WWE Hell in a Cell 2020

WWE Hell in a Cell 2020

Orlando, FL - October 2020

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, Roman Reigns was the Universal Championship while Drew McIntyre held the WWE Championship. The United States Champion was Bobby Lashley the Intercontinental Champion was Sami Zayn, the RAW Tag Team Championships were held by The New Day (specifically Kofi and Woods), and the SmackDown Tag Team Championships were held by The Street Profits. The RAW Women's Champion was Asuka (though she would not defend the title on this show) and the SmackDown Women's Champion was Bayley, with the Women's Tag Team Championships held by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Finally, the 24/7 Championship was held by R-Truth (enjoying his FORTY-SECOND reign with the title).

The fact that Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso for the Universal Championship in an "I Quit" Match in the Hell in a Cell opened the show was a major surprise as this feud had a terrific build based around Reigns demanding that his cousin acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief (with the added stipulation that if Reigns won the match, both Uso Brothers and their families would be cut out of the family). This started off as just a straight-forward match, the first big spot being an Uso dive on Reigns into the cell wall. Without a live audience, its hard to imagine what kind of reaction this match would've received in its first few minutes, but I'm guessing a mild one as this match started off less violent than their match at Clash of the Champions despite being in a more sinister setting. Reigns hit a not-so-hot spear early on, but it was the second one that looked like it took all the wind out of Jey (even Cole admitted on commentary that it was considerably more impactful). The theatrics and drama began at this point, Reigns threatening to "end" his cousin despite not wanting to. Uso rallied, though, hitting a big splash from the top. Inexplicably, the referee asked Reigns if he would quit at this point. Off a single top rope splash? Even off the second one it was dumb considering Reigns has kicked out of multiple F-5s and, if I'm not mistaken, even a Tombstone. Uso finally brought a weapon into play, grabbing a strap from underneath the ring. Uso began whipping Reigns, which, to me, felt a bit like the kind of thing that should've been instigated by the heel rather than the face (but maybe I'm just old-fashioned). Reigns only got a couple lashes before he nailed Uso with a spear and grabbed the strap for himself (as anyone could've predicted). Jey Uso's selling of the strap was a perfect mix of defiance and anguish and I loved the added touch of Reigns tying the strap to Uso's wrist to prevent him from escaping the whipping. It created an extra visual metaphor of their linkage and literal tension to the match, plus, with neither guy being known for their submissions, gave them both a very violent means to try to get their opponent to say "I Quit." At one point, Uso seemed to choke Reigns out, but Roman sprung back to life, gasping for air before Uso choked him out again. Reigns eventually stirred back to life, but Jey was waiting for a chair. Jey went for a chair shot, but Reigns nailed him with a Superman Punch and applied the guillotine, choking out his cousin (but before he could utter the words that would end the match). For the new few minutes, Reigns muttered and the ref repeatedly asked Jey if he would quit but got no response. Reigns dragged Jey onto the ring apron and hit him with a Drive-By that nearly put him into the post - but then followed it up by sandwiching Jey's head between the post and part of the steps and hitting him with another Drive-By. The spot didn't "pop" the way it should've for whatever reason and even the commentators' hush didn't add the gravitas they wanted that maneuver to carry. Without a genuine live audience reaction, it just felt like another underwhelming moment in a match that had now become mostly just walk-and-talk. Reigns attacked the referee, leading to various other officials entering the ring and demanding Reigns leave the ring. Before leaving, though, Reigns shut the cell door, tossed the steps back into the ring, and pinned Uso to the mat just so he could deliver another speech about Jey not acknowledging him. At Clash of the Champions, the blend of unhinged violence and trash talk worked, but here, the theatrics might've just gone too far, especiall once Jimmy Uso showed up and "broke kayfabe," referring to Jey as Josh and himself as John. Reigns, crying on the mat, showed off his acting range before applying the guillotine to JImmy. With Jimmy getting choked out by the Champion, Jey "quit" and Reigns sneered, turning from a whimpering baby to an evil bastard at the blink of an eye. The charisma of the performers carried this match and it was definitely different, but I wouldn't call this great or even "must see" unless you're dying to see two guys lay the capital-A Acting on thick. The kind of match that will certainly be divisive in terms of fan opinion but one that I still found interesting, if hammy at times. In an extra little moment of brilliance, Afa and Sika stood at the top of the stage and hugged Reigns, gifting him with a lei that symbolizes his ascension as the family's Chief. (3/5)

