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The WWE ThunderDome hosted its fourth pay-per-view event on Sunday evening as Hell in a Cell 2020 took place in Orlando, Florida. On occasion over the past few years, Hell in a Cell has felt like just another stop on the WWE calendar. Hell in a Cell 2020, though, proved to be one of the most newsworthy WWE pay-per-view offerings of the year so far.
Although the main card featured only six matches, three of those bouts took place inside the famed Hell in a Cell structure.
Each of these matches delivered in their own unique way, including a women's bout that was undoubtedly one of the best in recent memory.
The future of the Money in the Bank briefcase was also decided at Hell in a Cell, whilst several longstanding rivalries were continued elsewhere on the card.
On what was a stellar night of action, here are five big takeaways from WWE Hell in a Cell 2020.
#5 Roman still reigns as The Tribal Chief
In what was the first-ever "I Quit" Hell in a Cell match in WWE history, Roman Reigns defeated Jey Uso to retain his Universal Championship in the opening match on the pay-per-view.
An intense family affair at Hell in a Cell
Reigns dominated his opponent for large portions of the near 30-minute bout, but Jey Uso repeatedly refused to verbally submit. So decisive was the beating Reigns was giving his cousin that at one point WWE officials Adam Pearce, Jamie Noble, and Pat Buck came out to try and persuade Reigns to let the referee end the contest out of concern for Jey Uso's welfare.
Their pleas went ignored by Reigns, which brought out Jey Uso's twin brother Jimmy Uso to the ring. An emotional exchange ensued with Jimmy Uso trying to appeal to Reigns on a personal level to stop the match - and end the assault on Jey Uso.
A tearful Roman Reigns appeared to be listening to reason. Suddenly, however, Reigns tightly snatched Jimmy Uso in his guillotine choke. Seeing Jimmy Uso struggle for consciousness was too much for Jey Uso, who was forced to say "I Quit" in order to save his sibling.
Following the match, Roman Reigns was congratulated by Afa and Sika (Roman's father) who congratulated him on his win - seemingly acknowledging him as the head of the family table.
Following two successive pay-per-view events where Jey Uso has come up vastly short, it is highly unlikely that we will see a third big match between Reigns and his cousin.
The Tribal Chief will now surely move on to new challenges on the SmackDown brand.
#4 A shocking betrayal
Heavy Machinery may have already been separated in the WWE Draft earlier this month, but their permanent split was confirmed at Hell in a Cell when Tucker betrayed Otis to cost him the Money in the Bank briefcase.
For the first time since 2007, the winner of the Money in the Bank ladder match will not go on to cash in their championship opportunity. Otis was robbed of that chance when Tucker turned on him in the closing moments of his match with The Miz at Hell in a Cell.
Tucker nailed Otis with the famed briefcase to cost him the bout, meaning that the big man surrendered his guaranteed title shot as per the stipulations of the match.
Heavy Machinery implodes at Hell in a Cell
Attempting to justify his actions moments after the turn, Tucker claimed that Otis had been holding him back - and that it was him that was truly responsible for Otis' success.
Although Tucker recently moved to the RAW brand, a feud with SmackDown's Otis now seems inevitable. The pair brawled backstage at the pay-per-view and WWE will likely come up with a storyline explanation to allow for a match between the two in the near future.
#3 The Miz becomes Mr. Money in the Bank for a second time
Otis' loss proved to be a major gain for The Miz at Hell in a Cell. Some ten years after he first successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract, The A-Lister once again holds the much sought after briefcase.
Despite winning the championship opportunity from a SmackDown Superstar, RAW roster member The Miz confirmed after his victory that he would be allowed to trade the briefcase for a match against a champion on either brand.
The Miz has several options after his win at Hell in a Cell
The Miz is a man not short of options when it comes to his newly-won briefcase. In theory, his Money in the Bank contract will be valid until the pay-per-view of the same name in 2021.
Miz, then, has plenty of time to decide which World Champion to target - and at what time. Interestingly, though, when he first cashed in the briefcase back in November 2010 he did so on a certain Randy Orton - something that Miz has already been quick to point out on social media following Hell in a Cell.
Could lightning strike twice for The Miz?
#2 Sasha Banks becomes SmackDown Women's Champion for the first time
Heading into the pay-per-view, Sasha Banks had participated in every Hell in a Cell match in the history of the WWE female division. However, The Boss had also tasted defeated in both of those previous bouts.
Banks ended her mini losing streak inside Hell in a Cell in fantastic style, lifting her first SmackDown Women's Championship after beating Bayley by submission with the Bank Statement.
Banks' victory finally saw the end of Bayley's mammoth 380-day reign as Women's Champion on the Blue brand. Whilst Bayley's title run is no more, the pair's rivalry should absolutely continue.
An epic title match at Hell in a Cell
The former WWE Women's Tag Team Champions engaged in a gripping war, offering a completely different style of match to the other two Hell in a Cell bouts on the card.
Although certain other feuds on the card may have run their course, there can be little doubt that fans will be keen to see more of Banks vs. Bayley in a big match setting.
The rematch does not need to happen immediately, however. Bouts of the quality produced by Banks and Bayley at Hell in a Cell deserve to grace some of the biggest stages that WWE can offer.
It is fair to say that there should not be too many complaints if the rivalry between were to culminate at WrestleMania 37.
In the meantime, Banks has a fresh slate of challengers following the recent WWE Draft. Her first SmackDown Women's Championship reign might just be a memorable one.
#1 Drew McIntyre defeated as Randy Orton makes history
The WWE Championship reign of Drew McIntyre is over after Randy Orton finally defeated him at Hell in a Cell.
The Scottish Psychopath won the title at WrestleMania 36, but sadly never managed to defend his belt in front of a true live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
His bout with Orton marked the third time that the pair had squared off for the WWE Championship on pay-per-view. Although Orton had come up short previously, The Viper managed to get the better of McIntyre with an RKO to lift his 14th World Championship in WWE.
Their main event match at Hell in a Cell was a wild brawl, with both men ending up on top of the cell at one point.
As has often been the case in Hell in a Cell matches over the years, someone was destined to fall from the demonic structure as soon as the match had escalated to the top of the cell.
On this occasion, it was McIntyre who fell through the announcers table from halfway up the cage.
Under normal circumstances, WWE would rarely extend a rivalry into a fourth pay-per-view match. However, McIntyre is owed a rematch and the storyline dynamic of the match will be different now that Orton holds the title.
Orton enters elite company after Hell in a Cell
With his win at Hell in a Cell, Orton is now tied with his former Evolution stablemate Triple H on 14 World Championship wins - and is just two behind the record of 16 jointly held by Ric Flair and John Cena.
Given that Orton is still very much an active headline Superstar in WWE, it would be no surprise to see more title reigns in his future either.
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