Bruce Prichard shoots on Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker Hell in a Cell

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
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[@refskillz1033]

I remember being in 8th grade and ordering this on ppv without my mom's permission.She beat my ass when the cable bill came...well worth it.

[@summer-np6fx]

REFSKILLZ I Love it!

[@bobbyrowe9147]

Nice

[@brandondetroitfanmichaels4325]

REFSKILLZ Lmfao!!! I did that same shit for WCW Halloween Havic 1996! I got in soo much shit!

[@mozilla1986]

Ha seeing Shawn getting his comeuppance was worth the PPV money and ass beating from mumsy.

[@briancromartie3149]

😂😂😂

[@Kylersinjin]

Bruce Prichard has such better concept of nuance than Vince McMahon. His critique on the debut of Kane is spot-on.

[@RackEmRack]

Prob the best match of all time. Story, performance, bumps, Kane debut, swerve. Covered every angle without being cheesy

[@PsychicVampyreHunter]

Relax dude, it was good. Gimmick matches will never be better than a standard wrasslin match.

[@Tristian729]

Listening to this makes me want to go back and watch just to appreciate the details

[@theoneandonly09]

David Lucaa that’s why I like to listen to these shoots.

[@fshn4x4]

It's still epic. Taker vs Mankind kind of took over the Cell imagery in the zeitgeist but honestly, Taker vs HBK was the greatest Cell match ever IMO.

[@bubbaballer88]

Surprised WWE doesn’t give him a minor licensing agreement considering their relationship.

[@paulogrady4498]

In my top 3 all time matches. This has everything from start to finish.

[@thebigman7589]

Paul O'Grady agreed, I bet Shawn is in at least 1 more of your top 3 of all time too? Such an amazing talent, shame his attitude let him down half the time

[@JohnBarron-n]

What are the other 2?

[@paulogrady4498]

@@JohnBarron-n Bret Austin WM13 and probably HHH Cactus Jack RR2000.

[@paulogrady4498]

Taker HBK WM25 is up there too

[@travisburnett5685]

I was at this ppv in St louis... When shawn went through that table in that match you could hear it at the top of the old Keil center... Epic first hell in a cell!!!

[@andyblake9673]

Best Hell in a cell match ever! and one of the best matches in history!

[@jordanwillett8456]

I'm the biggest hbk mark you'll find but mankind's match was better but this one is rite up there with it

[@dangriffiths6358]

@@jordanwillett8456 as a wrestling match nowhere near but is more memorable for the falls obviously

[@wnentv68]

Best Hell In The Cell Match period

[@a_h3184]

Well, this started Hell in a Cell. But taker vs mankind will go down as the best

[@sleazyfellow]

I think Shawn's had more of an impact because it had a little of everything. Mick and funk saw it in the lead up to his hell in a cell with taker and funk said it's gonna be hard to top. It did top this original cell match only because of the spots it had.

[@McGomezAddams]

Shawn Michaels is an amazing amazing athlete personally the best I've ever seen in a wrestling ring

[@miguelcolmenares3134]

absolutely

[@YoLoboBro]

One of the nuances that I wanted to add was how Shawn got tangled up in wires when Undertaker picked him up after the big fall. Being in a twisted miss made it feel that much more like a car crash. Also, I like how Vince reacted to Kane. It felt more organic, exactly how we were responding as soon as we saw him with Paul Bearer.

[@urabusxrw04]

I remember watching this on scrambled ppv and it was still amazing.

[@akuma4u]

Lol u didnt watch...u listened. I use to watch 100s of scrambled ppvs back in the day. Sometimes you get lucky and the last 10 mins becomes unscrambled.

[@butchvito]

I was at this show, I was 12 years old. I don't think I ever went back to watch this match for some reason. I'm going to have to finally watch it again.

