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Grading WWE Hell In A Cell

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By @sdmeyers1

Hell In A Cell

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In the absence of a WWE World Heavyweight Title Match, and with the majority of the card poorly promoted heading into the event, WWE Hell In A Cell was one of the least anticipated pay-per-views in recent months. The show proved to be memorable, however, as it featured both incredible in-ring action, as well as interesting storyline developments.

With the show devoid of champion Brock Lesnar, the two HIAC matches, pitting Dean Ambrose against Seth Rollins and John Cena against Randy Orton, received top billing.

Saving the Ambrose-Rollins match for the conclusion of the event represented one of the best decisions WWE has made in recent memory. For weeks, it was apparent that this feud was the most intriguing in the entire company, and the two rising stars deserved the chance to shine in the spotlight.

The match began with incredible drama, as the WWE Universe was buzzing with Ambrose and Rollins battling atop the 20-foot cell. Both competitors ultimately took a brutal fall from halfway up the cage through the announcers’ tables.

The action resumed inside the cell, and both continued to put their bodies on the line. The ending featured an interesting twist, though, as the lights went out just as Ambrose appeared to be closing in on a victory. When the lights returned, Bray Wyatt attacked Ambrose, which allowed Rollins to score the victory. Years from now, this storyline, and particularly Sunday’s match, could prove to be the launching pad for both of them into the upper echelon of WWE.

Conversely, Cena and Orton have clashed dozens of times over the past decade, which meant that WWE needed to find a way to make their match more interesting. To do so, the creative team stipulated that the match would be conducted inside the confines of the cell, with the winner earning the next shot at Lesnar.

The contest featured back-and-forth action, highlighted by two incredible RKOs from Orton. It was apparent that both men attempted to up the ante by introducing weapons into the equation, and Cena ultimately prevailed by putting Orton through a table courtesy of a top-rope Attitude Adjustment.

Aside from the two HIAC matches, the other match that had considerable buildup, Rusev against the Big Show, ended anticlimactically. It appeared a foregone conclusion that Mark Henry would turn on the Big Show, costing his partner the match. Henry simply served as a bystander, though, as Rusev wore down the giant with an array of kicks, and ultimately forced him into submission. This feud could continue, however, as Big Show’s supposed submission was not visible, which may prompt a rematch.

In the opening bout of the night, Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro produced a stellar two-out-of-three falls match, with Ziggler prevailing to retain the Intercontinental Championship. These two are perhaps the top workers in the entire company, and they delivered with arguably the best match of the evening.

Additionally, Sheamus retained his United States Championship, fending off The Miz in a match that was more about Damian Sandow than either of the competitors inside the ring. Sheamus is terrific in the ring, but the WWE Universe seems disinterested in his character, while The Miz has been completely overshadowed by his stunt double, Mizdow.

With the WWE Tag Team Championships on the line, Goldust and Stardust successfully defended their titles against the former champions, The Usos. The tag team division appears to be spiraling downward, but these tandems put on a good battle for the gold.

In divas action, AJ Lee and Paige continued their battle over the Divas Championship, with AJ coming out on top. These two have produced arguably the best divas storyline in years, although it seemingly came to an end at HIAC. As a result, the WWE could’ve added a stipulation or at least a more decisive conclusion, if it is indeed the end of the six-month storyline.

Also, Nikki Bella defeated her sister, Brie Bella, in a match that was surprisingly good. The subsequent month of Nikki bossing around her sister will likely produce some forgettable segments, though.

Overall, Hell In A Cell surpassed expectations and continued a strong run of WWE pay-per-views in recent months. Ultimately, the event will be remembered for the death-defying action by Ambrose and Rollins inside the cell.

Grade: B+

Sean Meyers is a professional wrestling writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and “Like” him on Facebook

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