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Csonka’s WWE Hell in a Cell Review 10.30.16
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Csonka’s WWE Hell in a Cell Review 10.30.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Kickoff Match: Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado & Sin Cara defeated Tony Nese, Drew Gulak & Ariya Daivari @ 9:42 via pin [***]
– WWE US Title Hell in a Cell Match : Champion Roman Reigns defeated Rusev @ 24:40 via pin [***¼]
– Bayley defeated Dana Brooke @ 6:30 via pin [**]
– Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Enzo Amore and Big Cass @ 6:45 via pin [**¼]
– WWE Universal Title Hell in a Cell Match: Champion Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins @ 23:25 via pin [***¾]
– WWE Cruiserweight Title Match: Brian Kendrick defeated Champion TJ Perkins @ 10:42 via submission to become the NEW champion [**¾]
– WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match: Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Champions The New Day @ 11:21 via pin [***¼]
– WWE Raw Women’s Title Hell in a Cell Match: Charlotte defeated Champion Sasha Banks @ 22:20 via pin to become the NEW champion [****]
– The pre-show panel is completely horrible; they have horrible takes and keep cutting each other off.
– Kendrick is a sad panda and asks Perkins again to throw the match so that they can be friends again. Perkins again spoke in video game terms, and they lost me. This was a spectacular way to take a title that was based off of ten weeks of awesome competition and make it about Kendrick’s mind games/asking Perkins to throw a match and video game talk.
Kickoff Match: Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado & Sin Cara vs. Tony Nese, Drew Gulak & Ariya Daivari: These guys met on this week’s episode of Superstars; they got around eight minutes and it was fun match overall. Hopefully that was their practice run and they get a chance to deliver here. Nese and Cara went back and forth, doing some lucha passes and then Cara hitting back breakers to all three heels. Nese distracted Cara, allowing Daivari to hit a neck breaker and take him down, Cara managed to hit a moonsault, and get the tag to Dorado. He ran wild on Nese, hitting the back handspring elbow and a leg lariat The shooting star press got two as Gulak and Daivari made the save. The faces cleared the heels to the floor, Dorado and Nese battled in the ring and that led to Nese dead lifting Dorado and tossing him to the floor. Post break, Daivari worked the heat on Dorado. Gulak tagged in, working an Indian death lock and keeping Dorado grounded. Nese scored with a springboard moonsault, which led to a near fall. The heels did a nice job of isolating Dorado and working quick tags. Dorado was finally able to get the hot tag, and Alexander ran wild. The faces then scored with a trio of dives, back in Gulak scored the dragon sleeper but Dorado broke that up with a springboard leg drop it broke down into the signature move buffet, Nese had a bit of trouble with the pump handle driver as it appeared that Cara dead weighted him. Alexander hit the lumbar check on Gulak and picked up the win. Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado & Sin Cara defeated Tony Nese, Drew Gulak & Ariya Daivari @ 9:42 via pin [***] This was a bit better than the Superstars match; they ironed out the little rough spots, improved on the pacing and delivered a way home stretch here. This was a lot of fun, and a great way to kick off the night as far as the in ring goes. It was also closer to the style that they need to work, especially for the tag matches.
– They did a social media lounge segment with New Day. It wasn’t good.
