Since the WWE is dusting off their premiere gimmick match to (hopefully) finish the Shawn Michaels/Triple H feud once and for a few months...let's take A Fun-Tastic Look Back At the Cell.
Badd Blood: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker [October 5, 1997; St. Louis, MO] The background behind this was fairly complex, but I'll try to remember things: Paul Bearer had been tormenting the Undertaker with some vaguely-defined menace from his past. Meanwhile, both Undertaker & Shawn Michaels wanted Bret Hart's WWF Championship (An HBK chairshot at SummerSlam gave Hart the title). So, this match was made to basically ensure no D-X interference. The result? A really good match. Shawn bumped like hell, then Kane came in and cost Taker the match, setting off a feud that's still going today for lack of more interesting ideas. Michaels went on to win the WWF Title at Survivor Series the very next month. Scott Keith gives this match ****3/4. It's on the crazy cool From The Vault: Shawn Michaels DVD.
RAW: Mankind & Kane vs. The Undertaker & Steve Austin [June 15, 1998; San Antonio, TX] The WWE seems to recognize this as a Cell match, but heck...it was damned short and on free TV and used as a hard-sell for the two top matches at then-upcoming King of the Ring. No finish, but CRZ seemed to enjoy it.
King of the Ring: Mankind vs. The Undertaker [June 28, 1998; Pittsburgh, PA] Short explanation: These guys hate each other. Mankind was a thorn in the side of the Undertaker since he debuted, and this match was set up to settle things between them once and for all. Fairly good match considering that Undertaker was working on a bum foot and Foley was basically MIA most of the match. Keith gave it *. It's a take it or leave it match, but best remembered for the crazy-ass bumps Foley took.
RAW: Kane vs. Mankind [August 24, 1998; Philadelphia, PA] Kane turned on Mankind, so they fought in the second free-TV Cell match. This was used as a hard-sell for the Austin/Taker match at SummerSlam, and they kept teasing whether or not Kane & his brother were in cahoots. They were. Another non-finish.
WrestleMania XV: The Big Bossman vs. The Undertaker [March 28, 1999; Philadelphia, PA] This match sucks. The build-up sucked. Everything sucked. Part of the overly long Corporation vs. Everyone angle that lasted two years or so. Taker won, hanging the Bossman with the help of the Brood. Keith says -***1/2. I agree.
No Way Out: Cactus Jack vs. Triple H [February 27, 2000; Hartford, CT] Cactus Jack's last stand. He wins, he's WWF Champion. He loses, he's done. Awesome match with a build-up that not only brought in the Radicalz, but managed to create weeks of cool TV. This signalled the beginning of the end of WCW and the beginning of the apex of the WWF, as this was done basically as well as it possibly could've been done. In the end, the right man won and a champion was legitimized. ***** from Keith, and a fine end to a career.
Armageddon: Kurt Angle vs. Triple H vs. Rikishi vs. Undertaker vs. The Rock vs. Steve Austin [December 10, 2000; Birmingham, AL] The second WWF Title Cell Match looked like a clusterf**k on paper but ended up being pretty good. It was more about setting up future matches than the title, but it served as a good way of establishing Heel Angle's character for the future and making people salivate over the prospect of Rock/Austin at the upcoming WrestleMania. ***1/2 from Keith.
Judgment Day: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho [May 19, 2002; Nashville, TN] The continuation of the WrestleMania feud...albeit without Stephanie or the title saw HHH and Y2J hit the cell. Never saw it, but Keith gave it *** so it can't be all that bad, right?
No Mercy: Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker [October 20, 2002; Little Rock, AR] In a move to legitimize Brock, he brawled with the Undertaker in a Keith-***-rated affair for the WWE Title. Winner? Brock.
Bad Blood: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash [June 15, 2003; Houston, TX] Another HHH cell match, as the WWE moved its' hype from the brutality of the match to HHH being awesome in them. They brought in Foley to make the match more interesting, but I couldn't be bothered to watch it. Keith got it, and gave it **1/2.
THE 111TH STANLEY CUP FINALS: Calgary Flames & Tampa Bay Lightning are tied 2-2; Game 5 is Thursday
So wait...the most remembered "Hell In A Cell" ever, being Taker vs Mankind only gets a "*" but the "Hell In a Cell" match everyone thinks sucks, being Taker vs Bossman, gets "***1/2". I don't get it.
