This was the “go home” show for Hell in a Cell on Sunday and made sure to touch those bases on the way in without too much given away for free. The big feuds were given their moments and new ones created just in time for Hell in a Cell and for Super Show-Down in Australia. It was the night of “after the bell action” with teasing more emphasized than pleasing… for now.
The show opens with an eleven bell salute in remembrance of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
Jeff Hardy vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Jeff Hardy comes down to the ring in gear slightly reminiscent of 1966 Adam West. He lets the crowd know that he is looking forward to Hell in a Cell because, even though Randy Orton has won three Hell in a Cell matches before, he has never faced someone like Jeff, who has fought his way out of a personal hell over and over again. But first, he wants to put away a demon from his recent past and the United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, comes out to the ring.
Jeff Hardy starts off hot, brawling, taking the action outside for a leaping splash against the barricade from the ring steps and a round-the-world trip to smash each turnbuckle. His jawbreaker is stopped by a knee to the chin which sets the tone for this back-and-forth contest. Nak goes for a charge in the corner and gets hit with a sling blade. Jeff goes for a vertical suplex but takes an upside-down knee strike to stop him. Nakamura charges again but takes a back elbow and a Whisper in the Wind but, when Jeff goes back up, he gets knocked down across the corner and gets a running knee straight to the gut. Shinsuke keeps the pressure on Hardy with kicks and stretching holds but Jeff keeps kicking out.
Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate but Nakamura gets behind him for a reverse triangle attempt. When he can’t get the tap out, Nakamura tries for a running tackle but goes down awkwardly. Jeff hits his inverted atomic drop/double leg drop combo but Shinsuke hits him with a shot that leaves him draped across the bottom rope. Nakamura runs along the apron to blast Jeff in the head, bouncing him off the ring post! Kinshasa attempt ducked and Jeff goes for the schoolboy. Nak back on his feet but gets a Twist of Fate! The Charismatic Enigma is going up top for a Swanton Bomb but Randy Orton spoils the fun and causes the DQ by pushing him off the top!
Winner by DQ: Jeff Hardy
The Apex Predator is banging the back of Jeff’s head off the side of the ring steps before grabbing a steel chair. He’s laying into Jeff Hardy like he’s Babe Ruth until Jeff’s on the ground. The Viper is hearing voices and poised to strike as Jeff gets to his feet. Hardy pushes off of the RKO attempt and Randy does the same for the Twist of Fate. This puts Jeff next to the chair and he turns it on Orton. Twist of Fate, Swanton, and Jeff Hardy has the momentum going into Hell in a Cell.
Backstage w/ Kayla Braxton
Miz interrupts Kayla and insists that Maryse be given first billing as she is main eventing tonight against Brie Bella in her first singles match in seven years. Maryse says that Daniel Bryan took three years to come back to the ring when she came back after five months from childbirth. The “It Couple” agree that Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella are together because they can’t get anyone else.
Recorded segment w/ AJ Styles
AJ sits on the ring steps in an empty arena. He says that Samoa Joe is trading on their long history, knowing that AJ’s weakness is his temper and that his family is the trigger. He says that he would never involve Joe’s family because he has integrity but Joe’s strength is his mouth, intimidation, and being a piece of … garbage. AJ says that he showed Joe what happens when he’s fighting for his family at SummerSlam, at last week’s SmackDown, and will do it again at Hell in a Cell because the house that A.J. Styles built is not for rent and not for sale.
Announcers recap last week’s video conference with Becky Lynch and SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair. Kayla catches Charlotte on her way to the ring to face Sonya Deville. She questions how Becky thinks that she’s taking away opportunities and being insecure. She says that, at Hell in a Cell, Becky will have to walk the walk rather than talk the talk.
Charlotte Flair vs Sonya Deville (w/Mandy Rose)
They start out with mat wrestling exchanges. Sonya is going for double leg takedowns and Charlotte is stuffing them. Sonya gets in position for a back-to-belly pin attempt but Charlotte bridges them up and into a backslide attempt. Sonya slips out to get a few strikes in to back Charlotte into a corner and hits a big knee to rock her for a two count. After a small package attempt by Charlotte for two, Mandy Rose makes a swipe at her leg. Charlotte avoids it and nails Sonya with forearms until she’s forced out of the ring. Once back in, Sonya takes control and peppers shots to Charlotte’s ribs while holding her in an abdominal stretch. When Charlotte gets free, she recovers from a belly-to-back suplex and backs Sonya into a corner with chops. Sonya is dropped to the canvas and Charlotte hits the moonsault but Sonya gets her knees up! She hits a spinebuster on Charlotte for a two count and feints a kick to go into a triangle hold. Charlotte pulls a Matt Hughes and lifts Sonya up into powerbomb position in an awesome display of strength! She awkwardly bounces Sonya off the top rope and powerbombs her into the ring for two. The Queen locks in the Figure Eight and gets a submission win over the Jersey girl.