WWE US Title Hell in a Cell Match: Champion Roman Reigns vs. Rusev: After some back and forth, they went to the floor and teased sending each other to the cell. They quickly returned to the ring and worked back and forth some more. Reigns eventually sent Rusev off the apron and into the cell. Reigns followed, sent Rusev to the cell again; Rusev rakes the eyes and tried to fight back, but got tossed into the steps. As Reigns tried to get a table, Rusev sent him to the cell and then hit a running splash against the cell. Rusev took the heat, sending Reigns to the cell and post a few times and then returned to the ring. Rusev eventually missed a head butt and that allowed Reigns to mount a comeback with clotheslines in the corner. Rusev bailed to the floor to avoid the superman punch, Reigns followed but Rusev cut off the drive by kick and slammed Reigns to the steps. Rusev picked up the steps and hit Reigns with them two times. He then tossed them into the ring, set them in the corner on the ropes and tried to slam Reigns into them. Reigns fought it off and clotheslined Rusev to the floor. The crowd chanted for tables as they battled on the floor. Rusev again slammed Reigns into the cell, grabbed a kendo stick by Reigns hit the drive by. Reigns grabbed the kendo stick and laid in shots to Rusev. After about 10 hits of the kendo, then went back to the ring but Rusev kicked he ropes as Reigns came back in for the low blow. Rusev tied up Reigns in the ropes and laid in strikes, which commentary sold as devastating, but well, he’s wearing a vest. Rusev broke the kendo stick, and then Reigns escaped and hit a clothesline for a near fall. They traded strikes center cage, Rusev countered the superman punch once, but Reigns hit it the second time for a near fall. Reigns set for the spear, but ran into a superkick. Rusev slammed him into the steps, which resulted in a good near fall. Rusev then went for the accolade, and locked it in. Reigns fought and Rusev pulled him back, and then hit a kick and sent Reigns to the floor. Rusev got a chain and wrapped it around his hand, but Reigns cut him off and laid in rights. Back in and Rusev got the chain and whipped Reigns with it several times. Rusev then grabbed the other half of the steps and slid them in the ring. Rusev slammed Reigns into them and hit a superkick, and that got a near fall. Rusev laid Reigns on the steps and grabbed the chain and used it to apply the accolade, placing it in Reigns’ mouth. Reigns escaped and got to his feet with Rusev on his shoulders and then hit a Samoan drop onto the steps. Rusev then stood on the steps and Reigns speared him off and covered for the win. Champion Roman Reigns defeated Rusev @ 24:40 via pin [***¼] The first half was slow and rather uninteresting, but once they got past that, this developed into a really good brawl with some quality near falls down the stretch. Rusev took a lot of the match before losing. I felt that it went a bit long, but ended up a good match.
– Kevin Owens cut a promo on Rollins and their cell match tonight. He promised violence, to retain the title and to hurt Rollins.
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke: Dana did her little head pat early, Bayley started to out wrestle her and then slammed her to the corner repeatedly. Bayley then hit a dropkick and covered for 2. Bayley hit an arm drag, but Dana caught her charging in and slammed her to the corner shoulder first and then started to attack the previously injured arm. A clothesline connected, and Dana covered for 2. Dana then choked her out in the ropes, and then went back to work on the arm. Dana actually had solid focus for once, keeping Bayley grounded and constantly attacking the arm. Bayley cut off Dana and hit a basement dropkick. Bayley avoided a corner charge, but Dana caught her with a forearm and tried to post her, but Bayley stopped it, only for Dana to stun her off the ropes by the arm. Bayley then fought back with lefts, rushed Dana to the corner and hit the elbow charge. A suplex followed, and then the sliding clothesline. Bayley went to the second rope and then hit a corkscrew elbow off the ropes. She kept using the injured arm and wasn’t selling it as well as she was earlier. Dana worked the arm to escape the Bayley to belly, but Bayley then hit it any way and won. Bayley defeated Dana Brooke @ 6:30 via pin [**] While only an ok outing, it was one of their better matches due to the fact that Dana worked a cleaner match. Not exactly high praise, but it is what it is. The match suffered from being lethargic early and the poor selling down the stretch. It’s not that she had to completely stop using the arm, but the focus from Dana was on the arm and it felt as if Bayley just ran through some signature stuff and barely favored the arm to reflect that. It wasn’t bad, just fine.
– Stephanie and Foley talk backstage and hype Survivor Series. Jericho arrived and spoke about Survivor Series and teased putting Foley on the list again. Jericho wants to be on the Survivor Series team, and says Owens should also be on the team.