(edited by XPacArmy on 2.6.04 0707) 24-24, #3 in American League East
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Originally posted by XPacArmySo wait...the most remembered "Hell In A Cell" ever, being Taker vs Mankind only gets a "*" but the "Hell In a Cell" match everyone thinks sucks, being Taker vs Bossman, gets "***1/2". I don't get it.
That's -***1/2, or negative three and a half. IIRC, Scott didn't like the Taker/Foley cell match because it was a spotfest with an inexplicable beginning (Foley on top of the cell).
So, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
The same thing we do every night, Pinky: Try to take over the world!
That is a negative in front of the stars for UT/Bossman. As for the Mankind/UT match, all anyone remembers is the sick bumbs Mankind took. The wrestling itself and the match as a whole was pretty blah.
Originally posted by gugsThat's -***1/2, or negative three and a half. IIRC, Scott didn't like the Taker/Foley cell match because it was a spotfest with an inexplicable beginning (Foley on top of the cell).
Originally posted by WpobXPac.
That is a negative in front of the stars for UT/Bossman. As for the Mankind/UT match, all anyone remembers is the sick bumbs Mankind took. The wrestling itself and the match as a whole was pretty blah.
Thanks. With my terrible eyes I couldn't see the little "-" there. I guess thats what I get when I go see the eye doctor and he says "Well, your damn near blind" and I opt not to get the glasses to help me see.
Of course, match ratings are subjective and Scott Keith is a best-selling author.
TD: "Seriously: I could have done without all those hiac matches ecxept Michaels/Taker and Taker/Foley!"
I'd agree that they've killed any kind of golden goose as far as making the gimmick a big seller, and the last two with HHH haven't lived up, but I wouldn't give up the Taker/Brock bloodbath. One of Taker's all-time best performances (and very very few clean jobs since 1999), the continuation of the perfect buildup for Lesnar as a monster (until they screwed it up the next month), Heyman's wonderful screaming ("WE'RE LOSING"), and blood (lots of blood).
F4: "Part of the overly long Corporation vs. Everyone angle that lasted two years or so."
IIRC it only lasted from about December '98 to July '99, when Vince was vanquished from TV forever and the Corporate Ministry disbanded so that Bradshaw and Edge could headline the summer 2004 PPVs.
Thanks for the overview--I was trying to recite all the HITCs for Hubby last night, couldn't recall every one and told him that someone on the W was bound to come through for me.
I've seen all the PPV ones except for HHH/Foley. When well planned, HITCs are one of the most interesting gimmick matches, IMO, but yes, it is a special-occasion match and shouldn't be overused, just like major bladejobs. Have to admit I enjoy both in the proper context. It helps if you're just a tiny bit bloodthirsty!
You gotta love the original, still my favorite. The second will go down as the most memorable. HHH/foley was great. Really liked the 6-man, I really looked forward to that one. I recently got the JDay 02 DVD and that cell match is still very good. Last years was good, second half really took the match for me.
I'd pretty much agree with Keith's ratings, except I'd switch the ratings for Shawn/Undertaker and Hunter/Foley. Triple H v. Mick Foley was an awesome match, but Shawn/Undertaker is (IMO) the greatest Cell match to date.
(edited by OMEGA on 4.6.04 2128)
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
This is pretty pointless but I'd just like to add that you could consider Kane vs. Austin at KOTR '98 a HIAC match, conidering the cell was lowered for most of the match.
i think the 6 man hiac was one of the most wasted opportunities. it was a good match but had the potential to be a match of the year. i just think the vince "i think that hiac is dangerous and i'll stop it whatever" was a poor angle just to get a pick up truck to ring side in order for rikishi to take a bump that was badly done and missed by the majority of cameras. going onto the taker/mankind match i know it was a spotfest but it changed the way these matches are viewed. who can say they watch a hiac without feeling let down if there are no major bumps. i remember when hhh pinned jericho atop the cell the crowd didnt realise as they were waiting for one of them to fly off. i do think that the michaels hhh match will be good as they will both work together to put on a show but do agree they overuse the gimmick hence the several letdown hiac matches.
