|Date: October 3, 2010
|Venue: American Airlines Arena |City: Dallas, Texas
|Attendance: 7,500 |Buys: 210,000
|Brands: Raw & Smackdown

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Hell In A Cell, the one night a year where the main events are competed inside Hell In A Cell. Both the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships will be defended inside the devils playground. Randy Orton won the WWE Championship at Night Of Champions in a six pack challenge and the night after on Raw Sheamus would request his mandatory rematch at Hell In A Cell. The anonymous Raw General Manage would up the stakes, announcing that the two would meet inside Hell In A Cell. Kane defends his World Championship against his brother The Undertaker who has had his powers restored by former manager back on the scene Paul Bearer. It is thirteen years since Kane made his debut, in a Hell In A Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

Another big storyline on Raw has been the rivalry between John Cena and The Nexus. The two men have agreed to a match tonight with huge stipulations. If Wade Barrett wins then John Cena must join The Nexus. But if Cena wins then The Nexus are gone for good. Added to that are that if The Nexus get involved then Wade Barrett will lose and thus The Nexus will cease to exist. A tag team match between Daniel Bryan & John Morrison vs. The Miz and Alex Riley got so out of hand that the Raw General Manager has made a triple threat match tonight with Daniel Bryan defending the United States Championship against The Miz and John Morrison. Also tonight, one member of Lay-Cool will defend the WWE Divas Championship against the number one contender Natalya, who won a battle royal to earn the shot.

In a dark match prior to the event Goldust, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth defeated Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler.

A video package kicks us off, firstly hyping up Kane and The Undertaker’s Hell In a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship and then the WWE Championship match between Randy Orton and Sheamus. The voiceover is supposed to be from the point of view of the Cell itself, a bit odd.

Michael Cole welcomes us to the show, four title matches tonight, two if which are inside Hell In A Cell.

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz – Falls Count Anywhere match for the United States Championship

A first time triple threat match kicks us off. This stinks of Daniel Bryan beating John Morrison to retain, keeping The Miz unscathed with his Money In The Bank contract. John Morrison beat Dolph Ziggler at last years Hell In A Cell pay per view, The Miz lost in a triple threat match to Kofi Kingston. No sign of Alex Riley as The Miz makes his entrance. Miz gets on the mic before the match, runs down his former partner Morrison and his former NXT rookie Daniel Bryan. Michael Cole talks up The Miz. Morrison takes down Miz early before Morrison and Bryan knock Miz out of the ring. The Miz does his best to run away from Morrison and Bryan but they catch him and Bryan hits him with a low dropkick to send him back out of the ring. Morrison then hits a snapmare on Daniel Bryan and we get some nice chain-wrestling between the two.

Daniel Bryan applies a leglock to Morrison but John gets to the bottom rope. The two men roll out of the ring to the outside where falls count too. The Miz breaks up the hold and rams Morrison into the apron. Miz then throws Daniel Bryan into the barricade before rolling Morrison back into the ring and laying in some boots. Morrison avoids a shoulder charge in the corner and then locks a tarantula in on Miz but Daniel Bryan breaks it up and applies cattle mutilation to The Miz. Jerry Lawler says that Strikers commentary is the equivalent of cattle mutilation which Michael Cole finds hilarious. Bryan then locks a leg lock on The Miz and the two men kick each other in the face but John Morrison hits a corkscrew moonsault on both men to break up the hold. Morrison then applies a high bridging single leg crab on Bryan which The Miz breaks up. Morrison kicks Miz out of the ring and then hits him with a corkscrew plancha.

Miz back body drops Morrison out into the crowd and then smashes him off the barricade before applying an armbar. Morrison punches his way out of it and then battles with The Miz through the crowd. The Miz applies a dragon sleeper through some bars but Daniel Bryan breaks it up. Daniel Bryan looks for an armbar on Miz but Miz counters it. Miz throws Daniel Bryan through a barricade and Morrison attacks Miz from behind. Morrison then hits Daniel Bryan with a flash kick off the barricade. The Miz comes back with a flight case and runs it through Morrison before putting Daniel Bryan on it and ramming it into the ramp. Morrison hits a dropkick on Miz and then applies a triangle choke but Bryan breaks it up. Miz throws Bryan into the barricade and then hits skull-crushing finale on John Morrison on the concrete.

