The Curious Case of the 6-man HIAC

[Dum Dum Dudley]

I was recently watching the 6-man Hell in a Cell match from Armageddon '00 on the ol' Youtube and i realized how much i still enjoyed that match ten years on. But after watching the match, i thought about all the factors that went into that match. For starters, there was some top, top guys in that match. Austin, HHH, Taker, Rock. Those four guys alone in a 4-man HIAC or any kind of 4-way would be a good match. Then you have two less established guys in Kurt Angle and Rikishi, and i'll come back to this later. Add in the fact that the HIAC match was one of the most barbaric matches at the time and had a history of insane spots and gruesome violence, and you had a recipe for a brutal match.

But it was after the outcome of this match and seeing Kurt Angle, bloody and beaten, clutching his world title belt that i thought about the ramifications of this match. For one, Kurt Angle, who at the time was a young rookie in the professional wrestling business and had just completed his first year in WWE, had just gone over four of the top guys that WWF/E has ever seen. Barring perhaps HHH, who at the time was not as big as he is today, Kurt still went over The Rock, Steve Austin and The Undertaker and pinned The Rock to retain. Some will argue he was lucky and sneaky to just crawl over The Rock who had just taken a stunner but a win is a win. Yes, he did not main-event WM X7, but remember, this is back in the day of one world title and it was clear that The Rock/Austin was being built to lead to Austin's heel turn. Post-mania, he held the WCW world title and was always in the main event scene during the invasion.

So i started thinking about today's superstars and today's 'next big thing' and, if you go by these forums, guys like The Miz and Sheamus spring to mind. So i was thinking, would we see a superstar go over 4 top guys today? I will hazard a bet that many of you will argue that in some kind of Elimination Chamber capacity then yes. But i'm looking at the four guys Kurt went over and i struggle to see who would take those roles today so i guess the second question is who would be the 4/5 guys? I would safely assume HHH and Taker would keep their spots, but who else would be involved. Cena? Orton? Tell me what you think.

 

[RockFan89]

So your basically asking if the WWE were to put together another 6 man HIAC match who would be in it?

Well, seeing as their are two brands now, you would need two matches.


For Raw:

Cena , Orton, Edge, HHH, Sheamus, The Miz


I would see Sheamus winning since that is his personality. Stealing a win right at the end and he would be at around the same point in his career as Angle was.

For Smackdown:
Mysterio, Swagger, Kane, Undertaker, Big Show, CM Punk

I'd see Swagger winning. Again, he is very similar to Angle, though I think he may have been in the WWE longer than when Angle was at this time. However, the Smackdown match would not have the star power that the Raw one does which is what made the hype for the original match so big.

 

[Dum Dum Dudley]

So your basically asking if the WWE were to put together another 6 man HIAC match who would be in it?.

No, not necessarily. I'm asking whether in today's current climate, could the WWE have a match where a younger guy could go over 4 legends or elite guys. Do you think someone could capatize on this opportunity like Angle did.

 

[biohazardxbw]

No, not necessarily. I'm asking whether in today's current climate, could the WWE have a match where a younger guy could go over 4 legends or elite guys. Do you think someone could capatize on this opportunity like Angle did.

i almost never post i look around so here goes.

i like you recently rewatched that match, it being one of my favorite of all time

and i was thinking about that same thing and NO i dont think it could be that way. WWE at the time has WCW in the back, they had to top one another, making Kurt Angle a Olympic gold medalist a HUGE star over night did allot for him and them. No one today can even come close to how famous HHH,TAKER,Austin,ROCK were at the time. Cena yes, but not allot of people know "Miz or Shaamous" but EVERYONE knew ROCK and Austin, they would try to pass it over as a huge thing but it would never work and no one would care.

 

[jmyers19]

Great post by the way, I didn't follow the product back then but seen the match and understand where you're coming from with Angle being not that big at the time. Now here's my personal picks:

Raw:

Sheamus, Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Edge

Smackdown:

Kofi Kingston, CM Punk, Kane, Undertaker, Big Show, Christian

Sheamus has accomplished quite a feat in one year, yet if he defeats them five other superstars in one match, that'd give him a huge rub. Granted he's already defeated and took out Triple H, defeated Cena and could defeat Orton come SummerSlam (Forgot who won the match at the Rumble but think it was by DQ)

Kofi Kingston I think is on the verge of breaking out to the main event, he's been used great and ever since he dropped his Jamiacan accent he's been more serious and shown more of a mean streak. Plus he can put on some top notch matches and now that WWE is pushing younger guys more than they have done in a while Kofi could benefit from it most. Add to that a great first year, defeating Chris Jericho for the IC Title then later winning the Tag Title's with Punk and last summer won the US Title, and this year picked up his second IC Title.

