After a mediocre showing in their most recent PPV Clash of Champions, Raw will be looking to bounce back in Boston, with Hell in a Cell this Sunday.
With three Hell in A Cell matches set to take place, including the first ever women’s Hell in a Cell matchup, this could potentially be a fantastic showing for Raw’s superstars. Although the match card appears stellar enough to provide fans with a great PPV, baffling booking decisions have often tarnished splendid in-ring work (like at Clash of Champions).
Instead, expect WWE to catch the fans off guard with exciting shocks, making up for poor booking decisions. Whether it is a surprise world title win, a Queen returning to her throne, or a rocky friendship suddenly coming to an end, here are 7 Possible Shocks That Could Happen at Hell in a Cell 2016.
#7 Triple H Returns… Again
Once again, Triple H’s second return is rumoured for Hell in a Cell, as it was, for Clash of Champions.
This time, though, Owens and Rollins’ feud, looks set to conclude after a clash in the steel structure this Sunday. However, knowing WWE’s booking tendencies, neither man will lose clean, despite being inside the cell.
Assuming the plan is for Kevin Owens to retain, a strong finish to the bout would be to have Triple H once again interfere on KO’s behalf, allowing Owens to move on to a new rivalry, while Rollins settles his bad blood with HHH at Survivor Series.
Rather than re-hashing the poor finish from Clash of Champions, with Jericho interfering to help Owens win, a much more shocking and intriguing prospect, would be Rollins losing the Universal Title once again because of The Game; sparking the beginning of the build towards their much-anticipated showdown.
So, instead of delaying Triple H’s inevitable return any longer, WWE would be wise to pull the trigger at Hell in a Cell, having The Game screw Rollins yet again and helping Owens retain in another shocking return for Triple H, this time on PPV.
#6 Cesaro and Sheamus clinch the Tag Titles
With the New Day edging closer and closer, every week, to Demolition’s record tag title reign at 478 days, the chances are extremely slim for Cesaro and Sheamus to capture the titles at Hell in a Cell. Despite beating the champions clean, after finally getting on the same page on the most recent edition of Raw, the former foes are arguably the least likely new champions on Sunday.
However, what if they were to shock everyone by winning the gold, despite their flaws as a team?
Sure, WWE would be dumb to end the New Day’s tag team title reign this close to breaking the record, but the probable lack of title changes in other matches on the card may leave the Creative team with no choice.
If WWE feels that a title change is necessary to have Hell in a Cell well-received by fans, but would rather have all singles champions retain, they may give the dysfunctional duo of Cesaro and Sheamus a run with the titles.
#5 Brian Kendrick wins the Cruiserweight Championship
Although WWE has tried somewhat to make it a success, the Cruiserweight division as of late, hasn’t been as strong as first hoped. A serious lack of character development, among most of the competitors, has led to fans being unable to resonate with individual characters.
Even Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins has suffered, being presented as the “It’s been my dream for so long to be here” clean-cut babyface, which is often rejected by fans; although his character has improved as of late. Still, it needs a significant shake up, and this could be provided by the most developed character of the group, Brian Kendrick.
Kendrick’s intentions are clear, and a title win could breathe new life in the otherwise floundering division. Whether he holds onto the title for three months or just one, Kendrick beating Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship at Hell in a Cell (through dubious tactics), could be the shake-up the Cruiserweight division needs, and it would certainly be a shock for fans.
#4 Rusev regains the United States Championship
Easily the most unlikely outcome from this list, Rusev regaining the United States Championship from Reigns is a fantasy for anti-Reigns fans, but it is incredibly unlikely given WWE’s long-running faith in ‘The Guy’.
Even now that he is in the mid card Reigns is still being booked as Superman, gaining the upper hand on Rusev constantly throughout their rivalry. Still, anything is possible in WWE, and Rusev regaining the U.S. Title back from Reigns could happen at Hell in a Cell.
How? Well, Reigns has been outside of the main event scene for two months now, and knowing WWE’s ignorance, they could be set to place him back there with Wrestlemania approaching in a few months.
Although it is too soon for Reigns to ascend back up the card, he may drop the title back to Rusev, and return to the main event picture he occupied for so long. Whether this would be a smart choice by WWE is yet to be seen, but it is entirely possible.
Could we see Rusev win the U.S. Championship once again, with Reigns confronting a main event star the next night? This would obviously be a rushed push back to the main event for Reigns, but at least Rusev regaining his U.S. championship at Hell in a Cell would be a nice shock for Rusev fans on Sunday.
#3 Charlotte returns to her throne - Regains Women’s Championship
With the first ever Women’s Hell in a Cell match set to take place this Sunday, the women competing will look to make history, as well as settle their bad blood inside the steel structure.
Although we have a situation similar to Summerslam, where Sasha Banks looked destined to retain, we saw at the Biggest Party of the Summer, that fans should expect the unexpected in WWE.
If the WWE are determined to let the women steal the show at Hell in a Cell, Charlotte could be a three-time Women’s Champion, as title changes are often relied on, to slightly increase the overall quality of a splendid bout.
Even though it would be unnecessary, WWE may look to provide this shock title change in the first women’s Hell in a Cell match, as it would increase the historical significance of the bout. The matchup is almost guaranteed to be wonderful, given their previous regular singles bouts, and a shock third Women’s title win for Charlotte inside Hell in a Cell would provide fans, with another surprise title victory in this ongoing women’s evolution.
#2 Chris Jericho turns on Kevin Owens
Although Chris Jericho’s stint as a heel has been incredibly entertaining, recent fan reactions and segments with Kevin Owens, have suggested a babyface turn could be in the works. With obvious thunderous cheers for him as of late and the continuation of a teased split with Kevin Owens, Jericho could be set to break away from Owens as a babyface once again.
The timing of the split is only up to WWE however, and for now, fans have no idea whether the plan is to turn Jericho yet or wait for a later date. If the plan is to have Y2J turn on Owens sooner rather than later, Hell in a Cell, would be a fitting stage for such a shock split.
If WWE were to book this turn on Sunday, a perfect situation has been set in place. Jericho could somehow make his way inside the Cell, with fans (and Owens) assuming he is there to aid the Prizefighter to victory. Instead, he hits Owens with a Codebreaker, allowing Rollins to win the Universal Championship.
Rollins could then move on to a new foe, while Owens and Jericho settle their differences in a high-profile bout at Survivor Series. The babyface turn for Jericho books itself at Hell in a Cell, it is just up to WWE to pull the trigger this Sunday. If they do indeed pull the trigger, it would be a very shocking moment to conclude the PPV.
#1 Seth Rollins Wins the Universal Title
If this were to occur, even with Jericho turning on Owens, it would still be the most shocking moment of the night. Seeing Rollins capture the Universal Championship this soon into his babyface run would be a tremendous scene, even if it is too early for Owens to drop the championship.
Rollins has been receiving wonderful reactions from fans as of late, and if WWE has decided on other plans for Wrestlemania 33 that does not include Rollins finally capturing the gold, there is every reason for ‘The Man’ to win the Universal Championship, this Sunday, at Hell in a Cell.
Still lacking that big, emotional title win since returning from injury, Rollins could once again hold a world title, becoming a three-time world champion.
This may be a little biased, coming from a huge Rollins fan, but it cannot be argued that a Universal Title win for Rollins at Hell in a Cell, would be a shocking and incredible moment to close the PPV; especially, if it stemmed from Chris Jericho turning babyface on Kevin Owens.
Overall, If WWE want to make Hell in a Cell more of a success than Clash of Champions (or No Mercy), then they may need to implement some of these shocks on Sunday night.
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