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Those who had bought tickets to watch the action from the Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit, Michigan certainly would think they got their money's worth after the explosive main event.
However, as good as it was, let us not forget that a majority of the show did not deliver nearly as well as the very last segment. The show had far more 'thumbs' down moments than the two major 'thumbs up' ones.
Let's revisit all the action from this SmackDown Live Exclusive pay-per-view and analyse what worked and what did not, in this show that went long beyond its allotted time. Thankfully, the final match wasn't a dud.
Let us know in the comments if you agree with our list or not, and what you thought of the show.
#1 Best: Risking life and limb
Yes, Shane McMahon certainly gets to do a lot more in his matches than the other performers on the current roster do. However, this is for good reason, as the man simply has no fear in his psyche at all.
When this match was announced as a 'falls count anywhere' contest, we knew that Shane McMahon would come off the top of the cage. However, when the moment actually happened, we realized just how courageous McMahon is and has been for as long as he has wrestled in the ring, during that moment of 'free fall'.
Special kudos to both performers for battling at the top of the cage. We were biting our nails the whole time, waiting for the inevitable moment when one of them fell and crashed through a table, on his way down.
We wonder if Shane McMahon will take a leave of absence as an authority figure after the collapse. We wonder if Daniel Bryan will take over the proceedings entirely, in the man's absence.
#1 Worst: Really embarrassing botch
Not only was this a Hell in a Cell match, but a 'Falls Count Anywhere' match as well. Therefore, after eating a Coast to Coast from Shane McMahon, when Owens was down for the pin, the foot on the rope should not have saved him.
Corey Graves saved this mishap by saying that the referee was caught up in the heat of the moment, and therefore made this mistake. As good as the match was, this moment actually took away from what could have been an absolutely spectacular match.
#2 Best: A massive return
After being on the sidelines for far too long, Breezango was back doing a brand new series of the Fashion Files called 'Pulp Fashion' (presumably based on Pulp Fiction). They are on a new case, and while this does not mean an in-ring segment for the two, we are hopeful that it may eventually lead to one.
There was a nice pop for this segment, which was a great change of pace for the show, from the non-stop barrage of matches we were watching. It also gives The Ascension, who've seemingly turned face, some TV time.
We wonder if Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, two men who've been sidelined, may get some TV time as well, as a result of this weekly show.
#2 Worst: And still your WWE Champion...
We did not really expect Jinder Mahal to lose the WWE Championship, so close to the company's tour of India. However, we still harboured a hope that WWE may decide to shake things up, and maybe hand the belt to Nakamura, only to have Mahal retain it before the tour.
In all likelihood, Mahal is now going to retain the championship until December comes around. The man needs some seriously good programs, to retain the interest of the fans until then, truthfully. Jokes about 'constipation' are comments about 'xenophobia' are doing him absolutely no favours.
With a part time champion in Brock Lesnar, and a full time champion whose rise to the top was not booked as well as it could have been, the championship scene in WWE is far from ideal right now.
Let's hope creative steps up its game and writes some better segments for Jinder Mahal.
#3 Best: Exceptional opening match
The effect of the opening contest was twofold. It got the crowd riled for the action, at the very start of the pay-per-view with truly exciting moments. Unfortunately, it also killed the excitement for the rest of the card, considering how good it really was. Yes, it was phenomenal.
If the final match was the one with the high spots, this was the one with the props. There were tables, trombones, kendo sticks, handcuffs and of course a lot of steel for the performers to use against their arch-rivals.
The Usos won the championship from The New Day, after what was a brilliant match indeed. However, it brings us to yet another issue we had with this very pay-per-view event.
#3 Worst: Flip-flopping the titles
We could watch The New Day and The Usos trade wins for all eternity. We wonder if this buries the rest of the talent pool though.
Especially considering that ever since The New Day came over to SmackDown Live, they've contested for the titles and have been trading wins with The Usos in explosive matches.
With this loss, The New Day can invoke a rematch clause in their contract, and take on The Usos, one more time.
As exciting as that would be, we wonder if it makes more sense to book both teams in a new program and shake things up a little bit!
#4 Best: A heel turn?
When was the last time anything exciting happened to Sami Zayn? We predicted that he may turn heel, in a preview post about the HIAC Main Event. However, we ourselves were in two minds with regard to whether or not he would, considering he's the ultimate babyface.
As one can see from the Tweets that Zayn's fellow WWE superstars have posted on social media, they too are in shock, much like the WWE Universe. This is a great hook to make people tune in and watch SmackDown Live, a show that has been declining in viewership.
Hell in a Cell was a show with both positives and negatives. Let's end with this picture perfect image from the show, courtesy of The Queen, herself.