 

[patriotjay]

That match at Armageddon 2000' was aswesome i remember watching it with my brother in law and we both said it was an instant classic.But as far as tody Id like to see Cena,Orton,Edge,HHH,Miz,and Sheamus with Sheamus or Miz winning Angle style it'd be a great win for either guy going over those other 4.

 

[jholcomb22]

Quite simply, this will not happen in the same capacity ever again. With the brand split, WWE has created a lot more mid card wrestlers than legit superstars. Back in 2000, you can argue that Rock, Austin, HHH, Taker were all in their prime. Angle was wrapping up the most impressive rookie season ever, and this was just the cherry on top for him.

If they were to make this match again, and hope for the same type of result, new up and comer going over 4 of the biggest names in one match, the obvious event would be Elimination Chamber. As much as I would love to see a 6 man HIAC, I don't want to see it in a PG era. The only downside to an Elimination Chamber match is the fact that not everyone gets to face everyone, wrestlers get eliminated before some enter. One way to get a star on the verge over would be to have him start the match with a superstar, for instance, the Miz vs. HHH. Have the Miz beat him before the next guy gets in. Then have Sheamus. Have the Miz beat him in the 5 minute time frame. Have it work out like a gauntlet match, where he defeats all 5 but on his own and clean, and he will be over as a superstar by nights end.

I used Miz as an example because I think he is close to moving to the main event picture, if you dont already consider him to be there. However, you could pick anybody in the midcard scene, Morrison, Kofi, McIntyre, Barrett etc and this will make them a star.

The 4 or 5 top superstars, however don't even come close to the calibur in 2000. Cena would be there, Orton as well, Taker and HHH are there but for legacy value only. The 5th, I offered Sheamus' name, but possibly Kane, or Jericho, or Edge.

 

[Judah's Lion]

No, not necessarily. I'm asking whether in today's current climate, could the WWE have a match where a younger guy could go over 4 legends or elite guys. Do you think someone could capatize on this opportunity like Angle did.

simply put, this couldn't be done today. forget the fact that this is the PG Era and that you can't really have a bloody and brutal Hell in a Cell match. forget even the brand split. those can be worked around.

for example, if you wanted to have an inter-brand Hell in a Cell match between the top 6 superstars in the company for a title unification match. i know this won't happen, but let's just say that this was the writing.

you just don't have the star power in WWE now that you did then. Rock, Austin, Triple H and Taker were in their primes and Rikishi and Angle were on huge rolls of momentum.

it could almost work though. it'd be better if you could throw in HBK today, but now that he's retired, that's out.

Undertaker, Rey, Cena and Triple H would have to be your 4 legends. granted, Rey isn't as big as anyone in the original, but his legendary status is hard to deny. Cena is not as legendary but he's getting there and is the biggest draw. if you wanted to replace Cena with someone that's a bit more of a vet in the ring, then you could switch him out for either Kane or Big Show. either one would work because both have been in the Cell and Chamber matches and so both are convincing in there.

then for your two young upstarts on a roll of momentum, you'd have to go Sheamus and Swagger. Swagger is very much like Angle and is that kind of crafty heel that can sneak in a surprise win or win clean because he is that good. Sheamus is dominant and could "stand up" to the threats in the business and try to prove himself. plus he's had a pretty good rookie year, obviously, with two WHC title wins.

Jericho and Edge would be other options for the legends, but, IMO, i just don't think that they are the household names that Taker, Triple H and Mysterio are. so with those 3 "legends" spots filled, i guess the 4th spot could go to either Cena, Kane, Show, Jericho or Edge, maybe even Orton.

i guess now looking at it on my screen, it's not as impossible as i originally thought. but it would take some pretty creative writing and storytelling given the lack of star power and violence in the PG Era.

 

[Why Always Me]

The only way this could be done would be if it was an inter-brand match, possibly a unification match.

I would like to see Cena, Orton, Triple H, Edge, Jericho and CM Punk, 3 faces and 3 heels (just like Armageddon 2000). But would this match work in a PG environment, I'm not too sure. Plus I think if there was to be a 6-man match the WWE would use the Elimination Chamber instead.

