| Hell in a Cell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuringR-Truth | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Date | October 27, 2013 | ||
| City | Miami,Florida | ||
| Venue | American Airlines Arena | ||
| Attendance | 9,000[1] | ||
| Buy rate | 212,000[2] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Hell in a Cell chronology | |||
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The 2013Hell in a Cell was the fifth annualHell in a Cellprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event produced byWWE. It took place on October 27, 2013, at theAmerican Airlines Arena inMiami,Florida. The event received 212,000 buys, which was up fromlast year's event of 199,000.
The card comprised nine matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The main event sawRandy Orton defeatDaniel Bryan to win the vacantWWE Championship in aHell in a Cell match withShawn Michaels as the special guest referee. In other prominent matches,John Cena defeatedAlberto Del Rio to win theWorld Heavyweight Championship,Big E Langston defeated defending championDean Ambrose by countout, thus Ambrose retained theUnited States Championship,Los Matadores (Diego andFernando) defeatedAntonio Cesaro andJack Swagger, andAJ Lee defeatedBrie Bella to retain theDivas Championship.
Hell in a Cell was agimmickpay-per-view (PPV)event produced annually in October byWWE since 2009. The concept of the show came from WWE's establishedHell in a Cell match, in which competitors fought inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area. The main event match of the card was contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation.[3][4][5] The 2013 event was the fifth Hell in a Cell and was held on October 27 at theAmerican Airlines Arena inMiami,Florida.[6]
The event comprised nine matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show, that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayedheroes,villains, orless distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows,Raw andSmackDown.[7][8]
The mainfeud heading into Hell in a Cell was betweenDaniel Bryan andRandy Orton over the vacantWWE Championship. After defeatingJohn Cena to win the WWE title atSummerSlam in August, Bryan was betrayed by thespecial referee of that match,Triple H, which allowed Orton to cash-in hisMoney in the Bank contract and win the championship. In their rematch atNight of Champions in September, Bryan defeated Orton to win back the title, albeit with the refereeScott Armstrong deciding the pinfall with a very fast count. This controversial ending to the match resulted in Armstrong's (kayfabe) firing and Bryan being stripped of the WWE Championship by Triple H the next night onRaw. Bryan and Orton's next scheduled encounter for the now-vacant title on pay-per-view atBattleground on October 6 ended in ano contest afterBig Show interfered and attacked both wrestlers and the referees, including a returning Scott Armstrong. With still no WWE Champion yet, on the October 7 edition ofRaw,general managerBrad Maddox announced that Bryan and Orton would again compete against each other for the vacant WWE title insideHell in a Cell and with a special referee for the audience to choose from amongstWWE Hall of FamersBooker T,Bob Backlund andShawn Michaels; Michaels won the vote.
At Night of Champions,AJ Lee defeatedBrie Bella,Natalya andNaomi to retain theDivas Championship when she made Natalya submit. At Battleground, Brie Bella received a rematch against Lee, but lost whenTamina Snuka attacked Brie's sisterNikki, causing a distraction for AJ to win the match. On the October 18 episode ofSmackDown, Brie defeated Lee in a non-title match. The following week, on the October 21 episode ofRaw, Brie pinned AJ during a tag team match and earned another opportunity for the Divas Championship.
After defeatingRob Van Dam in aHardcore Rules match at Battleground to retain theWorld Heavyweight Championship,Alberto Del Rio tried to coerceSmackDown general managerVickie Guerrero on the October 7 edition ofRaw to formally announce him as the "face of the WWE", making his case saying he was the only World Champion in the company at the moment (the WWE Championship being vacant) and without any new challenger in sight. Later in the evening, during his match with his formal personal ring announcer,Ricardo Rodriguez, Vickie announced that Del Rio would defend his World Heavyweight Championship against a returning John Cena - who had been out of action since SummerSlam due to an elbow injury - at Hell in a Cell.
