WWE Hell in a Cell was aprofessional wrestlingevent produced annually byWWE, aConnecticut-basedprofessional wrestling promotion. It was broadcastlive and available only throughpay-per-view (PPV) and thelivestreaming servicesPeacock and theWWE Network. First held in 2009, theconcept 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. Eachmain event match of the card was contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation, while one or two other Hell in a Cell matches typically also occurred on the undercard.
Hell in a Cell replacedNo Mercy in the October slot of WWE's pay-per-view calendar. In 2018, it was moved up to the September slot, but returned to October the following year before moving up to June in 2021. Hell in a Cell was introduced during WWE's firstbrand extension period, and the inaugural event featured theRaw,SmackDown, andECW brands. ECW was disbanded in 2010 and the first brand split ended in 2011. The brand split returned in 2016, and that year's event was held exclusively for Raw, while the 2017 event was SmackDown-exclusive. Brand-exclusive PPVs were then discontinued followingWrestleMania 34 in 2018. During theCOVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), Hell in a Cell was the only PPV event to be held twice in WWE'sbio-secure bubble called theThunderDome; the2021 event was also the final PPV to be held in the ThunderDome before WWE resumed live touring in July that year. Hell in a Cell was then discontinued after the2022 event and its slot was replaced by the resurrectedNight of Champions event.
History
In early 2009,World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) ran a poll on their website allowing fans to pick the name for that year's Octoberpay-per-view (PPV), which would feature the promotion's establishedHell in a Cell match. Hell in a Cell was chosen over No Escape, Locked Up, and Rage in a Cage.[1][2] Theinaugural Hell in a Cell PPV then took place on October 4, 2009,[3] replacing WWE's previously annual October PPV,No Mercy.[1] While originally only available on PPV, it also became available on WWE's online streaming service, theWWE Network, beginning with the2014 event,[4][5] and then alsoPeacock in 2021 after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March that year.[6]
The event was introduced during WWE's firstbrand extension period, where the promotion divided its roster into brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform. The inaugural event in turn featured wrestlers from theRaw,SmackDown, andECW brands,[3] but it would be the only to feature ECW as the brand was disbanded in February 2010.[7] In April 2011, the promotion ceased using its full name, with "WWE" becoming anorphaned initialism.[8] That August, the first brand extension ended.[9] The2011 event was the first held following the end of the brand split and was notable for featuring the firsttriple threat match contested inside Hell in a Cell.[10]
After five years, the brand extension was reinstated in 2016,[11] withthat year's event held as a Raw-exclusive PPV. This event was notable for having the first women's Hell in a Cell match, which was also the first women's match to main event a WWE PPV.[12] The2017 edition was then held as a SmackDown-exclusive show. It was notable for having the first Hell in a Cell match with an added stipulation offalls count anywhere, as well as the first in which a tag team championship was defended in a Hell in a Cell match.[13] FollowingWrestleMania 34 in April 2018, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued.[14] The2018 event was then moved up to September,[15] but the event moved back to October in2019.[16]
The 2022 event would be the final Hell in a Cell event produced, as in 2023, WWE officially discontinued the event. Its slot was initially replaced by what was to be a revival ofKing of the Ring, rebranded as "King and Queen of the Ring", but that was changed toNight of Champions, in turn revivingNight of Champions.[20][21] This came after reports that WWE Chief Content OfficerTriple H wanted to discontinue some of thegimmick events like Hell in a Cell so that the match itself could return to being the culmination of big feuds instead of something that has to be done each year because of the event.[22]
Theconcept of the show came from WWE's established Hell in a Cell match, in which competitors fought inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area.[23] Eachmain event match of the card was contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation, while one or two other Hell in a Cell matches typically also occurred on the undercard.[1][2] Variants of the Hell in a Cell stipulation were featured, some of which were "firsts," for example, the 2011 event had the first triple threat match contested inside the Hell in a Cell structure.[10] The 2018 event also saw a redesign of the Hell in a Cell structure, which was entirely painted crimson-red and became smaller, with the wires being less pliable, making the structure stronger, yet lighter.[24]
^Sacco, Justine; Weitz, Michael (April 7, 2011)."The New WWE" (Press release).Connecticut:WWE.Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. RetrievedNovember 25, 2021.
^Nemer, Paul (August 30, 2011)."Raw Results – 8/29/11".WrestleView.Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. RetrievedNovember 5, 2016.
