Okay, so I’ll get this of my chest,as it’s only a minor quibble. But at the risk of sounding pedantic and like, well, a twat, I should point out the rather frivolous title that this WWE release sports.

“The Greatest,” “of all time,” implies that this collection of bouts is the cream of the crop, the best of the best, a selection where only the finest rise. However, in the case of Hell in a Cell, that pretty much means all of them. There only have been sixteen Cell matches in company history and this DVD includes a whopping 14 of them. Hardly selective.

Nevertheless, this was a release that came along with a certain degree of expectation, much like the Ladder Match 3 disc set and the slightly crummy Steel Cage match compilation from a few years back.

Hell in a Cell is one of the WWE’s most beloved of gimmicks and probably their most successful speciality match introduced since the Royal Rumble towards the end of the 1980s. It was first established in 1997 and implemented as a gimmick to further the Shawn Michaels and Undertaker feud. According to Shawn Michaels, he suggested to Vince McMahon they do a cage match, but with a roof. It fitted the rivalry, because with the Degeneration X faction coming into play, the Cell was designed to keep interfering members on the outside.

The bout was an artistic success, as fans and critics raved. Not only was there blood, stunts and the debut of the guy with the big red nipples, but there was also a genuinely great story told by both guys. This was violent and shocking, but in the best ways possible.

The Cell format rose to new heights, literally, in June 1998, when Mick Foley was casually thrown from the top by The Undertaker, in perhaps the most famous bump in WWE history. Still a favourite with audiences, that spot did much to cement the gimmick’s reputation and drove home the feud-ending, nightmare scenario that it was meant to imply.

Much of the good work was undone however, at WM XV, when the Undertaker re-entered the steel structure to face Big Boss Man in a horrible, dire snooze fest, that ranks as the worst Cell match in history. They didn’t bring the gimmick back until February 2000, when Mick Foley was “retired” by Triple H in another tremendous effort that did big bucks at the box office.

The WWE of course, again overdosed on a good thing and booked a second Hell in a Cell during that year at the Armageddon PPV. However, being a six-man match, this one was at least different. Though, I always personally thought that the Cell should only ever be brought into play to climax an intense personal grudge.

The match itself was entertaining stuff, but much of it was constructed around a big bump that Rikishi took off the top. However, unlike the bumps in previous matches that mattered (Michaels took a comparatively minor bump off the side of the cage in the first, Foley’s two, then Foley’s fall through the Cell against Hunter), this one sucked, as Ripples and Dimples fell with no motion whatsoever, less than ten feet, before landing in some bales of hay on top of a lorry.

Even the noise it made was ridiculous.

But now, there was certainly a problem with Cell matches. Audience expectations were far too high. Blood wasn’t enough to satisfy the gore-hound WWE crowds of 2000. No, they wanted Mick Foley standard stunts every time out. Quite frankly, they were becoming desensitised to everything else. Just look at high quite the fans were during the first portion of the HHH/Foley match, even though they were really into it - they didn’t pop for anything near the start, because they were waiting for that big bump.

Seeking to remedy this situation (both to keep the gimmick fresh and to protect the health of workers), Chris Jericho and Triple sought to redress the balance with a brutal, hard-hitting match in May 2002 that neglected to include a bump off the top. The bout was an epic war, but one that few people cared about. But at the very least, it calmed expectations down somewhat.

Since 2002, the gimmick has become a fairly regular guest, but they’re careful not to book him too often. And a huge positive, is that they’ve focused more on the brutality and innovation spots, rather than wacky falls and hugely dangerous ones. Triple H and the Undertaker are the Cell’s two most frequent guests and it’s a gimmick usually reserved to finish their long running feuds with other “wrestlers” and “superstars”.

Of course, none of this is discussed on this 3-disc compilation. This release could not be more simple,and thus, disappointing.

The format is as follows: Mick Foley is your host (and it looks like he’s presenting this on the same awful set The Coach used to present the updates for the WWE’s highlight shows in 2000/2001) and he says a few brief words about each match, more so, the ones he’s involved in. Basic intros, and a couple quips.

Then we get the backstory video reels for each match as they arrive. The majority of these are extremely well done, but they’re the same as the original PPV packages, and completely kayfabed. And that’s the whole problem with this DVD- it’s like of depth and exploration. Kayfabe is not far from being alive and well in these parts. Which essentially, reduces a potentially interesting DVD package, to a mere match compilation.

Another negative is that more so than with several other recent compilation DVDs (the WWE has generally been doing a good job with this), a lot of the bouts included here are available elsewhere. That seriously weakens the set and it’s a problem because it’s only strength is the match list. There are two here from Triple H’s: King of King’s DVD, which in fact, underlines how badly chosen some of the matches on that set where (Hunter has piles of great matches that were overlooked on his set). The first two PPV Hell in a Cell’s have been released repeatedly and the Lesnar/Taker effort has been in compilation form.

Otherwise, all the other bouts can either be considered slightly inferior, or are recent enough that they’re not the most appealing to splash out the cash on.

