|Date: October 4, 2009
|Venue: Prudential Center |City: Newark, New Jersey
|Attendance: 12,356 |Buys: 300,000
|Brands: Raw & Smackdown

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

This is the inaugural Hell In A Cell pay per view in which the three main events will all be contest inside Satans structure. John Cena beat Randy Orton for the WWE Championship at Breaking Point but the next night on Raw it was guest host Trish Stratus that made the rematch between the two men for Hell In A Cell. The rivalry between these two stars led to a 6 man tag team match on Raw two weeks ago in which Cena’s team lost which meant that Cena had to take on Randy Orton, Big Show and Chris Jericho in a gauntlet match last week on Raw. Big Show and Chris Jericho served a purpose to weaken Cena with both tag team champions getting disqualified. Orton would then pick up the pieces and with help from Legacy this match would end in a draw. Will this be the final chapter of John Cena and Randy Orton?

The World Heavyweight Championship will also be defended inside Hell In A Cell. Following the controversial ending between CM Punk and The Undertaker at Breaking Point, Undertaker would kidnap Teddy Long in his own limo. Teddy Long would return a week later and announce that not only would CM Punk defend the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker at Hell In a Cell inside of the cell but Undertaker’s submission finisher Hell’s Gate is no longer banned. The other Hell In A Cell match scheduled for tonight is a tag team match between De-Generation X’s Shawn Michaels and Triple H and Legacy’s Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. These two teams continue to brawl on Monday Night Raw following Legacy’s win over DX at Breaking Point and Legacy have promised that this match will be the demise of DX.

There is no ECW representation tonight which is interesting but plenty of other title matches. Kofi Kingston will be defending the United States Championship against both The Miz and Jack Swagger in a triple threat match. The Miz stole Kingstons US title belt a few weeks ago before Jack Swagger stole the title from Miz. Kingston got his belt back but will have to put it on the line tonight. The Intercontinental Championship will also be defended as new champion John Morrison, who beat Rey Mysterio last month, puts the title on the line against number one contender Dolph Ziggler. Two talented, cocky stars should make for a good match tonight. Also tonight Mickie James defends the WWE Divas Championship against the girl that pinned her in tag team action, Alicia Fox.

The Unified Tag Team Championships are set to be defended as Chris Jericho and The Big Show defend against Batista and Rey Mysterio. Batista returned to Smackdown following his contract expiring on Raw and the tag team champions were there to welcome him. Batista would challenge them for the belts and announced that his partner would be the man that he has held tag team championship gold with before, Rey Mysterio.

In a dark match prior to the event Matt Hardy beat Mike Knox.

A video package kicks off the show mostly focusing on the matches between John Cena and Randy Orton, DX and Legacy and CM Punk and The Undertaker. Michael Cole then welcomes us to Hell In A Cell, he’s joined by Jerry “The King” Lawler. They then throw to Jim Ross and Todd Grisham who are representing Smackdown.

There’s a video package showing what happened between CM Punk and Undertaker at Breaking Point. Are we really kicking off the show with this match?

CM Punk (c) vs. The Undertaker – Hell In A Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship

This is a second PPV match between these two men. Punk beat Undertaker under controversial circumstances at Breaking Point. Undertaker is so tanned these days, not like the early days of his career. Undertaker lays into CM Punk early, throwing him into the side of the cell and hitting him with right hands. Undertaker boots Punk off the apron as we’re told that The Undertaker has been in more Hell In A Cell matches than anyone else, 9 in total including matches against Shawn Michaels, Mankind, Batista, Randy Orton and Edge. Punk dropkicks the ring steps into the knees of Undertaker and then stomps away at the big man, working on his left knee. Duelling chants break out for both men, there’s a much higher pitch behind Undertakers chants. Punk looks to smash Undertakers knee into the ringpost but Undertaker kicks him away. Punk hits a running knee on the apron but Undertaker then shoves him off the apron and into the cell.