[@butchvito]

@Kaleb Smith - Yeah I remember not knowing what was going on at first when Kane came out. There wasn't a big titantron like now days, and I was way up behind the curtain. Being there live you didn't hear Vince scream, "That's Gotta Be Kane!!" So it's interesting to see it first from a different perspective.

[@RyanPelley1]

For some reason, my local video stores didn't carry the WWF PPVs in 1997, aside from the big 5. Had everything from years prior and had everything after 1997, which was weird, so I went years without seeing this match. When I did though, wow, unbelievable.

[@jerry85g7]

97 was a hell of a year.

[@chrismonk8446]

I watched this ppv and i really really loved this match. I watched every mintue. Hats off, 5 stars to both Shawn Michaels and taker

[@andrewwblanchard6037]

THAT'S GOT TO BE KANE

[@ghazanmarwat6055]

Greatest match of all time!

[@bobsapp3133]

i agree, it's a masterpiece.

[@eddyd115]

Classic, two of the best of all time

[@troymoitt5248]

Bruce has a point , now is a classic moment and audio bite of vince saying that's got to be kane. But they way Bruce explains it make more sense with the face off and let Taker with his eyes tell us that indeed that was Kane. Still everything went down great.

[@pryncjericho]

My #1 and #2 favorite wrestlers of all time in my favorite gimmick match

[@akuma4u]

Amazing match. Wrestlemania worthy main event match. It had it all. Then they somehow topped this match at wm25.

[@beenontopdraftpick]

Taker & Shawn still holds the title for the best HIAC match of all time. They told a story. An instant classic. Anytime they’re together it’s magic.

[@onkar5]

Such good storytelling. We need some mystery with every character which goes away now days with social media. Brock Lesner does a good job of it by never saying anything. Like when he punched Braun. It all looked real after that, coz I had no idea how mad Lesner was.

[@ryanjames6480]

onkar5 😂😂😂😂😂😂 don't compare hbk,taker to this shit they do today

[@jerry85g7]

I taped the ppv and would rewatch this match over and over.

[@liquidgeorge]

This match was PERFECTION.

[@bobsapp3133]

masterpiece from beginning to end.

[@jasonswift6243]

That was 97 and still the best hell in a cell match ever only Shawn could of pulled it off that good taker to to a lesser extecent

[@saint1802]

"I jUst LoOOooVE wrASsLiN

[@gumdeo]

GOAT.

[@robertcurrence5252]

They set the bar so high....No wonder Foley had to commit suicide to try and live up to this Hell in Cell.

[@aravindsr]

HBK was a phenomenal talent!

[@sese6227]

Oh, absolutely. In my opinion, he's the best ever, at inring work... selling, technique, facial expressions, psychology, nobody's better than HBK.

[@bravelittletoaster7299]

I always thought Kane kept pivoting to show how strong he was

[@dallasparty316]

I assumed This as well when I 1st saw HIC.

[@ccloudermi2168]

For some reason it looked more confused to me, like he forgets where the camera is at.

[@martynstembridge7714]

@@ccloudermi2168 Yeah, to me it was nervous confusion ... struggling to hold Taker in that position while figuring out where the camera was.

[@babayagaslobbedaknobba]

These stories are even more entertaining than some of these matches.

[@davidhartding800]

I was there in the Nosebleed Seats. 5 Star classic!

[@terrancewilliams1045]

Classic match classic times HBK n Taker #legends start of the attitude era

[@bobbyrowe9147]

Love this match

[@luigidicianni6462]

Bruce is great story teller,enjoy these blogs

[@richcoggeshall9944]

Just another example of the greatest in ring performer of all time-Hbk

[@Raad187KO]

This match is legendary

[@CCEkeke]

21:21 Ground Zero was NOT the first Undertaker top-rope dive. That happened on a RAW before WM in early 1997. Just saying.

[@mattkeegan238]

He also did as part of his feud wit Mankind at Survivor Series 96

[@tonystyles21]

I miss these days

[@riddlers91]

The first Wrestling match i ever watched. My ban recorded it for me on VHS. I still have that VHS now.