What would have been great, is interviews between the bouts, with the wrestlers featured in each one, discussing the ins and outs, the behind the scenes (shhhh!) stuff that have made the federations best DVD’s so absorbing.

Really, for my (not easy to come by folks) cash, the finest shiny discs have included the Pick Your Poison set on Jake Roberts, Mick Foley’s Greatest Hits, the Benoit set and of course, the outstanding king of ‘em all, Bret Harts whopping three disc effort.

What connected these, and was especially prevalent in the Bret one, was the candid, revealing nature of these efforts. We seem to have taken a fair few steps back lately, and the quality of these releases is beginning to tell. Alternate commentaries would have been awesome, especially as, like Foley admits, fans are more interested in the falls in his Cell matches than any other parts of his career.

Wouldn’t it have been fun to get Austin, Foley and JR to do a commentary over the Six-Man? How about Michaels and HHH discussing their feud throughout there ridiculously long bout?

At the very least, this match would have been greatly enhanced by both guys, and McMahon being interviewed beforehand, and explaining the details of their rivalry and why they thought it warranted over three-quarters of an hour, of PPV time.

That said, the featured bouts are very, very impressiv

Matches:

In your house: Bad Blood 1997
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
Obviously, this is the encounter that started it all, back in October 1997. It’s a classic, brutal, thrilling piece of business that still stands up today. Michaels was simply absolutely breathtaking in this effort.

No Build-up Necessary it seems…: Raw, June 1998
Steve Austin & Undertaker vs. Mankind & Kane
This is one of two matches on this compilation that I’ve never seen before. I always wondered what the hell they were thinking booking a Hell in a Cell match on Raw, the same month they planned to sell one on PPV.

Well, this is more of an angle, than a really proper match. That said, there’s lots of action, and it’s kinda fun. But it’s also head-scratching and nonsense really. Honestly, I hated this whole feud, the Austin/Taker/Kane/Mankind confusa-thon that was mid 1998. Horrible, horrible stuff, and the reason why although 1998 period Raw was doing mind-blowing business, it’s almost impossible to go back and watch with hindsight. This one is worth seeing regardless.

King of the Ring 1998
Mankind vs. The Undertaker
Like the first Cell encounter, this has been inscribed in legend so firmly that you’d almost have had to live inside a potato for the past ten years to have somehow missed it. Despite the hoopla, the hype, the two insanely dangerous falls from the top of the cage that have defined both the match, and the perpetrator, Mick Foley, it’s still a dramatic, terrifying scrap. Both guys give it everything, in a match that managed to marry high-risk and sheer stupidity with great storytelling and drama. Outstanding. There’s not as much in this, and it’s not as great an achievement as the first, but it’s even more memorable.

Overusing the gimmick: Raw, August 1998
Kane vs. Mankind
Like the tag match, I hadn’t seen this prior, but I was aware of it’s existence. Having three Cell matches within less than three months, was obviously DUMB to a huge degree…but even at that, these two pulled out a fair enough brawl. But why bother? What was the point? They could easily have left this one off.

Enjoyable enough though and the card heat for everything the main event players were doing in this period is still great to witness.

Mick Foley’s “Retirement” Match: No Way Out 2000
Triple H © vs. Cactus Jack
Looking back upon this, it really is genuinely something just how far Foley went here to put over Triple H. Like… he really, really put him over as the man in 2000. There’s high-spots aplenty, but they’re a little safer than before, there’s a solid, definitive ending to their feud, and yep, there’s even fire.

WWE Title Match: Armageddon 2000
Kurt Angle © vs. Triple H vs. The Undertaker vs. The Rock vs. Rikishi vs. Steve Austin
Shame that at the end, after Angle retained, tthey had to have Austin nail a Stunner for the crowd pop to send the fans home happy and hammer home the point that yes, he is the biggest star in the match. Except that the fans at this point no longer bought Austin as number one (Rock was clear favourite following Austin’s near year-long absence). But hey, before that, we get half an hour of FABULOUS wrestling. At times, yeah the cameras struggle to follow all six guys, but it’s of little impact and doesn’t detract from a heated marathon of a brawl.

Most people had no interest in this one: Judgement Day 2002
Chris Jericho vs. Triple H
At this point in 2002, Jericho was clearly undervalued by the WWE. Having held the WWE Undisputed Championship (first Champ ever too…) and dropping it to Hunter at WM, following their offensively rubbish feud, Jericho, instead of being given a career-saving bout for Backlash, was LEFT OFF the next PPV. Hell, at least he cut a promo on it…

Losing momentum, what’s the worst thing can happen? Yep, you get booked against Helmsley in a Cell match. Though in fairness to Trips, the WWE felt the need to put him over strong, as the month previous have sucked for him too, when nostalgia-eyed Vinnie Mac took the belt off him in favour of Hogan (don’t get me started on that one…).

Oh yeah, great match this and crucial, because they began to tone down the stunts and this one became something of a template for the future. Oh yeah, and it’s the match referee Timmy White “killed himself” over. Poor Timmy. Mike Chioda climbing to the top of the cage is the clear highlight mind you.

