Ranking The 28 Greatest Hell In A Cell Matches In WWE History
10. Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H (Bad Blood 2004)
HBK vs. HHH inside Hell in a Cell was, by far, the longest match in the storied gimmicks 17 years. Upon first viewing, the marathon was praised by some for its attention to rivalry-specific detail, its storytelling, and psychology (HBK playing up his past back problems was particularly noteworthy), while many a comment was made about its rather slow pace. It being an unprecedented length for a WWE main-event combined with the unpredictability of the match as it wore on helped it become a performance that was highly praised, though not universally. However, as time wore on, second and third viewings did not hold up to the standard of the first, many would come to say. It became more difficult to sit through, as glaring weaknesses such as the fact that the crowd was completely dead for much of it began to stick out like a sore thumb. Its pacing, noted originally for being slow, almost negated the psychology and the selling simply because it was not entertaining enough to hold your attention when re-watching it. All in all, it was a memorable match; epic even. Unfortunately, it has become like watching Avatar of film lore, in that it is worth a watch, but more than once a decade might be pushing its entertainment limits.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
