The premise behind Hell in a Cell is similar to that of cage matches its designed to keep the competitors in and anyone who wants to run interference outside. Unfortunately, even for Hell in a Cell, that is often not the case. More than half of all 30 Hell in a Cell matches either featured competitors going outside the cell or someone interfering if you count three instances in which the referee became physically involved (Mick Foley, Brad Maddox and Shawn Michaels). Six of the first eight cell matches either ventured outside or involved outside interference, a pace that thankfully slowed down dramatically. Still, nearly half of the last 20 cell matches have not stayed confined to the cell or had some form of interference. That includes last years bout between Ambrose and Rollins, in which both started on top of the cage (with J&J Security joining them) and then both toppling off the side and through announce tables. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Some of the most memorable moments in Hell in a Cell matches have taken place outside the structure or have been screwjobs: Undertaker tossing Michaels into the cage like a lawn dart, Foley falling off the cell and through the cell, Maddox screwing over Ryback and Michaels screwing over Daniel Bryan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hMp65SzyTU But when Hell in a Cell is sold as being a prison, its definitely not as secure as a maximum security facility, its more like the one on Dukes of Hazzard.
Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.