Daniel Bryan and The Miz both attempt their finishers on another but they both counters. They then both knock each other down with clotheslines. John Morrison climbs the lighting rig before diving down on both of his opponents. John Morrison looks for a Texas cloverleaf on The Miz and he locks it on! Alex Riley then emerges from the back and breaks up the move! Daniel Bryan shoves Alex Riley off the stage and into a cameraman. Daniel Bryan looks for the LeBell lock on The Miz and he locks it on! The Miz taps out! Daniel Bryan retains the United States Championship! I’m surprise the fall was on The Miz but it’s a big win for Daniel Bryan tonight! A great way to kick off the show.

Rating: 7.75/10

There’s a video package next for Randy Orton and Sheamus. Is the WWE Championship match up next?

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

This is the third singles PPV match between these two men, the two previous matches have ended in a disqualification win a piece. Randy Orton won a Hell In A Cell match at last years event against John Cena, retaining the WWE Championship so he is looking for back to back wins tonight. The two men lock up hard before Orton takes Sheamus down. Sheamus replies by rubbing Ortons face across the top rope but Orton takes the advantage by clotheslining Sheamus out of the ring. Back in the ring and Orton hits a knee drop for a two count. Sheamus hits a shoulder charge and then clubs away at Orton on the ring apron. Sheamus then Irish whips Randy into the cell before knocking him down with a clothesline. Sheamus launches the ring steps at Orton who ducks out of the way. Orton then wraps Sheamus around the ringpost before nailing him with the ring steps.

Sheamus suplexes Orton onto the top rope and then launches him into the side of the cell for a near fall. Sheamus stomps away at Randy Orton and then hits him with knees. This is Randy Orton’s 26th PPV consecutively which is a current record, tied with John Cena, if Chris Jericho doesn’t wrestle tonight. Sheamus rubs Randy Orton’s face into the side of the cell and then suplexes Orton onto the ring steps. Sheamus gets a two count in the ring and then applies a choke, a bit like a Tazmission but I guess it’s a chinlock. Sheamus has been targeting the middle section of Orton and he applies a waistlock. I don’t think anyone has ever tapped out to a waistlock. Orton gets out of it by hitting a side suplex. Randy then avoids a splash in the corner and hits a dropkick and both men are down. The two men get to their feet and slug it out until Orton hits a couple of clotheslines and a powerslam.

Randy hits a belly to belly suplex for a near fall and then a backbreaker. Orton motions for an RKO but Sheamus counters it and then hits a knee to the ribs. Sheamus has slotted in nicely to the main event scene, he can definitely keep up with the main eventers and not look out of place. He slides the ring steps into the ring and then looks for a running powerslam on the ring steps but Orton counters it with a powerslam of his own for a near fall. Orton looks for a hangmans DDT on the ring steps but Sheamus counters it. Orton drops Sheamus on the top rope and then hits the hangmans DDT off the ring apron. Orton looks for an RKO on the outside but Sheamus pushes him into the ringpost. Sheamus sets up for the Irish curse backbreaker on the ring steps which would make no difference that it’s on the ring steps but he hits it. Sheamus then sets up for the brogue kick and he hits it! Sheamus hooks the leg but Orton kicks out!

Sheamus looks under the ring and finds a steel chair. He hits Orton with it repeatedly in the back before getting a near fall. Sheamus swings the chair again but Orton ducks it and hits the RKO! Sheamus rolls out of the ring which stops Randy from going for the cover. Orton exits the ring and looks to hit a punt but Sheamus avoids it and hits a brogue kick! Sheamus rolls Orton back in the ring and gets a near fall. Lots of false finishes in this one, the second half of the match has been a lot better than the first half. Orton looks for the crucifix powerbomb off the ring steps but Orton counters and hits an RKO on the steps! Randy hooks the leg and gets the three! Randy Orton retains the WWE Championship tonight. A good match, the last ten minutes made up for the first ten.

Rating: 6.75/10

Josh Mathews is backstage with the NXT Season 3 Divas. Josh asks Kaitlyn how she’s feeling about an elimination this week but before she can answer The Nexus turn up. Wade Barrett isn’t happy that The Nexus are barred from getting involved tonight but he’s confident that he will beat John Cena tonight.

