Lived up to its lofty expectationsWWE Hell in a Cell (HIAC) took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday with seven featured matches, which was main evented by the third meeting between Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker since Lesnar’s return to WWE.The preshow kicked off with a victory for the team of Neville, Ziggler and Cesaro over Rusev, Sheamus and Barrett.We grade and analyse each of the matches at the PPV.
#1 US Open Challenge: Alberto Del Rio beats John Cena to become the new US Champion
Who would be John Cena’s mystery opponent? The Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) had been swept by one speculation after another linking superstars like Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, and even Daniel Bryan to the spot.
However, when the time came to present the challenger, WWE Creative scored a big victory over all the so called pundits.
Zeb Colter would emerge (on a scooter) to answer Cena’s challenge and there were audible groans from the crowd, anticipating that it would be Jack Swagger stepping up. While they were getting ready to accept another one of WWE’s seemingly dumb decisions, a returning Alberto Del Rio emerged from the back.
Fans were on their feet cheering for the former four-time World Champion, who had been fired from WWE over a year ago for standing up to a social media manager who allegedly made a racist joke at him. Once the surprise was revealed, everyone knew what the outcome was going to be.
With Cena planning to take time off after the PPV, it was as clear that the challenger would win the US title. That is exactly what happened at the end of a not so glorious match that lasted just more than eight minutes.
Del Rio countered Cena’s AA into a Backstabber and left the champ on the mat with a powerful kick to the face. Three seconds and a pinfall later, Del Rio would be declared the new United States Champion.
Analysis: The much maligned WWE Creative really scored big with getting Del Rio back to beat Cena. Not only was Del Rio not on any one’s radar as a potential opponent for Cena, but he has also been widely appreciated from all quarters for standing against a racist bully even though it lead to the termination of his first spell at the WWE – something that might lead WWE to finally recapture the Latino fanbase following the departure of Rey Mysterio.
Del Rio is also the current Mega Champion of Mexican promotion AAA. How that adds to his status as the United States Champion remains to be seen.
The only questionable aspect is associating him with someone like Zeb Colter who has been previously part of almost xenophobic storylines involving the Real Americans. WWE clearly feels that Del Rio still needs a mouthpiece – Ricardo Rodriguez, if you are still there somewhere, please step up.
Grades: B for the match, A for the suspense
#2 Roman Regins beats Bray Wyatt inside Hell in a Cell
This just had to be the full stop of this rivalry. While the feud has been exciting and even engrossing at times, it was time for both Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt to move on.
Roman did, with a victory and Bray, well, you will have to wait for the end of the slideshow to see what he did.
Reigns and Wyatt actually tore the place down and there were chants of 'this is awesome' throughout the match. Both superstars went through a table once with Reigns actually spearing Wyatt from the apron through a prone table on the outside for a second time.
Reigns would also kick out of a Sister Abigail before thwarting Wyatt's attempts to seemingly send him face first on to two kendo sticks placed on the top and middle ropes. Reigns would thrash Wyatt with one stick and send the Eater of Woods on to perched second spike before connecting with the Spear to pick up the victory.
Analysis: An awesome match to elevate Reigns to the position WWE wants him to be in. The match had everything and the look of fear in Wyatt's face when he saw Reigns bring out two kendo sticks was a memorable spot in the match.
It is rare for Wyatt to take a decisive loss against superstars at the same level as himself, but he really put Reigns over here. The thunderous ovation that Reigns got after the final Spear might be an indication that the WWE fans are finally ready to forgive him for winning the Royal Rumble ahead of Daniel Bryan.
A place in the World title picture awaits Reigns. As for Wyatt, he would not have been much harmed by ending the PPV with a loss. However, as the night unfolded, he would have another role to play.
Grades: A
#3 WWE Tag team tiltles : NewDay(c) beats The Dudley Boyz
WWE got the result of this match spot on as well. The New Day is too entertaining to just take away the tag team titles from, even by such a fan favourite duo like the Dudleys.
