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WWE pulled off one of their most ambitious match ideas in company history at Armageddon 2000. The main event of the year-end PPV featured six of the biggest stars facing off inside the Hell in a Cell structure. Kurt Angle was tasked with defending the WWE Championship against Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Rikishi.
There has never been a match consisting of that much star power at the right time when everyone was over. Each name in this match is a WWE Hall of Famer or will one day become one. The match featured a few bold risks in the storyline build and the match itself. WWE went all in with the star power for this shocking Attitude Era match.
Hell In A Cell Focused On Multiple Feuds At Once
One of the coolest things about the six-man Hell in a Cell match was that it was story based. WWE utilized six different top characters and placed the WWE Championship in the middle for an ideal attraction. Three singles feuds going on between the various names made the match feel even more important.
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WWE’s Survivor Series 2001 event one month prior featured the triple main event of Steve Austin vs Triple H, Kurt Angle vs The Undertaker, and The Rock vs Rikishi. All three feuds continued into the next show with other rivalries from the past resurfacing in this match. The Rock cut an all-time great promo impersonating all five opponents that is still beloved today and added to the fun of such a scenario.
Vince McMahon and Mick Foley were even involved in the build. Foley booking the match as Commissioner saw McMahon trying to stop it to prevent injuries. Another memorable segment saw Austin, Rock, and The Undertaker all hitting their finishers on Vince one after another to express their desire for the match in hilarious fashion. WWE did an underrated job building the match beyond a car crash stunt show of six wrestlers having a violent brawl.
WWE Made The Hell In A Cell Match Feel Like A Huge Deal
The Hell in a Cell match at its peak may have been WWE’s best stipulation. Fans viewed the cell as an attraction since all-time shocking moments were associated in the first few matches, like Kane’s debut after a classic, or Mick Foley’s stunts vs The Undertaker or Triple H. The selling point of the six biggest stars at the time competing in the structure felt like a dream match no one dared dream of.
Vince McMahon trying to stop the match from happening as the hated heel figure sold the violence and risk of the match. The fear of Vince having his biggest names get injured made the Hell in a Cell match feel like the coolest match. WWE sold the appeal of this structure in a way they’ve never been able to get back since over using the gimmick match in future years.
However, Armageddon 2000 proved that the cage could draw money, with Undertaker even promising to “make someone famous” as a nod to throwing Foley off in a previous match. WWE not only had a layered story for six legends, but they had a flawless use of a stipulation in the build. Fans had reasons to care about this match beyond the name value.
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This Hell In A Cell Match Was WWE's Version Of A Blockbuster Action Movie
No one would accuse this infamous six-man Hell in a Cell match of passing Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair as a technical wrestling match. However, movie box office results show that people will pay to see a blockbuster action movie above the pure film experience of great artistry. WWE had their version of an action movie with the Armageddon 2000 main event.
One change for this Hell in a Cell match was the six wrestlers battling all over the ringside area when the door was open. There were even a few spots using a couple of vehicle props on the stage with the wrestlers harming each other. WWE wanted nonstop brawling, violence, and excitement in a match that accomplished that.
Kurt Angle shockingly won the match at the end through a lucky manner to portray him as surviving the cell. The standout moment was Undertaker throwing Rikishi off the cell to a truck. The Rock, Triple H, and Austin all looked like outstanding top stars. The match itself was sloppy at times, but it worked due to the unique nature of six Hall of Famers brawling in a video game like Hell in a Cell match.
