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The Hell in a Cell Match is one of the most iconic concepts in professional wrestling. Known as The Devil's Playground, the unforgiving steel structure has historically been used to settle storied rivalries.
Considering its rich history, HIAC has hosted amazing matches. The Undertaker vs. Triple H's ''The End of an Era'' gem at WrestleMania 28 holds a special place in the hearts of fans. Likewise, Cody Rhodes' endearing display of grit and heart against Seth "Freakin" Rollins inside the Devil's Playground is universally remembered.
While some have carved their footprints into WWE history, others have gotten lost in the shuffle. Granted, a few of these HIAC bouts were underwhelming; thus, it was only natural for fans to forget them. On the contrary, some became underrated gems.
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On that note, let's look at the top four underrated Hell in a Cell Matches:
A WWE Hall of Famer isn't a John Cena fan. More details HERE
#4. Randy Orton battled Jeff Hardy inside Hell in a Cell in September 2018
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy began a disturbing feud, heavily centered around The Viper attempting to rip apart The Charismatic Enigma's ear, which reached its climax inside the Devil's Playground.
While the eventual bout may not have entered the conversation of the greatest HIAC matches, it was a thoroughly enjoyable encounter that deserves more recognition. Considering Hardy's involvement, ladders and breath-taking risks were expected.
Nonetheless, both veterans unleashed their aggression upon each other. At one point, the WWE Universe gasped as The Viper nearly ripped Hardy's ear out with a screwdriver. This was a departure from the child-friendly content the company produced.
The Charismatic Enigma eventually got carried away when he crashed face-first on the ring canvas as he attempted a diving splash from atop the cell, allowing Orton to pin him.
At the end of the day, one could argue that Hardy and Orton shouldn't have occurred inside HIAC because there wasn't much heat in their rivalry. Lastly, the fact that WWE had rebranded the structure to give it a red look didn't help things either.
#3. The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar closed their epic rivalry inside Hell in a Cell
Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker's rivalry stems back to the days of The Ruthless Aggression Era when The Phenom was The American Bada*s. However, the rivalry reached its climax when The Beast conquered The Phenom's WrestleMania streak in April 2014.
18 months later, Taker and Lesnar collided in a rematch in the main event of SummerSlam 2015, where The Deadman won in the most controversial manner possible with a low blow. The blow-off to their epic rivalry occurred in Hell in a Cell two months later.
When both men were eventually locked inside the satanic structure, Taker and Lesnar didn't hold back from destroying each other. The match took an ugly turn quickly as The Beast Incarnate began bleeding profusely. Not long after, Lesnar's devastating chair shots cut open The Phenom's head.
The excessive loss of blood forced ringside medical personnel to tend to their wounds, a testament to the brutality of the epic clash at Hell in a Cell 2015.
The Deadman attempted to crush Lesnar's throat with a steel chair. By the closing moments, both men were exhausted. However, the former UFC star had other plans in store as he tore apart the ring, exposing the underlying boards.
This backfired as The Phenom executed a Chokeslam and Tombstone Piledriver on the exposed surface to a near fall. Unfortunately for Taker, Lesnar went low and hit one final F5 to end their epic feud.
Compared to Taker's universally hailed outings inside HIAC, this one paled in comparison. However, credit must be given to The Phenom for putting on an incredible performance at the tail-end of his career with a broken body.
This was easily the match of the night, and the only reason it isn't remembered so widely is due to The Deadman's previous outings.
#2. The Usos vs. The New Day inside Hell in a Cell was an underrated classic
The summer of 2017 was not ideal for SmackDown, but the brand was salvaged by the rivalry between The Usos and The New Day. The feud revived tag team wrestling in WWE. The final chapter was written inside HIAC at the titular PLE.
When both teams were locked inside, with Kofi Kingston cheering on from outside, all hell broke loose. The Usos handcuffed Xavier Woods to the ring post and obliterated the erstwhile King of the Ring with a barrage of kendo sticks. Woods was the ultimate star of the match, as he showed tremendous character.
The slew of Uso Splashes towards the end of the bout was enough to put The New Day away, closing their epic saga. The fact that the two teams outdid themselves in this bout, compared to their previous outings, is an indication of their great chemistry.
Tag Team matches are not renowned for taking place inside Hell in a Cell. Secondly, Shane McMahon's match with Kevin Owens received more attention. Both of these factors help explain why the classic has slipped out of memory.
#1. Edge vs. Seth "Freakin" Rollins at Crown Jewel 2021 inside Hell in a Cell
Adam Copeland (FKA Edge) and Seth Rollins are two strikingly similar characters. At the height of their careers, both men were selfish and willing to cross all boundaries to achieve their goals. Hence, things were bound to descend to pure bedlam when they fought each other in the summer of 2021.
The Rated-R Superstar defeated The Visionary at SummerSlam 2021, but Rollins evened the score on SmackDown in a Street Fight a few weeks later. The rubber match was set for Crown Jewel inside Hell in a Cell.
The blow-off was brilliantly executed, as the two rivals told an amazing story with a fine dose of brutal wrestling. Rollins took crazy bumps as the erstwhile Edge put him through a table as the former attempted The Phoenix Splash. The Visionary was also dropped on his skull onto the steel steps.
The WWE Hall of Famer also took a dangerous bump as Rollins executed a Sunset-Flip Powerbomb. However, the finish was perfect as Copeland hit the Curb Stomp, the same maneuver that threatened to end his career again, to close the door on his rivalry with Rollins.
There wasn't much to complain about this Hell in a Cell Match. The placement didn't help, as WWE gave the two the opening slot. Secondly, the outcome was a foregone conclusion, as fans were red-hot for the erstwhile Edge, and Rollins had already defeated the legend before.
In hindsight, perhaps Copeland turning heel, creating The Judgment Day, and then fighting his stable probably took the spotlight away from his clashes with The Messiah.
