Since 1997, the WWE has put on 28 Hell in a Cell matches and with two more bouts in "Satan's Playground" looming this Sunday, now is a perfect time to look back at five of the best and most memorable cell clashes in WWE history.
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This Sunday night, Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins and Randy Orton vs. John Cena will mark the 29th and 30th Hell in a Cell matches in WWE history live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas. There have been many brutal, barbaric and memorable Hell in a Cell matches in the past 17 years, but here is Sports World News' Top 5 list of all time cell matches.
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H Badd Blood 2004, Undertaker vs. Edge SummerSlam 2008
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5) Armageddon 2000: Kurt Angle vs. Triple H vs. The Undertaker vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. The Rock
The WWE's talent roster was perhaps at its peak in the year 2000 and the company opted to ride that momentum into the last pay-per-view of the year as six of its top talents went head-to-head in a brutal Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon 2000. Perhaps the most memorable spot of the match saw Rikishi get knocked off of the top of the cell into a flatbed truck down below. In the end, Angle -- ever the opportunist -- snuck in and pinned The Rock to retain his gold.
4) King of the Ring 1998: The Undertaker vs. Mankind
While not the most technically sound match of all time, this is an unforgettable cell bout that basically defined Mick Foley's career. The two most memorable spots include 'Taker throwing Mankind off of the roof of the cell and sending him crashing down below through an announce table and 'Taker chokeslamming Mankind through the roof of the cell to the mat below. The match probably should have ended there for Mankind's sanity considering a tooth was hanging out of his nose, but Foley is crazy and the spots just escalated from there, including the use of thumbtacks. The Undertaker eventually put Foley out of his misery by hitting a Tombstone and pinning him. Foley would later say that he couldn't remember most of the match.
3) Badd Blood 1997: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
This was the inaugural Hell in a Cell match and gave the WWE Universe its first taste at just how special and dangerous this type of match could be. 'Taker and Michaels were able to efficiently use the cell as a way to hype the different style of this type of match and there was even a memorable spot that saw Michaels dangle off the top of the cell and fall through an announce table. This match is also notable for the debut of Kane, who came in and attacked his "brother" The Undertaker, allowing Michaels to get the pin and become the No. 1 contender for Bret Hart's WWE Championship at Survivor Series. That in turn set up the Montreal Screwjob that would go on to be a defining point in wrestling history. 17 years later, Kane is still going strong in the WWE.
2) WrestleMania XXVIII: The Undertaker vs. Triple H
This match was dubbed as "The End of an Era" as it had two icons in 'Taker and Triple H going one-one-one with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. This match is great because of the drama that surrounded it with false-finishes and near falls abound. There were a couple of times where it appeared as though The Undertaker would lose The Streak, especially after Michaels hit a Sweet Chin Music and Triple H then hit a Pedigree to put 'Taker on the brink. The match also slowly built up intensity as it went on leading to a great climax. In the end, with most WWE fans feeling their hearts pounding out of their chest, The Undertaker hit a Tombstone to advance his WrestleMania Streak to 20-0.
1) No Way Out 2000: Triple H vs. Cactus Jack
Triple H and Mick Foley had some memorable brawls throughout the years, and the Hell in a Cell match between the two at No Way Out was one of the most barbaric clashes they ever had. Foley, wrestling as Cactus Jack, had his career on the line against the heel Triple H, and the two told a great story in the ring that night. Many weapons were used throughout the battle including the steel steps, a steel chair and a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire that was also set on fire at one point. In the end, Triple H backdropped Jack through the top of the cell and through the mat of the ring before hitting a Pedigree and winning the match. Foley, of course, would be back to main event WrestleMania in a Fatal 4 Way match and wouldn't retire for another few years.
The WWE presents Hell in a Cell live this Sunday from the American Airlines Center in Dallas as Ambrose vs. Rollins and Orton vs. Cena will look to live up to the hype some of some of the great cell matches that have taken place over the last 17 years.
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