Hell in a Cell 2014 is behind us and it was a very controversial HIAC. The reviews and opinions of the fans has been a very mixed bag. With that said why don’t we just jump right in and tell you ours.
The Expert panel kicked us off, during the pre show and it consisted of Paul Heyman, Booker T, Alex Riley and Renée Young. They introduced us to the broadcast team of JBL, King and Cole. Down to the ring and Mizdow TV followed.
Sandow is hosting his version of Miz TV. Miz is Sandows guest. While Miz talked, Sandow mimicked him and mouthed the same words Miz is saying. Sandow also moved in the same actions that Miz did. Sandow is the 2nd in this team and 3rd in the rivalry with Sheamus, yet he’s more over than both the other men. Sandow sucked up to Miz for a while even calling him his best friend. Miz said he appreciated Sandow and he’s a damn good stunt double, and Miz also called Sandow his friend. Sheamus on the Titan Tron interrupted Miz and Sandows hug.
Sheamus doesn’t say anything of note. Sheamus said Sandow should tell Miz to get on his knees and kiss his butt goodbye. Sheamus then Brogue Kicked the camera. Miz looked on scared and Sandow duplicated the look.
We went back to the panel after that, they talked more about the matches on tonight’s card. Eventually they threw it back to ringside for a match on the pre show.
Bo Dallas vs Mark Henry
Bo on the mic said he’s changing his name for tonight only to Bo Washington because he’s ashamed to share the same name as the city they are in. HIAC was in Dallas. The introduction was longer than the match. Bo gets squashed and Henry finally got his win over Bo, lasted about a minute. Winner Mark Henry 1/5
Byron Saxton interviewed Paige and Alicia Fox. Paige said she’s going to rip AJ heart out and steal AJ best friend, the Divas Championship. Alicia and Paige screw with Saxton a bit before the interview is over. They then go back to the panel and talk a little more to close the pre show.
WWE Intercontinental Championship 2-Out-Of-3 Falls Match – Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Cesaro
Ok, so usually I start with an opinion about the wrestlers in the match, run down some moments in the match and then talk about the finish. I’m not going to do that, I’m going right to the finish. Dolph won 2-0, clean sweep. This got people in an uproar, they think Cesaro got buried by not getting a fall, I disagree. For years these best of 3 falls matches have been predictable, always 2-1, and never a sweep. They swerved all of us “experts” and that’s always a good thing. Dolph has always had the die-hard fans support for not being put over, he got put over last night. So kudos WWE, first match and it was already a swerve. The 2 falls happened on a Dolph roll up, and later on Cesaro attempted The Neutralizer but Ziggler counters it,with a superkick and a Zig-Zag. Winner and Still Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler 2-0 4/5
They cut to the announce table and the 3 men rundown people who bought it on PPV again. I’m sure the cable and satellite carriers love when they do that.
We go to the back were The Authority is having a discussion until Randy Orton came barging in. Randy ask where Rollins was and if they see him before Orton does, to pass along the message of staying out Orton’s match tonight. Steph said something about Orton using his anger toward Cena, and HHH chimed in to. Trips said that he should focus on Cena and then getting back his title. Orton finished it by saying he will do it the Authorities way but if Rollins isn’t dealt with by the Authority, Orton is going to do it himself.
Loser Must Be Winners Assistant For 30 Days – Nikki Bella vs. Brie Bella
This match sums up the type of night the WWE had for in ring work. Nikki and Brie put on the best match by far for both while in the WWE. I didn’t expect much at all but the girls did deliver a quality match. Nikki grabbed Brie by the hair and held Brie up in the air from behind Nikki’s back. Nikki rolled outside, and that lead to Brie doing a suicide dive through the middle rope. Nikki hit the Rack Attack on Brie later on but Brie kicked out. Nikki then hit Brie with a huge forearm and another Rack Attack but Brie couldn’t kick out this time. Winner Nikki Bella. Very decent match for these 2. 3/5
They went back to the panel, Heyman talks about the winner of the #1 contender match being the real loser because they will take on the Beast Incarnate. Booker also said some stupid stuff about shucky ducky or whatever.