Undertaker drapes CM Punk across the apron and hits him with a legdrop. Punk fires back with a dropkick and then a suicide dive. Punk rolls Undertaker back into the ring and the two men slug it out. Undertaker looks for snake eyes but CM Punk nips down. Undertaker hits a big boot and a legdrop for the first near fall of the night. Undertaker motions for a chokeslam but Punk fights out of the grip, kicking at Undertaker’s knee. Punk then looks for the go to sleep but Undertaker counters and looks to hit a tombstone but Punk gets out of that and kicks at Undertakers knee. The champion then looks under the ring and pulls out a chair which he swings into Undertakers face for a near fall. Punk hits his trademark running knee in the corner but Undertaker then hits him with a last ride for a near fall. Undertaker then looks for old school but CM Punk pulls him down and hits him with a knee for a near fall.

Punk grabs a chair but runs into a big boot. Undertaker then hits a chokeslam and motions for a tombstone before scooping Punk up and hitting the tombstone! Undertaker makes the cover and gets the three! The Undertaker wins the match and the World Heavyweight Championship! Decent opener to get the ball rolling.

Rating: 6/10

John Morrison (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler – Intercontinental Championship match

This is a first time PPV meeting between these two men. I’m expecting a great match. Morrison takes down Ziggler early, out-wrestling him. Ziggler manages to apply a front facelock and take Morrison down as the two men exchange holds. The pace quickens and Morrison hits a dropkick for a one count. Morrison then hits a powerslam and a spinning legdrop for a two count. He then applies a chinlock but Ziggler gets out of it and applies a chinlock of his own. Morrison gets out of it and hits Ziggler with a springboard cross body for a two count. He then hits a dropkick and looks for starship pain but Ziggler rolls out of the way. Dolph hits a dropkick of his own for a two count and then re-applies the chinlock. Morrison gets out of it but Ziggler hits a powerslam for a near fall. Dolph takes his time now as he stomps away at Morrison and chokes him with the bottom rope. Ziggler hits a powerslam for a two count and then two firemans carries for a two count. Morrison hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT and the two men slug it out. Morrison takes the advantage with a clothesline and a dropkick and then a standing shooting star press for a two count.

Dolph beat Finlay and Mike Knox to win this opportunity. Ziggler rolls Morrison up but uses the ropes and the referee sees it. Ziggler hits a jawbreaker for a two count and then sets up for a superplex but Morrison fights him off and jumps off the top rope, catching Ziggler who looks to hit a dropkick and slingshots him into the top turnbuckle for a two count. Ziggler avoids a springboard cross body and hits a German suplex for a two count. Ziggler hits a fame-asser for a two count. Morrison takes the advantage and looks to hit starship pain but Ziggler counters it with a powerbomb off the top rope for a near fall. Ziggler looks for the zig-zag but Morrison holds on to the ropes to counter it and then hits a running knee and starship pain for the three! John Morrison wins the match and retains his Intercontinental Championship.

Rating: 7/10

Backstage Josh Mathews is with Batista and Rey Mysterio. Batista introduces Rey Mysterio who looks forward to teaming up with Batista again. He brings up his recent history with Chris Jericho and says that they will take away the Unified Tag Team titles.

Mickie James (c) vs. Alicia Fox – Divas Championship match

This is a first time singles match between these two girls on PPV. Alicia beat Gail Kim to win this opportunity. Mickie takes Alicia down early but Alicia applies an armbar. Mickie once again takes Alicia down again and then hits a monkey flip and a big right hand. Mickie hits a snapmare and a low dropkick for a two count and the crowd are flat. Mickie hits a kick and a neckbreaker before going up top but Alicia pulls her down to the mat for a two count. Alicia applies a chinlock and then a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Alicia applies a body-scissors before breaking the hold and getting hit with three clotheslines. Mickie hits a hurricanrana and then heads to the top and hit a Lou Thesz press. Mickie looks for a DDT but Alicia forces her into the corner and then hits a nice northern lights suplex for a two count. Alicia looks for the scissors kick but Mickie avoids it and hits Fox with a DDT for the three. Mickie James retains her title tonight. The pace was off and the crowd was flat.