Ricardo Rodriguez, the ring announcer for Alberto Del Rio introduces Del Rio who is dressed in a suit so presumably won’t be in action tonight. Del Rio says that this is his WWE PPV debut and he wants to make it special. He’s disposed of Rey Mysterio and Christian so who will be next to face Alberto Del Rio? Alberto references that we are in Texas so I’m expecting a Texan to come out. Edge’s music hits and out walks the Rated-R Superstar! Edge says that he is in a fight against stupidity and there are some parts about Alberto Del Rio that are stupid. Like his scarf for example. Edge calls Del Rio “stupid” in Spanish. Edge and Alberto look like they’re about to get into it when out comes Jack Swagger. Swagger calls Edge and Alberto Del Rio stupid. Swagger isn’t happy that Edge speared Swaggers mascot. Edge cheap shots Swagger and Del Rio attacks Edge from behind. Swagger then hits Edge with a gutbuster but the Raw General Manager sends an email!

Michael Cole reads out the email that says tomorrow night on Raw, Edge will apologise to the General Manager. In the meantime we have a match between Edge and Jack Swagger right now!

Edge vs. Jack Swagger

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. Jack goes right to work on Edge, laying in some stomps but Edge hits a drop toe hold and drops an elbow. This is an inter-brand match as Edge represents Raw and Swagger, Smackdown. Swagger hits a hard Irish whip and then applies a leglock. Swagger hits a gutbuster for a two count and then pops Edge on the middle rope but Edge looks for a tornado DDT which Swagger counters. Swagger hits an alligator roll and then applies a body scissors but Edge gets out of that and hits a hotshot. Edge misses with a move on the ropes and Swagger looks to belly to back suplex Edge off the apron. Edge blocks it so Swagger applies an abdominal stretch through the ropes. Edge hits a big boot, a clothesline and a bulldog for a near fall. Swagger looks for an ankle lock on Edge who kicks him away. Edge hits an Edge-o-cution for a near fall.

Jack Swagger locks on an ankle lock! Edge gets to the ropes to break the hold and then back body drops Swagger out of the ring. Swagger pulls Edge out of the ring and lock an ankle lock on but Edge counters it, sending Swagger into the ring steps. Edge rolls Jack back into the ring and then heads to the top but Swagger goes up with him. Edge fights Swagger off and hits him with a missile dropkick for a near fall. Edge smashes Swaggers arm off the ringpost after taking out the cameraman and then heads to the top but Swagger goes up with him and hits Edge with a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Swagger hits a side suplex, he’s bleeding from the mouth now. Edge counters a Vader bomb with a kick to the ribs and follows it up with an impaler DDT. Edge then looks for a spear but Swagger counters it with a gut-wrench powerbomb for a near fall.

Swagger avoids an enzeguri and then locks on the ankle lock! Edge gets to the bottom rope but Swagger drags him back to the middle of the ring. Edge rolls out of the ankle lock and nails Swagger with a spear which is enough for the three! Edge beats Jack Swagger tonight! Not an amazing match but it’s a big win for Edge tonight.

Rating: 4.5/10

The Nexus, minus Wade Barrett, are backstage. They’re worrying that tonight could be the end of The Nexus but David Otunga has a plan.

There’s a video package showing the history between John Cena and Wade Barrett.

John Cena vs. Wade Barrett – If Cena wins then The Nexus must disband but if Barrett wins then Cena must join The Nexus.

This is a first PPV match between these two men. Cena wrestled at Hell In A Cell last year in a losing effort to Randy Orton. Barrett starts the match with a headlock which Cena counters. If any member of Nexus interfere then Wade Barrett automatically loses. But what did Otunga have planned? Cena takes down Barrett for a one count and then grins at his opponent. Wade Barrett looking for his first PPV victory tonight on the third time of asking. Cena hits a hiptoss and a dropkick for a one count. Barrett hits Cena with right hands but Cena takes him down and hits some lefts and rights of his own. Cena scoops Barrett up for the attitude adjustment and out come The Nexus! Technically not involved yet but it distracts Cena allowing Barrett to knock Cena out of the ring. Wade tells them all to go to the back but Otunga says they won’t get involved. Barrett Irish whips Cena into the barricade and then rolls him back into the ring, pinning him for a two count.

Barrett hits Cena with more lefts and rights for a two count and then hits a backbreaker for a two count. wade goes up to the middle rope and hits an elbow drop for a two count. Barrett lays in more boots, stomping Cena in the corner. The leader of The Nexus hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count as the rest of The Nexus watch on. Barrett applies a seated surfboard stretch as duelling chants start for Barrett and Cena. Cena gets out of the hold and hits a couple of shoulder tackles and a side suplex. Cena motions for the five knuckle shuffle and The Nexus surround the ring. Cena hits the five knuckle shuffle and gets distracted by the men stood around the ring but out comes The Big Show! Big Show takes out a couple of Nexus members and then the whole locker room comes out. Goldust, R-Truth, The Hart Dynasty, Chris Masters, MVP, Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston dispose of The Nexus.

