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Backstage, Sheamus and Cesaro didn't agree about who should be in charge of the team tonight and complained about each other. It was pretty funny.
Time for the WWE Tag Team championship. New Day did their usual spiel at the entrance. The crowd was far more into their entrance than they were the Cruiser title match. They admitted Kofi Kingston was from Boston.
Despite their issues backstage, the challengers looked good early on controlling the champions. Sheamus tagged and worked over Woods. Cesaro and Sheamus worked well. Woods fought out of the two on one and nailed a hell of a flying elbow. Cesaro drilled him with rapid fire forearms and the big swing. Cesaro went for a Sharpshooter but E interfered and nailed a big overhead belly to belly.
The champs went for The Midnight Hour but Sheamus interfered. He accidentally Brogue Kicked Cesaro but made the save at the last second when Cesaro was covered for the pin. Sheamus dove off the top to take out all three members of New Day. Cesaro locked in a Sharpshooter. Sheamus nailed E with trombone, leading to Kingston nailing Sheamus. The referee saw that and called for the DQ as Woods was tapping out.
Horrible finish, but I guess it's a way to continue this storyline. Match until then was fine but nothing off the charts.
They ran a video package about Goldberg vs. Bill Goldberg. They pushed that Goldberg would be at Raw tomorrow.
It's time to make history. I don't think I've ever been happier breaking a piece of news than I was this morning in reporting this was going to close the Hell in A Cell PPV. No matter whether this is the best match they've ever had or just an eh bout, Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair get to be the answer to an important trivia question for the rest of time. Good for them. Work ethic matters and they have it.
They did a big entrance for Charlotte, having her come out on a throne carried to the ring by four men. The announcers put over that she was 13-0 in championship matches on PPV.
Huge "We want Sasha" chant before she came out for her entrance. Could you imagine being the person who argued that this match shouldn't have closed the show? They had Sasha driven in by security in a black Escalade, recreating her entrance against Bayley from Takeover Brooklyn. They noted a number of her family members and fellow trainees from when she broke in at the New England Wrestling Academy were in attendance.
Charlotte attacked Banks as the Cell was lowering. Banks ended up knocked out of the ring and under the Cell. They had to halt lowering it. Banks battled back and they ended up going over the barricade to the crowd and brawled before the bell even officially rang. Well, no one called that happening. The Cell was lowered while they were in the ring.
They battled back and Banks began setting up the announcing table for something. Charlotte nailed her and began scaling the cage. Banks followed suit and kicked her down. As Banks followed her down, Charlotte pulled her down and powerbombed Banks through the announcers' table. It looked brutal. The referees checked on Banks and the announcers played up that she wouldn't be able to fight. Banks shoved off the referees as the crowd chanted for Banks. Charlotte did a great job playing to the crowd and mocking Banks. The referees were telling Banks that she's not fighting and she sold that her back was completely wrecked.
The referee called for EMTs, who came out with a stretcher. Charlotte began demanding that she be handed the title. The EMTs spent a long time putting Banks on the stretcher. The announcers kept reiterating that the match never started. They were about to announce Charlotte was the new winner by forfeit but the second Banks heard that, she fought her way off the stretcher and forced her way into the cage, demanding they start the match. A hell of a scene.
Banks attacked Charlotte and began ripping her apart to the point Charlotte tried to escape the cage. Banks was pulled into the ringpost, halting her short-lived crazed momentum. Charlotte monkeyflipped her into the cage. Charlotte continued working over Banks' back. Banks was able to shock her with a Bank Statement but in her weakened condition, she wasn't able to maintain the move and was tossed over the top to the floor.
Sasha made a comeback with a pair of sliding dropkicks into the cage and then a dive to the floor. Banks did a great job of selling her back every step of the way here and thus far, Charlotte has been an awesome heel. Banks brought a chair into the ring but they battled over it, blocking the other from smashing their face into it. Charlotte began whipping out some chops in the corner. This is great stuff. Banks pulled her off the ropes and fired up with a series of right hands. She smashed Charlotte's face into a chair over and over again. Charlotte was able to stop a head scissors attempt and nail a backbreaker on the chair. This is great!
Charlotte twisted Banks' back around the ringpost. Charlotte sent Banks into the air but Banks caught herself the cage and soared off with a flying knee strike on the floor. Charlotte was tossed into the cage several times as Banks continued to maul her. Banks whipped out the Three Amigos to pay tribute to Eddie Guerrero. Big "Eddie" chants. She whipped out the frog splash off the top too!
Banks locked on the Bank Statement but Charlotte slipped out of the ring to save herself. They battled in the corner where Banks peppered her with knees in the mid-section. Banks set up for the double knees off the corner, but placed a chair under Charlotte to make it an even more devastating blow. Good stuff leading to another two count. Charlotte drove Banks into the stairs face-first and set up a table on the floor.
Charlotte attempted a superplex but was fought off, Charlotte was kicked off the apron and collapsed on the table, which crumpled. I think that the plan was a sunset flip through a table, but it was not to be. Banks went to bring another table into the ring but Charlotte caught it and slammed it back against her, driving her into the cage backwards.
Charlotte worked her over and locked in a figure eight, but Banks grabbed the remnants of the chair and began beating against Charlotte's hip over and over, finally forcing a break. The crowd chanted for Banks. They began fighting back and forth, connecting with forearm shots at the same time and going down. Bank Statement attempt was broke up with a trio of backbreakers for another two count.
Sasha was placed on a table. Charlotte set up for a moonsault but was beaten down. Banks set up the table towards the corner and slipped under Charlotte for a running powerbomb...only to see her back give out halfway across the ring. Charlotte tossed her atop of the table several times and nailed Natural Selection, scoring the pin.
Your winner and new WWE Raw Women's champion Charlotte!
Hell of a main event. Hell of a story. Hell of a performance from each competitor. Banks came off like a hell of a babyface, fighting all the way to the end before succumbing to her injuries. Charlotte was great. A spectacle and brawl more than worthy of the Hell in A Cell match. History made. Kudos to all.
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