After a series of commercials and a wholly unnecessary replay of the end of the previous match, it was time for our next contest - Elias taking on Jeff Hardy. I haven't been watching SmackDown for awhile, but wasn't Elias now a babyface after feuding with Corbin? Wasn't Jeff Hardy also involved a much higher profile feud with Sami Zayn too? Elias is a great example of how the WWE "cooling" on someone can have a permanently damaging impact as he just feels microwaved leftovers. Hardy was once known for his inconsistency, but he's actually become a dependable performer on this most recent run, shining in matches against Zayn, Sheamus, and AJ Styles as of late - but Elias is not the caliber of worker the other guys are, his character is ice cold, and Hardy going 50/50 with him didn't make me any more interested in this rivalry. The finish seems to point to an eventual rematch as Hardy lost his temper and used Elias's guitar against him, but this was nothing special to build from. (2/5)

After a recap of the Law & Otis segment from SmackDown, it was time for Otis vs. The Miz for Otis' Money In The Bank Briefcase. While Otis hasn't been off-screen for as long as Elias was (Otis hasn't really been off-screen at all), his lack of presence on the past couple PPVs has undoubtedly hurt the momentum he had in the spring - when his storyline with Mandy Rose was mega-over and feud with Dolph Ziggler was one of the more talked-about storylines going in the build-up to WrestleMania XXXVI. The Miz and Morrison had some momentum too a few months ago, but have also fallen enough down the card that they're not nearly the "must see" team they once claimed to be. Despite this match having fairly high stakes, I wasn't enthralled by it. The Miz can be a terrific heel - but he's better in front of a live crowd, playing off real-life drama (like his feud with Daniel Bryan and even, before that, John Cena), and against workers that push him physically (the aforementioned Bryan and even Braun Strowman). Paired with Otis, Miz has to play ring general and Otis just has to do his comedy shtick and it all feels a bit childish. Tucker's heel turn was a surprise, but it was also awkwardly executed as Otis leaned into the hit, Tucker's apprehension felt like it was just a small beat "off," and getting struck with the briefcase (mostly in the shoulder) just didn't look like a "death blow." Had he struck him and caused Otis to stumble into a Skull-Crushing Finale, it would've been much, much better. This was another filler match with a not-so-well executed finish. (1.5/5)

Backstage, The Miz cut a great promo - exactly the type of promo I described above - passionate, purposeful, and rooted in reality. As Miz celebrated, Tucker joined and explained that he didn't turn on Otis because of anything JoMo or Miz did, but because Otis stole the spotlight from him. Otis showed up and he and Tucker brawled in the back before we cut back ringside for...