[@justinrudolf714]

Three of wrestling’s greatest matches happened in 1997: 1.) Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart at Mania 13 2.) Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels HITC 3.) Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, SSeries- up until the screw job.

[@terrorgaming459]

My favourite and greatest macth of all time

[@scottmiller7678]

I remember watching the attitude era an thinking that same question, is this real? Sure as hell seems like it. great stuff!

[@yuorbuddy]

I just watched it again. Heard someone screaming make him bleed. Wow! Shawn had heat.

[@tommyhallum3020]

I think they should add clips to the matches that they are referring to as they're speaking on it I just think it would make the show much better.

[@BxHiTMaN21]

16:07 That impression is money.

[@alexandereckert5184]

He nails him on the reg

[@GrayRedRoom]

Best match in company history.

[@briancromartie3149]

WM 13 Bret Hart vs Stone Cold. The Best match in WWE history.

[@GrayRedRoom]

Nah, this topped it.

[@WCWThunderRosa]

Certainly a top contender for best match they ever did

[@davidconreen6607]

Definitely in my top 10, I tried to make top 10 Of my greatest wrestling matches And in doing so it almost gave me a nervous breakdown Having to sacrifice So many classic matches. Obviously this match is in it Along with their wrestlemania 25 and 26 matches But it is a very hard task to complete And can pull you apart. I had to sneak an extra match in Making it an 11 And I know that there are still classics but They haven't come to mind yet. Regards David from Manchester England UK

[@KliqDon1983]

No doubt.

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

People drone on and on about Michael's "kliq heat" all the time, but I honestly think that heat and his attitude was ultimately best for business. Because from 95-98, Shawn had the best matches, the best segments and interviews, best fan reactions... Yeah he was a total jerk and he'll admit it, but genuinely, his body of work wad second to none! And when Shawn handed the torch over to Austin the timing was PERFECT!

[@Nicksuavemusic]

This classic match is an example of why they should A:loosen up on the blood restrictions let it happen not every match but matches that call for it like this street fights etc and B.let hell in a cell be a special occasion match not just a gimmick ppv .It would make it actually mean more than it currently does

[@attiepollard7847]

Nick. I don't mind the blood but let it happen naturally. I don't like when they cut themselves on command.

[@fluworldorder426]

@@attiepollard7847 guys work way 2 soft 4 it 2 be natural nowadays imo

[@attiepollard7847]

@@fluworldorder426 I know but the whole blading thing makes it seem too obvious and we have caught wrestlers doing that it takes away from the disbelief.

[@trinitysingularityzombiech7836]

I wonder as much as supposedly how undertaker "hates" hbk how he feels have his 5 star match with hbk. If hbk wasn't the way he was undertaker would of never had this match.

[@rleonardgreen78]

I don't think Undertaker hates HBK, He probably didn't like pre back injury Shawn, but HBK was a different beast when he came back from injury and one of Undertakers greatest rivals.

[@CCEkeke]

Undertaker did use to hate HBK before the back injury, He didn't like Shawn's attitude. Also, I think in some interview, Nash said that back in the early 90s, HBK called Taker carrot top behind is back. And Taker heard him. But after HBK returned in 2002 a changed man and they feud, they became friends

[@KiloMafia9]

This is so poorly typed it makes no sense

[@beenontopdraftpick]

pc Juggalo What are you talking about? Taker always respected Shawn’s work. Same goes for Shawn, he always respected Taker’s work. Taker never really cared for Shawn and his selfish ways. But that has nothing to do with in ring work. It takes two to make a 5 star match and both men have great chemistry together. The outcome is always magic.

[@fthomason93]

Fully agree with Bruce on the Kane thing. Silence would have done that moment much more justice than Vince freaking out.

[@jdolaktv]

Fully agree. And it didn't have to be a freak out moment. And they actually could've gotten even more mileage out of it at the end, just by emphasizing the confusion.

