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A Steel Cage match used to be the ultimate environment for a world title contest. The dangerous structure housed many physical feuds for a long time. It is safe to say that the match is now taken for granted.
It seems like these matches are used every month but only for midcard feuds. It is hard to believe, but a WWE world championship has not been defended in a Steel Cage in the main event of a PPV in over four years(Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton at Extreme Rules 2015). A Steel Cage Match often feels like it is rushed when it is not in the main event of the PPV.
I remember when Steel Cage matches used to be exhilarating and must-see. I know that they may not be as exciting as a Ladder Match or a Hell In A Cell Match, but I think that Steel Cage matches can really liven up PPV’s if they are given to us at the right time of a show. These matches also have to be for world championships. Here’s why:
1. Nostalgia- For an entire generation, Steel Cage matches were viewed as the end of the road for two feuding superstars. All of the blood, sweat and tears would be left inside the squared circle, and a rivalry would be contained for a short period of time. Some of the best pro wrestling matches ever have happened inside a steel cage. Whether it’s Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes at the Great American Bash 1986 or Bret Hart vs his brother Owen at Summerslam 1994, every fan has a favorite Steel Cage match. I feel like now is the time for more memories to be created.
2. House Shows- House shows are often the first live experiences for pro wrestling fans. My first house show experience was at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on December 28, 2005. I was captivated by the main event: Kurt Angle vs John Cena for the WWE title in a Steel Cage Match.
Cena beat Angle, the hometown hero, and it left me wanting more. Steel Cage matches continue to be a staple on house shows today. If these matches were done for championships in the main event of PPV’s, house shows would benefit because the match stipulation could feel like a bigger deal. Live tours are still a huge money maker in the wrestling business, and ticket sales can increase if these matches are taken more seriously on televised PPV’s.
3. The Match Can Still Create New Stars- Look, I know that Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler are not going to main event WWE Stomping Grounds. However, the match itself could easily be the match of the year on the main roster. They are two guys that fans have loved for years, and I am honestly shocked that these two guys are feuding over WWE’s most prestigious championship in 2019.
I think that this match serves as a proving ground for Kofi Kingston. I would like to see him do anything that it takes to win and develop a physical, mean streak, so that he can get the victory in this match. I know that the Rollins/Corbin referee storyline has more heat right now, but I believe that Kofi delivering a Boom Drop to Ziggler off the top of the cage would definitely send the fans home happy.
I know that I’m not going to get my wish, but this match gives us the opportunity to see Kofi in a situation that we have not seen him in before. I hope that WWE capitalizes on an old formula going forward. At the end of the day, this type of match legitimizes the competitors that are in it. It also legitimizes the world championships that they are fighting for.