Hell in a Cell A Hell in a Cell match is a match seen in World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) in which the ring and ringside area is surrounded by a roofed steel cage ( called " cell " ) . Thrity - six Hell in a Cell matches have taken place in WWE since its inception in October 1997 . The original Cell was 16 feet high and weighed over two tons but since been replaced by an amplified version of 20 feet and five tons . Described as a " career ender " by the WWE , this type of match is known to end the most intense of rivalries due to its dangerous nature . Indeed , the early occurrences of this match were known for the legitimate and severe injuries suffered during them ( the most notorious of which belonged to Mick Foley when he wrestled The Undertaker ) , and even cause the commentators to break character . Creation . The Hell in a Cell match was first introduced at WWF Bad Blood on October 5 , 1997 at the Kiel Center in St . Louis , Missouri . It featured The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels , who had cost The Undertaker the WWF Championship in a bout ( where he was special guest referee ) against Bret " Hitman " Hart two months prior at SummerSlam . They fought one - on - one at , but the match went to a no - contest after they kept knocking out officials who were trying to restore order in the match . Their next match was meant to be a normal steel cage match , but the WWF took it one step further : instead of a normal steel cage enclosing only the ring , a bigger steel structure with a roof was made , enclosing not only the ring but also the surrounding ringside area . The wider space between the ring apron and the cell walls allowed the wrestlers to fight outside the ring , as well as retrieve weapons from under the ring . Also , unlike a steel cage match ( wherein escaping the cage is one way to win ) , the only way to win Hell in a Cell is via pinfall or submission ( though no Hell in a Cell match has ended by submission thus far ) . As in a steel cage match , count - outs and disqualifications do not apply . Generally , the combatants battle inside the cell while the door is locked and chained to keep out Superstars who would try to interfere in the match . However , there have been Cell matches wherein the wrestlers have fought outside ( and even on top of ) the cell , as well as non - participants interjecting themselves in the match : Impact of Hell in a Cell . Hell in a Cell matches are rare in the WWE as it is designed to end the most intense feuds and to " shorten careers " . The Superstars who fight inside the Cell usually beat each other so badly that their rivalry will be ended forever . There have only been 21 such matches in the WWE , 19 of which are seen only on pay - per - view events due to the logistical difficulty in setting them up , the match ' s dangerous nature , and its perception as a special attraction . There are three Cell matches that have been shown on TV , however , two in 1998 on " Raw " and the other on September 28 , 2009 prior to Hell in the Cell . WWE announcers and performers often stress the dangers of the cell and the match itself . Jim Ross , who has called many Hell in a Cell matches , has described the cell as " two tons of unforgiving steel " and as a " perverse , vile , diabolical structure . " Jerry " The King " Lawler , Michael Cole and Tazz have described the match as the most gruesome in the WWE . The Undertaker holds the distinction of being involved in more Hell in a Cell matches than any other WWE Superstar to date - having competed in eleven Hell in a Cell matches , winning five of them . Triple H follows closely , having competed in eight Hell in a Cell matches to date , winning six , the most in WWE to date . The first Hell in a Cell match not directly involving either of them was Mankind vs Kane ( in which The Undertaker interfered ) . Two further Hell in a Cell matches have since taken place without Triple H or Undertaker participating - Randy Orton vs John Cena at Hell In A Cell 2009 , and Randy Orton vs Sheamus at Hell In A Cell 2010 . Orton has won both matches . Titles are rarely defended in Hell in a Cell matches . The first time a title changed hands in a Hell in a Cell match was in 2009 , when The Undertaker won the World Heavyweight Championship and Randy Orton won the WWE Championship from CM Punk and John Cena respectively . In 2009 , WWE presented a Pay Per View called WWE Hell in a Cell , where all main events were Hell in a Cell matches . One of the main events to be featured at the event was The Undertaker vs CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship . This was the Undertaker ' s tenth Hell in a Cell match and CM Punk ' s first . Another was John Cena vs . Randy Orton for the WWE Championship . This was Cena ' s first Hell in a Cell Match and Orton ' s second . Also , DX ( Triple H and Shawn Michaels ) and Legacy ( Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes ) competed in a tag team Hell in A Cell match , the second to feature DX opposing another tag team ; they previously defeated Shane and Vince McMahon and the Big Show at Unforgiven 2006 in the match ' s only 3 - on - 2 handicap stipulation as a tag team match event .