WWE Hell in a Cell

In early 2009, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) ran a poll on their website allowing fans to pick the name for that year's October pay-per-view (PPV), which would feature the promotion's established Hell in a Cell match. Hell in a Cell was chosen over No Escape, Locked Up, and Rage in a Cage.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_33127.shtml|title=WWE News: WWE changes the names of two more PPVs; Report on WWE fan input leading to changes|first=James|last=Caldwell|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=June 27, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630052934/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_33127.shtml|archive-date=June 30, 2009|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/8234-wwe-seeking-feedback-on-ppvs/|title=WWE seeking feedback on PPVs|first=Adam|last=Martin|work=WrestleView|access-date=August 3, 2009|date=June 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623072322/https://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1245448682.php|archive-date=June 23, 2009|url-status=live}} The inaugural Hell in a Cell PPV then took place on October 4, 2009, replacing WWE's previously annual October PPV, No Mercy. While originally only available on PPV, it also became available on WWE's online streaming service, the WWE Network, beginning with the 2014 event,{{cite web|last=Flint|first=Joe|title=WWE launching over-the-top network|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-wwe-network-20140108-story.html|date=January 8, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814041829/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-wwe-network-20140108-story.html|archive-date=August 14, 2014|url-status=live}} and then also Peacock in 2021 after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/standalone-wwe-network-app-shutting-down-44-new-details-wwe-transition-peacock|title=Standalone WWE Network App Shutting Down In The US On 4/4, New Details On The Transition To Peacock|date=March 8, 2021|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|access-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308183858/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/standalone-wwe-network-app-shutting-down-44-new-details-wwe-transition-peacock|archive-date=March 8, 2021|url-status=live}}

The event was introduced during WWE's first brand 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 the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands, but it would be the only to feature ECW as the brand was disbanded in February 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_38686.shtml|title=Parks' ECW TV report 2/2: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of the show, including Vince McMahon's announcement on the future of ECW|first=Greg|last=Parks|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=February 3, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2022}} In April 2011, the promotion ceased using its full name, with "WWE" becoming an orphaned initialism.{{cite press release|last1=Sacco|first1=Justine|last2=Weitz|first2=Michael|date=April 7, 2011|title=The New WWE|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2011/04-07-2011|location=Connecticut|publisher=WWE|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503100415/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2011/04-07-2011|archive-date=May 3, 2018|url-status=live}} That August, the first brand extension ended.{{cite web|last=Nemer|first=Paul|title=Raw Results – 8/29/11|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-raw-results/26309-raw-results-8-29-11/|work=WrestleView|date=August 30, 2011|access-date=November 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831224708/https://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1314677739|archive-date=August 31, 2011|url-status=live}} The 2011 event was the first held following the end of the brand split and was notable for featuring the first triple threat match contested inside Hell in a Cell.

After five years, the brand extension was reinstated in 2016,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/wwe-smackdown-live-usa-1201782569/|title=WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=May 25, 2016|work=Variety|access-date=May 25, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526113045/https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/wwe-smackdown-live-usa-1201782569/|archive-date=May 26, 2016}} with that 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. The 2017 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 of falls count anywhere, as well as the first in which a tag team championship was defended in a Hell in a Cell match. Following WrestleMania 34 in April 2018, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-eliminates-single-branded-ppv-shows-shuffles-ppv-schedule|title=WWE Eliminates Single-Branded PPV Shows, Shuffles PPV Schedule|date=February 17, 2018|last=Sapp|first=Sean Ross|work=Fightful|access-date=February 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518060403/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-eliminates-single-branded-ppv-shows-shuffles-ppv-schedule|archive-date=May 18, 2021|url-status=live}} The 2018 event was then moved up to September, but the event moved back to October in 2019.

The 2020 event was notable for having the first "I Quit" match contested inside of the Hell in a Cell structure. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held in WWE's bio-secure bubble called the WWE ThunderDome, which was hosted at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. In 2021, the event was moved up to June and was WWE's final PPV to be produced from the WWE ThunderDome—which had been relocated to the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida—due to the company's resumption of live touring in mid-July. As a result, Hell in a Cell was the only PPV to be held twice in the ThunderDome.{{cite web|last=Guzzo|first=Gisberto|title=WWE Announces Date For Hell In A Cell 2021, MITB Reportedly Scheduled With Fans|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-date-hell-cell-2021|work=Fightful|date=May 16, 2021|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517004510/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-date-hell-cell-2021|archive-date=May 17, 2021|url-status=live}} The 2022 event was also held in June and at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=WWE Announces Date And Location For WWE Hell In A Cell|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-date-and-location-wwe-hell-cell|work=Fightful|date=March 4, 2022|access-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304193311/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-date-and-location-wwe-hell-cell|archive-date=March 4, 2022|url-status=live}}

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 of King of the Ring, rebranded as "King and Queen of the Ring", but that was changed to Night of Champions, in turn reviving Night of Champions.{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Skylar|title=WWE Returning To Saudi Arabia In May 2023 For King & Queen Of The Ring Event|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-returning-saudi-arabia-may-2023-king-queen-ring-event|work=Fightful|date=March 6, 2023|access-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307033850/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-returning-saudi-arabia-may-2023-king-queen-ring-event|archive-date=March 7, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/170143/wwe-ppv-name-change.html?p=1|title=WWE PPV name change|date=April 13, 2023|last=Johnson|first=Mike|work=PWInsider|access-date=April 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415233004/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/170143/wwe-ppv-name-change.html?p=1|archive-date=April 15, 2023|url-status=live}} This came after reports that WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H wanted to discontinue some of the gimmick 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwmania.com/wwe-hell-in-a-cell-event-is-believed-to-be-completely-dead|title=WWE Hell in a Cell Event is Believed to Be "Completely Dead"|date=October 26, 2022|author=PWMania.com Staff|work=PWMania|access-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026183158/https://www.pwmania.com/wwe-hell-in-a-cell-event-is-believed-to-be-completely-dead|archive-date=October 26, 2022|url-status=live}}

{{main article|Hell in a Cell}}

The concept 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/specialtymatches/hellinacell|title=Specialty Matches: Hell in a Cell|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=August 3, 2010|archive-date=March 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307193538/http://www.wwe.com/inside/specialtymatches/hellinacell/|url-status=dead}} Each main 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. 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. 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/hell-in-a-cell-new-look|title=Hell in a Cell structure gets a fiery red makeover|work=WWE|access-date=September 17, 2018|date=September 15, 2018|author=WWE.com Staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916073212/https://www.wwe.com/article/hell-in-a-cell-new-look|archive-date=September 16, 2018|url-status=live}}

• WWE Bad Blood

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• {{Official website|http://www.wwe.com/shows/hellinacell|Hell in a Cell Official Website}}

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Category:Recurring events established in 2009