Rating: 2.75/10

There’s a “don’t try this at home” VT. Old school.

Chris Jericho & The Big Show (c) vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio – Unified Tag Team Championship match

This is a first time meeting between these two teams. Jericho and Mysterio start off the match and Jericho gets a few jabs in early, taking Mysterio down. Mysterio hits an arm drag and a monkey flip before hitting a head scissors and springboard moonsault for a two count. Rey tags in Batista who gets a few boo’s. He takes down Jericho with a shoulder charge and then hits Jericho with a clothesline in the corner. Batista tags in Mysterio and then Irish whips him into Jericho with a dropkick for a two count. Jericho has wrestled on every PPV so far in 2009. Only John Cena and Randy Orton can say the same. Mysterio tags in Batista who hits a reverse elbow and a suplex for a two count. Batista tags in Mysterio who comes in with a splash off Jericho’s shoulders for a two count. Jericho manages to tag in Big Show and Mysterio is happy to stay in the ring for his team.

Mysterio hits some kicks on Big Show but Show picks him up and throws him across the ring. Big Show walks over Mysterio and then hits him with a right hand before easily popping him on the top rope and slapping him down to the outside. Big Show pulls Mysterio back into the ring by his head and then hits a big kick to drop him back down to the canvas. Big Show tags in Jericho who is smug whilst Mysterio is down. Jericho slingshots Mysterio into the middle rope for a two count and then applies a full nelson. Mysterio gets out of the full nelson and hits an enzeguri which sets Jericho up for a 619 but Jericho is up quickly and drops Mysterio with a clothesline for a two count. Jericho poops Mysterio on the top rope and looks to rip Mysterio;’s mask off but Rey fights him off and hits a seated senton before tagging in Batista. Batista hits a couple of clotheslines before knocking Big Show off the apron.

Batista hits a sidewalk slam on Jericho and then looks for a powerslam but Jericho nips down and Batista drops him with a spear. Batista then sets up for the Batista bomb but sees Big Show out of the corner of his eye so throws Jericho into him. Batista hits a spinebuster on Jericho for a near fall. Batista gets distracted by Big Show and then turns around into a codebreaker for a two count. Jericho tags in Big Show who misses with a legdrop. Batista hits some right hands but Big Show hits him with a chokeslam and Rey Mysterio breaks up the pinfall attempt. Big Show tags in Jericho who hits Batista with right hands but misses with a lionsault. Jericho tags in Big Show and Batista tags Rey Mysterio! Mysterio uses his speed to avoid Big Show and hits a dropkick to the knees. Mysterio then hits a springboard DDT for a two count.

Mysterio low-bridges the top rope, sending Big Show out of the ring. Rey then hits Big Show with a modified 619 before back body dropping Jericho out of the ring and into Big Shows arms. Batista spears Big Show who has Jericho in his arms. Show rolls back into the ring and Mysterio hits him with a springboard dropkick and a 619! Mysterio looks for the west coast pop but Big Show hits him with a huge right hand which is enough for the three! Big Show and Chris Jericho retain the Unified Tag Team Championships! Decent match between these two teams.

Rating: 6/10

So were told that the WWE Championship match is up next. Strange. I guess DX will be main eventing.

There’s a video package for Cena and Orton next.

John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton – Hell In A Cell match for the WWE Championship

This is the 6th PPV match between these two men. John Cena has won 3 of the previous 5. The two men slug it out in the early going and Cena wins that exchange. Orton heads to the outside and looks to leave the cell which seems strange. He then suckers Cena back into the ring where he lays in some stomps and right hands. Michael Cole tells us that this is a new reinforced cell that is designed to keep the competitors in it. Cena sets up for the attitude adjustment early but Orton slithers down and hits a powerslam for a two count. The two men slug it out again and the crowd seem pretty hot for this one. Cena hits a shoulder charge but Orton ducks a second. The crowd seem to be more in support of Orton who shoves Cena off the apron and into the cell. Cena picks Orton up on the outside and rams him into the cell until Orton counters it and rams Cena into the cell and then into the ring steps.

