Three Stages from Seven Circles

John Cena has upped the ante when it comes to Ryback's personal choice of an ambulance match at WWE Payback into a Three Stages of Hell match. There have been only three other TSOH matches in the history of the WWE, and coincidentally, they all involved Triple H. The Corporate Son isn't involved in Payback's main event in any capacity, so this will be new territory for both men. I believe that Triple H himself thought of the idea for both men, as we haven't seen a TSOH match for about four years. But nonetheless, Three Stages of Hell is a nasty set-up, controversially more so than a Hell in a Cell or Steel Cage match because this can embody that stipulation PLUS others!

Triple H has fought three of the WWE's toughest competitors in the TSOH match, from Stone Cold Steve Austin, to Shawn Michaels, and finally Randy Orton at The Bash in 2009. Winning two out of three matches, and finally passing on the torch to Orton in a loss, this match was designed to take a WWE Superstar to a whole new element, and bring them out of their "one match" comfort zone. Below is the history of the Three Stages of Hell match.

Triple H vs Austin       No Way Out '01    Street fight No DQ Match    Cage
Triple H vs Michaels   Armageddon '02 Street fight Steel cage            Ladder
Orton vs Triple H       The Bash '09  One Fall         Falls count Anywhere    Stretcher
Cena vs Ryback   Payback '13  Lumberjack Tables Match    Ambulance

I have heard throughout the IWC community that these "stages of hell" at the upcoming Payback PPV would be absolutely hell to watch. Considering the slow pace at Wrestlemania XXIX with the Rock and Cena, I honestly hope that isn't the same plan going into Payback, as we have a little over two weeks (two RAWs) to build up to what could be an interesting storyline outside of the typical nonsense that is currently playing out. In my honest and humble opinion, the repeated "Ryback shows up, looks at Cena, Cena is taken out by the Shield, Ryback picks at the pieces" business only works on one or two occasions. We understand that Ryback is angry at Cena. And we know that he's trying to establish himself as a heel. However, WWE Creative needs to pull their heads out of their asses and make something happen that creates a bit of substance and makes the TSOH match credible.

SCSA vs HHH No Way Out 2001

Take a look at the incarnation of the Three Stages of Hell; Triple H failed to win the WWF Championship from Stone Cold Steve Austin, and had Stone Cold run down with a car by Rikishi, putting him out for nine months. Austin came back, and was attacked again (almost run over again by Triple H), multiple times by Triple H, until finally Mr. McMahon came up with the idea of the Three Stages of Hell match to settle their differences, adding a stipulation that if either one touches one of the other, they would lose their championship shot. Austin then attacked Stephanie McMahon (Trips wife), and Triple H attacked Jim Ross (Austin's friend). This was a heated rivalry that NEEDED a Three Stages of Hell culminating point because of all the madness and chaos. McMahon came through and demanded that all of this nonsense needed to stop. And it did. Triple H felt accomplished to where he needed to be in the main event at Wrestlemania, and it propelled The Game to where he needed to be.

HHH vs HBK Armageddon 2002

The second Three Stages of Hell Match was between Triple H and his longtime best friend/worst enemy, Shawn Michaels. The history between these two superstars was big, and a rivalry between them at Armageddon 2002 to culminate into the Three Stages of Hell became even more "personal". And the fire between Triple H and HBK continued and still continues even up to today. Armageddon 2002 built up around Triple H and Michaels chasing the WWE Championship since Summerslam 2002, going back and forth in their feud up until December 9th 2002, where General Manager Eric Bischoff invoked the Three Stages of Hell match between Michaels and Triple H for the WWE Championship. With Ric Flair adding fuel to the fire between them, Michaels retaliated with a shovel, a trash can, and even launched himself off of a TV trailer onto Triple H. Eventually, Triple H pulled out the victory in the last Ladder match event.

HHH vs Orton The Bash 2009

The last Three Stages of Hell match was Triple H facing his protege, Randy Orton. There was bad blood between Triple H and Orton from Orton's days back in Evolution, and this was no different. With a win at Extreme Rules 2009, Batista was taken out by Orton and putting him on the shelf, which led to a Fatal Four Way match on the following RAW to determine the new champion. With Orton defeating John Cena, Triple H, and The Big Show, he solidified himself as WWE Champion. Never one to be defeated, Triple H himself went right back and won a 10-Man Battle Royal to become the number one contender. Vince McMahon acquired WWE RAW back from then-"owner" Donald Trump and made the match for The Bash 2009 the Three Stages of Hell match. Randy Orton went on to defeat Triple H at his own playground with help from Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.

Vince McMahon should be able to call a TSOH match,
not the superstars

Now, with going back in time through the history of this match, there was history between the competitors. Ryback is a fresh face (repackaged from Skip Sheffield) in the WWE, and there isn't much between Cena and Ryback to really solidify a Three Stages of Hell match and settle their differences (if any). On top of that, wrestlers don't throw themselves in this match. Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff (in managerial capacity) made these matches, which created some structure to them. Three Stages of Hell was used primarily to force bickering superstars to stop. It was an end-all for feuds, and with Ryback and Cena, that should be the initial idea. However, from what I see, Cena came out, and decided to call Ryback's bluff with a "bigger" match. This reminds me of a man's "pissing contest" on who can shoot the longest stream, and that's not what this match should be used for. John Cena should have taken the match as an Ambulance Match, and beat Ryback at his own game. But this won't be the case.

Three Stages of Hell with Cena and Edge would have
been monumental!

I have been a fan of Cena *when it makes sense.* I'm a fan of any wrestler *when it makes sense.* A Three Stages of Hell match would have been amazing, for example,  between Cena and Edge. They had bad blood, feuds that rivaled many in WWE history. Both men were always at one another's throats, grasping for the title. Cena and Ryback haven't had anything intense. I honestly hope that Cena is beaten at his own game. It's not that I don't like Cena. It's just time for a new era. I also don't think that Ryback is the man that Cena should lose to in such a match like this, but beggars can't be choosers.