 

[Ferbian]

Sure we could see someone going over the top stars in the manner that Angle went over the top stars back then. However it all comes down to whether it makes sense, Angle was getting pushed to become a huge star within WWE. If WWE wants to push someone to become a huge star, then they will definitely put him over 6 guys in this manner.

However I think it also relies on them looking credible against the others. I mean let's be honest Miz might look credible against one, or two of them at once. But he wouldn't look credible against 5 or 6 of them at all time. A guy like Sheamus could very well be taking a position like that, or Jack Swagger. They both have a great look and could easily be put in a position to go over guys like John Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, Edge, and Undertaker at once.

 

[SuperSteve16]

I have no idea who to put over if anything like this ever happened again. Some people have been tossing around the idea of Sheamus, Jack Swagger or The Miz but I think that before the WWE puts someone over that much, the need to be 100% sure that the wrestler is the future of the company.
Really,the only one of these three wrestlers that have really proved themselves as a main eventer is Sheamus. Sure The Miz is mr money in the bank but he isn't quite in the main event yet. Sure Jack Swagger had the world heavywieght championship but it was a terrible reign. Swagger never even beat anyone clean at a PPV and two weeks away from Summerslam hasn't even got a match. Sheamus has constanly proven himself by having good matches againest Cena,Orton and Triple H.
As for the other 5 wrestlers in the match, I would have the four company's biggest names: Cena, Undertaker, Orton and Triple H along with one of the most consistant performers over the last 15 years, Chris Jericho.

 

[mrbrownstone]

Well these days the Elimination Chamber is pretty much the equivilent of the 6 man HIAC. So if I were to chose the 5 top guys in the company to put over one guy it would be HHH, Cena, Orton, Taker and Edge. As for the guy getting put over it would have to be The Miz, Sheamus or Swagger dont really need this they are both already main eventers The Miz isn't quite a Main Eventer yet so I chose him. Could you imagine if The Miz beat the 5 guys I mentioned earlier, instant ME'er.

 

[Dum Dum Dudley]

Quite simply, this will not happen in the same capacity ever again. With the brand split, WWE has created a lot more mid card wrestlers than legit superstars. Back in 2000, you can argue that Rock, Austin, HHH, Taker were all in their prime. Angle was wrapping up the most impressive rookie season ever, and this was just the cherry on top for him.

The 4 or 5 top superstars, however don't even come close to the calibur in 2000. Cena would be there, Orton as well, Taker and HHH are there but for legacy value only. The 5th, I offered Sheamus' name, but possibly Kane, or Jericho, or Edge.

I realise Angle was embarking on an incredible first year that won't be replicated again. The closest i have seen to this would possibly be Sheamus. Plus, i think a big part of Angle's rise was is wrestling style as it was something different to your big guys like Taker and Kane or your brawlers like Austin. And i think you would really miss HBK if you were to replicate the HIAC because he has more credibility than Cena and Orton.
But i guess my 5 guys would be Taker, Cena, HHH, Orton and then probably Edge or Jericho but i guess Edge would just sneak it due to the fact that Jericho regularly drops down to the midcard whereas Edge is always in and around the main event.

The only downside to an Elimination Chamber match is the fact that not everyone gets to face everyone, wrestlers get eliminated before some enter. One way to get a star on the verge over would be to have him start the match with a superstar, for instance, the Miz vs. HHH. Have the Miz beat him before the next guy gets in. Then have Sheamus. Have the Miz beat him in the 5 minute time frame. Have it work out like a gauntlet match, where he defeats all 5 but on his own and clean, and he will be over as a superstar by nights end.

Yeah, i agree. The thing with the 6-man is that it is one decisive pin fall. Angle was the sole winner of the match. In an Elimination Chamber, you could have one guy eliminate the first 4 guys and then have your rookie claim the final pinfall. Now i can see how Angle's sneaky win (profiting from a stunner on Rock) and the elimination chamber scenario of only eliminating the last guy appear to be the exact same thing, but i just feel that having that one decisive pinfall adds credibility. The commentators can argue that the rookie is being smart and cunning whereas in the chamber, it comes across as sneaky and weak. And realistically, would we see a Miz or a Sheamus eliminate HHH, Cena, Orton, Taker and Rey/Jericho/Edge? It would sure as hell add credibility to whoever accomplished it but i don't think we'ld ever see it.