WWE Hell in a Cell 2011 match card -- Updated after Raw

by Geno Mrosko on Sep 27, 2011 8:01 AM EDT in WWE

WWE Hell in a Cell will take place this Sun., Oct. 2, 2011, at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. This just two weeks after the company's last pay-per-view offering, Night of Champions, which took place on Sept. 18.

Now that the Raw go-home show is in the books (live blog here, reactions here), we have a few more matches to the add to the official event line-up. Here's how the card looks now with just Smackdown left to air before the show:

-- John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio for the WWE championship in a Hell in a Cell match

Right now, it looks entirely possible they'll change the title to Del Rio for the tour through Mexico and another attempt to pop a solid rating on Raw but the smart money is still on Cena retaining. Sadly enough, there are very few scenarios that see Punk walking out of here with the title. It's disgusting how poorly he's been booked since Money in the Bank. Of course, I assume Miz and R-Truth will show up to crash the party in some capacity, so I suppose that will be how they "protect" Punk for another pay-per-view loss.

-- Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton for the world heavyweight championship in a Hell in a Cell match

This one confounds me, not because the match makes no sense, but rather the build to the rematch has been almost completely nonexistent. Orton hasn't been on Raw for the last two weeks and his match with Cody Rhodes on Smackdown last week generated enough buzz that WWE officials were reportedly thinking of setting up a small feud between the two to capitalize on it further. Henry still looks great as the champion and I would hope he goes over again here.

-- Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix for the Diva's championship

I see no reason for Kelly to hold onto the title other than to continue screwing with Phoenix, for whatever reason. Oddly enough, on commentary during Raw last night, Jim Ross uttered the following: "Finally, Beth Phoenix gets her chance at the Diva's title on Sunday at Hell in a Cell." Uh ... what? That's how flat this feud is. They didn't let Beth win in her hometown at Night of Champions, I assume she goes over here.

-- Christian vs. Sheamus

They've done a phenomenal job building Sheamus into a babyface who has actually caught on quite well, at least with the live crowds. They cheer Cena each week, though, so how much can be said for that? Christian is still a top notch heel and the dynamic between the two has been solid if unspectacular.

Smackdown, which is taped tonight, will provide us with a few more matches to round out the card, which, as of now, might as well be the same as Night of Champions two weeks ago.

Look good to you, Cagesiders?

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Orton seems destined to lose to Henry

and then move onto the feud with Rhodes, which is nice to get Orton out of the WHC picture for a little while but also doesn’t help putting the intercontinental champion in non-championship matches each week.

If Pheonix doesn’t win, I won’t be too broken up about it, but they better not give her a 4th PPV to lose to Kelly Kelly.

I love Christian vs. Sheamus as a good non-title match, which the WWE has lacked in most of their PPVs. You also have the Sin Caras, Daniel Bryan, and Ziggler/Swagger/Ryder still able to fill out the card some.

"In fact, most of these free-swinging Padres couldn’t hit Dock’s funky palm ball. I threw it often. But by then, also, the first acid distractions entered: the TV flickered; the cracks in the wall started to move; the hand soap started to breathe — those sorts of things. Plus I was drawn to the outdoor garden between innings. Rain was near, I sensed." - A.J. Daulerio

by Gdawg on Sep 27, 2011 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

One thing that could conceivably happen (but probably not)

is Orton winning the Intercontinental Title from Rhodes and bringing “prestige” back to the belt. Have Rhodes obsess with winning the title back like it’s the only thing that matters to him.

That said, probably no way that happens.

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by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 27, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

This is why PPV buys are down. Almost 0 build thus 0 reason to buy this PPV. Why spend $40-60 for a PPV that has 0 build when you can stream it for free online and then rant about it afterwards?

6 PPVs per year is far more ideal than 12-15 PPVs. And you still can keep the gimmick thing to ’em too! Just have: 1) Wrestlemania, 2) Survivor Series, 3) SummerSlam, 4) King of the Ring, 5) Royal Rumble, and 6) Miscellaneous Random PPV of the Year (TLC, Elim Chamber, Breaking Point, Taboo Tuesday, TLC, etc)

by Sir Ingenious on Sep 27, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

2 weeks to build a PPV is just dumb

The rest are okay though they are a bit rushed at times, but why have a PPV just 2 weeks after one of the big 4?

by Gdawg on Sep 27, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly, 1 PPV per month is dumb enough. But 2 PPVs a month? That’s facepalmingily (should this be a new internet vocabulary?) dumb, I agree.

It amazes me how they can promote a stacked card with only 3-4 weeks “build”. And if they have a huge gap in PPVs in the recent past, they’ll just waste a lot of time and then rush through into the PPV in mere 2-1 weeks ahead. Dumb. Frustrating and dumb.

by Sir Ingenious on Sep 27, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions