Hell in a Cell (2013)

Hell in a Cell is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, generally produced every October by WWE since 2009. The concept of the show comes from WWE's established Hell in a Cell match, in which competitors fight inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area. The main event match of the card is contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation.[3][4][5] 2013 was the fifth event under the Hell in a Cell chronology.[6]

The professional wrestling matches at Hell in a Cell featured professional wrestlers performing as characters in scripted events pre-determined by the hosting promotion, WWE. Storylines between the characters played out on WWE's primary television programs, Raw and SmackDown.[7][8]

The main feud heading into Hell in a Cell was between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton over the vacant WWE Championship. After defeating John Cena to win the WWE title at SummerSlam in August, Bryan was betrayed by the special referee of that match, Triple H, which allowed Orton to cash-in his Money in the Bank contract and win the championship. In their rematch at Night of Champions in September, Bryan defeated Orton to win back the title, albeit with the referee Scott Armstrong deciding the pinfall with a very fast count. This controversial ending to the match resulted in Armstrong's (kayfabe) firing and Bryan being stripped of the WWE Championship by Triple H the next night on Raw. Bryan and Orton's next scheduled encounter for the now-vacant title on pay-per-view at Battleground on October 6 ended in a no contest after Big Show interfered and attacked both wrestlers and the referees, including a returning Scott Armstrong. With still no WWE Champion yet, on the October 7 edition of Raw, general manager Brad Maddox announced that Bryan and Orton would again compete against each other for the vacant WWE title inside Hell in a Cell and with a special referee for the audience to choose from amongst WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Bob Backlund and Shawn Michaels; Michaels won the vote.

At Night of Champions, AJ Lee defeated Brie Bella, Natalya and Naomi to retain the Divas Championship when she made Natalya submit. At Battleground, Brie Bella received a rematch against Lee, but lost when Tamina Snuka attacked Brie's sister Nikki, causing a distraction for AJ to win the match. On the October 18 episode of SmackDown, Brie defeated Lee in a non-title match. The following week, on the October 21 episode of Raw, Brie pinned AJ during a tag team match and earned another opportunity for the Divas Championship.

After defeating Rob Van Dam in a Hardcore Rules match at Battleground to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, Alberto Del Rio tried to coerce SmackDown general manager Vickie Guerrero on the October 7 edition of Raw to formally announce him as the "face of the WWE", making his case saying he was the only World Champion in the company at the moment (the WWE Championship being vacant) and without any new challenger in sight. Later in the evening, during his match with his formal personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Vickie announced that Del Rio would defend his World Heavyweight Championship against a returning John Cena - who had been out of action since SummerSlam due to an elbow injury - at Hell in a Cell.

Another major feud playing out in the WWE pitted CM Punk against Paul Heyman and his wrestler clients, whom he dubs "Paul Heyman guys". At the Money in the Bank pay-per-view in July, while still posing as his supporter, Heyman turned on Punk and cost him the Money in the Bank ladder match for a future WWE Championship match. This started a rivalry that soon brought Heyman's client, Brock Lesnar, into the fray, leading to a No Disqualification match between Lesnar and Punk at SummerSlam, which the former won with Heyman's help. At Night of Champions the next month, in a 2-on-1 handicap elimination no disqualification match, Punk eliminated Curtis Axel (another Heyman's client), before beating down Heyman himself. However, Ryback interfered in the match and put Punk through a table, allowing Heyman to pin him and win the match. As the newest "Paul Heyman guy", Ryback faced Punk at Battleground, but lost the match, when Punk pinned him after hitting a low blow behind the referee's back. This loss irked both Heyman and Ryback, and it was officially announced on WWE.com on October 9, that Punk will face off against Ryback in a rematch at Hell in a Cell. On the October 14 episode of Raw, Heyman attempted to convince Maddox to turn the encounter into a 2-on-1 handicap match, with Axel teaming with Ryback. Instead, Maddox set up a "beat the clock" contest in two matches featuring Punk and Ryback individually, with the wrestler to win his match in shorter time than the other to pick the stipulation for their match at Hell in a Cell. Though Ryback defeated R-Truth in a time of 5:44, Punk defeated Axel with 11 seconds to spare, thus "beating the clock". As result of this victory, Punk himself added Heyman to the match as Ryback's partner, additionally making it a Hell in a Cell match, at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

On the October 14 episode of Raw, Cody Rhodes and Goldust defeated Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of The Shield to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. The next week, Rollins and Reigns fought The Usos (the previous number one contenders) for the next title shot, which ended in a no contest due to Rhodes and Goldust (who was on commentary during this match) attacking a taunting Dean Ambrose. Triple H then announced that all three teams would compete in a triple threat match for the titles.

Another match confirmed for the event featured Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando) taking on The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger).

On the October 18 edition of SmackDown, Big E Langston helped CM Punk fend off an attack by Ryback and Curtis Axel. On the October 21 episode of Raw, Langston pinned Axel in a tag team match. He was then granted a shot at Axel's Intercontinental Championship on the Hell in a Cell Kickoff. Before the Kick-off show began, it was announced that the match between Langston and Axel for the Intercontinental Championship was cancelled due to Axel suffering a hip injury.[9] The replacement match for the Kickoff, announced by WWE on Twitter, would be Kofi Kingston vs. Damien Sandow.[10] Also during the Kick-off, Langston was part of the "expert panel" and was interrupted by The Shield. Dean Ambrose then said that he would defend his United States Championship against Langston later on during the pay-per-view.

The English commentators were Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and John "Bradshaw" Layfield while there were also Spanish and German commentators ringside. Lilian Garcia and Justin Roberts were ring announcers.

The actual pay-per-view opened with Cody Rhodes and Goldust defending the WWE Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat tag team match against The Usos and The Shield's Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Rhodes pinned Rollins after executing the Cross Rhodes to retain the titles.

The Miz entered the ring, addressing The Wyatt Family. Miz challenged Bray Wyatt, leading to Luke Harper and Erick Rowan attacking Miz. Kane returned, attacking Rowan and Harper. After the two retreated, Kane Chokeslammed Miz.

Next, The Great Khali and Natalya faced Fandango and Summer Rae in a mixed tag team match. Rae pinned Natalya with a roll up to win the match.

After that, Dean Ambrose defended the WWE United States Championship against Big E Langston. In the end, Big E performed a Spear on Ambrose, who was standing on the apron. Big E re-entered the ring but Ambrose was intentionally counted out, meaning he retained the title. After the match, Big E performed the Big Ending on Ambrose.

In the fourth match, CM Punk faced Paul Heyman and Ryback in a Handicap Hell in a Cell match. Before the match, Heyman entered on a scissors lift and was dropped on top of the cell. The match ended when Punk performed a Diving Elbow Drop on Ryback through a table, hit Ryback with a kendo stick and executed a GTS on Ryback to win the match. After the match, Punk climbed the cell, hit Heyman with a kendo stick and executed a GTS on Heyman.

Next, Los Matadores faced The Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro). Los Matadores pinned Swagger to win the match.

After that, Alberto Del Rio faced John Cena, who returned after an arm injury, for the World Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio targeted Cena's arm. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment but Del Rio countered into a Backstabber on Cena for a near-fall. Del Rio performed a Step Up Enziguri on Cena, who was on the top rope, for a near-fall. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Del Rio but Del Rio countered into a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker on Cena for a near-fall. In the end, Del Rio applied the Cross Armbreaker on Cena but Cena performed a Powerbomb on Del Rio to break the hold. Cena pinned Del Rio after an Attitude Adjustment to win the title.

In the seventh match, AJ Lee defended the WWE Divas Championship against Brie Bella. AJ forced Brie to submit to the Black Widow to retain the title.

In the main event, Daniel Bryan faced Randy Orton for the vacant WWE Championship inside Hell in a Cell, with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. Bryan performed two Suicide Dives on Orton and attempted a third but Orton avoided the move and Bryan collided with the cell wall. Bryan performed a Diving Headbutt on Orton for a near-fall. Bryan applied the Yes! Lock on Orton, who escaped the hold. Orton performed a Superplex onto a pile of steel chairs on Bryan for a near-fall. Triple H argued with Michaels, distracting him from the match. Orton attempted an RKO but Bryan countered, knocking Orton into Michaels. Triple H and a trainer entered the cell to check on Michaels, with Triple H pushing Bryan. Bryan executed a Running Knee on Triple H but Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Bryan. Orton pinned Bryan to win the title.