10 Best Matches From B-Level WWE Pay Per Views
1. Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker - In Your House: Badd Blood
To date, there has never been a better Hell In A Cell match than the original, fought between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in October 1997.
The horror of the unprecedented stipulation promised much and delivered with literal gore. Michaels was the flailing, final girl, 'Taker the unstoppable slasher flick monster. It was far removed from the back and forth finisher kickout festivals the two men crafted years later at WrestleManias 25 and XXVI; this was a richer and more intelligently-worked story of a match. 'Taker annihilated Michaels for virtually the entire opening third, cutting him down with his customary methodical offence.
'Taker used the Cell as his torture device. Michaels, subverting the face in peril trope, seemed to fight literally from underneath, using the mesh fence to escape the horror as if mired in his own horror movie basement. When he eventually got his licks in, he used the Cell to weaponise his arsenal with an added layer of violence, using it as a springboard to deliver a more powerful version of his elbow drop.
His escape attempt, via hapless cameraman, was successful - but in a stunning moment that retains its power following years of imitation and dilution, he careened from the high cage wall and smashed through a ringside table.
Like his match with Mankind at Mind Games, this didn't end cleanly - but Kane's debut was so momentous and impeccably performed (and sold) that it only added to the presentation.