WWE Tag-Team Championship – The Usos vs. Goldust & Stardust (c)
There wasn’t much difference between all their other matches, a lot of the Uso matches seem to be the same, no real change. The Uso are one of the best in ring workers in the tag team division but they are getting stale. The Stardust gimmick is on its decline as well. However this was still a good match from the 4. The Dust Brothers used a lot of quick tags to keep control. Goldust got hit with a big superplex. Then one of the Uso’s hit a big splash on Goldust but Stardust breaks up the pin. The other Uso comes in and takes out Stardust. Goldust landed the Last Call on the legal Uso and pins him. Winners and Still WWE Tag-Team Champions Gold and Stardust. Another good match but seen one of them, seen all of them. Time to mix things up and give the Dust Brothers different challengers. 3.5/5
A Susan G Komen video is shown about a breast cancer survivor. She is then interviewed live at ringside.
WWE Hell in a Cell #1 contenders match John Cena vs Randy Orton
This was a lot better than what most people are giving it credit for, you get that when 2 guys have wrestled each other 8 billion times. The Cell was unnecessary, they didn’t use it that much. Orton controlled most of this match with Super Cena making an appearance at the end. Orton wore Cena out with a chair that he grabbed from under the ring. The chair was wedged in the rope and a table was brought into play. Cena hit Orton with a diving shoulder block then Cena went for another one and we got our first RKO out of no where.
Orton wasted no time to cover him but Cena kicked out at 2. Afterwards Orton put Cena through the table but yet again Cena kicked out. Orton who is annoyed that he can’t finish Cena off at this point brings the steel steps into the ring. Orton was in his pounced viper stance waiting for Cena to get up to RKO him again. Cena gets up and fights off the RKO attempt. Cena then slammed Orton on the steps followed it by the 5 knuckle shuffle but couldn’t get the pin.
With Cena in control he tried the AA but Orton low blowed him. After more fighting and a failed punt attempt from Orton, Cena attempted another AA but it was countered into the RKO. Cena kicked out again. The finish saw Cena grab another table and AA Orton through it from the top rope for the win. Afterwards Cena and Heyman stare each other down. Winner and New #1 Contender John Cena. Really good match, I’ve seen their Iron Man and past Rumble match live and this is my favorite match of theirs. 4/5
We go to the back where Mark Henry and Big Show are in the locker room, getting Big Show hyped up for his match with Rusev.
WWE United States Championship Sheamus (c) vs The Miz with Damien Mizdow
Mizdow continued his schtick on the outside while the action went on in the inside. Crowd started a Mizdow is Awesome chant. Sheamus hit Miz with the Beats of the Bodhran, while Sheamus did this Mizdow mimicked receiving them on the outside, pretty good stuff. The match eventually went to the outside, where Sheamus attempted a Brogue Kick but missed and hit Mizdow. The action continued after that with Miz getting the advantage, even landing the Skull Crushing Finale but Sheamus kicked out. Finish saw Miz go to the top and attempt something but eats a Brogue Kick and Sheamus gets the win. Afterwards Mizdow came in and laid down next to Miz, selling like he got hit too. Sheamus played around with Miz and Sandow, moving and wiggling Sheamus arm to see if Mizdow would follow suit and he did, they even did the YMCA. Afterwards Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick again on Miz. Winner and Still US Champion Sheamus. Mediocre match that was saved by the comedy of Mizdow. 3/5
In the parking lot we see Brie carrying Nikki luggage. Nikki then ask for the smoothie that Brie was supposed to make her. Brie hands it to her, they go over the ingredients to make sure its just right. Then Nikki spills it on Brie and tells her to make another one.
Rusev vs The Big Show
This one wasnt as good as Rusev vs Show at Night of Champions. Rusev worked slower, probably because of how exhausted Show looked after their first match. Rusev went for the Accolade but Big Show reversed it into a leg submission of his own. After a little time Rusev manages to reach the rope. Rusev got the advantage back and landed a big Suplex on Big Show. Then Rusev hit an impressive drop kick as well. Big Show did eventually lands a spear. Rusev rolled to the outside, and Henry comes down to ring. Back in the ring Big Show landed a choke slam but Rusev kicked out at 2. Henry stayed cheerleading for Show. Finish saw Rusev get the advantage back, Henry jumped on the apron but Rusev knocked him off. Rusev then hit 2 Super Kicks and then the Accolade. Rusev wins when Big Show passes out. Winner Rusev 3.5/5 Still no Henry turn. WWE keeps hinting at it, it will happen.
