WWE Hell in a Cell 2011: 5 Things to Take Away

Hell in a Cell 2011 was a brilliant show with only a few minor hiccups.

Randy Orton and Mark Henry gave an inspiring performance against each other, as did Alberto Del Rio against John Cena and CM Punk in a triple threat Hell in a Cell main event.

From the tug of nostalgic heart strings that Rhodes employed when he unveiled his new Intercontinental belt, to a certain diva's long time coming revenge, Hell in a Cell certainly delivered.

Here are five things to take away from Hell in a Cell.

5. Clean Wins Are Best

When Mark Henry and Randy Orton engaged in such a vicious brawl where each had their moments, culminating in a clean 1-2-3 pin win for Henry, there was something relieving about that.

There were no random chair-wielding maniacs to be seen as they jumped over the barricade into the ring to help the winner to victory.

Orton used his skills to the best of his ability, but he was beaten on this particular night. There's nothing wrong with that.

Unfortunately, John Cena couldn't lose in a proper way. In a triple threat match, Cena was not going to be the one to get pinned.

Alberto Del Rio had to pin CM Punk while Cena was locked out of the cage to pick up the win.

How lame.

Stars are made by classic moments including losing efforts that they come back from. The lameness of not allowing Cena to lose fair-and-square is just a minor hiccup in an otherwise great show. 

4. Cody Rhodes Can Make Grown Men Cry

Who didn't cry just a little upon seeing Cody Rhodes reveal the old school intercontinental title?

If seeing that pristine white belt didn't send you down memory lane, then hearing Rhodes invoke the names of the late, great Macho Randy Savage and Stone Cold Steve Austin should've made something in your heart move.

Reverting back to such a classic belt will hopefully mean the dawning of a new era of an excellent mid-card buildup that not only creates stars, but gives them a pathway to shine the way they should.

3. Something Awesome Can Happen at Any Moment

The Miz and R Truth formed the duo known as the Awesome Truth less than two months ago, and already they've been involved in numerous feuds and been fired.

During Hell in a Cell 2011, the duo was repeatedly escorted off the premises by security at Triple H's behest.

They were still not welcomed in the aftermath of their firing.

The Awesome Truth seemed like such a harmless duo until a last minute act of villainy. The main event featured John Cena, CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio in a triple-threat Hell in a Cell match.

Awesome Truth got into the cage after the fight was over and locked it so no one else could interrupt their savage beating of the three main competitors.

The whole WWE locker room of stars came down to try to open the cage, including Triple H, but it wasn't until the New Orleans Police came down that it was finally opened.

The Awesome Truth was arrested and the live audience's mind was blown.

2. If at First You Don't Succeed, Try and Try Again

Beth Phoenix previously earned the right to face Kelly Kelly twice for the WWE Divas Championship. Both times, at Summer Slam 2011 and Night of Champions 2011, Phoenix lost to Kelly Kelly.

Then during the third attempt at Hell in a Cell, with the assistance of a microphone to the back of the head, Phoenix wins her first Divas Championship.

Phoenix dominated the entire match, giving Kelly Kelly virtually no room to win. Kelly Kelly was able to attempt a few roll-ups to hurry up and try to score a win, but Phoenix kicked out of every single last one.

In the final stretch, Phoenix distracted the ref as her partner Natalya hit Kelly Kelly in the head with a microphone after giving her some discouraging remarks in the face of imminent defeat.

Phoenix finished her off with a Glam Slam and a pin for the win. Expect this fiery rivalry to continue long after this match.

1. The Matches Were Great, but Is the Cage Necessary?

Despite a great night of wrestling, one may ask if the cage was even necessary. Did the Hell in a Cell cage make a big deal during the Orton vs. Henry match? No.

Despite Cena being locked out of the cage so Alberto Del Rio could pin CM Punk for the win, did the audience need this match to be in a Hell in a Cell structure? No.

In fact, if it wasn't for the cage, then maybe Cena would've been able to break up Alberto Del Rio's pin and win or lose legitimately—not by something as silly as a locked cage.

The only great thing to come out of the actual use of the Hell in a Cell structure was the Awesome Truth's surprise attack. Anything else, like tables or weapons, can be used in hardcore matches.

Something as dramatic as a Hell in a Cell suggests epic beatdowns and high flying stunts, none of which were present at Hell in a Cell 2011.

Remember Undertaking flinging Mankind from atop the cage through the announcer's table? Remember Mick Foley's tooth being in his nose? Remember Triple H backdropping Cactus Jack through the top of the cage?

That is what Hell in a Cell is about. Everything else is just disrespecting the memory of what made Hell in a Cell great in the first place.

I'm not saying Hell in a Cell 2011 wasn't great, it just didn't need an actual Hell in a Cell to make it great.