The Hell in a Cell gimmick match has been a mainstay in WWE for several decades at this point, debuting in the 90s in a match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Over the years, Hell in a Cell became the be all and end all to blood feuds and personal rivalries, hosting several brutal contests.
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Over time, the Cell structure has regressed in meaning, mostly due to WWE introducing a yearly Hell in a Cell PPV, which has at least one Cell match per year, lessening its impact and even turning some fans against the stipulation altogether. However, even with the watering down of the violence and the dwindling importance of the match, there have been some good battles over the years regardless, with at least one standing out per year.
10 2012: The Undertaker Vs Triple H
In what may be perhaps the most emotional Hell in a Cell match of all time, Undertaker and Triple H put on a masterclass in storytelling at WrestleMania 28. This was a rare instance in which a Cell match didn’t take place at the namesake PPV, which heightened its significance, and it was only the second time to that point that a Cell match had taken place at WrestleMania.
With Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee, the rich history between the three men was strongly felt throughout, with this providing one of the most stunning near-falls of all time, with it being perhaps the best match of the entire year full stop.
9 2013: Randy Orton Vs Daniel Bryan
This didn’t have too much competition for being the best Cell match, with the other being CM Punk vs Ryback. However, this was still a fun match for the vacant WWE Championship, with Daniel Bryan’s popularity increasing rapidly over time.
Michaels was once again the Special Guest Referee, and his interference was felt once again, costing Bryan the match, though there was no significant follow up to this. It wasn’t the most brutal of matches, but it played in well to the overall journey of Bryan eventually winning the belt at WrestleMania 30.
8 2014: Seth Rollins Vs Dean Ambrose
For 95% of this match, it felt like a real throwback to the chaos and intensity to Cell matches of old. They brawled outside the ring, on top of the Cell, and each went plummeting from the side of the structure and through the announce tables.
They would follow up with some big spots once the match properly began, but the ending saw a returning Bray Wyatt use a hologram to cost Ambrose the match. At the time, this could have served as the start of a top feud between Wyatt and Ambrose, but the program wasn’t all that inspiring. Even with a poor finish, this was still a hell of a brawl.
7 2015: Brock Lesnar Vs The Undertaker
For the first time since the Hell in a Cell PPV began, this felt like a gritty fight between two men who hated each other. With years of history between them, the Cell was the most appropriate place to finish off their rivalry for good. It was hard-hitting, bloody, and uncomfortable to watch at times, in a good way.
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This was the best Taker had looked ever since the streak was ended, and Lesnar brought his A-game to this match too, as they capped off a strong show with a violent battle, though it wasn’t quite up to the standard of their previous Cell match against each other.
6 2016: Sasha Banks Vs Charlotte Flair
There is some debate regarding this match, and a big part of that is due to some spots not quite landing smoothly. However, in the context of a Cell match, it only added more to the authenticity of the harshness of the Cell, something which had been lost more and more over the years.
This was hugely significant as not only the first women’s Cell match, but also the first women’s main roster PPV main event in WWE history. Flair and Banks were the perfect two to be in that role, and this match was full of big spots and impactful moves, though the result wasn’t the best, as Flair picked up yet another title win.
5 2017: The New Day Vs The Usos
The height of the legendary feud between these two teams was at its height in 2017, with this Cell match capping off a fantastic series. The chemistry between these two teams is undeniable, and it was clearly showcased in this hugely unique match.
This was a classic with some top-notch storytelling by all those involved. This had a bit of everything, from comedy early on, to violence, to emotional beats in which The New Day played their parts incredibly.
4 2018: Randy Orton Vs Jeff Hardy
This was a more methodically paced Cell match than fans had seen for quite some time, but it played well into the character of Orton, who dished out punishment on Hardy, including one of the most striking visuals in which Orton used a screwdriver against Hardy’s ear.
The two veterans in this match put on a strong encounter, which was far and above the main event of that evening between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, which ended in a no contest.
3 2019: Becky Lynch Vs Sasha Banks
This was yet another match which didn’t have strong competition for being the best, as the HIAC PPV of 2019 hosted perhaps the worst Cell match of all time between Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt.
However, even if there was stronger competition, then it would have been tough to beat Lynch and Banks anyway, as the pair put together a brilliant match. They used a variety of tools to create some great spots and moments, and they each showed why they are considered two of the best of all time, as this was a real masterclass, and one of the best matches of Lynch’s reign as champion.
2 2020: Roman Reigns Vs Jey Uso
All three Cell matches at the 2020 PPV offered something different, but the stunning story told between Reigns and Uso was something that hadn’t quite been seen before. This felt like more of a drama than a wrestling match, but for that reason it stood out as something quite extraordinary, acting at the perfect sequel to their Clash of Champions encounter.
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The performances from both men were stellar, and though the structure didn’t come into play too much, the storytelling was phenomenal, and they managed to make use of the fact that no fans were in attendance, which allowed them to have lots of dialogue during the match, which made everything feel more real.
1 2021: Edge Vs Seth Rollins
This was a feud seven years in the making, and with this capping off a brilliant trilogy of matches, the Hell in a Cell stipulation was well suited to these two men. At Crown Jewel 2021, Edge and Rollins had one hell of a match, which stole the show.
It was creative, innovative, and brutal, with two world-class performers delivering to give the fans a stunning matchup. This had callbacks to their previous matches, and both men stepped up their intensity to make this feel like the true culmination to their feud.
