Kelly and unseat her as champion.

Now with this recent event, I don't see Beth Phoenix and Natalya staying together for much longer. It's only a matter of time before Natalya decides that she wants the Divas Championship for herself.

The Divas of Doom may stay together for another month or so, but I expect them to end their alliance soon because of the butterfly title getting between them.

14. Mark Henry Is the Top Heel in the WWE

Despite Randy Orton being able to hit an RKO on Mark Henry, he was still unable to defeat the World's Strongest Man and regain his title.

Mark Henry was able to defeat the Viper and retain his World Heavyweight Championship, proving his win at Night of Champions was not a fluke. Henry is the top heel in the WWE right now as he has been on a major role.

Even though Henry may seem like the typical big man heel, he is so dominant that he seems almost unbeatable, which is a nice change of pace. One has to who will be the next victim into his hall of pain. Right now, no one can tell him what to do.

13. Randy Orton Will Get Another Shot at the Title

After the Hell in a Cell match, Mark Henry grabbed a chair to officially induct Randy Orton into his hall of pain. Orton, however, was able to escape the attack and repeatedly attack Henry with a chair before Henry retreated.

It's clear that the Viper will get one more title shot at Vengeance coming up in three weeks. Orton isn't going to be out of the title picture that fast. While I do not think that Orton will win it back from Henry right now, he will still get another shot.

12. Cody Rhodes Will Bring Prestige Back to the IC Title

Cody Rhodes cut a promo on Sunday and declared that he will carry the Intercontinental title with honor and return prestige back to the title. He would represent the greats that held it, such as Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat and Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even represent it better than they could.

After the promo, Rhodes did away with the current IC belt and revealed the classic IC title, the one held by the likes of Steamboat at Bret Hart.

Rhodes's reign as IC champion has been a good one so far. He has been defending the title on a regular basis, including Sunday where he defeated John Morrison. His title reign will only be a placeholder for the greater things that are in his future.

11. John Morrison Is Going Nowhere

John Laurinaitis informed Cody Rhodes that Triple H made him defend his title after introducing the classic IC Title against John Morrison.

With Cody just introducing the old IC title belt, I could think there was no way he would lose. I was correct. Rhodes was able to roll-up JoMo for the win. Rhodes was able to defeat Morrison with slacks and dress shoes.

I cannot tell you the last time Morrison has won a singles match. Morrison's WWE career has continued to go downhill. I keep waiting for Morrison to catch that big break, but I just don't think its going to happen anymore. Who knows if Morrison will be around much longer.

10. The Hell in a Cell PPV Needs to Go

While the overall Hell in a Cell PPV was good, it does not need a PPV of its own. There were two cell matches on Sunday for the WWE and the World Title.

These two matches didn't use the cell to add to the match a whole lot. I did like how the cell was used for the WWE title match, but I will get to that later. However, you just had the usual slams into the cell structure and that was all.

The cell should be used to end intense feuds that have been going on for a few months. The cell should be used as a blow-off match. With the way things are going, there may be very little to do with the cell anymore.

9. The Cell Can Be Innovative at Times

When you thought that nothing else could be done with the cell, the WWE found a new use for it. In an innovative maneuver, Alberto Del Rio was able to lock John Cena out of the cell in the WWE title match.

It was a very creative idea as Del Rio was able to isolate the match between him and CM Punk. It was very exciting to see—I was at the edge of my seat when it happened. I knew that once Cena was helplessly on the outside looking it, he was only moments away from losing the title.

I still feel the Hell in a Cell should not be its own PPV. The cell match should only be brought up at spontaneous times so the WWE universe doesn't know when the match will occur.

8. Alberto Del Rio's First Title Reign Wasn't a Fluke

Alberto Del Rio was once again able to fulfill his destiny. After locking John Cena out of the Cell, he was able to pin CM Punk to become WWE champion for the second time.

This win proves that he will be around for some time and his first title win was not a fluke. Why the title was taken off of him off the first place is beyond me. Maybe it was just to give Cena another reign. I expect to see Del Rio move on to feud with CM Punk, but not before Cena gets his rematch, maybe Monday on Raw.

