Report: Hell in a Cell match originally pitched for WWE WrestleMania 42
A Hell in a Cell match could have taken place at WWE WrestleMania 42 if original plans came to fruition.
PWInsider reports that A Hell in a Cell match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship was the pitch making the rounds for WrestleMania before WWE opted to go in a different direction. Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (not in Hell in a Cell) is now the planned WrestleMania title match, with McIntyre looking likely to face Jacob Fatu.
This would have been the fifth-ever Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania, following Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man, Undertaker vs. Triple H, Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon, and Edge vs. Finn Balor.
Both Rhodes and McIntyre have Hell in a Cell experience, including respective matches against Seth Rollins and CM Punk.
McIntyre had won the WWE Championship from Rhodes this January in a Three Stages of Hell match that culminated inside of a steel cage. But Rhodes then won the title back on SmackDown last Friday, setting the stage for Rhodes vs. Orton to happen at Mania.
Dave Meltzer reports that, as of now, WWE is planning for Rhodes vs. Orton to remain a singles match. Orton earned the title shot through his recent Elimination Chamber victory.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.