The smart money would always be to hold off the Dudleys’ tenth title reign to a more auspicious occasion, say a TLC match and that is just what WWE seems to want to do. The match at HIAC was nothing special, was mediocre even; highlighted by an uncharacteristic botch by the Dudleys while aiming for a double team leg drop on Kingston.
D-Von seemed to miss the direction of the leg drop and failed to properly connect on Kingston who was held in mid-air by Bubba resulting in a chorus of boos and a ‘butt ugly’ comment by JBL.
The match almost seemed over when Kingston tossed the trombone into the arms of Bubba and fell on the mat – doing a la Eddie Guerrero - only for the referee to allow the match to continue.
Soon, Big E struck Bubba on the back with a feeble looking trombone shot and Kingston took advantage with Trouble in Paradise as the New Day finally scored a pinfall victory over the Dudleys.
Analysis: The match was easily the worst in the feud between the two teams that the Dudleys would have lost credibility had they captured their tenth title at this PPV.
The veterans seemed overmatched by their younger foes during many spots in the match. While a Dudley title reign is inevitable, WWE did a smart job by delaying it further.
A long reign would add prestige to New Day’s status as one of the most entertaining tag teams over the last decade and would make the fans’ taste of the Dudley Decima all the more sweeter when they actually achieve it.
Grades: C
#4 Divas\' title : Charlotte (c) beats Nikki Bella
A pretty decent match that actually showcased how far the Divas division has come from being just skin show and weird angles.
The only mishap happened when Charlotte botched landing on her feet while countering Nikki’s top rope Superplex; yes, a top rope Superplex attempt.
However, an Alabama Slam on the outside onto the ring apron gave the momentum back to Nikki and the challenger hoisted the champion up for the Rack Attack, only to see Charlotte counter into an amazing pinning combination to retain her title.
Becky Lynch and Paige came to the ring after the match to celebrate with Charlotte, although the Anti Diva’s antics seemed to suggest another sneak attack coming in the near future on the rest of the members of Team PCB
Analysis: Charlotte and Nikki displayed a lot of actual wrestling moves in the match that even yielded chants of ‘Holy shit’ from the WWE fans when Nikki delivered the aforementioned Alabama slam to the Champion. That is pretty rare for a Divas match.
There was actually a spot where Nikki would counter the Figure Eight by rolling on her back and reversing the pressure, turning the submission into a version of the Indian Deathlock.
This has happened in practically every match Ric Flair wrestled in the WWE during his final run, but this level of attention to wrestling moves had never before been displayed in the Divas division and both Divas deserve credit for that.
‘The Divas Revolution’ has well and truly taken off – it just might need Sasha Banks in the title picture to take it to the next level.
Grades: B+
#5 WWE World Heavyweight title: Seth Rollins (c) beats Kane
The WWE World Heavyweight title match being fifth on the card, ahead of the Intercontinental title match showed how much WWE cared for this rivalry. At least, the match was booked like it should be, ending in a dominant victory for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
After countering Kane’s attempt to chokeslam him through the announce table, Rollins sent the demon onto the table itself – although it refused to break. Back in the ring, two top rope knees to the head put Kane down before Rollins connected with a kick to the head and the Pedigree to get the pinfall victory over the challenger.
There was another Eddie Guerrero reference at the PPV when Rollins would pull off a Frogsplash on a fallen Kane for a two count earlier in the match.
The match stipulation demands that Corporate Kane be relieved of his duties which would only be a wise move considering the fact that the WWE fans have pretty much been bored to death seeing Kane as part of the Authority.
Analysis: The match was actually good with the crowd seemingly behind Kane – which was surprising, considering how lame the angle leading up to the match had been.
WWE finally managed to do the simple, yet effective spot to give Rollins some much-needed momentum; the Champion retaining the title clean with the Pedigree.
However, Kane should be given credit for working the match in such a way as to make Rollins look strong. The flurry of offenses that Rollins managed to pull off at the end of the match gave him an air of dominance befitting a World Champion.
Hopefully, WWE will allow Rollins to move on to feuds with more believable challengers like Reigns in the near future.