[@memphiswaspmafia]

This match, the first Hell in a Cell @ Bad Blood in St.Louis, Missouri is the greatest single match in wrestling history, at least in my opinion. I understand declaring any match as the greatest isn’t really fair because there are countless matches over the years that are just as spectacular. This match just happens to be my favorite. If someone said their favorite match was Undertaker vs Mankind infamous Hell in a Cell with Foley taking the greatest bump in history. If that’s your favorite I don’t blame you at all, I love it too.

[@vinnyl8937]

Whoever came up with Kane is a genius WWE used to be great at keeping fans intrigued

[@davecross4408]

LOLOLOL Was PRAYING Bruce would do the "Thats Gotta Be Kaaane"... Cant believe he didnt like it!

[@spazgasmtm2856]

that robo cop bit made me laugh so hard i woke my kids up

[@justinblair3263]

Attended this event in 97. I was in 5th grade.

[@briancromartie3149]

Jason Wessel St. Louis was loud that night.

[@mattfebbo9912]

Jason Wessel awesome show to be at..i was 15 watchin on ppv

[@jonarnett8284]

I was there too got to see them put Shawn in an ambulance

[@philjoyce1548]

I went to WrestleMania 14 I was 11 I think....we were not on the ground but first row of the actually arena seats ....fucking awesome seats and I mostly remember when Kane came out to fight Taker for the first time how fucking hott the flames were for his entrance...damn near burned my face

[@mpi9328]

Me too. Kiel center... Was one of only kids there in hbk t-shirt

[@doctorfeelfunny584]

Why does Bruce use an Italian accent when imitating Pat Patterson? I've heard Prichard is a simpleton, but he must have heard Patterson speak a million times.

[@crazyhayn]

Doctor Feelfunny it's supposed to be mimicking/ mocking Pat's Quebecois accent.

[@scooterthefrog]

I don't know if pat sounds like that but me, i knows me a lot of the guy from the quebec there, that talk like that eh?

[@WestCoastSamoan]

"It's gotta be.. it's gotta be Kane! it's gotta be Kane!" Because of that, I named my kid Kane. I started yellng that when he was born. Nurses looked at my wife like he's crazy 🤣 Bruce can hate on that but I loved it. that quote stucked to me like Marge repeating herself to Bart so he remembers

[@maceomillions2192]

I'm 29 & I can honestly say that this is the best match that I've ever seen... but on a side note Kane botched TF outta that tombstone though lol

[@taariqware1922]

Almost broke Taker's neck ALLLLLREADY

[@quintonlovett]

It’s funny you say that.. a lot of people overlook that lol he definitely botched it 😂

[@ccloudermi2168]

Any worse than when Jimmy Snuka got Tombstoned?

[@mr.sagittarius_king161]

Ppl say ric Flair is the greatest wrestler I disagree It’s Shawn Michaels hands down more athletic made lesser talent look gold whenever he was in the ring n his second run when he came back in 2002 was just as good or if not better than his first run n my favorite wrestler all time is Bret the Hitman Hart But Shawn was overall a slightly better performer than him wrestlers today don’t do it for me Shawn Michaels is unquestionably the greatest wrestlers of all time hands down

[@MrCain667]

They r 1A & 1B....

[@mr.sagittarius_king161]

MrCain667 Shawn n Bret or Shawn n Ric Flair

[@justinturley7071]

The aftermath of the match is the best part. Both laying in the ring, both have been through Literal Hell. Shawn got beat up, and still managed to escape victory from the jaws of defeat, Undertaker has to deal with his flesh in blood brother Kane, Perfection is word I give this match.

[@levithomas2700]

Bruce would make an excellent politician. He tells a story without explaining anything. After hearing his answer to a question, you realize he didn't give a straight answer to anything.

[@TarquiniusSuperbus]

What I love is when he vehemently disagrees with the premise of a question, as if it's the dumbest thing a person could ever think, and then basically confirms that it's correct.

