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Roman Reigns vs Rey Mysterio at Hell in a Cell has been preponed to SmackDown, two days before the pay-per-view. It was a surprising move for WWE, especially since the Hell in a Cell card isn't particularly stacked.
Roman Reigns either wrestles in the first match of a pay-per-view or the last - nothing in between. With the high-stakes Drew McIntyre-Bobby Lashley match at Hell in a Cell, it was likely that The Tribal Chief would have opened the show.
That may not happen either. The match between him and Mysterio is only the second Hell in a Cell match that isn't on pay-per-view, and the first Hell in a Cell match in SmackDown history. Here are a few theories on why WWE shifted the match to SmackDown:
#5. To boost SmackDown ratings
Many WWE may not realize that the mammoth broadcasting rights deal to bring SmackDown to FOX Sports makes the company more money than regular pay-per-views do.
It is by far their biggest broadcasting deal in history, and that's probably why WWE prioritizes SmackDown over RAW. Looking at the stacked roster and consistent programming, SmackDown has, in fact, become WWE's "A-Show."
There have been a few instances since 2019 where WWE has pulled out all the stops for SmackDown. Starting from the first episode of SmackDown on FOX, WWE made a big splash by having Brock Lesnar compete in his first free TV match in over 15-and-a-half years - beating Kofi Kingston for the WWE title in just 10 seconds. Even the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal was shifted to SmackDown.
For years, RAW was prioritized as the "A-Show." No matter how good SmackDown got with the brand split, RAW was always favored with the stronger roster.
A 5-year, billion-dollar deal changed all that, and perhaps that's one of the main reasons why WWE feels like it's ok to move the Hell in a Cell match to SmackDown instead.
#4. To promote another SmackDown feud into a Hell in a Cell match
If not Roman Reigns vs Rey Mysterio, there are two other matches from SmackDown that WWE could use the Hell in a Cell stipulation for. Seth Rollins vs Cesaro could be one of them.
Another bout is the SmackDown Women's Championship match between Bianca Belair and Bayley. While this feud doesn't have much heat, it would make sense to give the two women a Hell in a Cell stipulation.
Last year, Bayley's historic SmackDown Women's title run ended at the hands of Sasha Banks inside Hell in a Cell. After headlining WrestleMania 37 Night 1, the history-making Bianca Belair successfully defended her title against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash.
Since it's a title match, it would make more sense to give it the Hell in a Cell stipulation. Yet, many would argue that Seth Rollins vs Cesaro would be more suitable as they can use the steel structure better.
WWE has done three Hell in a Cell matches in one pay-per-view before, but that turned out to be more than what was needed. It was unfortunate that neither Women's title match got the Hell in a Cell stipulation, but that could still change.
#3. Possibly setting up a huge return two days after SmackDown
A possible theory on why WWE preponed the Hell in a Cell match to SmackDown is there could be something big in store. A pay-per-view without Roman Reigns in 2021 seems odd, especially since he has been the company's best star for close to a year now.
It seems no secret that WWE is still building towards making Roman Reigns a long-term babyface. Every year at WrestleMania, Roman Reigns gets the biggest name to face.
It isn't as much of a problem now though, since he's a heel. Two names have emerged as rumored opponents for Roman Reigns recently - John Cena and The Rock.
While John Cena is expected to be Roman Regns' SummerSlam opponent, The Rock is rumored to be returning at Survivor Series to set up a potential WrestleMania 38 feud with Roman Reigns.
The chances are slim, but a big return could take place at Hell in a Cell two days after SmackDown.
#2. To set up a SmackDown Tag Team title match at Hell in a Cell
In the current story, it's easy to forget that Rey and Dominik Mysterio are SmackDown Tag Team Champions. It would be interesting to see how that match would play out at Hell in a Cell, and whether WWE decides to have a sudden title change before the crowds return full-time.
We've already had one awful Hell in a Cell match in 2019 between 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins, where a non-finish ended the pay-per-view. If WWE has a bizarre finish to the Hell in a Cell match on SmackDown where Rey Mysterio doesn't take a big beating, then he should be ready for a tag team title defense two days later.
The Usos winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Hell in a Cell wouldn't be a bad thing. It's the final pay-per-view before crowds return to WWE, and they could always extend the angle to a big pay-per-view like SummerSlam so that Rey and Dominik Mysterio get their moment in front of the fans.
#1. Roman Reigns could face another opponent after SmackDown
WWE may have preponed the Hell in a Cell match to SmackDown because it wants Roman Reigns to face another opponent two days later.
The only conundrum that WWE has with Roman Reigns on SmackDown is finding an opponent who could believably dethrone him. WrestleMania 37 was the closest he could have come to getting dethroned, but he ended up pinning both Edge and Daniel Bryan.
WWE may add to Roman Reigns' workload and make him perform at Hell in a Cell as well. There are only two names, however, that seem realistic for Hell in a Cell now - Dominik Mysterio and Jimmy Uso.
The latter, in particular, seems likely given the direction of the storyline on SmackDown. Jimmy Uso hasn't complied with Roman Reigns as freely as his brother and that has tied into this Hell in a Cell storyline.
A match against Dominik Mysterio inside Hell in a Cell would certainly be interesting too. But is the young SmackDown star ready for that spot?
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