WWE has returned to Dallas, and just like at Night of Champions, we were served a PPV far better than expected, only to be left in a sulk by the finish of the main event.
The event is Hell in a Cell, a gimmick that has been overexposed in recent years and also suffers from WWE's emphasis on PG content. It can't be a true Hell in a Cell match if there's no blood or extreme violence.
WWE Hell in a Cell: 5 best-ever bouts
With WWE unable to afford Brock Lesnar even on a semi-regular basis, we're back to John Cena and Randy Orton battling like it's 2009 and a main event of probably the two brightest stars in the company - Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. nfortunately, Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and JBL are still on commentary and they soon push us towards the opening match.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler vs Cesaro
A 2-out-of-3 falls match between these two is every wrestling fan's dream and it delivered. The two are committed to fast-paced action with lots of exchanges, counters and innovation, with Cesaro's superplex being a highlight. Ziggler and Cesaro probably have the best work rate of any of WWE's superstars, and they got the fans engaged very quickly - which is exactly what an opener is supposed to do.
Ziggler winning the bout with a clean-sweep was a surprise - especially given how determined WWE were to book Cesaro strong just mere months ago - but it already looks like they've blown their chance at making him a main event superstar. On the otherhand, it's nice to see Ziggler booked strong for once and he put in his best showing of the year here. It this was allowed to go on longer, it would have been one of the best matches of the year.
What to Read Next
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Brie Bella vs Nikki Bella
Given the build for this, that has at various stages involved the one and only Jerry Springer and some high school name-calling, it's safe to say that expectations were catastrophically low. But they were somehow exceeded and despite the sloppiness and dead crowd, there was some good stuff here. It's as good as these two are going to get, especially with the benign storyline and amateur acting, but Brie has turned into a pretty decent babyface - though under no circumstances should she ever again attempt a dive through the ropes.
It makes sense that Nikki won to keep the feud going until they eventually forgive each other and reunite. It just means we're going to have to endure even more dreadful skits on Raw.
Winner: Nikki Bella
WWE Tag Team Championship: Goldust and Stardust vs The Usos
The Usos's act has got incredibly repetitive by now and there appears to be a very limited ceiling to their talent, but it doesn't really matter when they keep putting on solid PPV matches. Again, it's all very familiar and forgettable, but it's hard to not enjoy it whilst it's happening. The crowd noticeably didn't care because they've seen this one a thousand times before, and the match didn't do much for the champions as The Usos were dominant for large portions.
There were also a lack of good spots, unlike some of their other matches, and to keep this feud interesting, they're going to need to think of something a little bit more innovative. WWE's tag team division is barely a division, it needs a boost from somewhere. Whether that's in the form of The Ascension or a Dudley Boyz reunion, it just needs something. Goldust hit a sweet looking Final Cut, though.
Winners: Goldust and Stardust
John Cena vs Randy Orton
This match was as long as Randy Orton's entrance walk feels. WWE's idea of epic blood feud is lots of finishers and near falls, yet nothing about this felt epic. The cell wasn't utilised, it just happened to be there. This was nothing other than a normal singles match between the two.
Undeniably, Orton reversing the shoulder block into an RKO was an insanely good spot, but it was just like every big John Cena match we've ever seen. He takes a licking and a beating, but still has his hand raised at the end. The middle section of the match where Orton dominated Cena was by far the best, but it was always clear Randy was never going to win.
The ending was horrible and typical of matches WWE want to make feel 'big'. The only time it has ever really worked was The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels, and these pair are definitely not The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. It was the match we expected and whilst it certainly made for decent entertainment, the result is John Cena facing Brock Lesnar again, something no human being alive wants to see.
Winner: John Cena
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Sheamus vs The Miz
Somehow, Mizdow have become entertaining. Poor Damien Sandow has gotten every rubbish job and gimmick in the book, yet he makes them work. The match was rubbish, but short and harmless and pretty much the dictionary definition of filler. Sheamus is boring, The Miz still has a job and Sandow is beyond entertaining. There's a great bit at the end that you have to see. Oh, and Sheamus retained, if you were interested.
Winner: Sheamus
Rusev vs Big Show
When you're in there with Big Show, you're very limited in terms of what you can do. That said, Rusev succeeded in looking good despite the fact Big Show just gave up on selling any offense about half way in. Rusev's suplex was particularly impressive, particularly how clean it looked.
Rusev continues to impress but he needs some new opponents and some athletic ones at that. Another month of Show and Mark Henry does nobody any favours. I'd like to see him go against Sheamus.
Winner: Rusev
WWE Divas Championship: AJ Lee vs Paige
This was a disappointment, as the two ladies are really yet to put on a good showing against each other. Their matches have been quick and uneventful, and this one was no different. There was too much scrapping when there should have been wrestling and submissions as that's what the two excel at.
The feud will continue because there's no-one else, but this duel has no momentum and they don't seem to be able to work smoothly with each other yet. AJ retains and should continue to hold the title for some time until Paige can generate some heat.
Winner: AJ Lee
Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose
This match was full of great, big moments, full of genuine emotion, that has been fuelled and built up over months. It was a brutal, gritty brawl, the only thing it really could be after the long-standing hate between the two and it perfectly reflected the storyline. When they met on top of the cage and started throwing vicious fists, it just felt right, and it felt like we were watching something special.
It has been a relentless war for Ambrose, he's chased Rollins for what feels like an eternity only to be robbed of victory time and time again. And this was no different. This should have been the climax to a great feud yet we were robbed of a payoff again so that WWE can build towards Raw.
It would be ludicrous to end the feud like this - with Bray Wyatt, a man who has been irrelevant for months, who got embarrassed by Chris Jericho - to spoil a huge, important match like this. You can make the Ambrose - Wyatt feud any time, you don't do it at the climax of a PPV main event. Wyatt got no heat, all the heat is on WWE for their thick booking that's not going to boost ratings or make people want to buy the WWE Network.
This was one of the best matches of the year, if not the best until the finish, as WWE just can't resist blowing their own brains out every single time they look like they're on to something good.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Verdict:
Just like at Night of Champions, expectations were justifiably low, but they were exceeded because of some quality in-ring wrestling and the high-stakes emotion of the main event. It's sad to think that we may never get to see Ambrose defeat Rollins once and for all, because what WWE came up with was insulting and a waste of everyone's time and money.
What is most noticeable from this PPV is that WWE needs some new stars. It's the same performers in the same slots, and there's a whole host of burgeoning talent in NXT that needs to be released. It's hard being a wrestling fan sometimes.
Sam Moore is a culture writer from the UK, writing mainly about film, TV and music for the likes of The Guardian, GQ, The Independent and many more. He is currently working on a book about the making of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
