411’s Instant Access 10.02.11: WWE Hell in a Cell 2011

Hey kids, I’m Scott, and this is 411’s Instant Access: WWE Hell in a Cell 2011. Instant Access is the companion piece to 411 Live Pay-Per-View Coverage and features immediate reaction to wrestling pay-per-views. The focus in Instant Access is on first thoughts and initial reactions instead of play-by-play with the goal of providing you with instant access to one TWO writers’ thoughts on the show. Anyway, here’s the team for Hell in a Cell:

• Scott Slimmer, author of Don’t Think Twice.
• Mike Uphoff, author emeritus of 411’s WWE Smackdown Report.

For even more coverage, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @ScottSlimmer.

Okay kids, enough with the explanations. Let’s get to the wrestling.

Sheamus vs. Christian
Match Result: Sheamus defeats Christian with the Brogue Kick.
Match Length: 13:33
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: Good choice to open the show, and I was a bit surprised by how well Sheamus and Christian’s styles meshed. Sheamus’ technical work continues to improved, and Christian helped bring out the best of that side of Sheamus’ repertoire. On the other hand, Sheamus’ brawling was able to bring out the wild side of Christian that was more prominent early in his career. Taken together, the match was entertaining if not overly memorable. Christian looked good in defeat, and Sheamus continues to look like one of the top stars on Smackdown (which is exactly what he is). Randy Orton very well may get one more shot at Mark Henry at Vengeance, but if he doesn’t, then Sheamus has been perfectly positioned to challenge Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship. Finally being the guy to end Mark Henry’s reign of terror would make Sheamus into a monster face, and that would be a great way to kick off his next run with the belt.
Uphoff: Interesting choice for the opener. Not what I would have gone with, but what do I know? This was a good all-out brawl between the two men, and featured some nice back-and-forth countering, like for instance when Sheamus countered a Christian sunset flip attempt into an Irish Curse backbreaker. Both men worked well and kept the crowd entertained throughout the match. Sheamus has been vastly entertaining as a face, and I would look for him to challenge Mark Henry in the near future for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: ***
Uphoff: ***¼
Average Match Rating: ***¼

Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara
Match Result: Sin Cara defeats Dark Sin Cara with a sunset flip.
Match Length: 9:45
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: This was a fun little match, but it was saddled with a few glaring problems. The first was that the story of the feud between the two Sin Caras barely figured into the match. What we had was a decent lucha spotfest, but there was so much more they could have done with the dueling Sin Caras angle. The second problem was the absolutely frigid response from the crowd. This match may not have been all that it could have been, but it was still perfectly enjoyable. It absolutely did not deserve the kind of disrespect that the crowd showed, and I’m still not totally sure what caused that reaction. Maybe WWE really has trained its fans to only care about high profile big man matches, or maybe the Sin Caras just hit a crowd that was wasn’t in a lucha mood. Either way, the fact that Sin Cara won the match would seem to ensure that he will continue to be featured on Smackdown. On the other hand, Dark Sin Cara’s fate is much more uncertain. He may fade away like the Underfaker or Fake Kane, but I hope he sticks around. I wouldn’t mind seeing another Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara match on Smackdown, and I’d be more than happy to see two Sin Caras on Smackdown on a permanent basis (even if they’re involved in unrelated feuds). My gut says that Dark Sin Cara has a greater potential for a lengthy WWE career than Sin Cara, so I hope he doesn’t lose his spot on the roster just because he lost this match.
Uphoff: I just hoped this match wouldn’t be featured for the next year on Botchamania. The one thing that really hurt this match was the crowd. They showed interest in short spurts throughout the match, but largely were dead silent. I mean, a graveyard showed more emotion than the crowd at times. These two worked a lucha match that was pretty good. There were one or two slight botches, but they pulled off a pretty good match that showcased what both wrestlers can do. After watching it, I wonder if they keep feuding. If the matches between them are like this, I’m all for it. The sunset bomb finish was nice.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: **½
Uphoff: **¾
Average Match Rating: **¾

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne (Champions) vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger w/ Vickie Guerrero
Match Result: Evan Bourne defeats Jack Swagger with a top rope hurricanrana.
Match Length: 11:00
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: This impromptu match had been heavily rumored over the weekend, so it was hardly a surprise when it eventually materialized. The match was fun and fast-paced, but on some level it lacked a sense of drama. I think that arises from the fact that Kingston and Bourne seem to be in a “set ‘em up and knock ‘em down” holding pattern right now. The state of the WWE tag team division has left them with absolutely no established, credible challengers, so they seem to be bouncing from one thrown-together team to another. However, having Kingston and Bourne continue to rack up successful title defenses and built a lengthy title reign is an important step in beginning to rebuilt the tag team division. That being said, the next step would be for Kingston and Bourne to have a legitimate tag team feud with another real tag team, and that’s a problem in WWE right now. The Hart Legacy would have worked as heel challengers, but we all know of their untimely demise. What I’d actually like to see is Kingston and Bourne feud with the Usos, even if it is run as a face team / face team feud. The Usos are the next generation of WWE tag teams, and I’d be more than happy to see them get a few high profile pay-per-view matches under their belts.
Uphoff: This is what I would have chosen to be the opener for the PPV. The crowd was hot almost the entire time, and ate up whatever both teams did. Oddly enough, I heard some cheers for Swagger and Ziggler during the match. Swagger and Ziggler worked very well as the heels, and Bourne was great flipping around and selling and doing what he does best. Kingston played his role well also. That counter off the top rope to end the match was simply SICK. Great match between the two, and I hope I see more of these guys going at it for the tag titles.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: **¾
Uphoff: ***¼
Average Match Rating: ***

Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Mark Henry (Champion) vs. Randy Orton
Match Result: Mark Henry defeats Randy Orton with the World’s Strongest Slam.
Match Length: 15:54
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: This match made me happy on so many levels, not the least of which is the fact that Mark Henry retained the championship. I’m not going to lie to you and say that I can analyze this match impartially. I was marking for Mark Henry the entire time, and I stood up and cheered when he picked up the win. That bias enhanced my enjoyment of the match, and it probably affected my rating of the match. However, if I can try to be somewhat objective for a moment, I was once again impressed by how well Mark Henry performed in a big match situation. We’ve seen so many big men over the years try to get by simply on their size that it is incredibly refreshing to see a big man actually step up his in-ring performance when he’s on the big stage. Mark Henry has had some great matches this year, but this may have been the best of his career. That being said, I also don’t want to take anything away from Randy Orton’s performance. He made Mark Henry look like a million bucks out there, and the fact that I enjoyed Henry’s performance so much is at least partially attributable to Orton’s effort. Given that Orton attacked Henry after the match, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him challenge Henry for the title one more time at Vengeance. However, Sheamus seems perfectly positioned for a title shot as well. We may see Orton vs. Sheamus in a Number One Contender’s Match this week on Smackdown, and we may even see them both involved in a Triple Threat Match for the title at Vengeance.
Uphoff: Realistically, all I wanted was for this match not to be on the level of Taker/Kane or Taker/Bossman. This actually turned out to be a well-booked, well-executed Hell in a Cell match. I almost thought that they would pull the title switch when Orton hit the RKO, but was glad when Henry kicked out. Both men used the Cell well, and Henry continued his streak of putting on good matches and portraying his vicious monster heel persona. I don’t like that Orton made his own save after the match, but whatever. Good match between the two, and hopefully Henry moves on to another challenger for his title at Vengeance.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: ***¾
Uphoff: ***
Average Match Rating: ***½

Intercontinental Championship Match
Cody Rhodes (Champion) vs. John Morrison
Match Result: Cody Rhodes defeats John Morrison with a roll-up pin.
Match Length: 7:23
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: Unlike the heavily rumored Tag Team Championship Match earlier in the evening, this was an impromptu match that did feel thrown-together and rushed. I was elated to see the return of the classic Intercontinental Championship Match, but throwing Cody Rhodes into an impromptu match felt like an obvious way to hot shot the new belt to a new champion. I kept expecting John Morrison to pick up a quick win over the unprepared Rhodes, but the fact that the match lasted longer than the situation seemed to warrant made the entire match feel awkwardly paced. That being said, I’m more than happy to see Rhodes’ title reign continue, and I’m even more excited to see him wearing that dashing new belt.
Uphoff: I can’t really rate this match, as I missed the beginning of it and about five minutes of it. What I saw of it was really good though.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: **½
Uphoff: N/A
Average Match Rating: **½

WWE Divas Championship Match
Kelly Kelly (Champion) w/ Eve Torres vs. Beth Phoenix w/ Natalya
Match Result: Beth Phoenix defeats Kelly Kelly with the Glam Slam.
Match Length: 8:28
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: FINALLY. I was beginning to think that WWE really was set on sacrificing Beth Phoenix in an attempt to build Kelly Kelly, so I’m glad that they finally pulled the trigger. Kelly has definitely surpassed everyone’s expectations for her title reign, and I will always give credit to anyone who can work hard and defy the odds. However, I also think that Beth Phoenix has a much better chance of legitimately rebuilding some of the lost credibility of the Divas Division. The fans are ready to cheer for an anti-hero Diva, and I just hope that WWE allows her to be that kind of anti-hero rather than a straight up heel. I’d like to see her put together a lengthy title reign before eventually losing the title back to a face (most likely Kelly) who can keep the belt warm until KHARMA is ready to return next year.
Uphoff: THANK GOD they took the title of Crazy Barbie. This was yet another well-wrestled match between the two, and if Kelly Kelly won again with another roll-up, I was going to have a heart attack. Beth smartly worked the back again and again, and Kelly Kelly provided some nice offense herself. I would rate this a little higher, but Natalya’s interference at the end just annoyed me, particularly when she was on the mic. It was terrible. Good match from the two. Hopefully Kelly Kelly loses her rematch and Beth moves on.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: **¼
Uphoff: **¼
Average Match Rating: **¼

Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship
John Cena (Champions) vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio
Match Result: Alberto Del Rio defeats CM Punk with a lead pipe shot.
Match Length: 23:58
Match Analysis:
Slimmer: From an in-ring point of view, this match was a great showcase of how to book a Triple Threat Match. All three guys seemed to be trying to find a way to get a quick pin, and yet all three of them continually found innovative ways to keep a pin from occurring. This match had more counters than I can recall seeing in a WWE match in quite some time, and I’ll always be a big fan of wrestlers being given the opportunity to use their shared history as a means to drive the action in a match. From a big picture booking point of view, I think I finally see what WWE is trying to do here. This is the fourth PPV in a row in which the WWE Championship has changed hands (Cena to Punk at Money in the Bank, Punk to Del Rio at SummerSlam, Del Rio to Cena at Night of Champions, and Cena to Del Rio tonight). The frequent title changes have been criticized as making the WWE Championship scene seem chaotic, but that may be the very atmosphere that WWE is trying to create. The larger story of Triple H running the company as COO has been focused on his leadership creating nothing but chaos, and the chaotic nature of the title picture only adds to that atmosphere. Order will eventually be restored in leadership (whether with Triple H or someone else at the helm), and order will eventually be restored in the title picture when someone puts together a lengthy title reign. Whoever that is will gain credibility simply from the fact that he was able to change the status quo of the WWE Championship. As such, it would make most sense for that long-term champion to be either Del Rio or Punk. John Cena doesn’t need any more credibility at this point in his career. Hell, he can’t get any more credible, at least from a kayfabe point of view. Del Rio and Punk can still get mileage out of the WWE Championship, so I just hope one of them is still wearing the belt when the dust settles. Now then, with only three weeks until Vengeance, there really isn’t time to build up a completely new challenger. Look for either Cena or Punk to face Del Rio for the title at Vengeance, and don’t be surprised if we see another Triple Threat Match.
Uphoff: I knew Miz and R-Truth were going to interfere when they were kicked out earlier in the PPV. This was just straight solid action for nearly a half hour between these three men. Punk truly was the MVP of the match, taking some SICK bumps, especially the one where his back was cut up by the Cell. Cena also took a sick one with the back suplex through a chair. I don’t hate that Del Rio won (believe me, any time Cena isn’t holding the title is a good time for me), but if you were going to have him win again, why make him tap out to Cena two weeks earlier? It doesn’t make any sense. Del Rio locking Cena out of the Cell was a nice touch that I enjoyed, and Punk taking the loss isn’t really bad for him, as he took multiple shots from a lead pipe. Miz and R-Truth coming in after the match and laying everyone and then letting themselves be arrested was CLASSIC. I am now interested in where this goes and will be following RAW tomorrow. Great stuff all around in this match, and that is what I expected from these guys.
Match Rating:
Slimmer: ****¼
Uphoff: ****
Average Match Rating: ****¼

Final Thoughts

Match of the Night:
Slimmer: John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio (****¼)
All three men worked well together and came up with some brilliant counters. The in-ring action was compelling, and the booking served to enhance the broader story of the chaos in WWE at the moment. This was the most high profile match on the card, and it lived up to its billing as the main event.
Uphoff: John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio (****)
Great main event and a great way to end the show.

Trash of the Night:
Slimmer: NONE
Every match was fun it its own way, and we got relatively clean finished all the way around. No trash here.
Uphoff: NONE
Nothing really. I can’t think of anything that was truly offensive or terrible, so I say NADA.

Final Analysis:
Slimmer: This really was a show where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. No match on this card was a classic by any stretch, but they all worked together well to form a cohesive whole. I will admit that my enjoyment of the show was greatly enhanced by seeing Mark Henry win, Beth Phoenix win, and John Cena lose, but I’m starting to think that there’s nothing wrong with marking out about booking decisions and allowing that bias to bleed into our analysis of a show. We are, first and foremost, fans of professional wrestling, and most of us will never be anything more than that. We in the IWC have tried for so long to be impartial critics, but the honest truth is that it’s far more fun to simply be a fan. And so tonight I’m going to evaluate this show as a fan, and as a fan I can say that I enjoyed my evening.
Uphoff: This was a really good PPV after a solid but unspectacular effort overall from WWE last month at NOC. Nothing was bad at this PPV, and the booking was actually well done for once. However, my one problem with this PPV is that you cannot charge $50-60 for a PPV and then end it twenty minutes early. That’s horseshit, plain and simple. While this was a great PPV and progressed every storyline very well, ending twenty minutes early is simply unforgivable. Hell, send Bryan Danielson and someone else out there for an impromptu match to use up some time. There is no excuse for that, WWE. All in all, a great PPV that just was good because of stupid time constraints.

Verdict:
Slimmer: ***½
Uphoff: ***½
Average Verdict: ***½