Cena tries for the STF but Barrett powers out. Barrett then hits a pump handle slam for a two count. Barrett looks for wasteland but Cena counters with a DDT for a two count. Cena tries for the attitude adjustment but Wade counters with a double underhook suplex for a two count. Wade Barrett hits a side slam for a two count and then goes up to the middle rope but Cena rolls out of the way of the elbow drop. John goes to the top but Barrett crotches him up there and sets him up for a superplex but Cena powers out, dropping Barrett to the mat with headbutts. Cena hits a top rope fame-asser for a near fall and then sets up for the attitude adjustment but Barrett counters it and hits wasteland but Cena kicks out at 2! Cena and Orton are the only two men to have wrestled on every PPV so far in 2010. He hits Barrett with the attitude adjustment but Barrett kicks out at 2!

Cena ducks a right hand and locks on the STF in the middle of the ring. Barrett crawls towards the ropes when a fan gets in the ring! Another man then attacks Cena with what looked like a pipe! Barrett pins Cena and gets the three! Wade Barrett beats John Cena tonight which means Cena must now join The Nexus! Gabriel, Otunga, Tarver and Slater come out to the ring and celebrate with Barrett. Huge win. On the replay it looks like the two men that got involved were Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris.

Rating: 6.5/10

Josh Mathews is backstage when Paul Bearer creeps about. Bearer says that he has been away for 6 long years but he has a masterplan. Bearer says that Kane isn’t the father of destructions favourite son.

Michelle McCool (c) vs. Natalya – WWE Divas Championship match

This is the second PPV match between these two girls. Michelle actually beat Natalya to become the first ever Divas Champion back at The Great American Bash 2008. Michelle is accompanied by Layla. Natalya takes down Michelle early and there’s a bit of chain wrestling between the two until Michelle rolls out of the ring. Natalya follows, chasing Michelle around the ring where Layla gets involved allowing McCool to hit a clothesline and then throws Natalya into the barricade. Back in the ring and Michelle lays in some knees before applying a body scissors. Michelle breaks the hold and Natalya hits her with a back body drops and a couple of clotheslines before hitting a spinning clothesline. Layla gets up on the apron which distracts Natalya and when Michelle tries to get involved, she accidentally kicks Layla! Natalya rolls Michelle up for a near fall.

Michelle hits Natalya with a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Michelle looks to hit the facebreaker but Natalya counters it and locks on the sharpshooter! Michelle manages to counter it with a heel hook but Natalya once again counters it with a sharpshooter. Layla throws her heels at Natalya which causes the referee to call for the bell. Natalya wins this one by disqualification and then disposes of LayCool. No title change tonight! Not a bad match between these two girls, I’d definitely like to see more.

Rating: 5/10

There’s a video package for Undertaker and Kane next.

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

This is the ninth PPV match between these two men, that is an all time record for PPV matches between two opponents. Undertaker has won 5 of their previous 8 matches, Kane has won 1 and they have drawn 2. Undertaker won the World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk at Hell In A Cell last year. This is the 11th Hell In A Cell match for The Undertaker. I don’t know what it is but these matches don’t really deliver as much as they hype them up. Kane attacks The Undertaker as he walks into the cell. They don’t have opportunity to close the door so Kane briefly takes Undertaker out of the cell before bringing him back in. Kane grabs a chair but Undertaker boots it into his face. Undertaker then throws Kane into the side of the cell. The two men finally make it into the ring and Undertaker hits Kane with a couple of splashes before hitting snake eyes, a running boot and a leg drop for a one count.

Kane rams the chair into the gut of The Undertaker before smashing it across his back. Undertaker fights back with right hands as they go to the outside where Undertaker smashes Kane into the ring steps. Undertaker hits Kane with a couple of boots before throwing him into the side of the cell. Kane reverses an Irish whip, sending The Undertaker into the ring steps. Kane grabs the chair and smashes it into Undertakers left leg and knee. Kane then kicks the steps into Undertakers leg before continuing to hit his brother with lefts and rights. Undertaker fights back with some right hands of his own before rolling Kane back into the ring, laying him across the ring apron. Undertaker hits his trademark legdrop as Paul Bearer watches on with a smile on his face. Back in the ring and Kane hits a low dropkick to Undertakers damaged left leg. Kane continues to work the left leg. Kane is bleeding from the top of the head. Undertaker breaks the hold by beating away at the top of Kane’s head.