– Enzo and Cass did their usual pre-show shtick, making fun of Gallows and Anderson.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: Anderson and Enzo started things off, with Enzo getting the early advantage and Cass tagging in. Cass beat down Gallows in the corner, and then tossed Enzo into Gallows and then Anderson. Anderson and Gallows rolled to the floor, and Cass tossed Enzo onto them again. Anderson them made Enzo chase him, leading to Gallows taking him out with a clothesline on the floor. Back in, Gallows put Enzo in the tree of WHOA and hit a basement dropkick. Gallows hit a suplex as he continued the heat, tagging in Anderson who took Enzo to the corner and looked for a superplex. Enzo fought him off, and then jumped off the ropes and hit a DDT for the double down. Gallows and Cass got the tags, Cass ran wild on both Gallows and Anderson, hitting corner splashes to both. Cass booted Anderson to the floor, slammed Gallows and then hit the empire elbow. The sack of shit slam followed, Gallows crotched Cass as he went for a boot. Enzo blind tagged in, hit Anderson with a high cross and fought off Gallows with rights. He then ran into a superkick, and then Gallows and Anderson hit the magic killer for the win. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Enzo Amore and Big Cass @ 6:45 via pin [**¼] Anderson and Gallows needed that win. This was another solid match, but it really felt as if it was missing something. The crowds love to sing along with Enzo and Cass before that match and love when Cass runs wild, but when it comes to the heat on Enzo, they really don’t care and rally for him. Also, the heat suffered from the booking of Anderson and Gallows, no one cares about them and while the work was fine, the environment felt lifeless at times. Again, this was not bad, just solid.
WWE Universal Title Hell in a Cell Match: Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins: Owens rolled to the floor in an attempt to get weans, but Rollins cut him off and they brawled on the floor. Back in the ring and Rollins took control, laying in kicks and talking shit to Owens as he beat on him. the blockbuster connected for Rollins, but only got 2. Rollins then got a table and set it up on the floor. Owens tried to run the other way, Rollins stopped that but Owens hit an Irish whip and then the running senton, he then hit another and Rollins was favoring the back that was injured on Raw. They worked to the floor as Owens ripped off the tape from Rollins’ back. Owens again sent him into the cell as he maintained control. Back in the ring, Owens continued to attack the back. Rollins got his hope spots, but Owens cut him off and then tossed him through the ropes into the cell. Owens repeatedly slammed Rollins to the cell, and then rolled him back into the ring and continued the heat. Back to the floor, Owens set Rollins against the cell and hit the running cannonball. Back in, they both teased their finishes, traded superkicks and then Owens decapitated Rollins with a lariat for the double down. Owens rolled to the floor and grabbed another table and set it up at an angle between the apron and the cell. Rollins fought back with a knee strike and then a suplex on a different side of the ring apron and Owens rolled to the floor. Rollins then hit two suicide dives, Owens then grabbed a fire extinguisher and hit Rollins in the ribs. He then sprayed it and that took out the one ref, and another ref took him out of the cell. Jericho ran out and locked the door as Owens chased off the new ref. Jericho got the biggest reaction of the match. Rollins then sent Jericho off the apron and into the cell, allowing Owens to hit the modified package piledriver for a near fall. Owens went up top, but Rollins then ran up and they fought. Enziguri by Rollins and then the springboard knee strike followed. Rollins then cut off Jericho and hit the pedigree, but Owens hit the superkick. Rollins escaped the powerbomb and then went for a powerbomb, lost Owens but then Owens helped get himself up and Rollins powerbombed him out of the ring through the tables that were previously set up. The delay there actually didn’t hurt things as it added some tension to the moment. Rollins rolled Owens back in, high fly flow connects but Jericho pulled out the ref to make the save. Rollins then took Jericho to the floor and beat him down and tossed him into the pile of table rubble. Rollins ten hit Jericho with the running powerbomb into the cell. Back in, Owens hit the superkick and pop up powerbomb and Rollins kicked out at 2! Jericho got back to his feet as Owens worked over Rollins with ground and pound. Jericho gave Owens a chair and then he attacked Rollins. Owens laid in chair shots to the back and side of Rollins. Jericho then got another chair, but Rollins got the chair from Owens and fought them off until Owens DDT’d him onto a chair. Owens then set up the chairs and powerbombed Rollins through them and retained. Champion Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins @ 23:25 via pin [***¾] Even with the interference, which I am not always a fan of, that was a complete spectacle and I really liked it. While the interference takes way from the point of the cell, it didn’t take away from the match because the crowd was into it. They created some great near falls off of it, and Rollins was booked strongly there in loss, fighting off two men and almost overcoming to win. It also had a level of intensity that nothing else on the card had so far, which made it stand out even more. The only real issue here is that three matches have to follow that, and what will the ladies have to do to try and rival all of that violence.
