Hell In A Cell 2018: Predicting the match order and the winners

Hell In A Cell is this Sunday, you probably might not have figured it out considering the limited build-up WWE is giving the event on Monday Night Raw. Only three matches from the red brand have been announced for Sunday thus far, we could still see some late additions to the card. Kevin Owens and Bobby Lashley seem to be beginning a feud, just a week after KO "quit" WWE. Also, acting Raw general manager Baron Corbin could hamper The Shield further by forcing Seth Rollins to defend his Intercontinental Championship before his and Dean Ambrose's scheduled tag title match.

Without regarding the scope of adding more matches, eight matches have been announced for Hell In A Cell. While the Raw side is heavy on promoting three events at once, Smackdown has had smooth sailing and has promoted the pay-per-view well. Even though there have been some questionable decisions regarding the Cell matches, it has been a pretty enjoyable build for the blue brand. Some of the matches on the card look exciting, with a high level of anticipation.

Predicting the order of matches is always a fun but very difficult thing to do, as you never know what WWE has in store for us. There may be some card placements that would be understood later on. However, there are a few things WWE must do to make sure that all matches are as effective as they can be. They must do a good job in separating the Cell matches and keeping the event fresh, enjoyable and well-balanced at all times. The tools are there for a successful pay-per-view, it is up to WWE to utilize them correctly.

Here are the predictions for the likely order of matches, and the winners of them, on Sunday.

#1 Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan vs The Miz and Maryse (Mixed Tag Team Match)

This match is likely to open the show. While one would assume that the pay-per-view should begin with a Cell match, it must be noted that there are only two of them as of right now and none of them would really feel like an opener, we will get to that. The mixed tag team match would be a smart way to begin things because it is a hot feud, currently holding the most TV time on Tuesday nights. Also, the opening pop of Daniel Bryan's music is always a great way to kick things off. The inclusion of Miz and Bryan's wives keeps things fresh and personal, as Brie Bella and Maryse going at it also marks a sequel to the heel couple's feud with John Cena and Nikki Bella.

This match is not the end of the current installment of the Miz vs Daniel Bryan feud, as a match between the pair has been announced for Super Showdown. That match is a number one contender's match, which means that the feud will end, temporarily, in Melbourne. The Miz already has a victory over the former Smackdown general manager, so it is only logical to expect Bryan and Brie to pick up the victory to pop the crowd at the start of the show. The best part is that The Miz does not even have to be pinned, giving this story some further depth for the future.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella win after Brie defeats Maryse

#2 RAW Tag Team Championship: Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose

This match has potential to steal the show. — This match has the potential to steal the show.

After a pretty straightforward but satisfying opener, we get a potential barnburner. All four men in this match are capable of putting on a belter of a tag team match. They were all involved in the SummerSlam opener, as Seth Rollins defeated Dolph Ziggler to regain his Intercontinental Championship. Hopefully, that belt is not lost in the shuffle and they do something with it at the show. Ziggler has been completely revitalised by his partnership with Drew McIntyre. They work extremely well together and are the perfect holders of the Raw Tag Team titles, as the tag division is getting a complete makeover.

Rollins and Ambrose have held the red and silver belts before when they were putting on amazing tag team matches with The Bar. This match makes the belts mean something again, after everything it has gone through since a 10-year-old boy won it at WrestleMania. WWE should be patient and not pull the trigger now for The Shield to win it all. There is a time, and there is a place. Also, Dolph and Drew have barely held the titles for 10 days and should keep them for the time being at least. Baron Corbin booked this match, which means that he might have something up his sleeve. He might be a factor in the result of this match, as Rollins and Ambrose's big victory is delayed.

Prediction: Ziggler and McIntyre retain after shenanigans involving Baron Corbin

#3 Smackdown Women's Championship: Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch

This is the start of possibly the greatest women's feud in recent history.

Charlotte vs Becky falls at this position kind of by default, as there is no clear slot on the card which is sure to have this match. It is the first match of what should be a long and personal rivalry. At SummerSlam, Becky Lynch finally snapped and attacked Charlotte Flair for continuously overshadowing her, to a huge ovation. The crowd is firmly behind her and she feels like the biggest star on Smackdown. WWE did a smart thing when they ditched the defined face and heel alignments of the feud, leaving it open for the fans' interpretation. So far Becky has been getting all the cheers, while Charlotte has been receiving all the boos.

When it is all said and done, this feud might very well be the greatest one featuring women in WWE for a very long time. A second match has been announced for Super Showdown and you would expect the pair to finish off their rivalry at Evolution, hopefully in the main event. But for now, the focus is on Sunday. This will be the first championship match between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair since Royal Rumble 2016, and it will be bloody good. After the great work she has put in, the Irish Lass Kicker has certainly earned the chance to hold the Smackdown women's belt again, over two years after she first won it.

Prediction: Becky Lynch wins the Smackdown Women's Championship

#4 Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell Match)

The first Hell in a Cell match of the night falls here, around the midway mark of the show. After a considerable amount of good wrestling, including a popular title change, Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton would step foot inside the unforgiving structure. This is the perfect position for the Cell match, as it is not too early to affect other interesting matches and it is not too close to the main event Cell match. That is a slight problem with Hell in a Cell pay-per-views, the rest of the card suffers in quality and importance because of the various number of Cell matches on the show.

