Hell in a Cell (2010)

Hell in a Cell
Promotional poster featuringThe Undertaker
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	Raw SmackDown
Date	October 3, 2010
City	Dallas, Texas
Venue	American Airlines Center
Attendance	7,500
Buy rate	210,000
Pay-per-view chronology
←Previous Night of Champions Next→ Bragging Rights
Hell in a Cellchronology
←Previous 2009 Next→ 2011

The 2010Hell in a Cellwas the second annualHell in a Cellprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion'sRawandSmackDownbrand divisions.The event took place on October 3, 2010, at theAmerican Airlines CenterinDallas, Texas.It was the final Hell in a Cell held during the first brand split, which ended in August 2011, but was reinstated in July 2016.

Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event,Kaneretained theWorld Heavyweight ChampionshipagainstThe Undertakerin aHell in a Cell match.This made Hell in a Cell 2010 the last WWE pay-per-view in which the World Heavyweight Championship was in the main event untilTLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (2013).Other matches includedRandy Ortonretaining theWWE ChampionshipagainstSheamusin a Hell in a Cell match,Daniel Bryanretained theUnited States ChampionshipagainstThe MizandJohn Morrisonin a Triple Threat Submissions Count Anywhere Match,Wade BarrettdefeatedJohn Cena,andEdgedefeatedJack Swagger.

Production

Background

The event was held at theAmerican Airlines CenterinDallas,Texas.

In 2009,World Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) introducedHell in a Cellas agimmickpay-per-view(PPV). The concept of the show came from WWE's establishedHell in a Cellmatch, in which competitors fight inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area. The main event match of the card was contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation.The 2010 event was the secondHell in a Cell,establishing the event as the annual October PPV. The event took place on October 3, 2010, at theAmerican Airlines CenterinDallas, Texasand featured wrestlers from theRawandSmackDownbrand divisions.

Storylines

Theprofessional wrestling matchesat Hell in a Cell featured professional wrestlers performing as characters inscripted eventspre-determined by the hostingpromotion,World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).Storylines between the characters were produced on WWE's weekly television showsRawandSmackDownwith the Raw and SmackDown brands—storyline divisions in which WWE assigned its employees to different programs.

The mainrivalryfrom theRawbrandfeatured the new championRandy Ortonagainst former championSheamusin aHell in a Cellmatch for theWWE Championship.AtNight of Champions,Orton won the championship in a six-pack challenge againstChris Jericho,Edge,John Cena,Wade Barrettand Sheamus to win the championship, following a winning streak leading up to the pay-per-view. The following night onRaw,Sheamus invoked his rematch clause for the championship. TheAnonymous Raw General Manageragreed to the match, allowing it to be contested as a Hell in a Cell match.

The main rivalry from theSmackDownbrand featured championKaneagainstThe Undertakerin a Hell in a Cell match for theWorld Heavyweight Championship.The storyline saw Kane attack The Undertaker to put him in a vegetative state and steal his powers, which led to Kane dominating The Undertaker upon The Undertaker's return. At Night of Champions, Kane faced The Undertaker in aNo Holds Barredmatch for the championship, which he won. In an attempt to get rid of The Undertaker for good, Kane challenged him to a Hell in a Cell match, a match originally conceived by The Undertaker, and the match in which Kane made his debut by attacking Undertaker nearly 13 years before atBadd Blood: In Your House.A returningPaul Bearerreunited with The Undertaker on the September 24 episode ofSmackDown,however, restoring his powers.

Another rivalry from Raw involvedJohn CenaandWade Barrett,the leader of a group of formerNXTrookies known asThe Nexus.Since their creation, The Nexus had assaulted several wrestlers onRaw,but focused mainly on Cena causing him to lose several championship matches. At Night of Champions, The Nexus attacked Cena which allowed Barrett to eliminate him from the six-pack challenge. The next day onRaw,both Cena and Barrett agreed to a match with the stipulation that if Barrett was to win, then Cena would be forced join The Nexus. If Cena won, however, The Nexus would be forced to disband. The Anonymous Raw General Manager added another stipulation if The Nexus interfered in the match then Barrett would lose the match.

Event

Other on-screen personnel

Role:	Name:
Englishcommentators	Michael Cole
	Jerry Lawler
	Matt Striker
Spanish commentators	Carlos Cabrera
	Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer	Josh Matthews
Ring announcers	Justin Roberts
	Tony Chimel
	Ricardo Rodriguez
Referees	Mike Chioda
	Charles Robinson
	John Cone
	Jack Doan
	Darrick Moore
	Chad Patton

Preliminary matches

The actual pay-per-view opened withDaniel Bryandefending theUnited States ChampionshipagainstJohn MorrisonandThe Mizin aSubmissions Count Anywhere match.In the end, atop the entrance ramp, Bryan forced Miz to submit to the Lebell Lock to retain the title.

Next,Randy Ortondefended theWWE ChampionshipagainstSheamusin aHell in a Cellmatch. During the match, Orton struck Sheamus with the steel steps for a near-fall. Orton performed a Snap Scoop Powerslam onto the steel steps on Sheamus for a near-fall. Sheamus performed an Irish Curse Backbreaker on top of the steel steps and a Brogue Kick on Orton for a near-fall. In the end, Orton attempted a Punt Kick outside the ring on Sheamus but Sheamus avoided, executed a second Brogue Kick on Orton and scored a near-fall. Orton performed an RKO onto the steel steps on Sheamus to retain the title.

