WWE Hell in a Cell 2015 Review

(Photo: WWE on Twitter)

Alberto Del Rio defeated John Cena to win the WWE United States Championship

Zeb Colter introduced Del Rio as Cena’s opponent for the U.S. Title Open Challenge. The two had a good, back-and-forth match, though it was a bit slow at times. It felt a little like a Raw match.

Finish: Cena went for the AA, but Del Rio countered and hit a backstabber. He then kicked Cena in the face and pinned him.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. Alberto was very good in AAA and I think I’d rather see him there and/or on Lucha Underground. And if WWE’s going to bring him back, they need to bring back Ricardo, too. Dutch is an all-time great, but Alberto and Ricardo had great chemistry.

★★★

Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt in a Hell in a Cell match

Roman ran wild for a bit to start the match, then Bray gained the upper hand and got the heat on Reigns. Bray hit Reigns in the midsection repeatedly with a kendo stick. Reigns, of course, wears a protective vest in the ring, but he had to sell these like he was being shot anyway. Reigns made a comeback and tried to suplex Bray through a table on the outside, but Bray countered and put reigns through it and then got the heat on him some more. Bray tried to superplex Reigns through a table, but Reigns countered and powerbombed Bray through it. The match went back-and-forth briefly before Reigns speared Bray through a table. Reigns rolled Bray back into the ring and went for the win, bt Bray kicked out. Reigns went for another spear, but Bray countered and hit Sister Abigail. Reigns kicked out.

Finish: Reigns speared Bray and pinned him. Gotta make Reigns look strong.

★★★½

The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston)defeated the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and Devon Dudley) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship

The Dudleys got the upper hand early, but the New Day gained the advantage after Kofi was able to tag in Big E. He, and later Kofi, got the heat on Devon. Devon was able to make it to Bubba Ray, who took the hot tag and made the comeback for the team. New Day threw the trombone in the ring and tried to sell it to the ref that Bubba hit Kofi with it. The ref let the match continue, saying that he never saw it happen.

Finish: The Dudleys were setting up for the 3D when Big E hit Bubba Ray with Xavier’s trombone behind the ref’s back. Devon took himself and Big E out of the ring with a clothesline. Kofi hit Trouble in Paradise on Bubba Ray and pinned him.

A couple botches, but otherwise, an okay match.

★★¼

Charlotte defeated Nikki Bella to retain the WWE Divas Championship in a match where nobody is allowed at ringside

The match started out back-and-forth, then Nikki got the heat on Charlotte, working her back. JBL explained that Nikki was doing this to keep Charlotte from bridging during the Figure Four and turning it into the Figure Eight. Theoretically, Charlotte would still be fine doing the Figure Four, which won her dad a lot of matches, but I guess Nikki’s okay with that. Nikki went for a kick off the second rope, but Charlotte ducked and took control of the match. Charlotte ran wild briefly, then went to the top, but Nikki got up and tried to hit a German superplex. Charlotte countered and landed on her feet. I have no idea what they were actually trying to do. Charlotte went for the Figure Eight, but couldn’t bridge. Nikki had rolled over the Figure Four but then forced the break herself in one of the dumbest things I’ve seen from the Divas, and that’s saying a lot. Nikki got the heat on Charlotte again before Charlotte re-took control.

Finish: Nikki submitted to the Figure Eight.

Whoever was the agent for this should be fired. The whole point of this match was that Charlotte wasn’t going to be able to bridge the Figure Four into the Figure Eight. This only makes sense if you plan to no-sell the Figure Four, which Nikki did. She also forgot that when you flip it over, the pressure is reversed. Charlotte looked like she remembered, so a gold star to her for that. Then the finish was: Charlotte does the move anyway. You know, rather than win with the move her dad won with. Or with Natural Selection. And Nikki cannot be let to control matches. She sucks. Seriously, guys, let Charlotte carry matches like these. She can’t do that if she’s getting beaten up for most of the match. As a whole, the wrestling was mostly passable, which is the only thing keeping this from being minus five stars.

-★★★★¼

Seth Rollins defeated Kane to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

The match started out back-and-forth with neither man able to gain the upper hand for a good while. Kane eventually hit a chokeslam, but Rollins kicked out. Kane would try to follow that with a Tombstone, but Rollins countered. The match ended up outside of the ring, where Kane went for a chokeslam on the announce table. Kane was standing on the announce table, which made no sense, because if the table broke, he’d fall, too. Not a good night for logic here. It didn’t matter anyway, since Rollins countered and powerbombed Kane onto the Spanish announce table. He missed the spot he was supposed to hit, though, and the table didn’t break. So that had to suck for Kane. Kane struggled from then on.

Finish: Rollins hit the Pedigree on Kane and pinned him.

Bad logic and multiple missed spots do not a good match make.

-★

Kevin Owens defeated Ryback to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Look, Owens tried here. But there’s only so much one can do when tasked with dragging Steroid Guy around the ring. The match was mostly back-and-forth. Ryback tried doing something off the top, but Owens stopped him. Ryback went for Shell Shock, but Owens was able to get away and get to the ropes.

Finish: Owens hit the Pop-up Powerbomb on Ryback and pinned him.

★★

Brock Lesnar defeated the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match

The two men both looked to gain the upper hand early and then Taker was able to do so on the outside. Lesnar was eventually able to gain control, but not before getting some color. Taker even things up briefly before being taken to Suplex City by Lesnar. Lesnar hit an F5, but Taker kicked out. Lesnar would hit a second F5, but Taker kicked out again. Lesnar then threw the stairs into the ring then hit Taker with then, but again, Taker kicked out. Lesnar tried to hit Taker with the stair again, but Taker countered. Taker caught Lesnar in Hell’s Gate, but Lesnar was able to fight out. Lesnar tore open the canvas and ripped up a piece of the padding, exposing the wooden boards beneath. Taker got up and hit a chokeslam and later a Tombstone Piledriver on the wood, but Lesnar kicked out.

Finish: Taker did the throat slash, signifying that he was going to go for another Tombstone. Lesnar hit him with a low blow, then an F5 and pinned him.

★★★¾

After the match, Taker struggled to his feet. Then, the Wyatt Family came out, beat down Taker, and took him away.

Overall

The show opened and closed strong, but in between, things ranged from “meh” to “awful.”

★★

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com