Sasha Banks vs. Bayley in a Hell in a Cell Match for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship. It was noted that Bayley had competed in both of the previous two Hell in a Cell's matches featuring women, but Cole didn't mention that she lost both. It also doesn't really help sell the gimmick of Hell in a Cell matches being career-ending when you've got Sasha Banks losing two of them and still wanting to re-enter the ultra-dangerous environ. Bayley brought a chair into the ring with her, but as the cell was lowered, Banks dropkicked it out of her hands in a brilliant start to the match. These two always put on great matches, but this one was very different: it was in a cell, it was loaded with weapon use, and Bayley was playing the heel. The chemistry was still there, though, both performers busting out some of their best-ever offense including a nasty double-knees into the cell wall from the Boss and a ridiculous drop toe hold from Bayley that sent Banks face-first into the steps (and through some kendo sticks too for good measure). As one could expect, there were a few convoluted segments, the kind of cat-and-mouse sequences that these two just can't resist when they work together, but like in the opener, the charisma and passion they put on display made these moments easy to excuse. Other highlights included Bayley catapulted Banks into a pair of sticks, a sunset flip powerbomb from Banks that sent Bayley into the cell wall, and some clever uses of a chair (a callback to the heel turn that sparked this blood feud). Bayley hit a sunset flip powerbomb of her own that propelled (Corey Graves' word) Banks' neck-first into a steel chair and followed it up with an elbow drop, but only got 2. Back on their feet, Bayley attempted something (I'm not sure what), but Banks hit a backstabber and then locked her in the Banks Statement. Bayley rolled to the outside and tied Banks up in the ring apron before crushing her head into the steel ring frame. I'm not sure I've seen that before. Bayley struck her with a couple additional kendo stick shots then grabbed some duct tape. After taping the sticks together (not well), Bayley went to grab Banks, but Banks blinded her with a fire extinguisher! Trying to escape the cage, Bayley grabbed her spray-painted chair instead, which Banks then tossed into the ring. Banks sent Bayley into the cell walls a few times and the war raged on, hitting her with all she had. Banks grabbed a kendo stick and beat down on her one-time best friend repeatedly before retreating to the corner in emotional exhaustion. After stomping on Bayley one last time, Banks went to the top for a frog splash - but Bayley lifted the steel chair to block her, causing them both to suffer from the impact. Bayley regained control, but couldn't put Banks out. Bayley slid a LADDER into the ring - this had to be weapon type #6 by this point (if you count the ring frame and the cell itself) - and set it atop two chairs. Banks fought her, but Bayley ended up dropping her face-first onto the ladder before laying her across it. After spray painting her, Bayley went to the top for a chair-assisted flying elbow drop but Banks rolled away! Banks followed it up with double-knees off the ladder and then a Bayley-to-Belly into the ladder for 2. Bayley wouldn't stay down, though, fighting her way back into the match and hitting a Bayley-to-Belly herself for 2. Back in control, Bayley hit Banks with a series of chair shots, but Banks rallied and applied a chair-assisted Banks Statement that included Banks stomping on the leg of the chair to add extra pressure and pain to Bayley's neck! The finish wasn't the smoothest, but it certainly was effective and looked like a believable end to the match. This was not the all-time classic that many wished and wanted but, again, this was also a very different match - in build and style - from what they accomplished in NXT years ago (playing two different versions of themselves). (4/5)

Backstage, The Hurt Business hypes Bobby Lashley's United States Title defense against one of the members of Retribution - Slapjack (aka Shane Thorne). When Shelton Benjamin is scoring points off you in his promos, you know you're gimmick is lame. Slapjack got more offense in than I thought he would, especially as Lashley controlled the early moments and the commentators hyped his dominance over the previous few weeks. Thorne is lucky that's under a mask because he's definitely a decent bumper and seller and could potentially have a future beyond this joke stable. After the match, Ali had his henchmen try to beat up Lashley, but The Almighty sent them packing and the rest of the Hurt Business drove them off. Retribution has to be one of the all-time worst stables and Mustafa Ali should not be at all proud to be its leader. More filler on a show that already had quite a bit of it. (1/5)