Dean Ambrose interview backstage was next. Dean cut a good typical Dean promo about how he’sgoing to beat Rollins up. Good stuff.
WWE Divas Championship AJ Lee (c) vs Paige with Alicia Fox
Incredibly this wasnt as good as the Bella diva match, who would’ve thought? Paige dominated most of this match, with a lot of it going to the outside. I like Paige and AJ but this rivalry needs to end or take the step, a ladder or cage match would be perfect. Paige was standing on the guard rail when AJ swept her leg and Paige fell hard on her head. Paige clearly woozy gets rolled back into the ring by Alicia Fox who thought she was helping. AJ from there applies the Black Widow for the win. After the match, Paige slaps Alicia and says its her fault, Paige then leaves and yells at Alicia that Paige hates Alicia. Fox looks on hurt and confused. Winner and Still Divas Champion AJ Lee 2/5. It should benoted that Dallas didn’t do a lot if any CM Punk chants, which is a good thing.
Main Event Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose Hell in a Cell
Dean Ambrose came down first and immediately went under the ring to grab a bunch of chairs, Ambrose also had a bag on his back with a Kendo Stick in it. Side note when Ambrose pulled up the apron to grab the chairs he forgot to pull it back down. A hand came out from underneath to pull it down. Giving away that somebody was under there. It was very subtle so hard to see. Ambrose climbed to the top of the cell before Rollins came out. Rollins came down and was going to climb up but Mercury and Noble wouldn’t let him. Rollins told Noble and Mercury to go up and get them, so they tried.
Noble and Mercury make their way up while Ambrose laughs at them. They get up, Ambrose claps for them and then beats them up with the Kendo Stick. Rollins uses this as a distraction to attack Ambrose. Noble and Mercury held Ambrose down while Rollins wore Ambrose out with the Kendo Stick. Ambrose and Rollins fight on the way down the cage, half way through on the announcer tables side. They brawl back and forth. Ambrose head butted Rollins, their momentum knocked both of them off and through the announcer tables, including the spanish announce table. Out came the stretchers for both men, they are being carried to the back.
Ambrose gets off his stretcher and attacks Rollins, the fight is still on. They go to the ring and Ambrose is snapping, continuing to say that Rollins stabbed him in the back and now he’s going to do the same and goes to town on Rollins with a chair. They find their way outside the ring, where Ambrose grabs and sets up a table. Ambrose goes back in the ring and lands a suicide dive. Rollins gets advantage back and sets up a table in the ring himself. Ambrose however lays Rollins out on the table that Rollins set up and lands a flying elbow on Rollins putting him through a table. Awesome stuff.
Kane comes through the crowd out of no where and sprays Ambrose with a fire extinguisher from outside the cage. This gave Rollins the advantage he needed to pick Ambrose up and hit a running power bomb through the table that Ambrose had set up earlier. They eventually went back into the ring where Rollins attacked Ambrose with a chair. Eventually Ambrose gets cinder blocks from underneath the ring. Ambrose set Rollins up for the same curb stomp through cinder blocks that Rollins did to Ambrose. Lights go out.
A voice speaking in tongues is heard, lights came back on and Bray Wyatt lantern is in the middle of the ring with Ambrose staring at it. The arena was still partly dark with the Wyatt cell phone lighting the only lighting. A hologram comes out of the lantern, a silhouette of a person, could be Bray, could be someone else. Bray comes from outside of the ring and lays out Ambrose. Lights go off and come back on with Bray in his spider walk position. Bray picks up Ambrose and slams him to the mat, then stares at the lantern. Rollins hesitantly crawls to Ambrose and pins him. Rollins then bails from the cell quickly and stares at Wyatt with Noble and Mercury. Wyatt then lays Ambrose out with the Sister Abigail one more time. Show ended with Bray in the middle of the ring with the lantern and Bray with the cell phone lighting. Winner Seth Rollins 4.7/5
The biggest controversy was in the finish to this match. Most fans were clamoring for Bray to come back to TV but they didn’t want it at the expense of Dean. This worked out a few ways, Seth gets to transition into his program with Orton which elevates him closer to the title picture, Bray comes back with a big rivalry and Dean doesn’t lose clean thus keeping his stock up. I love this finish. I loved this show, very few complaints here. No WWE World Champion on it downgraded it from an A to a B for me and add the minor mistakes, I give this PPV a solid B-. Top 3 for WWE this year.
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