Randy picks up the ring steps and it takes two attempts to get them into the ring. Orton then sets up for his hangmans DDT onto the steps but Cena counters it and back body drops his challenger out of the ring. Cena and Orton (along with Chris Jericho) are the only three men to have wrestled on every PPV so far in 2009. Cena picks up the ring steps and launches them at Orton on the outside who manages to duck out of the way. Orton hits a neckbreaker in the ring for a two count and then runs into the boot of Cena. Cena quickens the pace with two shoulder charges and a side suplex. He then hits the five knuckle shuffle and looks to hit the attitude adjustment but Orton counters it. Orton hits the hangmans DDT for a two count and then picks up a chair and jabs it into Cena’s neck and sternum. Randy then looks for a knee drop but Cena gets out of the way and locks on the STF! Orton gets to the ropes and then kicks Cena off him and Cena goes flying into the referee knocking him down.

Cena locks on the STF and Orton taps out! But the referee is down and out of the ring so didn’t see it! Cena breaks the hold and wakes up referee Mike Chioda, rolling him back into the ring which allows Orton to get back up and hit the RKO! Orton pins Cena and the referee is slow to make the count and Orton kicks out! Orton manages to tie Cena up in the ropes and lock on a sleeper! Cena passes out and the referee unties Cena from the ropes only for Orton to then punt him in the head! Orton makes the pinfall and gets the three! Orton wins the match and the WWE Championship! Not the best Hell In A Cell match, it was quite slow but I did like the finish!

Rating: 5.75/10

Josh Mathews is backstage with R-Truth. R-Truth has a match with Drew McIntyre tonight and he feels disrespected by McIntyre. Truth says he is going to give McIntyre what he has earned.

R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

This is a pay per view debut for McIntyre who battled R-Truth who looks for his first PPV victory tonight. McIntyre takes down R-Truth early with a headlock and a “boring” chant breaks out early. R-Truth gets out of the headlock and hits a dropkick before showing some awesome athleticism and then another dropkick and a hiptoss for a two count. Drew hits a big boot and then lays in some right hands and clubbing blows. McIntyre hits a clothesline for a two count and then applies a chinlock. The crowd are pretty dead for this one. The two men slug it out and then collide into each other with crossbodies. R-Truth hits a couple of clotheslines and a pump kick for a two count and then looks to hit the scissors kick but McIntyre avoids it and looks for a double underhook DDT but Truth counters that with a pinfall for a near fall. Drew then hits the underhook DDT for the three. This match was pretty bad and the crowd were dead for it.

Rating: 2.5/10

Backstage Legacy are looking forward to celebrating with Randy Orton tonight. Orton says that nobody walks away from the Hell In A Cell but Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes are confident. Cody compares Orton to his old man and Orton tells them that they should listen to him. DiBiase tells Orton that he shouldn’t underestimate them.

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz – Triple Threat match for the United States Championship match

This is a first time triple threat match between these three men. The Miz gets on the mic before the match and rips New Jersey which gets him some heat. Kofi fights off both opponents in the early going but eventually the numbers get too much. Miz and Swagger decide to double team Kingston and hit him with double reverse elbows. All three of these men were in ECW last year. Swagger and Miz hit a double suplex on Kingston and Miz pins the United States Champion but Swagger breaks it up. Kingston gets a little offence in but again Swagger and Miz double team him. Miz then takes a cheap shot at Swagger before knocking him down with a clothesline. Miz hits his trademark corner clothesline on Kingston and then a double axe handle off the top on Swagger. It’s all Miz at the moment as he hits a backbreaker/neckbreaker combo on Kingston for a two count.