– Post match, Jericho laid out Rollins with the code breaker.
WWE Cruiserweight Title Match: Champion TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick: Man they got that purple rope tape on quick. They did some back and forth, Kendrick got a few pinning attempts and Perkins kicked out, not allowing Kendrick to win. The back and forth continued, with Perkins going for covers, but Kendrick was able to escape each time. Perkins hit a springboard high cross, followed by the slingshot senton. Kendrick avoided the dropkick on the apron, sent Perkins to the floor and then Kendrick attacked the arm and worked over Perkins in the ropes. Kendrick then used Perkins’ wrist tape to tie him to the ropes and laid the boots to him. Kendrick took the heat, grounding Perkins and working a cravat. Perkins escaped with a neck breaker, and then Perkins hit a dropkick to the knee. The missile dropkick followed and Kendrick tolled to the floor. Perkins followed with a plancha, and then sent Kendrick back in. Perkins hit a series of suplexes, went up top but jumped into the dropkick, which got a near fall for Kendrick. Perkins tried to attack the knee again, they traded kicks and then Perkins hit the toss up kick, but Kendrick kicked out at 2 for a good near fall, but the crowd just doesn’t care. Perkins hi the wrecking ball dropkick, but Kendrick hit a cradle suplex for a near fall. Kendrick went for the burning hammer, Perkins escaped and then Kendrick locked in the captain’s hook. Perkins fought and then escaped off of a cradle attempt. Perkins then dropped into the knee bar, Kendrick struggled and finally made the ropes. Kendrick hit a flatliner into the corner, and then faked a knee injury as he went for sliced bread (IT’S A TRAP). Perkins checked on him as did the ref, do not show emotion TJ. Perkins tried to help him up, but ate a head butt and Kendrick locked in the captain’s hook. Perkins then tapped and we have a new champion. Brian Kendrick defeated Champion TJ Perkins @ 10:42 via submission to become the NEW champion [**¾] They worked really hard, and in a way I think that this was their best singles outing, but the crowd just didn’t care after the cell match, which resulted in a poor atmosphere. I felt that the finish was the wrong call, Perkins knew that Kendrick was shady as hell, but he still played stupid face and checked on him anyway, which cost him. Perkins’ run with the title should have been a benchmark to help establish the division, but it was never booked that way, he was a dude that did a bunch of video game talk and then ended up losing because he was dumb. And the reason it failed is because the crowd never bought it and knew Kendrick was faking and hated that Perkins fell for it. The division has not been executed well since its debut, and this did not help it.
– Cesaro and Sheamus played nice backstage following their win on Raw. This led to polite insults, and Sheamus telling Cesaro to follow his lead. This led to a disagreement and arguments over rental cars and paying road tolls.
– New Day arrived and ran down Sheamus and were disappointed that they did not tear each other apart. They then made sponsorship jokes and pandered to the crowd with Kofi’s GRONK shoes. They even joked that the pandering was a bit much. So they continued on with comedy.
WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match: Champions The New Day (Big E and Woods) w/Kofi vs. Sheamus & Cesaro: Woods and Cesaro started off, Woods took control and hit a dropkick and covered for 2. Sheamus then helped out and Cesaro was not happy that he sent Woods to the floor. Sheamus tagged in and worked over Woods on the floor and then worked the 10 beats in the ropes. They then kept tagging themselves in and annoying the other, while beating on Woods. Woods managed a backslide, but Sheamus cut him off and grounded him with a chinlock. Sheamus kept control, hitting the Irish curse and then he tagged in Cesaro. Cesaro continued the heat, hitting the uppercut train. Woods managed to cut him off and then hit a dropkick. Big E and Sheamus tagged in. Big E tossed Sheamus around with suplexes, and then hit the running splash. Big E tossed Cesaro to the floor, woods hit a dive and Big E countered the brogue kick with a powerbomb for 2. Sheamus avoided the big ending and then hit a powerslam for a near fall. Woods tagged himself in, hit the high cross but Sheamus rolled through. White noise followed, and that got 2 for Sheamus. Woods fought off the cloverleaf, Cesaro tagged in and hit the double stomp on Woods, which got 2. Woods fought off the swing, laid out both with kicks and then went up top. He hit the elbow drop for a near fall. Cesaro then lit into him with uppercuts, hit the swing and then locked in the sharp shooter. Big E made the save and suplexed Cesaro to the corner. Big E in and they looked for midnight hour, Sheamus tossed Woods to the floor but then accidentally brogue kicked Cesaro. Big E clotheslined him to the floor. Woods returned and covered Cesaro but Sheamus made the save., Sheamus cleared the ring, went up top and hit a dive onto New Day on the floor. They did a countout tease, but Sheamus rolled Cesaro in to beat the count. Cesaro then rolled Woods into the sharp shooter, pulled him center ring and Sheamus tried to fight off Big E, and then laid him out with Francesca II. Kofi then took out Sheamus as Woods was starting to tap, but it was a DQ due to Kofi attacking Sheamus and the ref seeing it. Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Champions The New Day @ 11:21 via pin [***¼] Much like their Raw match, I felt that they worked really well together and put together a good match. They played the Sheamus and Cesaro dynamic well, with both guys still having their difference of opinion, but also showing that they wanted to be champions. It really felt as if the crowd was into this and that the title change would have played well, but WWE is all about history and breaking numbers on title reigns, and this was there to help extend the New Day’s title reign and to set up a rematch. I really enjoyed the match, the booking not so much.
– We get a video for Goldberg vs. Lesnar.
– Charlotte was carried to the ring on a throne. They set the stage well, doing a delay before Banks entered so that the crowd could cheer for her. Sasha got her Brooklyn entrance, with the SUV and security guys. After JoJo’s announcement, they then lowered the cell.
WWE Raw Women’s Title Hell in a Cell Match: Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte: As the cell lowered, Charlotte attacked and beat down Banks. The cell wasn’t fully down as the two brawled on the floor and into the crowd. I think this was a good call as they needed to do something to make their match different from the other cell matches. As they brawled back to ringside, the cell had completely lowered and Banks took apart an announce table. They then started to climb the cage, got maybe half way and Banks sent Charlotte to the floor. Charlotte then snagged Banks off the cage and powerbombed her through the announce table. The refs checked on Banks, as the crowd cheered her on. They have done a great job capturing their hatred here early on. Charlotte keeps trying to attack and mocks the crowd as refs tried to take Banks to the back. Charlotte is a great heel here. The refs called for EMTs and they brought out the stretcher as Charlotte demanded that she is given the title. They put Banks on the stretcher and put neck brace on her so she could do the babyface overcome the odds and fight off the stretcher spot. They tried to announce Charlotte as champion, but Banks fought off the stretcher and beat up the EMTs and demanded to fight.
