100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
65. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (Hell In A Cell 2016)
It was harder than some might think to work a Hell In A Cell match which stood out by 2016. WWE had turned the once-proud cage gimmick into a fully-fledged pay-per-view in 2009, and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks was one of three HIAC encounters on the same card in October 2016. Gee, do you think that's enough?!
Unlike Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (which definitely didn't deserve to be in the Cell) and Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins (which was less of a concern), the women's main event had several good reasons for taking place in the titular structure. Firstly, Charlotte and Sasha had been regular enemies stretching right back to the NXT days. That had continued on the main roster, and both were part of the rip-roaring three way with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 32.
Secondly, these ladies were making pro wrestling history by working the first ever female HIAC bout. Not content with leaning on that and calling it a day, they went for a surprising start by having Flair ambush Banks whilst the Cell was still lowering down to the ground. This move jumpstarted the energy, and that carried on until the end.
Charlotte and Sasha brought the brutality. Women like Trish Stratus, Chyna and Lita probs would've been able to produce fine Hell In A Cell matches a generation before, but there was something special about the crop of women buoyed by desire to shed old Diva labels. If that added even an extra 10-15% of juice to their effort, then matches would be better for it.
History was made here.