Before we get to the WWE Hell in the Cell preview and predictions, I must acknowledge the crowning of the first Global Force Wrestling champions. Nick Aldis, known as Magnus is the first GFW Global Champion, Christina Von Eerie is their first Women’s Champion, The Bollywood Boys as Tag Team Champions, and NEX*GEN champ is Justin Gabriel, now wrestling as PJ Gabriel. I am guess the latter is some cruiserweight/X-Division combination. Congrats to all champs.
So confused about one thing, keeping a six-sided ring? I thought the idea was not to be like Impact Wrestling?
Randy Orton is slated for an MRI and possible shoulder surgery, so I suppose he is out of the running for the U.S. Open challenge against John Cena. Very interesting to see the open invitation go to a special event, something tells me Cena may lose the title tonight. I would like it to be someone we will not see coming, I hope someone from NXT.
I do not see a lot of titles changing hands tonight. While the United States Championship might go, I have a hard time seeing any other titles follow suit. Charlotte will likely retain the championship against Nikki Bella. It appeared as though Charlotte’s win last month was a bit too obvious, so Nikki’s recent win streak might throw fans off, thinking Nikki is going to take it back. Not happening. The ONLY way it happens is if Paige blatantly costs Charlotte the title, but that would completely undermine the whole purpose of bringing the NXT women up. If the Divas are going to always be on top of the newcomers, then why bring them in at all, to be fodder?
Ryback vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship. Sorry Ryback fans, but you will not be fed another reign. Owens is a beast right now, and taking the title from him will hurt his momentum just like it did when Cena beat him two in a row, and failed to win the United States Championship. Ryback and Owens can continue the feud, but no title change tonight.
However, I do see The Dudley Boys defeating the New Day for the Tag Team Championships. It is their second chance, and a third is unlikely. The third will probably be the rematch. If anyone has noticed, WWE is doing the “three-match formula” which was done years ago. It works, as feuds are longer and you can get more mileage out of big matches. Dudleys will take the titles tonight, but I would not be surprised to see them dropped back within two months.
Before I get to the three main attractions, let’s cover the non-title bouts. Expect Tyler Breeze to cause some interference during the Hell in the Cell Kickoff match between Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro, and Neville against Sheamus, Wade Barrett, and Rusev. Breeze made his debut as a new boyfriend to Summer Rae, attacking Ziggles on MizTV. Will it cost the faces a win? Probably. This will not be a face-friendly PPV. Sheamus and Barrett make a great tag team, and I know some eyes just rolled at this. They are both bruisers, big guys who do not sell well, but can dish out convincing beatings. A slightly believable comparison can be made to “Dirty” Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck. Two guys who just beat the hell out of you. Anyway, this one goes to the heels, since all three faces are being buried lately, except for Neville. He’ll fly again.
Next, we have one of two Hell in the Cell attractions, Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt. This should have included Dean Ambrose and another member of the Family. I get the feud began between Reigns and Wyatt, but it was carried on with Ambrose and the rest of the Family. It seems silly to me to keep everyone else out of it. Then again, since when has a cage or cell kept anyone out? Expecting Wyatt to win this one, taking this feud all the way to Survivor Series. I expect Reigns and Ambrose to bring in two more to take on Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman. That would be a great Survivor Series match right there.
Surprisingly, the WWE Championship Match, Seth Rollins defending against Kane is NOT taking place in the Hell in a Cell. Unless we get a surprise. Will Kane get one more run as champion? Not likely. Something has to happen here. Rollins might get a clean win. I stress the word, might. I want Kane to win, because it would be a fantastic swerve, I bet everyone thinks this match is a waste because there is no chance of Kane getting another title run. This is why Kane should win, but it seems it might be time to write off Corporate Kane from television, and continue on with just Demon Kane. Rollins wins here, and the feud continues.
Lastly, the main event, in the Hell in the Cell is Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker. There will be blood. There will be lots of suplexes. There will be either a sluggish match, or we get something epic. The match between the Deadman and Lesnar at SummerSlam was good. Better than the Wrestlemania contest. Taker is in much better shape, and actually looks healthy. Sorry, the past few WrestleMania appearances, he just looked like hell. Hard to call this one, but I give it to Undertaker for the win. Lesnar has a lot more left in his gas tank than the Deadman. One more win, then move on to the WrestleMania dream match, Undertaker vs. Sting. Although, if you go back into the WCW footage, and look for Sting vs. Mean Mark Calloway… you might find the latter to be familiar.
