WWE Hell In A Cell Preview & Rant

For the second time in two weeks, WWE will hold a PPV as Hell In A Cell takes place Sunday, October 2nd from New Orleans, LA.

The event will be headlined by John Cena defending the WWE Championship inside the barbaric Hell In A Cell structure against both Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk for the first time in a triple threat match. Also featured will be newly crowned World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry going one on one with the man he took the championship from Randy Orton inside the Hell In A Cell.

Unfortunately, due to the short amount of time since Night of Champions, the story lines for both matches seemed rushed especially the WWE Championship bout. Just last month, CM Punk was involved in a feud with WWE COO Triple H and now he is back to where he was two months ago in the WWE title picture.

This is a shame, because John Cena, Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk all have the ability to tell great stories and throwing them in a feud to obtain PPV buys is ruining half the fun of being a wrestling fan. The short amount of time has not let the viewer become emotionally invested in the story and want to see the big blowoff match at the PPV. While I am confident all three men will put on a great match, without the story line, the match feels unimportant.

Hell In A Cell used to mean something in professional wrestling. Before it became an annual PPV, Hell In A Cell matches were rare and had a big time feel whenever they were announced. The match was a special attraction and was used as the climax to an important feud. In fact, the first time the WWE Championship was even defended inside one of these structures was the sixth Hell In A Cell when Triple H defeated Mick Foley in February of 2000.

Over the years, the importance and big time feel of Hell In A Cell has been dwindled down to almost nothing and it has honestly become just another match in the WWE machine. This is sad because some of the greatest memories of WWE from my childhood were moments that took place inside these matches. I will never forget the image of the Undertaker throwing Mick Foley off the top of the Cell threw the announce table to the concrete floor and afterwards Mick Foley smiling with his front teeth missing and a tooth lodged up his nose.

While I am aware that the times have changed, and am complacent with never seeing another human being plummet to the ground for entertainment, I am not okay with the fact that one of the most special and prestige matches of my era has been diminished to a throw away PPV. With the proper buildup, this event could have been special and quite memorable instead of just a prelude to the Survivor Series PPV in November.