Well, here we are. In what has felt like the quickest buildup to a pay-per-view ever, WWE’s Hell In A Cell show takes place this Sunday. Here are some quick observations of the past few weeks leading up to this show.
The show’s biggest match, obviously, will be Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns in a “Hell in a Cell” match. This is counting as Strowman’s Money in the Bank briefcase cash-in, a briefcase he won back in June. This feud has been centered around the return of the Shield, as Reigns was joined by Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose the night after SummerSlam to take out the “Monster Among Men.”
Since then, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler have joined forces to help Strowman. This has led to McIntyre and Ziggler to win the Raw Tag Team Championships, among other things. Those two will defend their titles against Ambrose and Rollins, who’s still the Intercontinental Champion, at the PPV.
Simply put, this feud has been chaotic since the get-go. It even got more chaotic when Mick Foley was announced as the special guest referee for the match. If Strowman loses on Sunday, it would be the first time that consecutive Money in the Bank winners lost their cash-in match (Baron Corbin lost in 2017). It would look really bad if Strowman lost, but this is also Roman Reigns we’re talking about. Expect some shenanigans with this one.
The other “Hell in a Cell” match on the card is Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton. No, it’s not 2009. This is a feud happening in 2018, and one that has actually been quite good. Orton looks invigorated to be a heel again, and Hardy is the perfect face for him to go against. I’m sure Hardy will attempt a Swanton Bomb off the top of the cell, so expect some crazy things in this match as well.
The match I’m looking forward to the most is Becky Lynch challenging Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The build-up to this match has been excellent. Both women, specifically Lynch, have embraced their roles. Lynch has been excellent on the mic, causing many fans to cheer her instead of boo her. I’m expecting a 20-minute war between the two women on Sunday.
Another great feud on SmackDown is the one between Samoa Joe and WWE Champion AJ Styles. Why their match on Sunday is not a “Hell in a Cell” match is beyond me. This has been the most personal feud on TV in months, as Joe has continually called out Styles’ wife, Wendy, and his kids. These two should be in some no-DQ-type match but instead, are left to do battle in just a normal singles match. The magic these two can create in the ring should overcome the lack of stipulation.
Ronda Rousey will destroy Alexa Bliss again.
Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella should defeat The Miz and Maryse, but I also wouldn’t be surprised by a screwy finish either. This feud is guaranteed to go at least another week, as Bryan and Miz are set to do battle at the Oct. 6 “Super Show-Down” show in Australia. This one is relatively unpredictable, so it should be a fun contest.
The last match added to the card was The New Day facing Aiden English and Rusev for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. I expect this match to open the show, as it features two popular teams. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Rusev Day won. New Day won the titles, in large part, to the injury sustained by the Bludgeon Brothers’ Erick Rowan. New Day doesn’t need the titles as much as Rusev Day, so a title change may be in play for Sunday.
Hell In A Cell has the makings to be a fun pay-per-view on many levels. Hopefully, WWE can capitalize on the potential and deliver a memorable show.