Rollins needs to be booked strongly in the weeks leading up to a title match as well – him just winning PPV matches and looking like a coward every week on Raw hardly embellishes his credentials
Grades : B+
#6 Intercontinental title: Kevin Owens (c) beats Ryback
The outcome of this match was as predictable as the World title match.
No one with a sound brain would have gone with Ryback to regain the Intercontinental title. Kevin Owens is much too charismatic and talented to lose the title to the Big Guy.
The match wasn’t anything close to being memorable. Owens seemed to anger Ryback for some reason and in the ensuing melee, there was a hint that the Intercontinental champion might have raked the challenger’s eyes.
One push to the ropes and a Pop-up Powebomb later, Owens had retained his championship.
Analysis: The match was what it was – a filler before the fans could invest in the Lesanr vs Taker main event. Owens won by pinfall after his finisher this time and one hopes that WWE doesn’t try to extend this angle by bringing attention to Owens raking Ryback’s eyes (if it actually happened).
While Ryback has improved his ring work, he shouldn’t be getting another shot at the Intercontinental title in the near future, not least when more talented guys like Ziggler, Sheamus and Barrett are relegated to the preshow in a PPV.
Grades: D
#7 Brock Lesnar beats the Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell
Absolutely phenomenal!!
This encounter was guaranteed to be awe inspiring ever since that excellent promo aired seconds before it, depicting Lesnar ending Taker’s Wrestlemania streak and the Deadman gaining a controversial return win at Summerslam.
The image of Lesnar prancing around the Cell brought about goosebumps to the fans at the Staples Center and there were thunderous chants of ‘Suplex City’ vs ‘Undertaker’ just after the bell had rung to start the match.
While the match alone might not be among the best that the wrestling fans have seen over the years, the atmosphere around it truly made it special.
The Undertaker would kick out of a pinfall attempt after taking three Suplexes, each seemingly devastating than the one before, and two F-5 s. Soon enough Brock Lesnar would force out of the Hell’s Gate after delivering a series of clubbing blows to Taker’s body.
Lesnar would expose the ring boards later in the match, but would eat a TombStone on the exposed boards. He would kick out, though – sending the place into delirium.
Taker would taunt a fallen Lesnar with his trademark throat slitting pose only for the Beast to deliver a low blow to the Phenom – alluding to the controversy at Summerslam – and connect with an F-5 on the exposed boards for the victory.
A defeated Undertaker would greet his fans with his trademark pose after Lesnar had left the ring when the Wyatt family’s music hit. All four members of the Wyatt family would come out and attack the Deadman, eventually carrying him out over their shoulders to end the show.
Analysis: An awesome end to the perfect trilogy of matches between Lesnar and the Undertaker.
With the crowd solidly invested into the storyline, the match only needed a fitting finale to sell the ‘Last ever meeting’ between the two legends. The low blow, which would’ve been a tame end elsewhere, actually worked well here.
It referenced to how Taker had used the same tactic to beat Lesnar at Summerslam and featured Lesnar as the indomitable beast who would forget nothing and forgive less.
The younger Lesnar going over was the perfect end to the rivalry and the WWE Creative were smart enough not to miss the obvious.
They were also spot on in not referencing to the encounters that Lesnar and Taker had had in 2003-04. Twelve years back, the two had engaged in another trilogy of matches which had also ended in a Hell in a Cell match which Lesnar won.
During Lesnar’s introduction, Michael Cole said that Lesnar had been in one Hell in a Cell match before and won one, declining to mention that his opponent that time was also the Undertaker.
That being said, the aftermath of the match took a little shine away from an otherwise stellar PPV. The Wyatts attacking the Undertaker had absolutely no logic to it, especially considering the fact that the Deadman only wrestles very few matches all year and that he had already faced and beaten Bray Wyatt at last year’s Wrestlemania.
With so many high profile names on the roster for Taker to have fresh battles with, immersing him in another feud with the Wyatts so soon after the last one reeks of another cowdung of a plan by the WWE Creative.
Grades: A+
