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Hey everyone, welcome to my ongoing blog from tonight's Hell In A Cell PPV from Boston, MA! You can check out play by play coverage from Stu Carapola on the front page as well.
Most of the Kickoff was standard fare. The sit-down interviews with Bayley and Rich Swann came off well.
Our first action was the Cruiserweight six man tag. Really liked Tony Nese's He-Man inspired ring gear. I don't think we've ever seen that before. Tony Nese and Sin Cara had some nice back and forth athletic action early. I don't remember the last time I actually heard the audience chanting for Cara, so the shift into the Cruisers is certainly a positive. Dorada's gear was also a big step up. You can see a lot of Cruisers really stepping up their look. Nese was pretty much the base of the bout early on and looked good, both in terms of his timing and showcasing his strength. Dorado's highspots especially his shooting star press, looked good. When Gulak tagged in, he began wearing down Dorado by tying him and working on his extremities. They built to Alexander getting the hot tag setting up a triple dive to the outside that was nice. Gulak trapping Alexander in the Dragon Sleeper with Dorado making the save with a big swanton was shot perfectly. They continued to go back and forth with most of it looking great until team Cedric scored the win. Great showing for the Cruisers with the type of presentation I hope migrates over to Raw. Great, fun stuff.
Why was Mauro Ranallo, a Smackdown announcer, calling the pre-show match?
Charlotte and Sasha's bout was the final Hell In A Cell bout featured in the show opening video. I like it. They are changing the game tonight.
Rusev and Roman Reigns are starting us off. Rusev showed some strength and aggression early to build that he's a powerhouse, but he also became the first one to eat the cage tonight, being sent off the apron into the Cell. Reigns sent Rusev into the cage several times and nailed some big right hands, spotlighting that he's a badass. You could hear fans chanting for Roman, although others were responding that he sucked in a secondary chant. He really is the new John Cena.
They went back and forth until Roman caught Rusev with the big boot and set up for the Superman Punch. Rusev saw it coming and went to the floor. Reigns went for the Driveby but Rusev knew he was coming and caught him in the act with a clothesline. This seemed to turn things around as Reigns was sent hard into the stairs and the cage. The crowd was chanting for Tables but instead Rusev picked up the steel steps and charged, drilling them into Roman over and over. Rusev put the steps on top of the buckles and teased sending Roman into them but was fought off and clothesline over the top to the floor. Roman was cut off and sent shoulder-first into the cage.
So, far, it's a solid back and forth match but doesn't feel like a major grudge match or a feud ending finale. Not that I am calling for blood, but when you have a big, dangerous match like this on paper and then don't have the blood, they miss out on taking the drama to the next level with some grit and they don't have that "next level" feeling.
They went for the weapons next as a Singapore Cane was brought into play by Rusev. Roman got it and began wailing away on Rusev. Roman ended up trapped in the ropes, allowing Rusev to go to town on him with the Cane. Reigns caught him with a spear but they were both down and out exhausted. It got really physical with some stiff back and forth shots and the sequence was really good. Reigns finally nailed the Punch but Rusev kicked out at two, which was well done.
They had an awesome spot where Rusev used a savate kick to cut off a spear attempt and then sent Roman into the steps that were on top of the buckles for a near fall. It was so good, it would have been a great finish to put the belt back on Rusev. Good stuff!
Rusev went for the Accolade and we'll see if this is the beginning or the end or Roman getting the chance to Hulk Up. Roman fought for the ropes, which the announcers noted wouldn't help him in this environment. Roman finally broke free but was cut off with a big kick to the head that sent him to the floor. Rusev pulled out a heavy chain that Nikita Koloff would have been proud to carry. He went to use it but was cut off with a big right. Roman came alive with a ton of offense. Rusev used the chain to shoot that down quicker than Negan swings a barbed wire bat.
Rusev brought in the bottom half of the ring steps to continued beating on Roman. He locked in the Accolade on the stairs, using the chain for extra leverage. Now it was time for Reigns to Hulk Up and he was able to free himself and nail a Samoan Drop on the steps. Reigns speared him off the steps and made the pin to retain.
A good, long, physical match. They brought a lot of outside elements in to make it a spectacle. I thought Rusev especially did a hell of a job as a heel here and gave Roman the chance to shine as the babyface when he finally made his comebacks. Both are extremely underrated, even at the position they hold for the company currently. As much as it's en vogue to boo Reigns, his work is really, really good and Rusev had one of his best performances here. They gave them a LOT of time as this went close to 30 minutes.
Kevin Owens was interviewed, laughing about what he did to Seth Rollins on Raw Monday. They had just shown the video and when Tom Phillips went to review what we had just seen, Owens cut him off and said everyone saw it, so move on. YES! Owens also made some good points that the last time he powerbombed someone like that, it was Cena who was out for weeks and now Rollins is ignoring doctors to compete in the Cell to prove he's the man. Owens said that what he does to Rollins is going to make the Cell match we just saw look like a cakewalk. Good promo from Owens.
Dana Brooke vs. Bayley is next. Bayley got a nice reaction coming out. It will be interesting to see if they can course correct Bayley here. Bayley was outwrestling Brooke, so Brooke used her strength and cheated to cut her off. Bayley kept her off base until being caught and having her bad shoulder drilled into the buckles. Brooke is pretty good at being vocal while in the ring. Brooke worked over Bayley's arm for a long time. Bayley tried to fight back despite her shoulder being injured but Brooke cut her off with a forearm. Bayley made a comeback. Brooke fought back but Bayley finally got the Bayley to Belly suplex for the pin. Match was just OK. Brooke is still very limited in what she can do and her finesse and timing in the ring is clearly a step behind a lot of the other women, so it showed here. They tried to work around that by having Bayley's bad shoulder get worked on so she could build to the comeback. The story was fine, but in the end, it was just there and the crowd came off like they were waiting for the bigger matches.
Backstage, Steph and Mick were glowing over how well the show was going and pushed Survivor Series when Chris Jericho came in. Foley ended up on the list because he interrupted Jericho, who had actually been the one who interrupted them. He pitched himself and Kevin Owens as the co-captains for Team Raw at Survivor Series. They instead told him he should make sure he and Kevin Owens were still on the same page.
Enzo and Cass were up next. They did their usual great promo. I popped for Cass whipping out a Frankie Valli song reference. Amore's charisma and mic skills are off the charts. Just Roddy Piper level manic delivery.
I mentioned course correcting earlier. Gallows and Anderson so desperately need the win here. They have been losing for far too long, to the point I throw my hands up at the screen at Raw within three minutes of the bell ringing every week. I am real curious to see if things change for their presentation tonight. I just feel WWE can get something deeper out of them.
Enzo and Karl Anderson start out. Enzo and Cass have the early advantage until Cass launching Enzo to the outside on Anderson. Enzo took a nice flip bump off the Gallows clothesline on the floor. They cut off Enzo in their corner and savaged him. Anderson worked over Enzo until he finally was caught with a DDT. Cass and Gallows tagged in so we had the big guys hitting each other with big shots. Cass cleaned house with Stinger Splashes and big booted Anderson off the apron to the floor. Good tag action so far.
Enzo tagged in and found himself in with Gallows. He nailed some body shots but was cut off with a big kick. The Bullet Club hit the Magic Killer and scored the pin.
This was exactly what it should have been. Enzo and Cass got the shine from their promo. They had a solid match and the heels scored a much needed win - CLEAN, no less - to show they are not a force to be ignored. Good booking all around here.
The marketing for the Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar match at Survivor Series with the videogame coming to life is great.
My blog continues on Page 2 with thoughts on the WWE Universal championship!
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