The match officially started as they brawled on the floor and into the ring, with Banks on the offense and Charlotte trying to run. Banks lit her up with chops, but Charlotte posted her. Charlotte then sent her into the cell, as Banks sold the back. Charlotte worked her over in the ropes, bending he the wrong way. Charlotte then suplexed her into the corner, which got a near fall. Banks then managed the back stabber and locked in the Banks statement, but Charlotte powered out and tossed Banks to the floor. Charlotte sent Banks back in and then grabbed a chair. Banks managed to hit a baseball slide dropkick and sent Charlotte to the cell. Banks then connected with the suicide dive and both ladies were down on the floor. Back in the ring and Banks had the chair. She set it up, they battled and Charlotte kept fighting back, laying in chops. Charlotte posed over banks in the corner, but Banks slipped out and laid in rights. Banks then hit the drop toehold into the chair and then repeatedly slammed her face into the chair. Charlotte managed to fight back and hit a back breaker onto the chair to cut off Banks’ momentum. Charlotte then bent her around the post, focusing again on the back. Banks managed to kick Charlotte to the cell, Charlotte tried to slam her to the cell but she grabbed on and then hit meteora off the cell. Banks then hit a knee strike and then sent Charlotte to the cell repeatedly. She hit the knee strikes to Charlotte as she was trapped against the cell. Back in the ring Banks continued her attack, hitting the three amigos. She slowly got to her feet, selling the back and went up top. The frog splash connects for a good near fall. She then locked in the Banks statement, Charlotte escaped to the apron by Banks connected with knee strikes. She then trapped Charlotte in the corner, laid the chair under her and hit the corner knees onto the chair which got 2. They went to the floor, where Charlotte slammed Banks’ face to the steps. Charlotte then got a table and set it up on the floor. They worked up top and battled, knees by Banks and Charlotte slips to the apron. Banks then kicked her from the apron and onto the table and the legs broke. The table laughed. Back in the ring they went and Banks covered for 2. Banks then went to the floor, and got another table. She slid it into the ring, Charlotte then grabbed it and slid it back at her and sent Banks into the cell. Charlotte set up the table in the ring, Banks back in and they battled and then Banks jumped off the table, caught and then Charlotte hit a bog boot. Figure four by Charlotte, Banks managed to grab the chair and broke the hold with chair shots. They struggled to their feet, Charlotte demanded that Banks respect her, but Banks fired back. They did a double down spot. Charlotte fought off the Banks statement and hit repeated back breakers, which got the near fall. Charlotte then laid Banks on the table and went up top, but Banks fought off the table and attacked. She moved the table to the other corner and set it at an angle, Banks then grabbed Charlotte and went for a powerbomb, but her back gave out on her and she fell. Charlotte flung her onto the table and Banks bounced off of it. She did it AGAIN and Banks bounced off. Charlotte then hit natural selection and regained the title. Charlotte defeated Champion Sasha Banks @ 22:20 via pin to become the NEW champion [****] As an overall effort and presentation, the women delivered in the main event. I felt that they worked with a level of brutality fitting of the match, and that the pre-match angle to start things off set the stage well; Banks’ selling got a bit dodgy, but I did love that they went back to it when she went for the powerbomb, which makes it not a complete waste. It went a little long as the reactions diminished down the stretch, and the finish was extremely flat, which took away from things. On top of the table not breaking, twice, the fact that after all of that brutality, that they simply went with the natural selection for the finish felt out of place and no one bought it. And then, there is the fact that they once again had Banks win the title and lose it right back, this time in her hometown. You already had her win the title and lose it back, she was a superstar here in her hometown, I just don’t understand having the hometown face losing the title, again, this time in this location. It’s not that Charlotte isn’t worthy, it’s that Banks’s title wins mean less and less (two reigns, under 30-days combined I believe) when she wins and loses so quickly like this.
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