Another major feud playing out in the WWE pittedCM Punk againstPaul Heyman and his wrestler clients, whom he dubs "Paul Heyman guys". At theMoney in the Bank pay-per-view in July, while still posing as his supporter, Heyman turned on Punk and cost him the Money in the Bank ladder match for a future WWE Championship match. This started a rivalry that soon brought Heyman's client,Brock Lesnar, into the fray, leading to aNo Disqualification match between Lesnar and Punk at SummerSlam, which the former won with Heyman's help. At Night of Champions the next month, in a2-on-1 handicapelimination no disqualification match, Punk eliminatedCurtis Axel (another Heyman's client), before beating down Heyman himself. However,Ryback interfered in the match and put Punk through a table, allowing Heyman to pin him and win the match. As the newest "Paul Heyman guy", Ryback faced Punk at Battleground, but lost the match, when Punk pinned him after hitting alow blow behind the referee's back. This loss irked both Heyman and Ryback, and it was officially announced on WWE.com on October 9, that Punk will face off against Ryback in a rematch at Hell in a Cell. On the October 14 episode ofRaw, Heyman attempted to convince Maddox to turn the encounter into a 2-on-1 handicap match, with Axel teaming with Ryback. Instead, Maddox set up a "beat the clock" contest in two matches featuring Punk and Ryback individually, with the wrestler to win his match in shorter time than the other to pick the stipulation for their match at Hell in a Cell. Though Ryback defeatedR-Truth in a time of 5:44, Punk defeated Axel with 11 seconds to spare, thus "beating the clock". As result of this victory, Punk himself added Heyman to the match as Ryback's partner, additionally making it a Hell in a Cell match, at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
On the October 14 episode ofRaw,Cody RhodesandGoldust defeatedSeth Rollins andRoman Reigns ofThe Shield to win theWWE Tag Team Championship. The next week, Rollins and Reigns foughtThe Usos (the previous number one contenders) for the next title shot, which ended in a no contest due to Rhodes and Goldust (who was on commentary during this match) attacking a tauntingDean Ambrose. Triple H then announced that all three teams would compete in a triple threat match for the titles.
Another match confirmed for the event featuredLos Matadores (Diego andFernando) taking on The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro andJack Swagger).
On the October 18 episode ofSmackDown,Big E Langston helped CM Punk fend off an attack by Ryback and Curtis Axel. On the October 21 episode ofRaw, Langston pinned Axel in a tag team match. He was then granted a shot at Axel'sIntercontinental Championship on theHell in a Cell Kickoff. Before the Kick-off show began, it was announced that the match between Langston and Axel for the Intercontinental Championship was cancelled due to Axel suffering a hip injury.[9] The replacement match for the Kickoff, announced by WWE onTwitter, would beKofi Kingston vs.Damien Sandow.[10] Also during the Kick-off, Langston was part of the "expert panel" and was interrupted by The Shield. Dean Ambrose then said that he would defend hisUnited States Championship against Langston later on during the pay-per-view.
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Englishcommentators | Michael Cole |
| Jerry Lawler | |
| John "Bradshaw" Layfield | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Marcelo Rodriguez | |
| Rey Mysterio | |
| Interviewer | Renee Young |
| Ring announcers | Lilian Garcia |
| Justin Roberts | |
| Referees | Charles Robinson |
| Mike Chioda | |
| John Cone | |
| Ryan Tran | |
| Marc Harris | |
| Rod Zapata | |
| Chad Patton | |
| Rudy Charles | |
| Shawn Michaels(Bryan vs. Orton) | |
| Pre-show panel | Josh Mathews |
| R-Truth | |
| Dolph Ziggler | |
| Kaitlyn |
The Hell in a Cell Kickoff pre-show included the panel ofJosh Mathews,Dolph Ziggler,R-Truth andKaitlyn previewing the matches.
Also on the Kickoff show,Damien Sandow facedKofi Kingston. Sandow pinned Kingston after aYou're Welcome to win the match.
The English commentators wereMichael Cole,Jerry Lawler andJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield while there were alsoSpanish andGerman commentators ringside.Lilian Garcia andJustin Roberts were ring announcers.
The actual pay-per-view opened withCody Rhodes and Goldust defending theWWE Tag Team Championships in aTriple Threat tag team match againstThe Usos andThe Shield'sSeth Rollins andRoman Reigns. Rhodes pinned Rollins after executing the Cross Rhodes to retain the titles.
The Miz entered the ring, addressingThe Wyatt Family. Miz challengedBray Wyatt, leading toLuke Harper andErick Rowan attacking Miz.Kane returned, attacking Rowan and Harper. After the two retreated, Kane Chokeslammed Miz.
Next,The Great Khali andNatalya facedFandango andSummer Rae in a mixed tag team match. Rae pinned Natalya with a roll up to win the match.