[@sainandanramakrishnan4812]

I like Bruce's version of "That's gotta be Kane !!!"

[@RowlexEnterprise]

Sainandan Ramakrishnan yeah i thought vince said it too early too. I was overwhelmed with the match once shawn fell of the cage & when Kane made his way....I honestly was like “who the hell is this?” I actually forgot about Undertaker’s story with Kane. Then once Vince said “thats Kane..” i was like “ohhhh...so thats kane” So yeah..Vince blew it.

[@hawksfan5]

@@RowlexEnterprise Don't lie no one watched wrestling like a douche smark back in those days

[@adampatel109]

The best hell in the cell ever i think i loved both legends plus the match was spot on.... and the end... wow...

[@saddad6601]

“It’s KANE, a big lump with knobs, it has the juice”. I know that will not age well, even 6 months from now, but for this moment in 2022, it’s the first thing that came to mind.

[@MoreUniqueThanMost]

Who is this "Helena Sell" they keep going on about?

[@HornyStewie_69]

Think she's related to to that guy "Hunnerhearst Helmsely

[@markclark4149]

Shes a Hooker from Montana

[@alainkaizer7769]

Lost in this is on the RAW go home show before the PPV HBK actually climbed the titantron to escape Taker, imo the best match ever, this made Foley fall from the cell the next year, HBK maybe a POS but as far as wrestling goes, he is the shit.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

4:45 Jim cornette has said on multiple occasions when he said that hunter hearst Helmsley was a mid carder at best and would never draw any money. He was referring to that prancing blue blood gimmick and he was 100% correct.

[@A1PrimeTimeMovies]

Taker and HBK just had a certain chemistry in the ring not many guys ever had.

[@RowlexEnterprise]

Shawn innovated the ladder match at Wrestlemania 10 and he did it again in this hell in the cell.

[@Joshuawott69]

I do love Bruce's idea for how they should have done Kane.

[@RelTheKing]

Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest of all time.

[@davidconreen6607]

If I could only take 10 matches to a desert island with me Then Shawn Michaels and the undertaker Would be in three of the matches I would take with me, Obviously the wrestlemania 25 and 26 matches Make the 10 And so does the first and greatest Hell in a cell match When Shawn and Taker Created pure art,In fact I am going to put it on and watch it right now As I have not watched it for a while, Off the top of my head I would Also take wrestlemania 23's Money in the bank match And the classic World heavyweight title match Between Batista and the Undertaker, I would also have to take The greatest no holds barred Royal Rumble classic between Mick Foley and Triplel H, The Rock and Stone Cold And the TLC match at wrestlemania 17, Brock and Angle Wrestlemania 19, The main event of wrestlemania 20 For the world heavyweight title , This is impossible I am already up to 10 And need more room As I missing out on so many Classics. Try picking your own top 10 Just to see how hard it is. Regards David from Manchester England UK ps I would smuggle the first elimination chamber match Which Shawn won at Survivor Series For the world heavyweight title Where the sun doesn't shine, This is what this list will make you do ! So be warned.

[@mpi9328]

Agree with those 3

[@popacap]

Shawn seen HHH greatness so he shared the light with him

[@jayhiggs2K]

Dave Silva killed this one. My new favorite segment of the show. Plus, Bruce has to stop shitting on Silva if he ain't going to do the encore.

[@kalajel]

For a moment there, it sounded like you said "cake match"... Now I want to see a cake match...

[@TheBrister]

On this night there was some kind of glitch with the cable company my family had because for some reason we were able to watch the ppv for a while without paying for it. Didn't get to this match thou I guess they figured out the issue 😑

[@mpi9328]

New tag team name. Rumor and innuendo

[@terrancewilliams1045]

JR should of called that part with Kane debut if anything or like Bruce said kept it quiet

[@marcelmoreau2733]

That was supposed to be Patterson's voice? Pritchy knows that pat is French Canadian right?

