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Hell in a Cell 2018 took place yesterday night on September 16, 2018. It featured New Day vs Rusev Day, Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair, Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton inside Hell in a Cell, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs the Shield, AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe, Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella vs The Miz & Maryse, Ronda Rousey vs Alexa Bliss, & Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman inside Hell in a Cell.
Kickoff Show SD Tag Team Titles: New Day vs Rusev Day
Result: The New Day defeated Rusev Day via pinfall with Trouble in Paradise.
Grade: B+
Analysis: This was one of WWE's better kickoff show matches. While some might say that it was rushed, it's fast-paced nature worked really well. Neither team had control for a long period of time as this match was extremely back and forth. Even though this match was really predictable, it seemed like Rusev Day really could get the win. This match was full of highlights and they really had the crowd in the palm of their hands. It was the overzealousness of Aiden English that cost them this match. This is really interesting because either of these 2 superstars could turn on one another. Rusev could blame Aiden English for the loss because he was the one who took the pin while Aiden English can blame Rusev because he wasn't there for Rusev like Aiden English had been for the last few weeks. This was a really good match that continued to display how excellent Smackdown Tag Team division has been over the last 2 years.
Hell in a Cell: Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
Result: Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy via pinfall after Jeff Hardy went through a table when missing a diving splash off the top of a ladder.
Grade: A
Analysis: This was both Jeff Hardy & Randy Orton's best match of the year. Jeff Hardy fought through the nagging injuries that he has been working through all year so he hasn't had the best possible matches. Randy Orton was just boring and bland as a face. Randy Orton proved that his heel turn was one of the best decisions of the year. This match was brutal, hard-hitting, and violent as both superstars hit unique spots throughout the match. How many times can you say that there's been a ladder or a screwdriver involved in a Hell in a Cell match? Randy Orton put a screwdriver in Jeff Hardy's ear! It is also a relief that Jeff Hardy didn't dive off of the cell. The bump that he took off of the ladder was much less risky but still looked brutal. We probably won't see Jeff Hardy again until the Royal Rumble (where he will return as a surprise entrant) which is good because he needs to take some time off to heal. Randy Orton also has the most momentum that he has had for a while and will probably play a major role on SmackDown Live in the near future.
SD Women's Title: Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch
Result: Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte Flair via pinfall with a roll up to win the SmackDown Women's Title
Grade: A
Analysis: This match was viewed as a candidate for Hell in a Cell's match of the night. This match certainly lived up to the hype. Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair managed to keep the crowd engaged after a brutal Hell in a Cell match. Becky Lynch worked well as the heel of the match and Charlotte was surprisingly great as the face fighting from underneath (a role that does not fit her). Charlotte Flair sold the damage that Becky did to Charlotte's arm really well. Becky's work on the limb was excellently paced throughout this match. This also showed that Becky Lynch was just the better wrestler in that match, not the better wrestler. Becky Lynch finally got the championship victory that she deserved and even though she was the heel, the crowd absolutely loved her. The crowd popped so loud when she won the title, showing just how great Becky has been all year. The Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair rivalry obviously isn't over yet which is great. We will probably see them face off at the Super Showdown, Evolution, and possibly at TLC (in the first-ever women's TLC match maybe).
Raw Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre & the Shield
Result: Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre defeated the Shield via pinfall with the Claymore.
Grade: A+
Analysis: This was the best Raw Tag Team Title match of the year! Period. The Raw Tag Team Division was a hot mess all year until Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre won the titles. They have been excellent as champions and they demonstrated just how good they were in this match. This match has reignited the fire of Raw's stale tag team division. While it started off as a standard tag team match, it quickly kicked into second gear. There really wasn't a wrong result for this match. If the Shield won, WWE could finally have the Shield holding all championships in WWE. If Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre won, the Shield would continue their chase for title glory. This match could've gone either way and the false finishes in this match were incredible. It seemed like both teams would get the win at many times but it was Ziggler & McIntyre that scored the win. They can now face off with the likes of the Revival, Authors of Pain, Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, & the Shield again in the future.