Kane is first up to his feet and lays in some kicks and right hands. Undertaker fights back with some rights of his own and the two brothers slug it out in the middle of the ring. Undertaker hits his flying clothesline Undertaker heads to the top but Kane crotches him up there. Kane hits a superplex and then goes up top and hits a flying clothesline. Undertaker hits the ,at but as Kane comes over Undertaker locks him up in hells gate! Kane manages to get out of the ring to break the hold. Both men get to their feet and knock each other down with simultaneous big boots. Undertaker sits up first but Kane sits up two and the two men slug it out on their knees. Undertaker hits a DDT for a near fall and then hits a chokeslam for another near fall. Kane takes a cheap shot and then hits Undertaker with a chokeslam for a two count. Kane hits a coupe of splashes in the corner and then some right hands.

Undertaker hits the last ride for a near fall. Undertaker then looks for a tombstone but Kane counters it and hits a tombstone of his own! Kane pins Undertaker who kicks out at 2! Kane isn’t happy and knocks out the referee. Referees and trainers come out from the back and take away the injured referee. Paul Bearer is now inside the cell, another heel turn coming? Kane intimidates Bearer, chasing him around the ring and then into the ring. Undertaker sits up and chokeslams Kane! Undertaker looks like a man possessed as he signals for a tombstone. Oh god, there’s a light show with blue lighting too. But as the lights go dim and blue, Paul Bearer opens the urn and shines a bright light in Undertakers face. Bearer then hands Kane the urn and Kane nails Undertaker with it! Kane hands the urn back to Paul Bearer and hits Undertaker with a chokeslam which is enough for the three! Kane and Paul Bearer are re-united! Not the best match ever.

Rating: 5.75/10

And that was Hell In A Cell 2010. This felt like a show that started well but slowly went downhill. For me, the show kicked off with the match of the night. Daniel Bryan defending the United States Championship against The Miz and John Morrison. This was a great way to kick off the show and I don’t usually expect it to steal the show but for me it did. Daniel Bryan is a man that can put on very good matches and I look forward to seeing more of him. Morrison is also very entertaining to watch whilst The Miz is much improved and a great base guy for this match. I was surprised to see Miz be the one to tap out to Daniel Bryan, I fully expected to see Morrison take the fall. A good win for Daniel Bryan tonight.

Randy Orton beat Sheamus to retain the WWE Championship. This Hell In A Cell match was better than the one that closed the show which may not be too much of a surprise. Orton was a fairly predictable winner as he only just won the title but that’s fine. It was a clean win with an RKO on the steps for Orton which I think will put an end to this feud. There are a few contenders for Ortons title including the likes of Wade Barrett, Edge and The Miz on Raw so I’d expect one of those to step up. Alberto Del Rio coming out ends up in a match between Jack Swagger and Edge. This was pretty random, a match between two heels although Edge is definitely the more popular. Edge won the match which is the first time he’s had his hand raised in a PPV match since Extreme Rules back in April. He needed the win really. Swagger continues to job out following his title run earlier this year.

Wade Barrett defeated John Cena in a match that was made to feel very big. This was a decent match but it was Husky Harris and Michael McGillicutty that made the difference and cost Cena the match. Could they be new members of The Nexus? It would make sense since they have lost the likes of Darren Young and Skip Sheffield. This creates a really interesting storyline as it has gone a bit off the boil since they lost at Summerslam. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this is going. Natalya beat Michelle McCool next by disqualification after Layla got involved. This is a big win for Natalya and keeps her in the title picture which makes me think this feud will continue to Survivor Series, possibly Bragging Rights. Not a bad match between these two but I think they are capable of a really good match.

Kane beat The Undertaker in the main event to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. I saw this finish coming a mile away. There’s something about Paul Bearer that I just do not trust. I can only assume that this feud will continue. This wasn’t a great Hell In A Cell match. This match type is probably the most over-rated gimmick match in the WWE. I just don’t care for them anymore. No decent spots in this one. Kane is still the champion in what is arguably the most successful run of his career.

Overall Rating: 60.4/100 (ranked joint 88th out of 257)

Match Of The Night: Daniel Bryan vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz
Worst Match Of The Night: Edge vs. Jack Swagger
Surprise Of The Night: The Miz takes the fall in the opening match
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: Kane
Hell In A Cell 2010 Will Be Remembered For: Paul Bearer turning heel to help Kane win and John Cena joining The Nexus