A 20-foot steel cage and a ghostly specter defined this night.

History · Published 2 November 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the world of professional wrestling, some structures are designed for more than just containment. The 2014 Hell in a Cell event featured a massive roofed steel cage where rules were suspended, only to be punctuated by a supernatural appearance that left fans stunned.

The American Airlines Center hosted the sixth yearly Hell in Cell match during Dallas, Texas, on 26 October 2014. The centerpiece of the show was the signature match: a contest held inside a 20-foot-high roofed steel cage surrounding the ring and ringside area. In these matches, there are no countouts or disqualifications; victory can only be achieved by pinfall or submission within the ring.

The event served as a milestone for WWE's digital transition, marking the first time the Hell in Cell brand livestreamed on the WWE Network. Despite this expansion into streaming, the pay-per-view buys totaled 83,000—a significant decrease from the previous year's 228,000. The card featured a mix of high-stakes stipulations, including a two out of three falls match between Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro, and a 'Contract on a Pole' match that determined future contenders.

The main event pitted Seth Rollins against Dean Ambrose in a chaotic Hell in Cell match. The bout was defined by extreme physicality, including both men falling off the cage through announce tables—a visual nod to Mick Foley’s famous 1998 incident. The climax featured a scripted supernatural intervention: as the lights cut out, Bray Wyatt appeared with a lantern and smoke, reciting an incantation before performing a Uranage Slam on Ambrose. This allowed Rollins to secure the pinfall victory in a finish that critics described as 'chaotic' and fitting for the intense feud.

While the event received generally positive reviews, it wasn't without critique. Analysts noted the 'hot potato' nature of the Divas Championship, which had changed hands frequently between AJ Lee and Paige leading up to the night. The Rollins vs. Ambrose main event was praised for its intensity but faced some scrutiny for its 'TV-style finish,' highlighting the constant balance between high-concept spectacle and traditional storytelling.

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