Welcome to our latest installment of eWrestlingNews Thought Experiment!
The upcoming WWE show, Bad Blood 2024, will showcase a Hell in a Cell match featuring Drew McIntyre and CM Punk. Their ongoing rivalry has hit its climax and the only resolution appears to be in Hell’s Playground.
Hell in a Cell matches, which kick-started during the original In Your House: Badd Blood in 1997, have gifted us some truly unforgettable moments throughout the history of WWE.
Our topic of exploration for today is: “If I say ‘Hell in a Cell,’ what is the first thing that you thought of?”
Your prompt response in the comments below is greatly appreciated! On this occasion, we encourage spontaneity. Share whatever comes to your mind first. That’s the fun in word association!
Just to share my own thoughts…
Every time ‘Hell in a Cell’ is mentioned, my mind immediately goes to the image of The Undertaker on top of the cage, sending Mick Foley flying off into the commentary table. This memory is so vivid, it even finds its way into other wrestling-related debates, like discussions on WWE’s notorious violent incidents, or a quick flashback from Mankind’s career.
I was a zealous fan when Hell in a Cell was introduced, so it’s reasonable to think that I might gravitate towards Kane’s debut, which is, indeed, a near second. The monumental entry of Kane left me absolutely stunned, and I maintain it to be the most charismatic character debut. For a time, Shawn Michaels’s fall from the cage was among my top thrilling moments in wrestling, if not at the top spot. However, the Foley-Taker event superseded it by miles.
The entirety of that match remains pleasantly etched in my memory. It’s one of those rare bouts that I can watch repeatedly without any loss of excitement. Even a mere recollection or snippet from that confrontation sends chills down my spine. It’s mind-boggling, to say the least.
It’s disheartening to see WWE downplaying this concept over the past decades. Several fighters having dull matches have done a disservice to its reputation. The dilution of blood and violence has transformed this into an impersonation of a regular cage match, where little falls barely appear harmful. While I would never volunteer to do it, considering that I would not even withstand a simple clothesline, it’s not an accurate measure. But post witnessing the madness at King of the Ring 1998, any lesser feat just doesn’t cut the deal anymore. There’s such a thing as peaking too soon indeed.
What’s your point of view? Comment below!