The pay-per-view took place on October 2, 2011 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. 9,400 members of the WWE Universe showed up. Not reaching 10,000 at least was odd for a major city, and the Saints beat the Jaguars earlier that day so the people who DID show up were pumped. To join the Twitter conversation on WWE InterAction, the Universe just needed to use the hashtag #HellInACell. The event was presented by WowWee's Light Strike and the theme song was "Set the World on Fire" by Black Veil Brides. In his predictions for the PPV, Ocal praised how WWE was able to sell an event in less than three weeks. He also stressed the importance of legitimizing Hell in a Cell as a major attraction again after such great buildup. In his words: "The past two events, WWE hasn't treated Hell in a Cell like a match where feuds are ended and Superstars bring out as much brutality as possible. It's felt like two men having a simple contest with a cage around them. And if they want, they can use it from time to time. Hell In A Cell has the potential to be an amazing show after what we've seen these past two weeks, but only if the company allows HIAC to be exactly what it is: Non-PG and vicious." Many people wondered if the PPV would bring back the violence and chaos that Hell in a Cell epitomized, and all they had to do was watch and find out. After a "Don't Try This At Home" PSA, the video package began.
MICHAEL COLE: In my mind, it is still the most barbaric match in the WWE.
JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER: You're literally changed forever when you walk into Hell in a Cell.
CARSON STEWART: It's the match that literally ended a man's career.
RANDY ORTON: When you win, you almost forget about the pain and suffering. When you lose, it hurts all over and it feels terrible.
TRIPLE H: Not many men jump on board when they're asked to compete here. It really is survival of the fittest.
CODY RHODES: Weapons are used too, so you feel like you're in a 20 to 25-minute nightmare.
WILLIAM KELLY-MCLAURIN: You have to keep going. You have to survive in here. Or else those scars mean NOTHING.
JOHN CENA: You'll never be the same mentally or physically when you're in this match. You're virtually living in Hell.
THE UNDERTAKER: Welcome...to Hell...IN A CELL!
The four main events were highlighted in the video. Bodies broken. Careers shortened. Lives impacted. That's what Hell in a Cell does. The pyro exploded all over the set and there were even three cauldrons of fire on the top of the stage. We were welcomed to Hell In A Cell by Cole, Lawler, Booker T, and Stewart. They hyped up all four main events as The Devil's Playground was being lowered. Spanish commentators Marcelo Rodriguez and Carlos Cabrera were introduced. This was big for Spanish viewers because Rodriguez was taking over full-time for Hugo Savinovich, who left the company a week ago. Tony Chimel announced the World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat HIAC Match, and a video package aired. Rhodes came out first to a chorus of boos, and said that contrary to popular belief, when he wins, he will not have separate reigns for the Intercontinental and World Heavyweight titles. Instead, Rhodes will unify the two to create the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. The IC champ stated that SmackDown deserves one true, legitmate champion, and he is that champion. "End of Days" by Jim Johnston started playing in New Orleans as Barrett entered the Cell. World Champion Christian entered and vowed in an interview with King earlier in the day that he would win and Barrett and Rhodes' egos will get in the way of them winning. Referee Chad Patton raised up the title and we were underway. The first-ever Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match.
Barrett and Rhodes, naturally, worked against Christian in the early stages and wore him down. Stewart referred to it as a brilliant strategy because taking one man out of the equation will take a huge benefit for them. Cole said that if Stewart has been paying any attention lately, Barrett and Rhodes have pretty much figured out they need to team up to take out Christian. Booker talked about his interview with Barrett an hour beforehand, and he talked about how much he dislikes Rhodes, calling him a "paper champion" and "too flamboyant." However, Barrett also said he hates Christian, and that he had no choice but to team with Rhodes to get what he wants. Christian was thrown into the Cell wall. by both men, and then had his face rammed into the door repeatedly by Barrett. Rhodes grabbed a chair from under the ring and started abusing the World Heavyweight Champion with it. With Christian down, Barrett turned on the Intercontinental Champion by ramming him into the Cell wall. Barrett then suplexed Rhodes onto the wall, and covered him in the ring. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Lawler said that Christian is in deep trouble now, because in Triple Threat matches, the champion doesn't need to be involved in the decision to lose the title. Add that to the fact that Captain Charisma only has a 33.3% chance of winning, and the odds aren't in his favor. Barrett utilized his bareknuckle brawling skills against SmackDown's #2 champion, and Booker commented on this by bringing up the interview, where Barrett said that his fighting ability fits like a glove inside Hell in a Cell. Barrett picked Rhodes up for Wasteland, but it failed and Rhodes nailed the Beautiful Disaster Kick. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! We almost crowned a new World Heavyweight Champion. Cole used his annual PPV "Did You Know?" facts, stating that if Rhodes wins, he will become the first man since Triple H in 2002 to hold both the IC and WHC belts at once. King hated the idea of Rhodes unifying the titles if he wins, stating that "the last thing we need is his smug face tomorrow night, talking about how much of an amazing champion he is." Rhodes stomped on Barrett repeatedly (taken from Randy Orton) and then nailed a fist drop (taken from Ted DiBiase). Stewart noticed Rhodes channeling The Legacy and that when he spoke to him earlier in the week about his time with the group, the Intercontinental Champion was quoted as saying: "Randy taught me and Ted how to be men. We really learned how to survive and toughen up whenever the situation called for it. And one day, I plan on using those tactics to become successful in the business." Christian returned and immediately went after Rhodes, making it seem more like a street fight than a wrestling match. Of course, there was nothing Patton could do, because it was a Triple Threat protected by Hell in a Cell. Christian tried to excite the New Orleans crowd with a picture-perfect flying European uppercut. Captain Charisma then threw CR out of the ring and punished him using the Cell wall. Cole stated how when it comes down to The Devil's Playground, in a sadistic way, it can be both your best friend and mortal enemy. Stewart asked Cole if he's ever heard the old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," and Cole responded with: "What the hell does that have to do with what I'm talking about?" Stewart was referring to how Barrett and Rhodes were forced to team up against the common enemy Christian, but he might've been too late with that. Christian, enraged, wanted to punish Rhodes and make him suffer, so he got the steel steps and bushwhacked the Marietta native in the head with it. The World Heavyweight Champion threw the steps in the ring, waiting for Barrett to get up. Christian made sure he tasted the steps as well. Captain Charisma threw the steps at Rhodes, who knew enough to escape before his head started bleeding more. Yes, now Rhodes is busted open. Because this is Hell In A Cell, and the boundaries are going to be pushed more at gimmick PPVs like these, no trainers came to stop the blood from oozing further. Christian threw Barrett out of the ring Royal Rumble-style onto Rhodes, and when the two were stirring, the World Heavyweight Champion threw caution to the wind with a double crossbody off the top turnbuckle. Now all three men were down. Christian got up first and threw Barrett back inside. He propped him up on the top turnbuckle and went for a superplex (the ring by the way will only be reinforced for the Mark Henry/Big Show match). However, out of nowhere, the Intercontinental Champion caught Christian with a powerbomb, which in turn caused the superplex. Rhodes was just hanging on the second rope hoping to gain an advantage. Captain Charisma was nailed with Cross Rhodes, and the WWE Universe just knew history was about to be made. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Rhodes, the crowd, and the commentators were all stunned we didn't crown a new champion just now. The Intercontinental Champion hit Cross Rhodes on Barrett, and covered him. ONE! TWO! NO! Christian stopped it with a chair shot to Rhodes' back. The "Peeps" were in full force as Christian clapped his hands and got ready for the Killswitch. He hooked it and got it! GOT HEEEEEEMMMMM! Cover. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Rhodes survived the Killswitch. Christian, desperate, set up steel steps in the middle of the ring and attempted to Killswitch Barrett onto them, but the Season 1 winner of NXT pushed his opponent arm-first into the turnbuckle. Christian tried for a running attack, but Barrett caught him with the Winds of Change. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Barrett hit Wasteland on Christian (and then Rhodes) but instead of covering them from the jump, he threw Christian into the wall and pinned CR. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Barrett went for Wasteland again, but Rhodes squirmed free and nailed another Disaster Kick. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! The Intercontinental Champion decided to put the World Heavyweight Champion back in the equation by hitting Cross Rhodes on the steps, but Christian countered it into a neckbreaker. Captain Charisma then threw Barrett into the wall and hit the Killswitch on Rhodes onto the steps. BAM! The cover, as the 9,400 in attendance counted along. ONE! TWO! THREE! Ladies and gentlemen, it was over. In a brutal Triple Threat Match contested inside Hell in a Cell (first time ever) Christian overcame the dual challenges of Wade Barrett and Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. For Cole, this is no Cinderella story. This is simply a titleholder who takes on all comers and triumphs. The Cell was almost raised, but Christian asked for it to stay put. He climbed The Devil's Playground and held up the Big Gold Belt on the roof a la Randy Orton. For this Toronto native, this is the stuff that legends are made of. Final result: Christian def. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes in a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match to retain World Heavyweight Championship (Killswitch).
NEXT UP:
Hell in a Cell Match
Mark Henry vs. Big Show