This is not Orton's first Hell in a Cell match. In fact, it will be his seventh one. His most notable Cell appearance came in his first one, against The Undertaker at Armageddon 2005. Sunday, however, will be the first one in Jeff Hardy's career. It is quite surprising, but also scary when you consider the things he would be willing to do. The Charismatic Enigma has previously spoken about wanting to have a Hell in a Cell match and jumping off the roof before he retires. He is finally going to get his wish on Sunday. The sole purpose of this match happening inside Satan's structure is for Jeff to do that high-risk leap of faith. This would eventually lead to his downfall, as the Viper would strike at the opportunity. Hopefully, he comes out of it healthy.

Prediction: Randy Orton wins after Hardy crashes through the announce table from the top of the Cell

#5 RAW Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey vs Alexa Bliss

After the spot fest that was Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton, the crowd would need some kind of break. The closest thing to a cool-down match on this card is the Raw Women's Championship match. Ronda Rousey handily squashed Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam, to win her first title in the WWE. Alexa is cashing in her rematch clause for Hell in a Cell, but we should not expect anything shocking to happen. Ronda is scheduled to face Nikki Bella at Evolution, so there is no reason to suggest that Alexa could steal one here. This match is just here to complete the feud and fill time until October.

The match will surely involve lots of shenanigans from the likes of Mickie James, Alicia Fox and Natalya. It would make it more entertaining, sure, but there should not really be any doubt about the outcome. Ronda destroyed Alexa before and she is going to do it again. Expect to see her double-jointed arm come into play. The Goddess really knows when to use it and how to make it look cringe-worthy every single time, especially when her opponent is famous for having a mean armbar. This is the easiest Ronda Rousey pay-per-view match to predict so far.

Prediction: Ronda Rousey murders Alexa Bliss despite heavy shenanigans

#6 Smackdown Tag Team Championship: The New Day vs Rusev Day

A potential fun matchup between two popular teams.

Oh, this will be a fun match. Two of the most over teams on Smackdown are going head-to-head, as Rusev Day have finally earned a two-on-two title shot. After months of teased dissension among Rusev, Lana and Aiden English, they are finally united and strong together. Both teams will likely get mic time before their match, so that could be entertaining. The action will be fun, especially since the crowd is invested in all involved. Rusev Day might not be as popular as the beginning of the year, but it remains over enough. This will be a little dose of fun before the hard-hitting main events of the night.

The New Day won the Smackdown Tag Team titles from the Bludgeon Brothers two nights after SummerSlam and will likely have a reign of decent length before dropping it to a heel tandem who is over with the crowd. Rusev Day is over, but in no way are they heels. Additionally, the rejuvenated Rusev Day does not seem like it will last very long. It is possible that it all ends on Sunday if English screws up and costs them the match. It would be a sad and disappointing end to a partnership that had benefits for both men involved. Unfortunately, that seems like the direction we are heading towards.

Prediction: The New Day retain and Rusev turns on Aiden English after the match

#7 WWE Championship: AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe

How the hell is this not in the Cell? — How

First of all, HOW IS THIS MATCH NOT IN THE CELL? When AJ Styles snapped after Samoa Joe made that Daddy remark at SummerSlam, there seemed like only one place to settle this rivalry. Hell in a Cell. It made all the sense in the world. We did not get a definitive winner so it was only logical to lock these two fierce rivals inside the structure. AJ cannot wait to get his hands on Joe after his remarks made this feud personal. That is what Hell in a Cell is for, personal feuds. They could not be contained around one another and it is set to continue at Hell in a Cell.

The match will be very good, regardless if it's in the Cell or not, much like their first one at SummerSlam. The DQ finish also made sense and furthered the story. It is not like WWE hasn't booked three Cell matches on one show before, so there is no clear reason why it isn't happening in the Cell. Unless WWE is planning for another inconclusive finish. Surely they will brawl all over the place on Sunday, a double countout might be the most likely finish. AJ and Joe are also scheduled to be facing each other, in what is surely going to be the feud-ender, at Super Showdown in Melbourne. Paige is going to look very silly indeed when the two brawl around the arena and there's a Cell above the ring waiting to be used to contain wrestlers who hate each other.

Prediction: AJ Styles and Samoa Joe battle to a double count-out

#8 Universal Championship: Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman (Hell in a Cell Match with Mick Foley as special guest referee)

Honestly, this match is surrounded by intrigue.

This is the obvious main event of the show. Braun Strowman is not finished with Roman Reigns. He will never be finished with Roman Reigns. This is just one of those feuds that could be revisited every once in a while or so. These two tried to murder each other for months in 2017 and the second instalment of their overall feud will promise as much carnage, with the inclusion of Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. However, this match will not feature any of them. It is just two heavyweights going at it for the big red belt inside Hell in a Cell, with a legend as the guest referee. Mick Foley, the Cell's favourite victim, will be in charge of possibly one of the most violent Cell matches in the PG Era.

One must not forget the fact that this is Strowman's official Money in the Bank cash-in match and will be in the record books as such. The Monster turned heel after getting teamed up on by the reunited Shield. Ziggler and McIntyre are partners with him in this war, as we will see all of them in 6-man Tag Team action in Australia. The match will be explosive and filled with spots as these two always deliver with each other, especially in big match situations. Since he turned heel, Braun Strowman really should have something to show for it. This is the perfect time to give him the title, even it is for a short while.

Prediction: Braun Strowman leaves the Cell with the Universal Championship

Bonus Prediction for the future: Strowman winning at Hell in a Cell would mean that the heels would hold the world and tag championships on Raw. But wait, there is a plan.

The 6-man Tag Team Match at Super Showdown could live up to the event's name and be a Winners Take All match where every title is on the line. That is where all three members of The Shield win their championships, thus holding every male title on Raw.

Seth Rollins is already the Intercontinental Champion and would hold the Raw tag team titles with Dean Ambrose, while the Big Dog recaptures the Universal Championship.