**Check out my Hell in a Cell 2018 Review**
After Hell in a Cell, and a few hours rest, I have a few more thoughts I'd like to share on the show in general.
1) A finish of a main event absolutely can boost or hurt a show. Let's not kid ourselves: giving the crowd something to remember as it leaves ultimately determines the memory of the show. Take for example WrestleMania 34. Up until the last hour and a half of the show, WrestleMania 34 was heading for legendary status to many wrestling fans. The opening match was stellar, Ronda Rousey wowed in her debut match, and things were generally going well. Then... that last part of the show happened. Nakamura-Styles disappointed, Braun Strowman tag teamed with a kid to win the tag titles, and the crowd absolutely tore apart the Lesnar-Reigns match. Therefore, WrestleMania 34, while successful, still comes off as a show not fondly remembered.
Likewise, I think ultimately the Hell in a Cell PPV will be judged by how that show ended. And in my opinion, I will remember this show less fondly. This is despite having a couple matches on this show I gave an A- to (Joe vs. AJ and the Raw Tag Team Championship match). We've been conditioned to believe that Hell in a Cell is a definitive "the match must end by pin or submission" match. To have an ending where that doesn't happen, or for a main event match in anyway to end in a non-finish that you've seen the wrestlers perform past that threshold of pain before, is disappointing. We've seen Strowman and Reigns put each other through stages, walls, and all these other crazy gimmicks. It's just hard to believe that a spear through a table causes both men to be down for 10 minutes. And it's also hard to believe that Brock Lesnar hitting both men with an F5 causes a match to be declared a no-contest.
Whoever booked this match needs to have their head examined. It just lacked a whole lot in logic, pacing, and overall production. And the solution is simple: Lesnar should have just beat up both men as he did even with the F5 on Roman on top of Strowman. The referee runs in and counts 3. It gives Roman the victory, albeit a cheap one, gives Strowman a reason to want revenge (as well as Roman), and gives the audience a finish (even a controversial one). I would have given this match a C+ at least with that grade. I'm not going to pretend that it would have done better than that. The match itself was ok with still the illogical rest time for the other wrestlers to do the high spots, but I would have at least enjoyed the spectacle enough with a finish to give it a C+ for the violence and effort of all involved. That finish just killed it for me.
Think about this:
- Kane interferes in the 1st Hell in a Cell; match continues.
- Terry Funk interferes technically in the 2nd Cell match; match continues.
- Edge interferes in Batista/Taker Hell in a Cell; match continues
All these other instances of interference, and NO OTHER CELL MATCH ENDS IN A NO CONTEST.
I'm going to just say it now: They killed the match. Hell in a Cell is dead as a gimmick. It wasn't just this. The very fact that a Hell in a Cell PPV exists bastardized the gimmick already. The fact that we now have 40 (or more) Hell in a Cell matches dillutes the match as it is. And now, WWE has taken the fact that every Cell match had a definitive end to it away as well. The Cell match has been tarnished. I'm at the point where I'm not sure I ever want to see another one again.
If you take the Cell out of the equation, and this was the finish, I could live with it. As it is, no. Just no. F stands. To channel my inner Willy Wonka, "You lose. Good day, sir."
(Side note: If AJ and Joe had been the Cell match with their finish, and the finish with Roman vs. Braun still happened without the Cell being involved, this show could have gotten a B+/A- from me.)
2) My favorite match on the show, looking back, is the Raw Tag Team Championship Match. That match was phenomenal from start to finish. It had enough old school tag team wrestling in it mixed in with the athletic awesomeness of the four wrestlers that it delivered an outstanding presentation. The finish was excellent as well with so many false finishes before Seth got caught by a run-in by Drew causing the actual end.
3) My runner-up is Joe vs. AJ as it was just a physical match from start to finish. The big difference between this and SummerSlam was that AJ showed actual fire in the opening moments. He came out of the gates attacking Joe for insulting his family. THAT'S what was missing from SummerSlam. Yes, SummerSlam may have ended hotter, but this match was the more solid thanks to the opening and the progression throughout. The finish was another screwy finish, but it was a finish that adds even more to the storyline. AJ did tap out. But Joe did have his shoulders down for a 3. That's great storytelling actually. You gave the fans a finish. Not so hard to do, right?
4) Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton gave us the lone Cell match on the show with a finish. I really liked this match too as it was hardcore. Yet, it was also insanely diabolical and old school with Orton channeling (to quote one of my fellow wrestling fan brothers) "Abdullah the Butcher" with the screwdriver to the ear of Hardy. That was sicker than any bump Orton could have ever taken. Orton doesn't do insane bumps, but he'll do the stuff that will make you cringe and remember him. This was Orton at his best. (Also, Orton was bleeding terribly in this match from the back and leg in this one.) Jeff Hardy got some great spots in as well, including the finish. I'm glad Hardy didn't do the dive off the top. The monkey bar spot with the Cell was fine enough at his age. Great finish as well, as Orton demanded the pinfall. Hardy gets his time off. Orton gets his heat. The fans get a Cell match with violence, blood, and... OH MY GOD... a finish! Very good match overall.
5) I'm done with The Miz and Daniel Bryan feuding. WWE has killed it for me. The mixed tag match basically ended any desire I have to see these two wrestle for a while. After Australia, I hope they go another 2, 3 years before facing off again (if Bryan or Miz wrestles that much longer).
6) I get that WWE wants Rousey to sell and tell a story. But against someone like Alexa Bliss, there's no reason the match goes any longer than 2 minutes. I'm sorry. My ability to go with the story ends at a certain point.
7) Becky Lynch and Charlotte had a sloppy sequence here or there in their match, but I'm glad WWE went with the belt switch. Now, the question I have is: Does Charlotte win her title back, or does she win the Rumble and challenge Rousey? I'd almost like to see Charlotte do the second option. That would open up Becky to face someone else on the SmackDown roster. Besides on Raw, you still have Sasha and Bayley in their everlong story of frienemies. (I expect that match to be at WrestleMania when it's all said and done.) So Ronda doesn't have much in terms of challengers to go after her title, except Nia Jax again sometime before Mania. Charlotte vs. Ronda could main event WrestleMania if done right.
Overall, I stand by my C+ grade of the show. Some really good matches were anchored down by that terrible finish to the main event. The bottom line of this entire blog post is that finishes matter. There were some great finishes on this show, but the worst one unfortunately happened at the end. And that just leaves a sour taste for everything else that came before it. If you don't believe that's a fact of life, try thinking of that one meal you had that tasted badly or had something in it. How did you feel about that restaurant or cook afterwards?
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
After Hell in a Cell, and a few hours rest, I have a few more thoughts I'd like to share on the show in general.
1) A finish of a main event absolutely can boost or hurt a show. Let's not kid ourselves: giving the crowd something to remember as it leaves ultimately determines the memory of the show. Take for example WrestleMania 34. Up until the last hour and a half of the show, WrestleMania 34 was heading for legendary status to many wrestling fans. The opening match was stellar, Ronda Rousey wowed in her debut match, and things were generally going well. Then... that last part of the show happened. Nakamura-Styles disappointed, Braun Strowman tag teamed with a kid to win the tag titles, and the crowd absolutely tore apart the Lesnar-Reigns match. Therefore, WrestleMania 34, while successful, still comes off as a show not fondly remembered.
Likewise, I think ultimately the Hell in a Cell PPV will be judged by how that show ended. And in my opinion, I will remember this show less fondly. This is despite having a couple matches on this show I gave an A- to (Joe vs. AJ and the Raw Tag Team Championship match). We've been conditioned to believe that Hell in a Cell is a definitive "the match must end by pin or submission" match. To have an ending where that doesn't happen, or for a main event match in anyway to end in a non-finish that you've seen the wrestlers perform past that threshold of pain before, is disappointing. We've seen Strowman and Reigns put each other through stages, walls, and all these other crazy gimmicks. It's just hard to believe that a spear through a table causes both men to be down for 10 minutes. And it's also hard to believe that Brock Lesnar hitting both men with an F5 causes a match to be declared a no-contest.
Whoever booked this match needs to have their head examined. It just lacked a whole lot in logic, pacing, and overall production. And the solution is simple: Lesnar should have just beat up both men as he did even with the F5 on Roman on top of Strowman. The referee runs in and counts 3. It gives Roman the victory, albeit a cheap one, gives Strowman a reason to want revenge (as well as Roman), and gives the audience a finish (even a controversial one). I would have given this match a C+ at least with that grade. I'm not going to pretend that it would have done better than that. The match itself was ok with still the illogical rest time for the other wrestlers to do the high spots, but I would have at least enjoyed the spectacle enough with a finish to give it a C+ for the violence and effort of all involved. That finish just killed it for me.