[@marknorth8904]

I've heard Pat Patterson's voice. That is how he speaks in English...

[@pedrogates3189]

Remember ordering this ppv my moms got pissed and didn’t get me the new Jordan’s 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@pedrogates3189]

JHOT247 get a life you fucking weirdo

[@KiloMafia9]

15:56 he says “after the ref bump...” there wasn’t a ref bump until after Kane interfered . He was the one that knocked the ref out

[@jerry85g7]

I think he meant the camera bump.

[@nanobluelectrobuzz9227]

You can’t believe Pritchard about HHH and Shawn who were Vince’s boys. He talks politically about them.

[@troymoitt5248]

That's got be .. (Dramatic pause ) That's got be Kane !!!!!!

[@joeysaint3623]

Hbk the fucking man no one can top his work.

[@craigeagon5109]

Both mania matches were two of the greatest of all time. 25 IS the greatest of all time.

[@yktv_rob8767]

Hiac 1 is the greatest match of all time it’s fucking unbelievable everything

[@yktv_rob8767]

FACTS the greatest match ever a legit masterpiece of a match. ive never seen a match with everything that is in it

[@JB-qt3wo]

Not available anymore on the network.

[@cfairfax85]

Too bad man..now hell in the cell is a absolute joke. They need need to abolish the match until the pg crap is over.

[@jessicaburrow2799]

YEEEEEES!!!! I've thought this same thing for years!! I know the attitude era will not be again but geez they could do a little more edge

[@micmaliss]

I see where Bruce is coming from with allowing The Undertaker to say, "Kane." But, the pace of the match was already at a climax. Doing it that way would have slowed down the hype. Vince made the right call. We all knew it was Kane, so Bruce's way would have been pointless. That would have been great in a movie, but not for live TV.

[@98Ashb]

Does anyone know why in 2009 they chose not to mention this Cell match? I thought it would have added to the streak challenge, especially since Michaels won this match

[@My19812011]

Benjamin Ash Shawn alluded to it when he said to The Undertaker in a promo prior to their wrestlemania 25 match that Undertaker had NEVER beaten him before.

[@KiloMafia9]

For some reason WWE rarely ever mentions previous feuds and instances with wrestlers

[@markcunningham6735]

GEEEEZ HOW MANY 5 STAR MATCHES DOES TAKER HAVE

[@travismurell5228]

I wish more people these days took things seriously.

[@Fantomaslives]

”Its gotta be Kane.... its gotta be..Kaaane !”

[@charlesreggiocpwf3563]

18:30 story telling at it best

[@wiredupt.v9072]

DO A DX ONE!!!!! DX DX DX DX DX DX DX!!!!!!!!!!

[@mikelucas6519]

Is there a rumor and innuendo drinking game?

[@thattimestampguy]

13:22 Who was the cameraman?

[@andrewr1773]

Bruce! Hook up a shirt.. lol

[@michaeldepinto3562]

Shawn openly admits he was the one taking what Bret was saying in the ring personal not the other way around Bret just didn't like the Sunny comment Bruce Prichard isn't objective he clearly favors one over the other when everyone else says different

[@angelabailey6160]

Michael DePinto false

[@nickr4837]

The Hell in the Cell Match not The Glorified Stuntman trying to end himself while his own family was watching

[@Cobane823]

That interview that Shawn did at bad blood was a shoot Bruce you damnwell how personal it was between bret n shawn at that time and how much of a fuckin asshole hbk waa at that time he basically ran bret hart out of the federation

[@Joepacalypse1107]

Never found Shawn Michaels as believable. The overselling was ridiculous. Just never understood him being seen as one of the greatest ever.

[@FirefighterAliveJC]

I want to know if the chair shot was planned. Shawn didn’t even have time to put his hands up. Sounded like a 30-06 going off

[@attiepollard7847]

Maybe it was planned and Sean was just like to hell with it do what you got to do and didn't care