Kofi heads to the top but The Miz meets him up there. Swagger then puts Miz on his shoulders and Kofi hits a cross body on Miz for a two count. Swagger drops Kofi on the top rope and then rams him into The Miz. Swagger hits a belly to belly on Kofi for a two count and then rams Miz into the corner. Swagger ties Miz up in a tree of woe and then does press-ups in front of him! Kofi hits a side suplex off the top on Miz and covers him but Swagger breaks it up. There’s a couple of near falls and Kofi takes Swagger down with a clothesline before hitting the boom drop for a near fall. Swagger takes down Kofi and then looks to hit a German suplex on Miz who hangs onto the top rope. Kofi then hits the trouble in paradise on Swagger and Miz hits the skull crushing finale on Kofi! Miz hooks the leg but Swagger helps Kofi put his foot on the bottom rope. Swagger takes down Kofi with a clothesline and then hits the gut-wrench powerbomb on Miz! Kofi hits the trouble in paradise on Swagger and pins The Miz for the three! Kofi retains the United States Championship again! He’s having some reign!

Rating: 5.5/10

There’s a VT next for DX and Legacy.

De-Generation X (Shawn Michaels & Triple H) vs. Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase)

This is the third PPV match between these two teams and they are so far tied at one win a piece. Legacy attacks DX as they make their entrance and take the fight around the cell and over to where the commentators are. DX manage to get the advantage and double team Cody Rhodes. Triple H hits Cody with a monitor whilst Shawn Michaels takes apart the announce desk. DX then hit a double suplex on Rhodes onto the announce desk. DiBiase attacks Triple H and Shawn Michaels from behind and throws Triple H into the crowd. DiBiase then suplexes Triple H back into the ringside area as Michaels lays into Rhodes around the other side of the ring. Triple H and DiBiase fight into the crowd as Shawn Michaels takes his fight with Cody Rhodes into the crowd over the other side. Michaels back body drops Rhodes back over the barrier and Cody’s knee smashes off the corner of the cell. Rhodes then grabs a chain and smashes it into the knee of Shawn Michaels before using the chain on Triple H.

Legacy hit a double DDT on Triple H at the top of the ramp and then turn their attention to Michaels, trapping his leg in the doorway to the cell and smashing the door again him. Rhodes then locks the cell door, locking he and DiBiase in the cell with Shawn Michaels as Triple H lies atop the stage. The bell officially rings to start the match which probably shouldn’t be allowed as Triple H isn’t in the cell but I guess in a tag team match only two people need to be in the ring for the bell to ring. Legacy double team Michaels in the ring, hitting him with a double team chop block/clothesline combination for a near fall. Rhodes hits a knee breaker but Michaels drops him with an enzeguri. DiBiase then misses with an elbow drop which buys Michaels a short amount of time before Ted goes back to work on him. Cody wraps Michaels knee into the ringpost a couple of times. Michaels pulls a chair out from under the ring and throws it at Rhodes as Triple H crawls down towards the ring.

Shawn Michaels does is best to create some distance between he and Legacy but Rhodes slingshots him into the side of the cell. Back in the ring and Michaels manages to fire DiBiase into Rhodes, sending Cody out of the ring. Michaels hits a flying forearm on DiBiase as Triple H contemplates climbing up the cell. Michaels hits sweet chin music on DiBiase! He slowly crawls over for the pinfall but Rhodes breaks it up and then hits him with a chair. Triple H tries breaking open the cell door with a chair as Rhodes rams Michaels into the side of the cell. Legacy then rub it in Triple H’s face as he watches from the outside. Triple H then leaves and heads to the back as Rhodes continues to lay into Michaels. Is Triple H going to come back with a chainsaw? Or maybe he’ll ram raid the cell with something. Speaking of ram raiding, DiBiase rams Michaels into the cell and then the ringpost.