Think about this:
- Kane interferes in the 1st Hell in a Cell; match continues.
- Terry Funk interferes technically in the 2nd Cell match; match continues.
- Edge interferes in Batista/Taker Hell in a Cell; match continues
All these other instances of interference, and NO OTHER CELL MATCH ENDS IN A NO CONTEST.
I'm going to just say it now: They killed the match. Hell in a Cell is dead as a gimmick. It wasn't just this. The very fact that a Hell in a Cell PPV exists bastardized the gimmick already. The fact that we now have 40 (or more) Hell in a Cell matches dillutes the match as it is. And now, WWE has taken the fact that every Cell match had a definitive end to it away as well. The Cell match has been tarnished. I'm at the point where I'm not sure I ever want to see another one again.
If you take the Cell out of the equation, and this was the finish, I could live with it. As it is, no. Just no. F stands. To channel my inner Willy Wonka, "You lose. Good day, sir."
(Side note: If AJ and Joe had been the Cell match with their finish, and the finish with Roman vs. Braun still happened without the Cell being involved, this show could have gotten a B+/A- from me.)
2) My favorite match on the show, looking back, is the Raw Tag Team Championship Match. That match was phenomenal from start to finish. It had enough old school tag team wrestling in it mixed in with the athletic awesomeness of the four wrestlers that it delivered an outstanding presentation. The finish was excellent as well with so many false finishes before Seth got caught by a run-in by Drew causing the actual end.
3) My runner-up is Joe vs. AJ as it was just a physical match from start to finish. The big difference between this and SummerSlam was that AJ showed actual fire in the opening moments. He came out of the gates attacking Joe for insulting his family. THAT'S what was missing from SummerSlam. Yes, SummerSlam may have ended hotter, but this match was the more solid thanks to the opening and the progression throughout. The finish was another screwy finish, but it was a finish that adds even more to the storyline. AJ did tap out. But Joe did have his shoulders down for a 3. That's great storytelling actually. You gave the fans a finish. Not so hard to do, right?
4) Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton gave us the lone Cell match on the show with a finish. I really liked this match too as it was hardcore. Yet, it was also insanely diabolical and old school with Orton channeling (to quote one of my fellow wrestling fan brothers) "Abdullah the Butcher" with the screwdriver to the ear of Hardy. That was sicker than any bump Orton could have ever taken. Orton doesn't do insane bumps, but he'll do the stuff that will make you cringe and remember him. This was Orton at his best. (Also, Orton was bleeding terribly in this match from the back and leg in this one.) Jeff Hardy got some great spots in as well, including the finish. I'm glad Hardy didn't do the dive off the top. The monkey bar spot with the Cell was fine enough at his age. Great finish as well, as Orton demanded the pinfall. Hardy gets his time off. Orton gets his heat. The fans get a Cell match with violence, blood, and... OH MY GOD... a finish! Very good match overall.
5) I'm done with The Miz and Daniel Bryan feuding. WWE has killed it for me. The mixed tag match basically ended any desire I have to see these two wrestle for a while. After Australia, I hope they go another 2, 3 years before facing off again (if Bryan or Miz wrestles that much longer).
6) I get that WWE wants Rousey to sell and tell a story. But against someone like Alexa Bliss, there's no reason the match goes any longer than 2 minutes. I'm sorry. My ability to go with the story ends at a certain point.
7) Becky Lynch and Charlotte had a sloppy sequence here or there in their match, but I'm glad WWE went with the belt switch. Now, the question I have is: Does Charlotte win her title back, or does she win the Rumble and challenge Rousey? I'd almost like to see Charlotte do the second option. That would open up Becky to face someone else on the SmackDown roster. Besides on Raw, you still have Sasha and Bayley in their everlong story of frienemies. (I expect that match to be at WrestleMania when it's all said and done.) So Ronda doesn't have much in terms of challengers to go after her title, except Nia Jax again sometime before Mania. Charlotte vs. Ronda could main event WrestleMania if done right.
Overall, I stand by my C+ grade of the show. Some really good matches were anchored down by that terrible finish to the main event. The bottom line of this entire blog post is that finishes matter. There were some great finishes on this show, but the worst one unfortunately happened at the end. And that just leaves a sour taste for everything else that came before it. If you don't believe that's a fact of life, try thinking of that one meal you had that tasted badly or had something in it. How did you feel about that restaurant or cook afterwards?
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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