Eric Bischoff, the former WCW President and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, shared his thoughts on how the Hell In a Cell stipulation match has lost its relevance. He pointed to the well-known Hell In a Cell bout between Mick Foley and The Undertaker at King of the Ring in 1998 as a pivotal moment that may have diminished the importance of traditional cage matches. During an episode of the podcast “83 Weeks,” where Bischoff and co-host Conrad Thompson delved into wrestling history, they discussed how the dramatic encounter between Foley and The Undertaker sparked a trend of continually trying to outdo previous matches to the point of diminishing returns.
Bischoff highlighted his belief that cage matches lack the impactful storytelling elements that they once had and suggested that they have become less meaningful due to the absence of compelling narratives leading into them. In addition, he cautioned against the inclination towards risky stunts exemplified by performers like Shane McMahon. Bischoff emphasized the importance of honoring iconic matches such as the Foley vs. The Undertaker bout from 1998 within their own context rather than engaging in a constant cycle of attempting to surpass them or replicate their intensity.
