Hell in a Cell (2010)

Background

The professional wrestling matches at Hell in a Cell featured professional wrestlers performing as characters in scripted events pre-determined by the hosting promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Storylines between the characters were produced on WWE's weekly television shows Raw and SmackDown with the Raw and SmackDown brands—storyline divisions in which WWE assigned its employees to different programs.

At Night of Champions, Randy Orton won the WWE Championship in a six-pack challenge against Chris Jericho, Edge, John Cena, Wade Barrett and Sheamus, following a winning streak leading up to Hell in a Cell. The next night on Raw, Sheamus invoked his rematch clause for the title. The Raw General Manager agreed to the match, allowing it to be contested inside Hell in a Cell.

World Heavyweight Champion Kane attacked The Undertaker to put him in a vegetative state and steal his powers, which led to Kane dominating The Undertaker upon Undertaker's return. At Night of Champions, Kane defended the title The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred match. In an attempt to get rid of The Undertaker for good, Kane challenged him to a Hell in a Cell match, a match Undertaker originally conceived, and the match in which Kane debuted, attacking Undertaker nearly 13 years before at Badd Blood: In Your House. A returning Paul Bearer reunited with Undertaker on the September 24 episode of SmackDown, however, restoring his powers.

Since their creation, The Nexus had assaulted many Raw wrestlers, but focused mainly on John Cena causing him to lose multiple championship matches. At Night of Champions, The Nexus attacked Cena, allowing Wade Barrett to eliminate him from the six-pack challenge. The next night on Raw, both Cena and Barrett agreed to a match where if Barrett won, Cena would join The Nexus. If Cena won, however, The Nexus would have to disband.

Preliminary matches

The event opened with Daniel Bryan defending the United States Championship against John Morrison and The Miz in a Submissions Count Anywhere match. Bryan forced Miz to submit to the Lebell Lock to retain the title.

Next, Randy Orton defended the WWE Championship against Sheamus in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Orton hit 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 to perform a Punt Kick on Sheamus outside the ring but Sheamus avoided the move and executed a second Brogue Kick on Orton. Sheamus pinned Orton for a near-fall. Orton performed an RKO onto the steel steps on Sheamus to retain the title.

Alberto Del Rio cut a promo on how he helped the Audience by injuring Rey Mysterio and Christian. Edge interrupted 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 Swagger interrupted 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 but Swagger 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 Cena faced Wade Barrett. During the match, various WWE superstars attacked The Nexus. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Barrett but Barrett countered the move and executed 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 Michael McGillicutty distracted the referee. Whilst the referee restrained McGillicutty, Husky Harris attacked Cena. Barrett pinned Cena to win the match, forcing Cena to join The Nexus.

In the fifth match, Michelle McCool defended the WWE Divas Championship against Natalya. In the end, Natalya applied the Sharpshooter on McCool but Layla threw her shoe into the ring, resulting in Natalya winning by disqualification.

Main event

In the main event, Kane defended the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker in 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 to perform a Last Ride on Kane but Kane countered the move and performed a Chokeslam on Undertaker for a near-fall. Undertaker performed a Last Ride on Kane for a near-fall. Undertaker attempted to perform a Tombstone Piledriver on Kane but Kane countered the move and performed a Tombstone Piledriver on Undertaker for a near-fall. Paul Bearer entered 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 the 2009 event buyrate of 283,000.

Writer Rob McNichol reviewed the pay-per-view for The Sun, rating it a six out of ten. He heavily criticized the match between Kane and The Undertaker, describing it variously as "embarrassing", "infantile", and a "debacle". In contrast, he praised the opening match and the Hell in a Cell match between Randy Orton and Sheamus, stating that the latter was "easily the best match of the night."

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. At Bragging 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 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 didn't win. At Bragging Rights, Wade Barrett won by disqualification after Cena attacked him, 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 with David Otunga.