Restoring the awesomeness: No Mercy 2002
Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar©
This battle has to be seen to be believed. Many doubted this would be a goodie. After all, their first match at Unforgiven the month before was a flop.

Brock had never featured in anything like this. Taker had barely had a watchable one-on-one match since Mania and everyone believed Undertaker was suppressing the world with his stroke. But in the end, this match was about putting Brock over, and he looked like a BEAST. The finishing moments are truly wonderful, Heyman blades like a dog and at the end, Taker looked truly defeated. A tough, vicious spectacle.

Only one real negative though: Taker’s white socks! White socks! It would maybe have worked in the Mean Mark days, but come now…

BEEP BEEP… World Title Match: Bad Blood 2003
Triple H© vs. Kevin Nash w/Mick Foley as Special Referee
Snore……….Even Mick Foley as referee (the build-up had to entirely focus on Foley/HHH’s past, because Nash was sending buyers scurrying for their boke-bags), the introduction of screw drivers as weapons and Trips’ blue pants couldn’t save this one. I remember watching, TERRIFIED that Nash would win, even though he was the Baby here. Upon reflection, it’s a pretty solid match, but with no drama whatsoever, it’s imminently skippable.

The long, lonnnnggg one: Bad Blood 2004
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
This match is 47 minutes long! BY GUM! No one needed to experience that much Steel in one go. However, at least they had the right two guys and it’s incredible that they managed to created an epic, emotional, draining, exhausting climax to their feud.

It sill didn’t need to be that long though…

World Title Match: Vengeance 2005
Batista © vs. Triple H
Everyone expected this to suck (myself included) and everyone expected Triple H to go over, in what was the third successive PPV outing between these two. And there was no way Humper would lose three in a row (I disagreed). But the genuine resentment towards Trips actually added to the heat for this (much like Chris Benoit’s title win at Wrestlemania XX), while the two both completely excelled and put forth an incredible effort.

Some spots really built on the brutality of Hunter’s earlier Cell outings and at the time, I remember being convinced he’d picked up a few notions from the One Night Stand PPV the month previously. And check out the finish - an outstanding play on a spot from Triple H’s Wrestlemania 17 war with the Undertaker. Honestly, best moment of the match for me, and one that had the crowd soiling their nappies.

Wrong man goes over: Armageddon 2005
Undertaker vs. Randy Orton
This is one of those frustrating Undertaker matches that I was convinced he needed to lose, and well…well you’ll see. Really hot battle though, with some cool involvement from Cowboy Bob Orton and Randy taking some nice bumps that really turned up the pace of the match somewhat.

The build-up for this though was absolutely atrocious though. Remember Randy was seeing stuff in the mirror etc, because the Undertaker was driving him mad and WE COULD SEE HIS VISIONS TOO. Jesus, sometimes the WWE just don’t get it at all…

Comedy in a Cell: Unforgiven 2006
D-Generation X vs. Vince & Shane McMahon & Big Show
See, my problem with this one, is that this was for me, a comedy feud. DX told some cock jokes, the McMahons got uptight - not much more to it. Building a Cell match out of it was both pointless and tarnished the gimmick somewhat.

However, they at least had a really good showdown, with blood aplenty and some really cool stunts. One big thumbs down though for seeing what I can only describe, as literally “the big show” during this one…

Plus, they added that new Cell, a freaking enormous structure with a support beam that cuts off the heads of wrestlers when the camera cuts to a wide-angle shot. Ugh.

World Title Match: Survivor Series 2007
Batista vs. Undertaker
Once again, I worried this would suck, having figured that confining these guys in the Cell would have worked against the reasons that their earlier, rambling epics were so great. I was happy to be wrong. This one is a tough, furious war and on a par with the Edge/Taker Cell match that was started here and didn’t actually occur until Summerslam 2008 (didn’t quite make this disc though).

Both guys are inventive throughout this, creating neat moments and a real sense of epic emotion. They both look knackered by the ending and although the interference of Edge could be seen coming a MILE OFF, they achieved a great deal by making fans forget about that for the duration of the match. And Edge’s appearance was so well done anyway, that it’s pretty irrelevant.

However, at the time people complained that they thought Edge should have sliced his way into the Cell with a chainsaw (he was pictured on the SS poster with said implement). Are you guys out of your minds?

Basically, this is a collection of astonishing, great and at worst, just good, matches. And that in itself, is a recommendation. They’ve left out the one dud, although I still think they should have just had every Cell match included, rather than pretend it didn’t exist and had this as a complete retrospective, which it’s so close to being anyhow.

The Raw bouts are decent, but not worth buying the whole set for. But when you combine their rareness with a first DVD release for the Armageddon frenzy and Jericho/HHH (it was released way back in the early days of WWE DVD’s and is difficult to find now) and a couple of others from shows not worth buying in their own right, it’s a nifty deal.

But if you’re looking for more than that, you’ll be sadly disappointed. A cautious thumbs up from me.

If you’re interested in purchasing this DVD, it’s available now from Silver Vision.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback and I can be contacted at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!