WWE Hell in a Cell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids WWE Hell in a Cell
WWE Hell in a Cell logo
Information
Promotion(s)	WWE
Brand(s)	Raw (2009–2010, 2016, 2018–2022) SmackDown (2009–2010, 2017–2022) ECW (2009)
First event	2009
Last event	2022
Signature match types	Hell in a Cell match

WWE Hell in a Cell was a special professional wrestling event put on every year by WWE. WWE is a big wrestling company based in Connecticut. The event was shown live on TV and online through services like Peacock and the WWE Network.

The idea for the show came from a special match called Hell in a Cell. In this match, wrestlers fight inside a tall, roofed cage. This cage is 20 feet high and surrounds the wrestling ring. The main match of the night was always a Hell in a Cell match. Sometimes, other matches on the show were also inside the cell.

Hell in a Cell started in 2009. It took the place of another event called No Mercy in October. Later, it moved to September in 2018, then back to October in 2019. In 2021, it moved to June. The event stopped happening after 2022. Its spot was then taken by a revived event called Night of Champions. This change happened because WWE wanted the Hell in a Cell match to be a rare and exciting event again. They wanted it to be the big ending to a wrestling story, not just something that happened every year.

How Hell in a Cell Started

In early 2009, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) asked fans to vote online. They wanted fans to pick the name for their October wrestling event. This event would feature the famous Hell in a Cell match. Fans chose "Hell in a Cell" over other names like "No Escape" and "Locked Up."

The first Hell in a Cell event happened on October 4, 2009. It replaced the yearly October show, No Mercy. At first, you could only watch it on pay-per-view (PPV). But starting in 2014, it also became available on the WWE Network. In 2021, it was added to Peacock for viewers in the United States.

Changes Over the Years

When Hell in a Cell first started, WWE had a "brand extension." This meant their wrestlers were split into different groups, or "brands," like Raw, SmackDown, and ECW. The first event included wrestlers from all three brands. However, ECW stopped being a brand in 2010.

In 2011, the first brand split ended. The 2011 event was the first without the brand split. It was special because it had the first "triple threat" match inside the Hell in a Cell. A triple threat match means three wrestlers fight each other.

The brand split came back in 2016. The event that year was only for the Raw brand. This show was very important. It featured the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match. This match was also the first time women wrestlers were in the main event of a WWE pay-per-view. The 2017 event was only for the SmackDown brand. It had the first Hell in a Cell match where "falls count anywhere." This means wrestlers could pin each other anywhere, not just in the ring. It also had the first tag team championship defended inside the cell.

After April 2018, WWE stopped having brand-exclusive pay-per-views. All wrestlers could appear on any show. The 2018 event moved to September. But in 2019, it moved back to October.

Hell in a Cell During the Pandemic

The 2020 event was special for a few reasons. It had the first "I Quit" match inside the Hell in a Cell structure. In an "I Quit" match, a wrestler wins by making their opponent say "I Quit."

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held in WWE's special "ThunderDome." This was a safe place where wrestlers could perform without a live audience. Instead, fans watched on big screens. The ThunderDome was first set up at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

In 2021, the event moved to June. It was the last WWE pay-per-view held in the ThunderDome. The ThunderDome had moved to the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. After this event, WWE started having live audiences again in July. Hell in a Cell was the only pay-per-view event to be held twice in the ThunderDome. The 2022 event was also in June and took place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

The Hell in a Cell Match

The main idea of the Hell in a Cell event came from the Hell in a Cell match itself. This match takes place inside a huge, 20-foot-high steel cage with a roof. The cage surrounds the wrestling ring and the area around it. The main event of each Hell in a Cell show was always one of these matches. Sometimes, one or two other Hell in a Cell matches would also happen on the show.

Over the years, there were different kinds of Hell in a Cell matches. For example, the 2011 event had the first "triple threat" match inside the cell. In 2018, the Hell in a Cell cage itself was changed. It was painted a bright red color and became a bit smaller. The wires were also made stronger, making the cage tougher but lighter.

Past Events

See also

In Spanish: WWE Hell in a Cell para niños

• WWE Bad Blood