'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This year's edition of the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view was a surprisingly good show, as WWE tried to actually give fans something to remember this year's installment by. A champion surprisingly retaining, an unexpected title change and a shocking return might have been WWE's best way to achieve that.
While you might feel that this show was a just a bunch of matches that we have already seen on Raw and SmackDown Live - no one's going to argue with you on that point - but the quality of certain matches was outstanding, and let's go through what WWE got right at the event.
#1 The New Day retain
The New Day took on Rusev and Aiden English in the kickoff show at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view this year, and while most wanted Rusev to finally climb the mountain and win a title on SmackDown Live, WWE made the right call in having the '5-time champs retain.'
Big E, Kofi, and Xavier just won the titles a few weeks ago on the blue brand, and by WWE changing the title holders after a short period of time would have been mistake, as Rusev's climb to the top could be milked with some more dramatic effect until management decides that it is truly his time to shine.
#2 Jeff Hardy does not try and end his career
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy kicked off the pay-per-view this year. As they waged war inside Hell in a Cell, Orton and Hardy's rivalry was more than a typical programme, as it felt more like WWE giving Hardy one last chance to achieve his goal of participating inside the Hell in a Cell, and Hardy delivered.
From being driven into ladders to Randy literally trying to rip Hardy's ear out with a screwdriver, this match was brutal, and after much speculation on what Hardy's huge spot would be, thankfully WWE planned a less painfully bump for Jeff.
It is worth saying that his fall from the cell roof is painful in every scenario, but a Shane McMahon style dive would have been career ending for a man that has given his body to this profession.
#3 The Raw Tag Team division get their first classic of the year
Going into this match, fans were not expecting anything new from two teams that have been brawling with each other for the past month, but these competitors once gain surpassed everyone's expectations.
Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins with the Raw Tag Team Championships on the line was the best match on the show, and it is a testament to the quality of these wrestlers that they don't need a gimmick cell to prove they can steal the show.
The final sequence in this match was pure gold, as Rollins performing a huge superplex but getting caught with a claymore while positioning Ziggler for the falcon arrow was just awesome. Moreover, Ziggler and McIntyre retaining was a good decision as it helps the titles stay credible and not as if they could be passed around all the time.
#4 Becky the badass
The fact that Becky Lynch beat Charlotte Flair clean to win the SmackDown Live Women's Title at the pay-per-view was nothing short of a miracle, as Lynch did what she said she would and took what she rightfully deserves.
This match could also be branded as the match of the night, as the technicality of the in-ring work, the emotion from these wrestlers and the strong narrative that made up this programme makes this feud the best in WWE right now, and the post-match antics of the new SmackDown Live Women's Champion painted her a bigger badass than anyone on the roster right now.
While WWE likes to portray Ronda Rousey as the number one badass in the women's division, that title should go to Becky Lynch as her every action has an understandable reason to it, and by not reuniting with Charlotte in a cheesy manner after their match, Becky proved that she deserves to be the face of the entire division.
#5 Rousey retains
No one really expected Alexa Bliss to beat Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women's Title, but you can't be too sure with WWE's booking, and Rousey not losing to Bliss was the right call again.
Rousey has better options for a title feud moving forward, as Sasha Banks, Bayley and Ember Moon could all be fresh new challenges for the Women's Champion. Moreover, Rousey cleanly disposing off Bliss finally put an end to this terrible programme is the best decision for the Raw Women's Title, as WWE needs to start thinking about the first women's pay-per-view and how to make that show mean more than they are currently portraying it.
#6 The Miz picks up the win
It feels as if Daniel Bryan and The Miz's narrative has cooled down as of late with these superstars' spouses getting involved. While the quality of their matches has decreased, at least the quality of the narrative has just stayed afloat or may have improved considering your preferences.
But there is no denying that the mix tag team match that involved Daniel Bryan, Brie Bella, Maryse, and The Miz was the worst match on the show, but at least it did have the correct winner to take this narrative forward. While Miz picking up the win via a Maryse roll-up was not the best way to get things done, but it did the job. And hopefully, WWE can take this rivalry to the next level.
#7 Lesnar's return was kept a surprise
The longstanding war between WWE and rumors once again was at the forefront of a pay-per-view, and it seems as if WWE won the battle this time, as Brock Lesnar's shocking return was something no one saw coming.
Lesnar returned to a massive pop, which painted him as a huge babyface returning to get revenge from the heels, and honestly if you have gripes about Lesnar returning it is understandable, but you can't deny that Lesnar kicking ass is truly awesome.
Lesnar actually wrestling after months of speculation of whether his WWE career is over is quite a welcoming sight, as the Universal Championship programme between Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns could use an extra boost, and Lesnar is the man to do so.
