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WWE's first big PPV following the 2020 Draft takes place this weekend with Hell in a Cell. Three big title matches highlight the event as Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and Bayley will all defend their respective Championships inside the demonic structure.
As of this writing, however, there are only five matches announced with the possibility of adding several others. Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan had an interaction over the Intercontinental Championship on the go-home SmackDown. Asuka and Lana could also challenge for the WWE Women's Tag Team titles seeing as how the Champs attacked both the Empress and Lana following their title match on RAW.
WWE has often waited until the day before or day of some PPVs to announce more matches for shows. The ever-changing landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has forced WWE to switch things up as needed. There are also rewrites and alterations made to meet the desires of WWE management.
So far, WWE has only announced three big title matches for Hell in a Cell. The Miz will also challenge Otis for the right to the 2020 Money in the Bank briefcase while Jeff Hardy and Elias will battle in singles action. Here are thoughts on which titles may changes hands at Hell in a Cell PPV and thoughts on one that won't likely switch.
#5 Other title matches that could be added to WWE Hell in a Cell 2020
Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
Sami Zayn defended the Intercontinental Championship against Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 36. The Great Liberator retained and he then went on a hiatus and only returned a month ago. Bryan also took time off from the ring due to his wife's pregnancy. He returned to SmackDown on the episode following Night 1 of the 2020 WWE Draft.
After dispatching of rivals AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy, Zayn was going to need some new challengers. While Bryan isn't necessarily a new challenger, he brings out the best in all of his opponents and is one of the top faces of the brand. Since Survivor Series is the next PPV and we may have some triple threat matches again, Bryan could target Zayn's Intercontinental Championship. Either man would be great as the mid-card staple of SmackDown and Hell in a Cell would be the perfect place to kickstart the rivalry.
WWE Women's Tag Team titles: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Asuka and Lana
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler asserted their dominance on RAW after Asuka defeated Lana to retain the RAW Women's Championship. The Champs have continued to target Lana and she may go looking for the aid of the Empress in order to fend off Jax and Baszler. While it would be interesting to see another female performer become a double-Champ, it would hurt the Queen of Spades and Jax more than it would help Lana and Asuka.
However, when the current Champs drop their titles, it will likely be due to one betraying the other rather than being outright beaten physically. Since that can happen at any moment, one cannot rule out a title swap if this match is added to Hell in a Cell.
#4 Could change hands at WWE Hell in a Cell 2020: SmackDown Women's Championship
Bayley's reign atop SmackDown has surpassed a year. There were times where WWE could have booked her to lose her title, like at WrestleMania 36, SummerSlam or Clash of Champions.
But in order to draw things out as long as possible, WWE has waited for a blood feud between former friends Bayley and Sasha Banks. The former Hugger turned on her friend following SummerSlam, where they lost their WWE Women's Tag Team titles. It kickstarted the angle everyone was waiting for as many consider their feud and matches in NXT to be among the best ever featuring female Superstars.
After Bayley dispatched of every challenger - and some more than two or three times - the last remaining opponent was her best friend, Banks. The WWE Draft altered rosters across both brands, but it left Bayley without many more feasible opponents for her title.
Bianca Belair is a future women's Champ and Carmella has already had her shot and lost. For that reason, the name that makes the most sense to dethrone Bayley is the Boss. The Boss won by DQ at Clash of Champions but could very well walk out of Hell in a Cell as the new SmackDown Women's Champ. It's well past time for a new Superstar to reign atop Friday nights and this could be the start of it for Banks.
#3 Could change hands at WWE Hell in a Cell 2020: Money in the Bank Briefcase
Otis was on fire around WrestleMania and it caused WWE to choose him to win this year's Money in the Bank match. It was a bit strange because he was still a part of a tag team and other more prominent names like Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, or King Corbin would have made sense as winners. But they went with Otis and it's turned out to be somewhat of a mistake.
The pandemic caused a lot of moving parts for WWE to switch as Mandy Rose was "traded" to RAW while some stars missed time due to outside factors. When we did see Otis, the briefcase seemed like an afterthought. WWE realized that and started this storyline of The Miz trying to wrest the contract from Otis.
The basis of The Miz's whole argument was that Otis had caused an unsafe workplace. That is true, but it only became unsafe because of the constant harassment of Otis by The Miz and John Morrison. And like JBL said on SmackDown, that's what it means to be a WWE Superstar.
In hindsight, giving the briefcase to Otis might have been a mistake. Since this storyline popped up, there is a strong likelihood that The Miz walks out of HIAC with the contract. If Drew McIntyre retains, it makes sense for a heel Miz - and someone with a history of cashing in - to hold the contract instead of a comedy act.
#2 Won't change hands at WWE Hell in a Cell 2020: Universal Championship
Of the Championship matches that WWE has already announced for Hell in a Cell, this is the one where there is little to no chance of a title change. Roman Reigns has been the Chosen One in WWE since his debut with the Shield and he is this generation's John Cena (except for the heel turn).
Reigns was slated to take the Universal Championship from Goldberg at WrestleMania 36, but he opted out of action due to the pandemic. He was off WWE programming from March until his shock return at SummerSlam in August. He would win the title a week later at Payback.
For those reasons alone, there is no way that the Tribal Chief is dropping his belt this weekend. He has finally regained a major title and has undergone the biggest character shift in his career. It would be way too early for him to lose his title due to all of the big changes he's undergone.
Jey Uso is a perfectly fine opponent and has done well in the feud. The familial connection obviously makes this feud more personal, but at the end of the day, Reigns will force Uso out of the family after forcing him to quit.
#1 Could change hands at Hell in a Cell 2020: WWE Championship
When WWE really sinks its teeth into a feud, the culmination usually comes after three big PPV showdowns. This will mark the third PPV match between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton, with the Scottish Psychopath picking up wins at SummerSlam and Clash of Champions.
There are reasons on both sides for the WWE Championship changing hands or staying put. On the one hand, it would be strange to have McIntyre drop the title. He's already beaten Orton twice and the Viper basically whined and attacked WWE Legends just for another shot to dethrone McIntyre. If there was going to be a title swap, it would have already happened. Regardless, this is the last match between two men that have become bitter rivals in 2020.
Another reason why a title swap would seem strange would be due to the landscape of the RAW roster following the WWE Draft. RAW added Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, and Sheamus. All three of those men could challenge for the WWE Championship next if McIntyre retains since they are all heels. The only babyface who could possibly challenge Orton if he wins is Keith Lee.
But even still, however, there could just as easily be a title change. WWE really wants to have another match between Edge and Orton and it will likely take place at WrestleMania 37. Whether or not a title is involved remains to be seen. Big-time matches like that don't need a Championship but WWE will probably think that it does in order to sell it.
If that's the direction they want to go, then Orton could escape hell as WWE Champion. It all comes down to if WWE is planning for the coming months ahead or if they are booking things PPV to PPV.
