5 questions from WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 that most need answering

#5 Does Hell in a Cell still have a place on the WWE PPV calendar?

A forgotten age?

It's a common feature of the WWE in recent times that they like to milk good ideas for all they are worth. Whenever the fans react positively to something, the company focuses all their attention on trying to get as much out of it as possible. One way they tend to do this is to take a match stipulation like Elimination Chamber or Hell in a Cell and make a PPV out of it.

Instead of having the odd Cell match on special occasions, fans are guaranteed at least two per year. While this might please some, generally speaking, it ends up watering down what was once a very respected and anticipated spot on the WWE calendar.

Another issue the current WWE has with Hell in a Cell matches is that the overall psychology that usually makes the stipulation effective just isn't a feature of the modern day product anymore.

In some people's opinions, the greatest ever HIAC match was the very first one between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. This worked so well because both men were masters when it came to telling a story by using the Cell itself. HBK played the cowardly, conniving heel perfectly, always on the backfoot and running away from the Phenom until he saw an opening. Taker, for his part, played the dominant babyface looking to issue out some harsh justice.

Nowadays, you don't really get the kind of heel that Shawn Michaels brilliantly played. Everyone is too keen to present themselves as badass, unflinching athletes whether they are babyface or heel. This is what makes promos basically sound the same — everyone just promising their opponent that they are going to beat them down and that they aren't afraid of anything.

Neither KO or Shane really bothered to present a narrative that the Cell structure was overwhelming or that it was intimidating to be locked inside it with their opponent. Despite some pretty decent spots throughout the main event on Sunday, was it that much different to your run of the mill street fight or no DQ match?

In some ways, the current product has moved away from gimmick matches because nobody really seems willing to focus on anything other than the in-ring action and looking tough. And this is somewhat of a shame for fans who appreciate good psychology with their wrestling.

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