Winner by submission: Charlotte Flair
Charlotte is headed back up the ramp but stops and goes back to take selfies with some fans. One of the fans grabs a handful of The Queen’s golden locks and throws her down. The fan jumps the guardrail before removing the wig and glasses. It’s Becky Lynch! She put Charlotte into the Disarm-Her and leaves her in a heap on the ramp, saying that it’s been “two years too long” since she held the title.
Video package w/ Samoa Joe
Joe reads the Styles’ children a Bedtime Story about “a hero and a villain” but assures them that The Hero wins. He goes on to tell the tale of a warrior king who neglected his family until a hero came along to defeat the king and send him back home.
Backstage w/ Kayla Braxton
Becky Lynch is walking out but assures Kayla that she will break Charlotte’s arm but not until Hell in a Cell.
The New Day is at ringside for a brief backstage comedy bit where Kofi Kingston shows off his “Kramer Kingsman” persona and to add commentary for the SmackDown Tag Team #1 contender’s match.
The Bar vs Rusev Day (w/ Lana number one!)
There’s a lot of back-and-forth with frequent tags in this match. Aiden English is given plenty of time to show off his improvement, keeping up with both Sheamus and Cesaro very well while he was in the ring, including an assisted tope con helo onto both opponents! He later takes on the Ricky Morton role and is worked over by a Canadian backbreaker by Sheamus and big European uppercuts by Cesaro. Rusev gets the hot tag and misses the Machka Kick but lands the roundhouse on Cesaro for two. The Accolade gets locked on but Sheamus breaks it up before tagging in. Double lifting DDT on Rusev from The Bar. Sheamus follows up with a tilt-a-whirl for a two count. Sheamus loads up the Brogue Kick but Aiden English jumps in front of the bullet for his teammate. Rusev Machka and it’s a glorious Rusev Day, yes it is! New Day congratulates them from ringside and the two teams will face each other at Hell in a Cell.
Winners by pinfall: Rusev Day
Carmella comes out to accompany R-Truth to the ring for his match against Andrade “Cien” Almas and the announcers hype Season 2 of Mixed Match Challenge.
R-Truth (w/ Carmella) vs Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/ Zelina Vega)
R-Truth hits a gymnast routine to disengage early on but Almas does one of his own, ending in an upside-down kick to the back of R-Truth’s neck! Andrade’s suplex attempt is blocked and reversed into face first Falcon Arrow. R-Truth has the advantage and sends Almas into the ropes but he Spider-mans to hold on and Zelina Vega moves in front of him. Carmella yanks vega out of the ring and Andrade rolls up Truth in the confusion with a handful of drawers for insurance, getting the 1-2-3.
Winner by pinfall: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Backstage w/ Kayla Braxton
Kayla welcomes back Asuka and asks her why she saved Naomi from the IIconics last week. Naomi is there and she would like to know, too. Asuka says that The IIconics are mean, she can’t understand their accents, and they are fun to punch. The new best friends do a “Rush Hour” lost-in-translation bit and head off. WWE.com announces the tag match for Super Show-Down in The IIconics homeland.
Main Event: Brie Bella (w/ Daniel Bryan) vs Maryse (w/The Miz)
Maryse starts by immediately sliding out of the ring multiple times and, as referee Charles Robinson backs Brie up, hits her signature hair flip. When “The Yes Couple” calls her a coward, Miz grabs the mic and refutes them. He says that Maryse is a 2x Divas champion and one of the longest reigning Divas of all time and, because of that, Brie doesn’t deserve the match and the people in the Cajundome don’t deserve it either. As Miz and Mrs walk up the ramp, Brie comes back up the ramp to snatch Maryse and bring her back to the ring. Brie smashes Maryse’s face into the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring, I hear) and rolls her in.
Maryse gets in a nice kick but gets put in the Yes Lock. Miz pulls her off so D-Bry goes after Miz. Miz shoves Daniel off him, out of the ring, and onto Brie on the outside. While Daniel is looking for medics from the back, Miz grabs him and tosses him into the steel ring steps. Maryse gets mounted punches in on Brie and tosses her back in the ring. Brie recovers to get mounted punches in on Maryse. Miz pulls Brie off again and Daniel Bryan rushes in to hit Yes Kicks in the corner. Miz stumbles out and Brie cold cocks him yet again, sending The Mizanins packing
Winner by forfeit: Brie Bella
Altogether, this was a decent “go home” show with enough action to go with the exposition. They really got us expecting a lot from the Hardy/Orton match, paid off on the tag tournament (although it seems rushed now,) and (for the first time in their feud) made real effort to take some sympathy away from Becky Lynch. Andrade Almas got back into the “win” column. AJ Styles and Samoa Joe acknowledged their long history. The main event, although an odd choice, perhaps, on any other night, got folks yearning for more Daniel Bryan, more drama, and more of Miz getting punched in the face.
Rating: 6.5/10
-Matthew Widdis
