Hell in a Cell (2010)

Hell in a Cell (2010)
Promotional poster featuring The Undertaker
Theme song(s)	"Sacrifice" by Atom Smash[1]
Information
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	Raw SmackDown
Sponsor(s)	WowWee
Date	October 3, 2010
Attendance	7,500[2]
Venue	American Airlines Center
City	Dallas, Texas
Pay-per-view chronology
Night of Champions (2010) Hell in a Cell (2010) Bragging Rights (2010)
Hell in a Cell chronology
Hell in a Cell (2009) Hell in a Cell (2010) Hell in a Cell (2011)

Hell in a Cell (2010) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and presented by WowWee's Paper Jamz that took place on October 3, 2010, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.^[3] It was the second annual Hell in a Cell event. Like the 2009 edition, it featured the Hell in a Cell match. The show marked the last time that the World Heavyweight Championship would be contested in a pay-per-view main event until WWE TLC 2013, where it was defended and subsequently unified with the WWE Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. Six matches took place at the event.

Background

The professional wrestling matches at Hell in a Cell featured professional wrestlers performing as characters in scripted events pre-determined by the hosting promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).^[4][5] Storylines between the characters were produced on WWE's weekly television shows Raw and SmackDown with the Raw and SmackDown brands—storyline divisions in which WWE assigned its employees to different programs.^[6]

The main rivalry from the Raw brand featured the new champion Randy Orton against former champion Sheamus in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship. At Night of Champions, Orton won the championship in a six-pack challenge against Chris Jericho, Edge, John Cena, Wade Barrett and Sheamus to win the championship, following a winning streak leading up to the pay-per-view. The following night on Raw, Sheamus invoked his rematch clause for the championship. The Raw General Manager agreed to the match, allowing it to be contested as a Hell in a Cell match.

The main rivalry from the SmackDown brand featured champion Kane against The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship. The storyline saw Kane attack The Undertaker to put him in a vegetative state and steal his powers, which led to Kane dominating The Undertaker upon The Undertaker's return. At Night of Champions, Kane faced The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred match for the championship, which he won. In an attempt to get rid of The Undertaker for good, Kane challenged him to a Hell in a Cell match, a match originally conceived by The Undertaker, and the match in which Kane made his debut by attacking Undertaker nearly 13 years before at Badd Blood: In Your House. A returning Paul Bearer reunited with The Undertaker on the September 24 episode of SmackDown, however, restoring his powers.

Another rivalry from Raw involved John Cena and Wade Barrett, the leader of a group of former NXT rookies known as The Nexus. Since their creation, The Nexus had assaulted several wrestlers on Raw, but focused mainly on Cena causing him to lose several championship matches. At Night of Champions, The Nexus attacked Cena which allowed Barrett to eliminate him from the six-pack challenge. The next day on Raw, both Cena and Barrett agreed to a match with the stipulation that if Barrett was to win, then Cena would join The Nexus. If Cena won, however, The Nexus would be forced to disband.

Event

Preliminary matches

The event opened with Daniel Bryan defending the United States Championship against John Morrison and The Miz in a Submissions Count Anywhere match. Bryan forced Miz to submit to the Lebell Lock to retain the title.

Next, Randy Orton defended the WWE Championship against Sheamus in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Orton hit Sheamus with the steel steps for a near-fall. Orton performed a Snap Scoop Powerslam onto the steel steps on Sheamus for a near-fall. Sheamus performed an Irish Curse Backbreaker on top of the steel steps and a Brogue Kick on Orton for a near-fall. In the end, Orton attempted to perform a Punt Kick on Sheamus outside the ring but Sheamus avoided the move and executed a second Brogue Kick on Orton. Sheamus pinned Orton for a near-fall. Orton performed an RKO onto the steel steps on Sheamus to retain the title.

