The final time a brand could own its own cage match
In short: In 2017, WWE held a specific type of event that would soon vanish from the corporate playbook. It was the last era where a single brand—SmackDown—could claim exclusive ownership of the Hell in a Cell structure for a night.
The 2017 Hell in a Cell event, held on October 8 at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, served as a historical pivot point for WWE. While the annual event had been running since 2009, this specific iteration was the final time the company allowed brand-exclusive pay-per-view and livestreaming events for the main roster. Following WrestleMania 34 in April 2018, these exclusive windows were discontinued, marking the end of an era where SmackDown could operate independently of Raw's branding.
The event was defined by its centerpiece: a 20-foot-high roofed steel cage that surrounds both the ring and the ringside area. Because there are no countouts or disqualifications inside this structure, the only paths to victory are pinfall or submission within the ring. This year saw high-stakes history, including the first time a WWE tag team championship—the SmackDown Tag Team Titles—was ever defended inside the titular cell.
The card was built on long-form scripted narratives. For instance, Kevin Owens' main event against Shane McMahon was the culmination of a volatile feud involving an attack on Vince McMahon and subsequent suspensions. Similarly, Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship defense against Shinsuke Nakamura was fueled by weeks of psychological warfare and mockery from The Singh Brothers. These stories were meticulously produced on weekly television to justify the extreme environment of the cage.
Beyond the main events, the night served as a debut for Bobby Roode on the main roster and featured the return of Shelton Benjamin, who had been absent since 2010. By hosting the event at Little Caesars Arena—which opened just one month prior to the show—WWE also signaled a shift in its Detroit residency, moving away from the now-closed Joe Louis Arena.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hell in a Cell (2017)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-hell-in-a-cell-2017.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
