It’s time again for a show based around the most dangerous match in WWE history. Hell in a Cell is back again, and this year will feature three matches in the demonic structure. Add in a few extra matches, and this has the potential to be a very good show for WWE fans.
WWE Universal Title I Quit Hell In A Cell Match: Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) (c) vs. Jey Uso
Cousins fight, but it’s rarely like this. Ever since Roman Reigns returned and aligned with Paul Heyman to become ‘The Tribal Chief’, he’s been different. This is a more dangerous Roman Reigns than we’ve ever seen before, as shown by how he treated Jey Uso at Clash of Champions. Now, Uso has one more chance to overthrow his cousin and become Universal Champion. He just has to make Roman Reigns say ‘I Quit’.
Much like their last match, this was a deeply personal and violent brawl. The I Quit aspect was fantastic, with Reigns regretting what he needed to do to make Jey Uso utter those two simple words. However, it did not need to be a Hell in a Cell match. It wasn’t a complete squash, Uso got a good level of control early on, before he spent the back half of this match as essentially just a corpse.
Jimmy Uso came to the ring to plead for his brother, telling Reigns he went too far. Reigns knew this, started crying, but realized he had to do what he needed to do. He’d choke out Jimmy as well, and Jey would finally say the magic words to end this match.
This is probably the best feud WWE will have this year, and they are two for two with just incredible matches. It will keep going, this story is just getting started. They’re not the usual workrate heavy big matches people enjoy, but something a bit greater. WWE doesn’t do these emotional matches often, but they are the best at it. Reigns was greated by Afa & Sika on the stage, and they’d put him on their level with a lei. It legitimizes his claim as the Tribal Chief, all he wanted.
Match Rating: 4.5/5 (**** ½)
Singles Match – Jeff Hardy vs. Elias
As far as Elias knows, Jeff Hardy was the man who ran him down months ago in the parking lot and put him out of action. We’ve seen matches come from less, and this should prove to be a good ol’ fashioned grudge match.
It was very much a cool down match after the opening match, and in that it was incredibly serviceable. Jeff Hardy matches in 2020 can only be so good without some kind of gimmick. Lots of rest holds while Elias was on top, some decent power moves, and an okay comeback from Hardy.
No one expected this match to steal the show, and it didn’t. The match ended with Elias winning via DQ, after Hardy just decided to smash a guitar over his back.
Match Rating: 2.25/5 (** ¼)
Money In The Bank Contract Match – The Miz vs. Otis
Otis won the Money in The Bank match earlier this year, but after a thrilling episode of Law & Otis, he now has to defend against The Miz. Tonight could be the best time to cash in the contract and become a world champion, making this one very important.
Otis & Miz are wrestlers who rely more on their charisma than their in ring skills, and this was a good example of this. It was a better match than Elias vs. Hardy, but still felt more like a filler match on this card. This match could have happened on Monday Night RAW or Smackdown Live, and been all the same. Miz came close to winning on a few occasions, but in the back half, things were looking to go the way of Otis. That was until a shocking turn, when Tucker slammed Otis with the briefcase, and handed the win and briefcase to The Miz.
This is another storyline that will keep playing out going forward, and does truly put a nail in the coffin of Heavy Machinery. The briefcase is no longer just a prop, something for Otis to take for granted. Much like how he took Tucker for granted, only to be made into an afterthought. This is going to be a rivalry to watch.
Match Rating: 3/5 (***)
WWE SmackDown Women’s Title Hell In A Cell Match: Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks & Bayley were good friends, but they’re much better as enemies. They’ve clashed numerous times over their WWE tenure, with their matches in NXT heralded as some of the best in WWE history. This might be their highest stakes yet for them, as they enter Hell in A Cell, with Banks looking to finally end Bayleys historic Smackdown Women’s Championship reign.
While Reigns vs. Uso thrived on great storytelling, this match thrived on simply being an incredible and creative Hell in A Cell match. Bayley & Sasha Banks have second to none chemistry, and they used the cage to the maximum effectiveness. They used every weapon and move in their arsenal, in what might be the best female Hell in a Cell match ever.
Banks would win in the end with a chair assisted Bank Statement, ending the 380 day reign of Bayley and earning her first Smackdown Women’s Championship. She refound her violent edge, and that enabled her to walk away with the only thing Bayley cared about.
Match Rating: 4.5/5 (**** ½)
United States Championship Match – Bobby Lashley vs. Slapjack
Retribution is focused on taking down WWE, starting with The Hurt Business. During the kickoff show, Mustafa Ali would challenge them to a match. MVP can pick one of their men, and one of the members of Retribution. Shelton Benjamin would help MVP choose Slapjack, formerly known as Shane Thorne. There would be no backup, and the United States Championship match. Lashley didn’t want to wait for an answer, and would march to the ring, ready for war. Slapjack showed up, ready for what would frankly be an upset.
Lashley would make this look easy early on, using his absurd power game to beat down Slapjack. However, despite the awful name and mask, he’s a legit wrestler and wasn’t letting this become a squash match. He’d stay in this fight and get some near falls, until he was planted with a spinebuster and locked in the Hurt Lock.
Lashley retains, but Retribution would swarm the ring and try to take Lashley, but failed. This one was another bad showing for this doomed faction, but this feud will roll on, likely into Survivor Series.
Match Rating: 2/5 (**)
WWE Title Hell In A Cell Match – Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Randy Orton
For months now, the WWE Title has been the target of The Apex Predator, Randy Orton. He’s had some fantastic matches with Drew McIntyre, but playtime is over. They now meet in Hell in A Cell, have nowhere to run, and this feud is going to end. McIntyre could finally put an end to Orton, or we see a 13 time world champion enter reign 14.
After the previous two cell matches of the night, especially Sasha vs. Bayley, there wasn’t much ground left for this match to cover. They brawled inside and their usual chemistry shined, but things got interesting with Orton escaping the cell and scaled the structure. McIntyre followed, they brawled up there, then they made their way down, Orton sending McIntyre off the side through the announce table.
Barely able to stand, McIntyre crawled to the ring, and had one last burst in him. He’d counter an RKO into a rollup, mimicking the finish from Summerslam, before nailing a Claymore kick, but Orton fled the ring. He finally got him in, went for a second Claymore, Orton dodged, hit the RKO and became a 14 time world champion. McIntyre fought to the bitter end of his reign, and this won’t be his last one. This won’t even be their last clash. Things are just getting started here.
Match Rating: 4.25/5 (**** ¼)
In a rare twist, all three Hell in a Cell matches shined in their own unique ways. What was your favorite match from Hell in a Cell? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!