Originally posted by Tyler DurdenDonīt forget the greatest hiac ever:
Al Snow/Boss Man (hiac+cage+dogs+hardcore title=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Don't forget the humping. And the pooping.
Star wipe, and...we're out. Thrillin' ain't easy.
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Originally posted by OMEGAI'd pretty much agree with Keith's ratings, except I'd switch the ratings for Shawn/Undertaker and Hunter/Foley. Triple H v. Mick Foley was an awesome match, but Shawn/Undertaker is (IMO) the greatest Cell match to date.
(edited by OMEGA on 4.6.04 2128)
Yeah, the buildup for and matches with Triple H and Foley was as good as it can (and ever will, I think) get. But I slightly lean towards Taker and HBK just because I wasn't too big on Shawn at the time, and I lost my voice cheering the ass whooping he got, hehehe.
After a quarter of a century on this planet, there's three things I know for sure... 1)Ain't nothing like a Dirty Pair marathon on New Year's Eve. 2)I'd make a fine Mrs. HHH II. 3) I'd make an acceptable Mrs. Orton. 1400 reasons to luv me!
Originally posted by awesomeyoungjedi i just think the vince "i think that hiac is dangerous and i'll stop it whatever" was a poor angle just to get a pick up truck to ring side in order for rikishi to take a bump that was badly done and missed by the majority of cameras.
The cameras were placed as they were on purpose. Rikishi's 'sick bump' was him falling onto a huge mound of hay and padding (at least I think there was padding, I haven't seen the spot in a long while now), so it wasn't really missed per se.
Caped Boy: Excuse me, ladies. You may remember me as the guy who came to dinner a few weeks ago with underwear on my head. My name is Keith Stat from Milbourne, New Jersey. State bird, the mosquito. And as you may have heard I am recently a crowned class B dungeon-master. So if any of you would like to play D&D today, please speak now or forever hold your peace. [He chuckles, and there is an awkward silence at the table.] Caped Boy: Anyone? Alexa! [Alexa gives him a withering glare.] Caped Boy: Maybe you would like to join in? We do need a druid, and you have definitely cast a level 5 charm spell on me. Alexa: In your dreams, douche-bag! Caped Boy: Douche-bags are hygienic products, I take that as a compliment. Thank you. [Keith walks off] Alexa: Ewww!
Originally posted by awesomeyoungjedi i just think the vince "i think that hiac is dangerous and i'll stop it whatever" was a poor angle just to get a pick up truck to ring side in order for rikishi to take a bump that was badly done and missed by the majority of cameras.
The cameras were placed as they were on purpose. Rikishi's 'sick bump' was him falling onto a huge mound of hay and padding (at least I think there was padding, I haven't seen the spot in a long while now), so it wasn't really missed per se.
If nothing else, though...it was a nice visual and a hell of a much safer bump than the ones Michaels and Foley took. Although really, given the build to the match on the PPV, it should have been Taker who took the hay bail dive given his pre-match boasting of throwing guys off cages, but that's nit-picking.
I would just like to know how the most memorable HIAC, Taker vs. Mankind, gets a one star rating. While it didn't have great mat work, it was the most astounding match I have ever seen. The risks Foley took in this match were insane.
Most importantly, I am sure that I am not the only one whose jaw dropped when Foley flew off the cell, and stayed dropped until the end of the match. Like many people said, this was the most merorable HIAC, and that alone warrants a better rating.
"The cameras were placed as they were on purpose. Rikishi's 'sick bump' was him falling onto a huge mound of hay and padding (at least I think there was padding, I haven't seen the spot in a long while now), so it wasn't really missed per se."
i see where your coming from but when i say missed, it was a bad camera angle to hide the padding. and the fact the replays are never shown when discussing hiac shows "wasted opportunity" maybe had it been anyone else but the phatman and it would have been? though i can picture vince going into the back and saying who wants tv time and a ppv main event. all step forward. whoever gets it has to bump of the cell all step back except rikishi who isnt quick enough hardcore holly says i'll do it but vince laughs. then they spend hours working out how to cover his drop. he cocks it up and is doomed to eternal dancin duty with hotty
The only thing I truly want to see, if they're going to be bringing in various legends, is some verbal sparring between John Cena and the man who paved the way for his current gimmick. No, not K-Kwik. No, not Mabel, Mo or.. uh, whoever the other one was....