WWE Hell in Cell took place on Sunday night from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California featuring two Hell in a Cell matches with Seth Rollins vs. The Fiend and Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks.
Later tonight, we will have a Hell in a Cell POST Show LIVE immediately after the show with Wai Ting and myself. If you’re a Double Double, Iced Capp, or Espresso member of the POST Wrestling Café, you can watch the POST Show live and call in with your feedback.
The kickoff show began with Jonathan Coachman, Booker T., Charly Caruso, and Sam Roberts on the panel.
On WWE Now, they added the following matches to the card:
*Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Kabuki Warriors for the tag titles
*Baron Corbin vs. Chad Gable
*The OC vs. Viking Raiders & a partner
*Natalya vs. Lacey Evans on the kickoff show
RESULTS
*Natalya over Lacey Evans in 9:21
*Becky Lynch over Sasha Banks in 21:22 in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the Raw women’s title
*Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan over Erick Rowan & Luke Harper in a Tornado match in 16:46
*Randy Orton over Ali in 12:10
*Asuka & Kairi Sane over Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross in 10:25 to win the WWE women’s tag titles
*Braun Strowman & Viking Raiders over The OC by DQ in 8:15
*Chad Gable over King Corbin in 12:40
*The Fiend Bray Wyatt over Seth Rollins by stoppage in 17:03 in the Hell in a Cell match
The tag match involving Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan vs. Erick Rowan & Luke Harper is now a tornado match.
The kickoff show began with Jonathan Coachman, Booker T., Charly Caruso, and Sam Roberts on the panel.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were interviewed, and Bliss didn’t understand why the Kabuki Warriors are receiving a title shot. Cross mentioned they did beat Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville a few weeks ago, which Bliss dismissed.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Charlotte Flair, she ignores the match from Clash of Champions and points out how she submitted Bayley on Friday Night SmackDown.
LACEY EVANS VS NATALYA
Lawler made a joke that when Evans was deployed to Afghanistan, she was shot at by both sides.
Natalya transitioned to an armbar with Evans reaching the rope to break. Natalya went for the sharpshooter and Evans immediately scrambled to the rope. Natalya got sent into the steps and they went to break with Evans in control when it resumed working on her left knee.
Evans attempted the sharpshooter but ate an up kick and later, kicks Evans to the floor. Evans missed the spinning moonsault from the top, Natalya applied the sharpshooter and Evans tapped.
WINNER: Natalya in 9:21
This was a simple and basic match that worked for its position on the card. It wasn’t overly ambitious for Evans but was one of her better matches and it has paid dividends having Evans continually working with Natalya.
Natalya struck her after the match and left Evans laying.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Ali about his recent setbacks and was interrupted by Randy Orton to talk about momentum. He said he remembers when Ali had momentum and he stomped it out. Ali challenged him for a match tonight and Orton accepted.
BECKY LYNCH VS SASHA BANKS FOR THE RAW WOMEN’S TITLE IN A HELL IN A CELL MATCH
Banks jumped Lynch as the cell was lowering and attacked her outside the structure after it came down. Lynch entered and they attempted to lock the door, but Lynch grabbed the chain and used it to attack Banks. After using the chain, she locked the door shut.
Lynch went to grab a ladder from underneath and was stopped by Banks attacking with a chair. Lynch recovered and dropkicked Banks several times into the cell. Banks came off the apron with a Meteora that drove both into the upright ladder.
Lynch was seated in a chair inside the ring and was hit with another Meteora off the middle turnbuckle. Lynch dropkicked her on the apron and Banks flew into the cell.
Banks took two drop toe holds onto the chair and hit a missile dropkick into a chair that Banks was holding.
In the corner of the cell, two kendo sticks were lodged in the fence and Lynch placed a chair on top of them. Banks was elevated on the seat and Lynch landed a running dropkick to her and she fell.
Lynch set up a table, she was stopped with the backstabber, they fought in the corner and Lynch was put through the table with a Meteora and a big kick out from Lynch.
There were tons of chairs thrown into the ring, Lynch hits a Bexploder off the turnbuckle onto the chairs and applied the Disarmer and Banks submitted.
WINNER: Becky Lynch at 21:22 to retain the Raw women’s title
Outstanding match with tons of creative ideas and both worked super-hard. This was a tremendous Hell in a Cell match.