Main event time - Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton for McIntyre's WWE Championship in yet another Hell in a Cell match. This match had a few things working against it - first, the feud between these two already reached its natural (and best possible) conclusion at Clash of the Champions. Second, this was now the third cell match of the night. Lastly, Randy Orton doesn't exactly have a track record of all-time great Hell in a Cell matches (though I did enjoy the horrific "earlobe spot" from the cell match he had against Jeff Hardy a couple years back). Oddly, McIntyre came out first, but the reasoning behind this became clear as Orton - decked in all black -  jumped Drew from behind. Of course, this ended up backfiring as McIntyre didn't really suffer all that much of a beat down and the match ended up starting just moments later. What's even the point of a start like that if all it does is lead to both guys just kinda staring at each other in the ring as the bell rings? I liked their SummerSlam match and the Clash match was fun, but the only place they could go with this match was to heap on the physicality, maybe get some "color" (which their previous matches had), and try not to replay the same "hits" that Banks and Bayley or Reigns and Uso had already played. McIntyre attempted a Claymore early, but Orton dodged it and struck Drew's knee with a chair instead in a not-so-great-looking moment. Orton then drove the chair into McIntyre's previously-injured jaw before going for a cover (and only getting a 1, which used to be one of McIntyre's calling cards, right?). Orton took control from there and things did not get any more interesting. McIntyre's bumping and selling looked awkward at times, most likely because his huge frame just couldn't really maneuver around the ring very easily. When the action got back between the ropes, things were better - but it almost just made it even clearer that putting this match in a cell actually hamstrung them more than it helped. A piped-in "This is Awesome" chant could be heard despite the fact that this match was not awesome at all. Even the trash talk, usually an area of strength for Orton, was a step down from the verbal sparring of the previous two cell matches. In another head-scratching turn, Orton grabbed a pair of bolt cutters to open up the cell door. Why? He was in the driver's seat? Again, Orton's actions had the reverse effect of whatever he was intending, though, as McIntyre attacked him from behind. Orton then, inexplicably, climbed the cage (despite being back in control of the match). Orton egged him on to join him at the top of the cage and McIntyre followed - a brave move but also a really dumb one considering that Orton needed to beat McIntyre and not the other way around. On top of the cage, Orton revealed that he had a steel pipe - but after one swing, McIntyre tackled him and beat him down. McIntyre then got up and did some sort of signature taunt only to get caught with the pipe. The lack of logic in this match was just astounding. Orton then climbed down the cage wall having accomplished very, very little (that he couldn't have accomplished in the ring). As Orton climbed down, McIntyre climbed alongside him and we got the classic Shawn Michaels table bump off the cage through a table. I'm not saying that its not a good, respectable spot (or that I'd be willing to take it myself) but we've seen it before, we've seen it done better, and we've seen it in a context that made way more sense than this. McIntyre cralwed out of the wreckage, choking and squirming, as Orton watched from behind him. Why wouldn't Orton grab him and try to get him back into the ring quicker? Why give him this time to recover? I get that part of the Viper's sinister attitude is that he enjoys watching others in pain, but I guess at this point I was just eager for this match to end in whatever convoluted fashion it was going to. As Orton revved up for an RKO, though, McIntyre sprang back to life - playing possum from falling through a table and coughing up blood?? - and hit a Claymore (but could not make the cover in time as Orton had rolled to the outside). After dragging Randy back into the ring, McIntyre attempted another Claymore, but Orton dodged it and hit the RKO! New Champion! Wow...I was not expecting that at all. This was not a good match and I'd argue the wrong man won as well. (1.5/5)

All in all, a disappointing show. The Reigns/Uso match was heavy-handed for lengthy stretches and maybe even went a touch too far with Reigns' crocodile tears. Had the "meat" of the match been better, like it was during Clash of the Champions, the match could've been really special - but it felt like a retread of that match and didn't add anything new aside from the appearance of the Wild Samoans at the end. People had insane and arguably unrealistic expectations for Bayley/Sasha; it was a very good match, a "must see" even (especially for what has been a not-so-great 2020 in terms of high-level matches for the WWE), but a Match of the Decade-caliber contest? An all-time great Hell in a Cell match? The only way it enters that conversation is if you disqualify any match with blood. The final match and the rest of the card really drag this show down - Otis/Miz was unremarkable, Elias/Hardy felt like filler from an episode of SmackDown, and the Lashley squash should've been half-as-long or replaced altogether. The large number of commercials and ads didn't help the watchability of the show either. The WWE could accomplish a ton more with their backstage segments during these shows by actually highlighting the large number of characters who simply can't or didn't make the show - Jax and Baszler, Sami Zayn, Asuka, Keith Lee, the list goes on. With a Kwang Score of 2.17-out-of-5, this one was...

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver