#133: Randy Orton vs. Sheamus, WWE Hell in a Cell (10/3/2010).
This is a Hell in a Cell Match for Orton's WWE Championship.
A few weeks earlier at Night of Champions, Randy Orton regained the WWE Championship from Sheamus in a Six Pack Challenge Elimination Match. This is the culmination of their feud that had been going on for a chunk of the year. Other than that, this was the yearly Hell in a Cell PPV, and this match just happened to be taking place inside Hell in a Cell.
The bell rings, and they lock up. They struggle for control, pushing each other into the ropes. They throw bombs back and forth, with Sheamus having the upper hand. Orton explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Sheamus sends Orton head first into the turnbuckle, and rakes his face off the top rope. Sheamus tries for a hip toss, but Orton counters with a lariat. Both men end up on the floor, and Sheamus avoids having his face sent into the Cell.
In the ring, Orton stomps on Sheamus’ chest, and then drops a huge knee to the head for a 2 count. Sheamus dives from the apron with a shoulder tackle for a 2 count. On the floor again, Sheamus tries to force Orton’s face into the steel, but Orton is able to avoid it. Sheamus irish whips Orton into the cage, and follows with a clothesline. Sheamus grabs the steel steps and throws them at Orton, who avoids it. He lifts Sheamus up and sends him back first into the cage several times.
Orton grabs the steps and hits Sheamus in the head with them. In the ring, Sheamus is able to kick out. Sheamus blocks a suplex attempt, and drops Orton midsection first on the ropes. Then, he shoulder tackles Orton off the apron, and sending him flying into the Cell. Another pin attempt by Sheamus, and Orton kicks out. Sheamus with a hard right hand to the ribs of Orton. He drives his knee into the ribs next. A back elbow follows, and Orton is still able to kick out.
Sheamus removes the turnbuckle pad and tries to slam Orton’s head off of it. Orton counters, but Sheamus still drops him with a forearm. Both men are on the floor now. Sheamus places the other steel steps on their side, and he hits Orton with an inverted suplex, dropping Orton rib first across the steps. Sheamus with a knee to the ribs next, and now he brings Orton back into the ring. He pins, but Orton kicks out. Sheamus with a rear naked choke now, and he grapevines his legs around Orton’s midsection.
Sheamus transitions to a gutwrench submission. Orton is able to fight it off, and hit a back suplex to Sheamus, which may have hurt him just as much. Dropkick by Orton, sending Sheamus into the exposed turnbuckle. They exchange fisticuffs, and Orton with a series of clotheslines now. Nice powerslam by Orton, and a belly to belly suplex for a nearfall. Orton with a backbreaker next, and he sets up for the RKO, but Sheamus counters with a hard midsection to the knee.
Sheamus goes to the floor and grabs the bottom piece of the steel steps, and brings it into the ring. He lifts Orton up, but Orton counters that move and hits a scoop slam to Sheamus onto the steps. Orton makes the cover, but Sheamus kicks out. Orton goes for the middle rope DDT onto the steps, but Sheamus is able to avoid it. Orton trips him from the floor. He drags Sheamus to the apron, and hits the DDT to the floor below. Orton goes for the RKO on the floor, but Sheamus counters and sends him into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Sheamus has Orton on top of the steps, and he hits a backbreaker across his knee. Not sure why the steps were needed for that spot, but okay. Sheamus connects with the Brogue Kick, but Orton is able to kick out. Sheamus grabs a chair, and hits Orton repeatedly on the back, continuing the assault on the midsection. Sheamus covers, but Orton kicks out again. Sheamus gears up for another chair shot, but Orton avoids it and hits the RKO! Sheamus smartly rolls to the floor to avoid getting pinned. Orton follows him, and goes for the Punt Kick, but Sheamus moves out of the way and hits the Brogue Kick again. Sheamus rolls him into the ring, and makes the cover. Again, Orton kicks out. Sheamus is pissed! He grabs the steel steps and drags them to the middle of the ring again. He drags Orton onto the steps for the High Cross, but Orton counters and trips Sheamus, dropping him spine first onto the steps.
Sheamus tries for it again, but Orton hits an RKO out of nowhere onto the steps! He covers, and he wins to retain the championship. What an interesting match this is. On one hand, it’s not that great of a Hell in a Cell Match. The Cell itself is mostly a nonfactor, and is simply there as a visual. On the other hand, the match itself is phenomenal. It’s the best singles match these two have ever had, and the psychology is well done. Sheamus’ work on the midsection of Orton made for a great story, and an even better comeback from Orton in the end.
The crowd was also hot for this match start to finish, which added a lot. They were into everything both men did, and the physicality that they brought kept everyone entertained. So, while this match is just a token Hell in a Cell Match for the namesake PPV, it’s still a great contest. It likely didn’t need to be inside the Cell, but that’s what WWE was in 2010 – shitty gimmick PPVs (I’m looking at you, Fatal 4 Way.)
As it is, I recommend this match regardless. The work is outstanding, the fans were molten throughout, and really, that’s all you can ask for in your wrestling.