WWE Title: AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe
Result: AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe via pinfall by countering the Coquina Clutch into a roll up.
Grade: A
Highlight: This match was even better than their match at SummerSlam. They had the task of following that amazing tag team match and they were definitely able to do that. Both AJ Styles & Samoa Joe gave it their all and thankfully this rivalry will continue. AJ Styles tapped out while he was pinning Samoa Joe but the referee was too busy counting the pin. They can now face each other again due to the controversial ending of this match. The two superstars went back and forth and it felt like either superstar could get the win during this matchup. (Can it also be said that this crowd has been great? They have not treated any match like a bathroom break). This match was excellent and when they face off at the Super Showdown, I have no doubt that they will wow the crowd once again.
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella vs The Miz & Maryse
Result: The Miz & Maryse defeated Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella via pinfall when Maryse rolled up Brie Bella.
Grade: B
Analysis: This was much better than it could've been. If this match was bad, this could've ruined the entire Daniel Bryan vs Miz feud. Thankfully, it wasn't bad at all. Daniel Bryan & The Miz did most of the heavy lifting of the match and carried it wrestling wise. It was also wise to have the finish revolve around Brie Bella & Maryse. This way, neither Daniel Bryan nor the Miz would have to take the fall in this match. It is also interesting that Daniel Bryan's obsession with getting back at the Miz cost his wife the match. She was distracted by her husband which allowed Maryse to roll her up using the tights. This also plants the seeds for Brie Bella vs Maryse at Evolution. It might be a pretty good match because even though a few spots were sloppy (from Maryse in particular), neither of them showed that much ring rust. Daniel Bryan & The Miz will continue their rivalry at Super Showdown and it is interesting to see if the Miz will continue to beat Daniel Bryan or if Daniel Bryan can get the big win early in this rivalry.
Raw Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey vs Alexa Bliss
Result: Ronda Rousey defeated Alexa Bliss via submission with the Armbar
Grade: B-
Analysis: This match was much better than their last match. This match was also excellently booked. While it was obvious that Ronda Rousey would have to sell for Alexa Bliss, WWE could've made the same mistake that they made during the Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax match at Backlash. However, they smartly had Alexa Bliss gain momentum through interference from Mickie James & Alicia Fox and from cheap moves. Alexa Bliss had a game plan throughout the match and should continue to thrive in the Raw Women's Division even though she lost. It was also really interesting how once Ronda Rousey got into her "killer-instinct" mode near the end of the match, she was able to shake off any damage that Alexa Bliss did to her before the match. This was a decent match that ended with the right result and hopefully, WWE will keep Alexa Bliss out of the title picture for the foreseeable future.
Universal Championship Hell in a Cell: Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman
Result: The match ended in a no-contest after Brock Lesnar appeared and took both superstars out.
Grade: A-
Analysis: This was a really hard-hitting main event with a shock ending. Some of the spots in this match were brutal. It was pretty obvious that each man's respective allies would interfere in the match. However, I do think their brawl was a bit long as Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman were laying down in the ring for about 5 minutes. Several people (including me) expected Roman Reigns to retain. I did not expect Brock Lesnar to return so quickly. I thought he wouldn't return until early 2019 at least. This match was all over the place and did well to pay homage to the 20 year anniversary of the cell. I wish the match would've ended cleanly given the fact that the Universal Title is still trying to regain some prestige. There is also no reason that a Hell in a Cell match should end without a definitive winner. The match was also a little shorter than I wish it was and I am not excited to see Brock Lesnar back in the Universal Title picture. He's taking the spot of several wrestlers such as Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley, & Kevin Owens who deserve the opportunity more. Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, & Brock Lesnar will presumably face off in a triple threat match at Survivor Series.