ROMAN REIGNS & DANIEL BRYAN VS ERICK ROWAN & LUKE HARPER IN A TORNADO MATCH
Bryan hit a dive onto Harper at the start while Reigns was in the ring with Rowan. Reigns was cut off after Harper landed a superkick.
Harper and Rowan had the advantage of Bryan after Reigns was sent to the floor. Bryan was beaten down for a long time until he fired back and sent Rowan into the post. Bryan was landing Yes kicks as Harper yanked him to the floor. Reigns hit a Drive-By and Harper landed a suicide dive and crashed into the announcer’s desk.
Bryan was dropped face-first onto the apron and then double-teamed Reigns. They broke off a piece of the barricade and drove it into Reigns.
Bryan avoided their version of the Killer Bomb with a rana sending Harper off the announcer’s desk while Reigns ran across the desk and speared Rowan off.
In the ring, Harper blocked a top rope huracanrana and powerbombed Bryan for a near fall.
Harper ate a Superman Punch, Busaiku knee, and spear as Reigns pinned Harper.
WINNERS: Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan at 16:46
This was a great tag match, Reigns and Bryan were a great babyface unit and the tandem of Harper & Rowan gelled very well with them.
Reigns offered his hand, Bryan refused and wanted a hug, which Reigns accepted.
RANDY ORTON VS ALI
Ali was dropped onto the announcer’s desk and later, landed sternum first on the floor as Orton was in control while beating down Ali.
Any time Ali would get some momentum, Orton would attack his ribs and mid-section to slow him down. Then, Ali landed a suicide dive and Orton fell over the desk.
Ali hit the rolling facebuster and got a two-count. Orton hit a powerslam and the crowd started chanting “RKO”. Other than the brief chant, they were not into the match.
Ali caught him with a tornado DDT, missed with the 450 splash and Orton proceeded to hit a draping DDT. Ali countered the RKO with a handstand and used a crucifix for a two-count. Ali went for the rolling facebuster right into another RKO and Orton won.
WINNER: Randy Orton at 12:10
The two worked well together and this is the style of opponent that gets the most creative sequences out of Orton, especially the set up to the RKO. The crowd was not behind Ali and it tells you how he’s fallen as a babyface compared to his standing earlier this year.
ALEXA BLISS & NIKKI CROSS VS ASUKA & KAIRI SANE FOR THE WWE WOMEN’S TAG TITLES
On this show, Alexa Bliss was a heel and didn’t understand why the Kabuki Warriors were receiving a title shot. Asuka landed a head kick on Bliss and threw her into the barricade on the floor.
They worked on Bliss in their corner. Asuka attacked her ankle as she made quick tags with Sane.
Sane walked the plank to the corner and poked Cross in the eyes and the Kabuki Warriors had assumed the role of the heels in the match. Sure, why not?
Cross received the tag, she got her boots up as Sane attempted the Insane Elbow. Cross hit Sane with a swinging neck breaker off the top but Asuka saved. Asuka attacked Cross with Kawada kicks and got cheered, this is such a confusing match.
Asuka sprayed green mist into the face of Cross and kicked her in the head to pin her.
WINNERS: Asuka & Kairi Sane at 10:25 to win the WWE tag titles
It’s a better move for Asuka and Sane to move on as heels but this was a mess to following without knowing who was supposed to be playing what role throughout the match.
AJ STYLES, LUKE GALLOWS & KARL ANDERSON VS VIKING RAIDERS & BRAUN STROWMAN
Strowman was pulled off the apron by Gallows and dropped with a kick. Styles had control of Ivar, who finally dropped Styles and tagged Strowman.
Stroman fired up and ran around the ring delivering shoulder tackles. He ran into the post with his shoulder as Styles got out of the way and clipped his knee. Styles applied the calf crusher and Ivar broke the hold. Styles took out Erik with the Phenomenal Forearm. Anderson chop blocked Strowman’s knee and they triple-teamed Strowman as the bell was called for the disqualification.
WINNER: Braun Strowman & Viking Raiders by DQ at 8:15
Why was this even on the show?
Viking Raiders fought off Gallows & Anderson and landed stereo suicide dives on them.
Styles was left with Strowman, the Phenomenal Forearm was blocked with a right hand from Strowman. They pushed the dangerous power in Strowman’s right hand for the Tyson Fury program. Styles was knocked silly as Anderson & Gallows had to carry him out and explain what day of the week it was.