After that,Dean Ambrose defended theWWE United States Championship againstBig E Langston. In the end, Big E performed a Spear on Ambrose, who was standing on the apron. Big E re-entered the ring but Ambrose was intentionally counted out, meaning he retained the title. After the match, Big E performed the Big Ending on Ambrose.
In the fourth match,CM Punk facedPaul Heyman andRyback in aHandicap Hell in a Cell match. Before the match, Heyman entered on a scissors lift and was dropped on top of the cell. The match ended when Punk performed a Diving Elbow Drop on Ryback through a table, hit Ryback with a kendo stick and executed a GTS on Ryback to win the match. After the match, Punk climbed the cell, hit Heyman with a kendo stick and executed a GTS on Heyman.
Next,Los Matadores faced The Real Americans (Jack Swagger andAntonio Cesaro). Los Matadores pinned Swagger to win the match.
After that,Alberto Del Rio facedJohn Cena, who returned after an arm injury, for theWorld Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio targeted Cena's arm. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment but Del Rio countered into a Backstabber on Cena for a near-fall. Del Rio performed a Step Up Enziguri on Cena, who was on the top rope, for a near-fall. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Del Rio but Del Rio countered into a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker on Cena for a near-fall. In the end, Del Rio applied the Cross Armbreaker on Cena but Cena performed a Powerbomb on Del Rio to break the hold. Cena pinned Del Rio after an Attitude Adjustment to win the title.
In the seventh match,AJ Lee defended theWWE Divas Championship againstBrie Bella. AJ forced Brie to submit to the Black Widow to retain the title.
In the main event, Daniel Bryan faced Randy Orton for the vacant WWE Championship inside Hell in a Cell, with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. Bryan performed two Suicide Dives on Orton and attempted a third but Orton avoided the move and Bryan collided with the cell wall. Bryan performed a Diving Headbutt on Orton for a near-fall. Bryan applied the Yes! Lock on Orton, who escaped the hold. Orton performed a Superplex onto a pile of steel chairs on Bryan for a near-fall.Triple H argued with Michaels, distracting him from the match. Orton attempted an RKO but Bryan countered, knocking Orton into Michaels. Triple H and a trainer entered the cell to check on Michaels, with Triple H pushing Bryan. Bryan executed a Running Knee on Triple H but Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Bryan. Orton pinned Bryan to win the title.
The next night onRaw, John Cena would address the fans about being back for good when he was interrupted byDamien Sandow who unsuccessfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. Later that night,Alberto Del Rio announced that he still had a rematch clause in his contract, which he used atSurvivor Series. Cena defeated Del Rio at the pay-per-view.
After beating Ryback in the Hell in a Cell match and attacking Paul Heyman with a kendo stick and a GTS on top of the cell, CM Punk would face Ryback again in a street fight, which Punk won. As Punk was celebrating the win he was attacked byThe Wyatt Family, withBray Wyatt hitting his finisher and saying the devil made him do it.
After Randy Orton won the WWE Championship for the eighth time after guest referee Shawn Michaels super kicked Daniel Bryan, Michaels would address the fans on why he cost Bryan the match. Bryan would then be invited by Michaels to come down to the ring and Michaels said he interfered in the match because Bryan attacked his best friend, Triple H. Michaels would then ask Bryan to shake his hand and forgive him, but Bryan refused. After Michaels insulted him, Bryan then applied the Yes! Lock to Michaels. During a backstage interview on how he felt about Michaels betraying him, Bryan was attacked by The Wyatt Family.
With both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan being attacked by the Wyatt Family, Punk and Bryan faced and defeatedLuke Harper andErick Rowan at Survivor Series.
Later that night, Orton, Triple H, andStephanie McMahon held a celebration for Orton winning the WWE Championship.Big Show would then interrupt and told Triple H about the lawsuit he was filing. To prevent the lawsuit, Triple H gave Show his job back, a match against Orton at Survivor Series for the WWE Championship and made Show compete in a 4-on-1 handicap match against Orton andThe Shield. At Survivor Series, Orton defeated Big Show and retained the title.
Originally at this pay-per-view,Big E Langston was scheduled to faceCurtis Axel for theIntercontinental Championship on the Kickoff, but was postponed due to Axel suffering an injury. However, on the November 18 episode ofRaw, Langston defeated Axel, who was medically cleared to compete, to win the Intercontinental Championship.