Legacy continues to double team Shawn Michaels, Dibiase dropkicking a chair into Michaels’ face. Cody then locks a figure four on Michaels around the ringpost, much like he did at Breaking Point. Triple H then returns with bolt cutters! DiBiase hits Michaels with dream street but Triple H manages to get into the cell! Triple H hits Rhodes with a spinebuster and then DiBiase with a knee to the face. Triple H hits a spinebuster on Rhodes on a chair and Michaels takes down DiBiase! He back body drops Ted out of the ring as another referee comes down with a chain. Triple H wraps the chain around his fist and nails DiBiase with it! Triple H then hits DiBiase with a pedigree on the outside! Michaels drags DiBiase out of the cell and they lock him outside! Triple H hits Rhodes with another big spinebuster and then puts a chair over his head. Shawn Michaels goes to the top and hits an elbow drop on Rhodes!

DiBiase watches on from the outside as Triple H pulls his trusty sledgehammer out from under the ring. Michaels hits sweet chin music on Rhodes and at the same time Triple H nails Rhodes with the sledgehammer! Michaels pins Rhodes and gets the three! DX beat Legacy tonight in the best Hell In A Cell match of the night!

Rating: 7.75/10

And that was the first ever Hell In A Cell pay per view. It felt like an action-packed show and for the most part, a good one. It started with a big Hell In A Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship, a match in which Undertaker beat CM Punk for the title. This was the first time ever the World Heavyweight Championship had changed hands in this type of match so I was surprised to see it open the show. It was a clean win for Undertaker and probably the shortest Hell In A Cell match in history but it’s Undertaker back on top on Smackdown and I’m fully expecting a third and final PPV match between the two. John Morrison beat Dolph Ziggler to retain the Intercontinental Championship. This was the kind of match I was expecting of these two talented wrestlers. It reminds me of the Intercontinental title matches we’d see in the early 90’s. Morrison is a great champion but I would like to see Ziggler get a run with the belt at some point.

Mickie James and Alicia Fox were up next and this match didn’t really click. Mickie guided Fox through the match and Fox does have a lot of personality but she’s doesn’t ever have singles matches on Raw so to have one on PPV was a leap. The crowd were dead for the match as well which was a shame. Mickie is a great champion though and one of the greatest divas of all time. Chris Jericho and Big Show retained their Unified Tag Team Championships against Batista and Rey Mysterio. I liked the team of Batista and Mysterio, they were good contenders but Big Show and Jericho have really elevated the titles and I like them as champions. I think DX will be their next contenders. Batista heads back to Smackdown but I would have preferred to have seen him stay on Raw.

John Cena and Randy Orton were up next and Randy won the WWE Championship back from Cena. For starters I was surprised that this match was on so early considering it was for the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship opened the show. It was also a surprise that Cena lost the WWE Championship after he won it only a month ago. I liked the finish to this match with Cena passing out and then getting punted in the head, it was affective. But I feel like I’ve seen this match too much recently and I’ve lost interest in the rivalry. Drew McIntyre beat R-Truth next in Drew’s first ever PPV match. This wasn’t great and the crowd was pretty flat too. It gave McIntyre a big win though and will probably put an end to this rivalry.

Kofi Kingston retained his United States Championship against The Miz and Jack Swagger. I like this match on paper, I like the Raw midcard but I don’t think match was quite as good as I expected. Kofi is having a great run as champion but either Miz or Swagger would be a good choice as champion. Kofi’s run won’t last forever! This match was ok, a triple threat is never easy. The main event was a really good match. Great psychology, great action and a great performance from all four guys involved. DX beat Legacy to put an end to this rivalry. I was surprised that this match was the main event as there was nothing on the line but it was the best Hell In A Cell match of the night. This feud has given Legacy a really big rub and made them look like stars so lets hope they can capitalise going forward.

Overall Rating: 54.06/100 (ranked 175th out 244)

Match Of The Night: DX vs. Legacy
Worst Match Of The Night: R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre
Surprise Of The Night: Randy Orton wins the WWE Championship back
Worst Booking Of The Night: Just the flip-flopping of the WWE Championship between John Cena and Randy Orton
Superstar Of The Night: Randy Orton/The Undertaker/DX
Hell In A Cell 2009 Will Be Remembered For: 3 Hell In A Cell matches and two major title changes