The Street Profits were in the back and were interrupted by Carmella, who was beaten by Tamina for the 24/7 title. Tyler Breeze appeared and was decked by Tamina, who ran off with the title. R-Truth and Carmella set out to find Tamina.
KING CORBIN VS CHAD GABLE
The chant of “STD” began from the audience. Corbin said he put The Rock in his place on Friday. He made short jokes about Gable and hopes his career is like his legs “short” and calls him “Shorty Gable”.
Gable hit a koppu kick and took Corbin down before taking his back and looking to choke him. Corbin sent him into the post and to the floor. Corbin took over the match, but this crowd was dead.
Gable made a comeback with forearm strikes and yelled at Corbin, hit the Chaos Theory and Corbin kicked out. He ran into the corner with koppu kicks and was caught on the third with a powerbomb.
Corbin hit the Deep Six for a two-count, Gable blocked the End of Days and landed a moonsault off the top for a two-count, he moved to the ankle lock and Corbin rolled to the floor.
Corbin tried to use the scepter, the referee stopped him and Gable rolled him up for the win. The audience reacted to the upset.
WINNER: Chad Gable at 12:40
The audience reacted when they believed Gable could win and did get into the finish, but this dragged because of the lack of heat. The two work fine together, it’s just a limited role for Gable.
Tamina ran by the international announcers, grabbed Funaki as a shield with R-Truth chasing her. Tamina turned around and was hit with a superkick from Carmella as Truth pinned Tamina to regain the 24/7 title.
BAYLEY VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR FOR THE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S TITLE
Bayley wrapped the left leg around the post as she worked on Flair’s leg. Flair turned the tables and wrapped Bayley’s leg around the post and hit Natural Selection but Bayley grabbed the bottom rope.
Flair attempted a moonsault from the top and landed on Bayley’s knees. On the floor, she caught Bayley and hit a fallaway slam. In the ring, Bayley executed a roll-up while placing her feet on the rope and the referee caught it. Flair was up, spun around and applied the Figure 8 to submit Bayley and win back the title.
WINNER: Charlotte Flair at 10:13 to win the SmackDown women’s title
This was Flair’s tenth women’s title victory. The match had a story with each going for the other’s knee and unlike Clash of Champions, Bayley couldn’t get away with cheating, and Flair got the win.
It was another match where the audience was dead and it’s the overall lackluster feel to this show that has hurt everything.
Bayley was throwing a tantrum after the match and cried “why does it always have to happen to me?”
The promos for Crown Jewel are not listing the location of the show.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Gable and he said it was fine to call him “Shorty” and tells Braxton to ask Corbin how it felt to “come up short”. He said that win was bigger than anything he has ever accomplished (an Olympian, remember) and proved he was the bigger man. Corbin then murdered him.
SETH ROLLINS VS THE FIEND BRAY WYATT IN A HELL IN A CELL MATCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL TITLE
The match featured a red lighting filter and I wasn’t a big fan of it.
Rollins used a kendo stick at the start of the match until going to the floor and Rollins was thrown into the cell.
Rollins brought a table into the ring. He landed a dive, but Wyatt fought back and took over again. Rollins placed Wyatt onto the table and put him through with a splash from the top.
Rollins hit the stomp and Wyatt stood up, caught Rollins with Sister Abigail and Rollins kicked out. Wyatt snapped his neck
Wyatt brought out his ridiculous looking mallet, Rollins attacked him with a flurry and hit the stomp and pedigree, but Wyatt kicked out a one. Rollins hit five more stomps as the crowd booed Rollins. Then, he drilled him with a chair shot and Wyatt kicked out at one again.
Rollins placed a chair on his face and used a ladder to attack but Wyatt continued to kick out.
Then, it was a toolbox he emptied and attacked him with.
Rollins grabbed the SLEDGEHAMMER and was warned by the referee not to use it, he did and was DISQUALIFIED.
Holy Christ.
WINNER: BRAY WYATT BY DISQUALIFICATION INSIDE A HELL IN A CELL AT 17:03
They were going to take Wyatt out on a stretcher but he attacked Rollins, took him to the floor and attacked him with the mandible claw.
This was horrible at a level of a few things you’re going to see from WWE.
WWE has an article on their site calling the finish “a match stoppage” as opposed to a disqualification.
