
I liked Hell In A Cell a lot. Every match told a good story, and the Chicago audience was white-hot. Here’s a great recap, but here are a few of the teeny-tiny details you may have missed.
Who is Lumberjack Joe LeDuc?
During the kickoff show, Jerry Lawler mentioned wrestling Lumberjack Joe LeDuc in a Loser Leaves Town match in the Louisville Gardens.
Reacting to the news that Cody Rhodes tore his pectoral muscle, King noted that LeDuc tore his bicep off the bone before his match with Lawler. Despite everyone wanting Big Lumberjack to go to the hospital, he wrestled and “beat the sh*t” out of Lawler.
Lumberjack Jos LeDuc was a french Canadian wrestler who debuted in Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. LeDuc went onto to work in the Mid-South, Deep South, Montreal Florida, & Puerto Rico.
This day in history: from the TV studios in Memphis, the airing of March 29, 1986 featured a grizzled Canadian veteran. A lumberjack! Jos Leduc! Without an axe!
How Canadian is the touque and lumberjack coat?
We start with an interview with Lance Russell
1/2 pic.twitter.com/g3Qt7y187K
— History of Canadian Pro Wrestling (@HistoryofCanad1) March 30, 2022
Notably, LeDuc’s brutality against Lawler lead to the lumberjack breaking Lawler’s leg by throwing him through an announce table, back in the days when they weren’t gimmicked. LeDuc also briefly wrestled in WWF as The Butcher.
Butcher Jos LeDuc in his short 1988 WWF run pic.twitter.com/nBfO9HXKt2
— OVP – Retro Wrestling Podcast (@ovppodcast) August 2, 2021
MVP’s First Match in 9 Months
In the handicap match against Lashley, MVP joined up against Omos in a losing effort. MVP was previously considered injured and retired, noted by him offing sporting a cane do the ring. MVP had not wrestled a full match since September 2021, which ironically enough was a tag match with Bobby Lashley as his partner.
Cody’s Injury
In the main event, most of the eyes were on Cody Rhodes’ gruesome pectoral injury. Tearing the muscle clean off the bone, Rhodes’ entire right side of his chest and most of his right arm were covered in a wine-purple bruise.
Cody Rhodes’ injury pic.twitter.com/2yhmxaHDgc
— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) June 6, 2022
With surgery and rehab, Cody could be out anywhere from six months to a year. This long of a layoff is devastating for Rhodes and WWE, as some reports indicate Rhodes is pegged to be the next Unified Champion by winning Money In The Bank. Here’s to a swift recovery after a severe injury and a powerhouse performance inside Hell In A Cell.
The Bullrope Match
Cody whipped out a bull rope and challenged Rollins to an impromptu bull rope match.
A Rhodes signature, the bull rope match was a match popularized by Dusty. Dusty ended his bloody feud with Superstar Billy Graham with a Bullrope match.
One of the most memorable matches from my WWF-WWE days was Dusty Rhodes vs. Superstar Billy Graham. The series ended with a bull rope match. An unbeatable, emotional spectacle . . . pic.twitter.com/PidctaPil5
— Gary Michael Cappetta (@GaryCappetta) May 15, 2022
Both sons have engaged in bull rope matches.
A Young Dustin Runnels Defeats Bunkhouse Buck 22YRS Ago Today At WCW Slamboree In A Texas Bull Rope Match @Goldust pic.twitter.com/p8C7S5kwMd
— 121875®️ (@121875Raywwe1) May 22, 2016
Seth Rollins’ Outfit
But Seth Rollins‘ look raised some eyebrows too.
Rollins came out in big yellow polka dots. This was an apparent taunt to Cody on multiple levels.
Rollins in the Dusty polka dots is BRILLIANT #HIAC pic.twitter.com/2yu5beAnru
— Jason Solomon (@solomonster) June 6, 2022
Seth Rollins wearing Polka Dots for tonight’s match against Cody Rhodes. #HIAC pic.twitter.com/epkKWgnCzf
— HeelByNature.com (@HeelByNatureYT) June 6, 2022
Besides the obvious of Rollins wearing the same gear as Dusty Rhodes, the polka dots in particular were reportedly used by Vince to humiliate and bring down his popularity of Rhodes when he joined WWF in the late 80s.
OH SNAP!!!!!!!!!! Cody is wearing Polka Dots. #HIAC pic.twitter.com/llKtTyi4m1
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) June 6, 2022
Nah, Seth outta line for the polka dot gear lmao#HIAC
— ™ of Burial Squad ☝️ (@TheEnduringIcon) June 6, 2022
What did you think of Hell In A Cell? Share your thoughts in the comments below.