Alberto Del Riocut a promo on how he helped the audience by injuringRey MysterioandChristian.Edgeinterrupted Del Rio, cutting a promo on how he had been on a campaign against stupidity, with Del Rio not being part of the solution.Jack Swaggerinterrupted Edge, demanding retribution for Edge attacking The Swagger Soaring Eagle, Swagger's mascot. Del Rio hit Edge with a microphone and Swagger attacked Edge. The Anonymous Raw General Manager booked an impromptu match between Edge and Swagger.

Edge faced Jack Swagger in an impromptu match. During the match, Edge attempted a Spear on Swagger, who countered and performed a Gutwrench Powerbomb on Edge for a near-fall. In the end, Swagger applied the Ankle Lock on Edge but Edge touched the ropes, forcing Swagger to break the hold. Edge performed a Spear on Swagger to win the match.

Later,John CenafacedWade Barrett.The stipulations were if Barrett won, Cena would have been forced to join The Nexus. If Cena won, The Nexus would have been forced to disband. If The Nexus interfered in the match then Barrett would have lost the match. During the match, various WWE superstars attackedThe Nexus,but the referees made them disperse. As Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Barrett, Barrett countered into a Wasteland on Cena for a near-fall. Cena executed an Attitude Adjustment on Barrett for a near-fall. In the climax, Cena applied the STF on Barrett but the debutingMichael McGillicuttyandHusky Harrisinterfered; as McGillicutty distracted the referee, Harris attacked Cena with a metal object and ran away. Barrett pinned Cena to win the match, forcing Cena to join The Nexus.

In the fifth match,Michelle McCooldefended theWWE Divas ChampionshipagainstNatalya.In the end, Natalya applied the Sharpshooter on McCool butLaylathrew her shoe into the ring, resulting in Natalya winning by disqualification.

Main event

In the main event,Kanedefended theWorld Heavyweight ChampionshipagainstThe Undertakerin a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Undertaker applied Hell's Gate on Kane but Kane rolled outside the ring to escape the hold. Undertaker performed a Chokeslam for a near-fall. Undertaker attempted a Last Ride on Kane, who countered and performed a Chokeslam on Undertaker for a near-fall. Undertaker performed a Last Ride on Kane for a near-fall. Undertaker attempted a Tombstone Piledriver on Kane, who countered and performed a Tombstone Piledriver on Undertaker for a near-fall and Kane then attacked the referee. While the medical staff were tending to the referee,Paul Bearerentered the cell, leading to Kane confronting Bearer but Undertaker performed a second Chokeslam on Kane. Undertaker attempted to perform a Tombstone Piledriver on Kane but Bearer used the urn to blind Undertaker and passed Kane the urn. Kane hit Undertaker with the urn and performed a second Chokeslam on Undertaker to retain the title.

Reception

Hell in a Cell was attended by an audience of 7,500 in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.The pay-per-view drew 210,000 buys, a decrease on the2009 eventbuyrate of 283,000.

Aftermath

Paul Bearer issued a challenge to the Undertaker to fight Kane in a Buried Alive Match shortly after the events of Hell in a Cell. Undertaker accepted and would taunt Kane with his pyrotechnics, as well as drag him under the ring later. AtBragging Rights,Kane defeated Undertaker with help from The Nexus in order to close the feud.

As the newest member of The Nexus, John Cena attempted to destroy the group from the inside, until the Anonymous Raw General Manager told Cena to follow Wade Barrett's orders or lose his job. In a battle royal to determine the number one contender to the WWE Championship, Barrett and Cena made it to the final two. Barrett then forced Cena to eliminate himself, making Barrett the new number one contender. To further guarantee his success, Barrett made Cena stand in his corner at Bragging Rights in his match against Randy Orton, as well as firing Cena if Barrett lost. At Bragging Rights, Barrett defeated Orton by disqualification after Cena attacked Barrett, thus letting Cena keep his job and not letting Barrett win the WWE Championship. Also at Bragging Rights, Cena won the WWE Tag Team Championship withDavid Otunga.

The 2010 Hell in a Cell was the last Hell in a Cell event held under the first brand split, which ended in August 2011.However, the brand split was reinstated in July 2016,withthat year's Hell in a Cellwas held exclusively for Raw.Additionally, in April 2011, the promotion ceased using its full name with the "WWE" abbreviation becoming anorphaned initialism.

Results

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1D	Goldust,Kofi KingstonandR-TruthdefeatedCody Rhodes,Drew McIntyre,andDolph Zigglerbypinfall	Six-man tag team match	14:26
2	Daniel Bryan(c) defeatedJohn MorrisonandThe Miz	Submissions Count Anywhere matchfor theWWE United States Championship	14:32
3	Randy Orton(c) defeatedSheamusbypinfall	Hell in a Cell matchfor theWWE Championship	22:51
4	EdgedefeatedJack Swaggerbypinfall	Singles match	11:31
5	Wade BarrettdefeatedJohn Cenabypinfall	Singles match Since Barrett won, Cena was forced to joinThe Nexus,Had Cena won, The Nexus would have been forced to disband. Had The Nexus interfered in the match, Barrett would lose the match.	17:47
6	NatalyadefeatedMichelle McCool(c) (withLayla) bydisqualification	Singles matchfor theWWE Divas Championship	05:00
7	Kane(c) defeatedThe Undertaker(withPaul Bearer) bypinfall	Hell in a Cell matchfor theWorld Heavyweight Championship	21:38
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match D – this was adark match

External links

• Official Hell in a Cell website