7. That Del Rio Guy, He's Pretty Good

Since we're on the topic of Del Rio, he looked really good in the Hell in a Cell match on Sunday. Now John Cena and CM Punk performed of course, but we know they can. Del Rio, at times, carried most of the match.

Del Rio looked dominant at various moments in the match. He showed a new aggressive side of him ever since he lost the WWE title to Cena at Night of Champions.

Maybe that was the reason he lost the title in the first place. The loss brought out a new side of Del Rio's character that will get him even further in his career.

6. CM Punk Will Feud with Del Rio

CM Punk was pinned by Alberto Del Rio at Hell in a Cell after a pretty good match. Have no fear, though: CM Punk is not being buried. He has to lose some. We don't want him looking like Ironman (or Super Cena).

I feel John Cena will get a rematch on Raw Monday, only for Del Rio to retain. Punk will then chase Del Rio for the title. I feel that could be a good feud as the two can produce some good matches. Punk isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He's here to stay.

5. Awesome Truth Made Their Presence Felt

R-Truth and the Miz were going to return eventually, and they did indeed! After the cell was lifted following the WWE title match, Miz and R-Truth came out of nowhere and attacked anyone in sight. Laurinaitis tried and a few referees came down to try to stop the assault, but the cell was once again lowered before they could get in.

Awesome Truth attacked referees and cameramen alike. Most notably, they brutalized John Cena. I feel this is where Cena's next feud will be with. Truth and Miz are going to play major roles in the WWE for quite some time to come.

I love their work together as they are really good on the mic and both pretty good in the ring—Miz more so than R-Truth.

Following their assault, the two were arrested, after police officers were able to break into the cell only to be attacked by Triple H before being restrained.

4. The WWE Conspiracy Has Reached a New Level

If Triple H hasn't lost control of the WWE yet, he sure is very close to doing so. The assault at Hell in a Cell by Awesome Truth definitely was an indication of that.

Plenty of superstars in the back are dissatisfied with the COO and I don't no how much longer the Game will be in charge. Furthermore, to add to the conspiracy, who was the one that ordered the cell to be lowered?

3. Vince McMahon Will Return

I am anticipating the return of Vince McMahon to gain control of the WWE and attempt to remove Triple H from power. I am loving this whole conspiracy angle and can't wait to see where it goes next. It makes for interesting TV week after week.

I believe Vince is the one behind the actions of R-Truth and the Miz. I feel he had something to do with the cell being lowered Sunday in order for Awesome Truth to unleash their wrath.

We should find out more on Raw Monday, but I know I'm at the edge of my seat.

2. WWE Can Produce Great PPVs

The WWE can put on some great shows. Ever since Capitol Punishment, the WWE has put on entertaining PPVs. Time after time, they have been able to keep the WWE universe in suspense.

Hell in a Cell was no different. Now there were no classic matchs that fans will remember years down the road, but they the PPV did create memorable moments. We will remember Cena being locked out of the cell by Del Rio and watching on knowing there was nothing he can do.

The assault at the end of the show by Miz and R-Truth will always go down as a great WWE moment. Most knew the two would show up, but how they executed the attack was unpredictable and was different.

The entire locker room coming out to try to stop the attack was great to see.

1. Survivor Series Will Be a Spectacle

Hell in a Cell set up things for a great Survivor Series spectacle. I know Vengeance is before the November classic, but things began to pick up Sunday night.

We see the Conspiracy of the WWE continue to grow. Mark Henry continues to show his dominance and Del Rio is champion, instead of Cena. CM Punk is still on a roll and his roll should continue as the WWE universe loves him.

We also can't forget that guy named The Rock will be returning as well.

What Will Happen on Raw?

Hell in a Cell was an entertaining PPV and there was excitement, thrills and memorable moments to go along with it. We now turn our attention to Monday Night Raw Supershow.

Del Rio once again reigns over Raw as champion. What will become of Miz and R-Truth after their actions? Will Triple H restore order in the WWE? Will we find out who is behind this conspiracy?

Also, what is David Otunga planning with John Laurinaitis, Dolph Ziggler, Vickie Guerrero, Christian and Cody Rhodes? We'll have to tune in to Raw to find out.