Alberto Del Rio cut a promo on how he helped the Audience by injuring Rey Mysterio and Christian. Edge interrupted Del Rio, cutting a promo on how he had been on a campaign against stupidity, with Del Rio not being part of the solution. Jack Swagger interrupted Edge, demanding retribution for Edge attacking The Swagger Soaring Eagle, Swagger’s mascot. Del Rio hit Edge with a microphone and Swagger attacked Edge. The Anonymous RAW General Manager booked an impromptu match between Edge and Swagger.

Edge faced Jack Swagger in an impromptu match. During the match, Edge attempted a Spear on Swagger but Swagger performed a Gutwrench Powerbomb on Edge for a near-fall. In the end, Swagger applied the Ankle Lock on Edge but Edge touched the ropes, forcing Swagger to break the hold. Edge performed a Spear on Swagger to win the match.

Later, John Cena faced Wade Barrett. During the match, various WWE superstars attacked The Nexus. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Barrett but Barrett countered the move and executed Wasteland on Cena for a near-fall. Cena executed an Attitude Adjustment on Barrett for a near-fall. In the climax, Cena applied the STF on Barrett but Michael McGillicutty distracted the referee. Whilst the referee restrained McGillicutty, Husky Harris attacked Cena. Barrett pinned Cena to win the match, forcing Cena to join The Nexus.

In the fifth match, Michelle McCool defended the Divas Champonship against Natalya. In the end, Natalya applied the Sharpshooter on McCool but Layla threw her shoe into the ring, resulting in Natalya winning by disqualification.

Main event

In the main event, Kane defended the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Undertaker applied Hell’s Gate on Kane but Kane rolled outside the Ring to escape the hold. Undertaker performed a Chokeslam for a near-fall. Undertaker attempted to perform a Last Ride on Kane but Kane countered the move and performed a Chokeslam on Undertaker for a near-fall. Undertaker performed a Last Ride on Kane for a near-fall. Undertaker attempted to perform a Tombstone Piledriver on Kane but Kane countered the move and performed a Tombstone Piledriver on Undertaker for a near-fall. Paul Bearer entered the Cell, leading to Kane confronting Bearer but Undertaker performed a second Chokeslam on Kane. Undertaker attempted to perform a Tombstone Piledriver on Kane but Bearer used the Urn to blind Undertaker and passed Kane the Urn. Kane hit Undertaker with the Urn and performed a second Chokeslam on Undertaker to retain the title.

Reception

Hell in a Cell was attended by an audience of 7,500 in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.^[2] The pay-per-view drew 210,000 buys, a decrease on the 2009 event buyrate of 283,000.^[7]

Writer Rob McNichol reviewed the pay-per-view for The Sun, rating it a six out of ten. He heavily criticized the match between Kane and The Undertaker, describing it variously as "embarrassing", "infantile", and a "debacle". In contrast, he praised the opening match and the Hell in a Cell match between Randy Orton and Sheamus, stating that the latter was "easily the best match of the night."^[8]

Aftermath

Paul Bearer issued a challenge to the Undertaker to fight Kane in a Buried Alive Match shortly after the events of Hell in a Cell. Undertaker accepted and would taunt Kane with his pyrotechnics, as well as drag him under the ring later. At Bragging Rights, Kane defeated Undertaker with help from The Nexus in order to close the feud.

As the newest member of The Nexus, John Cena attempted to destroy the group from the inside, until the Raw General Manager told Cena to follow Wade Barrett's orders or lose his job. In a battle royal to determine the number one contender to the WWE Championship, Barrett and Cena made it to the final two. Barrett then forced Cena to eliminate himself, making Barrett the new number one contender. To further guarantee his success, Barrett made Cena stand in his corner at Bragging Rights in his match against Randy Orton, as well as firing Cena if Barrett didn't win. At Bragging Rights, Wade Barrett won by disqualification after Cena attacked him, thus letting Cena keep his job and not letting Barrett win the WWE Championship. Also at Bragging Rights, Cena won the WWE Tag Team Championship with David Otunga.

Results

See also

• List of WWE pay-per-view events

References

External links

• Official Hell in a Cell website