Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
I did not expect Hell in a Cell week to bring with it the most wrestling quality of any WWE week I can possibly remember. Every single show over this span included a showstopper. Half of Hell in a Cell was showstoppers with matches that went under the radar that would have topped most other WWE weeks.
Honestly, the average match this week was better than the best match last week, and I feel that I don't have the space or time to get into why so many of these matches were so great.
Ultimately, Hell in a Cell started a week of great everything including a new format to the way WWE presents its three straight days of wrestling every week, and I have a good feeling that business is picking back up in the company with so much going on.
Honestly, the average match this week was better than the best match last week, and I feel that I don't have the space or time to get into why so many of these matches were so great.
Ultimately, Hell in a Cell started a week of great everything including a new format to the way WWE presents its three straight days of wrestling every week, and I have a good feeling that business is picking back up in the company with so much going on.
Good of Brock Lesnar to consider personal shaving before returning to WWE. He chose not to, but at least he probably thought about it.
WWE Hell in a Cell 2018
It Takes Special Booking to Ruin Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman, But WWE Pulled It Off
Overview: Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman fought passionately and viciously inside Hell in a Cell until both men struggled to rise. Chaos then ensued as Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose fought Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre up to the top of the Cell then Rollins and Ziggler fell off the side through announce tables.
Brock Lesnar then arrived to break down the Cell door and use it as a ramp to enter the ring and destroy both men, causing a no contest as Reigns and Strowman could not get back to their feet.
Analysis: The last ten minutes of this match was not a match. It was a cop out. It was an angle. Reigns vs. Strowman has always been great, and the actual wrestling portion here was again great. It's just that there was another purpose here, protect everyone and satisfy no one.
This ended up becoming a giant full-on attempt to glorify The Beast Incarnate, and it was stupid. Fans hated it. I hope the talent hated it. Who decided it was the right decision to end a match with the two competitors lying on the mat for 10 minutes then giving everyone no definitive result in the most brutal structure in WWE?
Becky Lynch Should Rule SmackDown, But She Won't
Overview: Becky Lynch outgrappled Charlotte Flair early in this match but slowly the personal side of this contest boiled over. The Irish Lass Kicker began throwing vicious punches, and The Queen reciprocated. Lynch managed to pull a fast one though and reverse the weight on a Spear and pin Charlotte for three to take the championship.
Analysis: I've been a fan of Lynch since she really found her stride early in her main roster run, and she has never been better than right now. She plays her new character almost too well. She's the cool heel that's just too cool to hate. She's hilarious and real, and it makes Charlotte's less genuine persona even worse.
The two had a quality match this week, and they will likely trump it in their follow up. That said, I just know Lynch's win won't stick. It's a shame because she should go all the way to WrestleMania with this new attitude and the championship, but this feels like a temporary quality moment.
The Hardy Boyz Should Both Stop Wrestling, But It's Never Happening
Overview: Matt Hardy unofficially but most likely retired on Twitter over the weekend. Jeff Hardy then fought Randy Orton in a vicious Cell match with The Daredevil going for a swinging splash off the Cell ceiling through a table that left him completely incapacitated for an easy three count.
Analysis: Supposedly, the bump Jeff took left him spitting up blood backstage. It was a stupid finish that didn't even look good, and the damage Jeff took in the admittedly good match was uncomfortable to watch. He and Matt have just destroyed their bodies too much at this point.
Let them rest and ignore them when they want back in in a few months.
Conclusion
Take away the main event, and this was a show for the ages by WWE. The match quality was absolutely top notch throughout, only slipping a bit down the stretch. The first five matches may have been the strongest quality of back-to-back matches WWE has seen in years. Even NXT TakeOver is rarely that consistent.
From the tag team championship banger to Lynch vs. Charlotte to Styles vs. Joe, this was a night where the talent were allowed to just go not even hampered by poor booking. It was a ton of fun to watch, and it is a shame that all of it ended on such a sour note that was completely unnecessary.
The closing ten minutes may be one of the worst decision WWE has made all year, and they had Asuka lose a championship match to a distraction from James Ellsworth in a shark cage.
Overview: Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman fought passionately and viciously inside Hell in a Cell until both men struggled to rise. Chaos then ensued as Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose fought Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre up to the top of the Cell then Rollins and Ziggler fell off the side through announce tables.
Brock Lesnar then arrived to break down the Cell door and use it as a ramp to enter the ring and destroy both men, causing a no contest as Reigns and Strowman could not get back to their feet.
Analysis: The last ten minutes of this match was not a match. It was a cop out. It was an angle. Reigns vs. Strowman has always been great, and the actual wrestling portion here was again great. It's just that there was another purpose here, protect everyone and satisfy no one.
This ended up becoming a giant full-on attempt to glorify The Beast Incarnate, and it was stupid. Fans hated it. I hope the talent hated it. Who decided it was the right decision to end a match with the two competitors lying on the mat for 10 minutes then giving everyone no definitive result in the most brutal structure in WWE?
Becky Lynch Should Rule SmackDown, But She Won't
Overview: Becky Lynch outgrappled Charlotte Flair early in this match but slowly the personal side of this contest boiled over. The Irish Lass Kicker began throwing vicious punches, and The Queen reciprocated. Lynch managed to pull a fast one though and reverse the weight on a Spear and pin Charlotte for three to take the championship.
Analysis: I've been a fan of Lynch since she really found her stride early in her main roster run, and she has never been better than right now. She plays her new character almost too well. She's the cool heel that's just too cool to hate. She's hilarious and real, and it makes Charlotte's less genuine persona even worse.
The two had a quality match this week, and they will likely trump it in their follow up. That said, I just know Lynch's win won't stick. It's a shame because she should go all the way to WrestleMania with this new attitude and the championship, but this feels like a temporary quality moment.
The Hardy Boyz Should Both Stop Wrestling, But It's Never Happening
Overview: Matt Hardy unofficially but most likely retired on Twitter over the weekend. Jeff Hardy then fought Randy Orton in a vicious Cell match with The Daredevil going for a swinging splash off the Cell ceiling through a table that left him completely incapacitated for an easy three count.
Analysis: Supposedly, the bump Jeff took left him spitting up blood backstage. It was a stupid finish that didn't even look good, and the damage Jeff took in the admittedly good match was uncomfortable to watch. He and Matt have just destroyed their bodies too much at this point.
Let them rest and ignore them when they want back in in a few months.
Conclusion
Take away the main event, and this was a show for the ages by WWE. The match quality was absolutely top notch throughout, only slipping a bit down the stretch. The first five matches may have been the strongest quality of back-to-back matches WWE has seen in years. Even NXT TakeOver is rarely that consistent.
From the tag team championship banger to Lynch vs. Charlotte to Styles vs. Joe, this was a night where the talent were allowed to just go not even hampered by poor booking. It was a ton of fun to watch, and it is a shame that all of it ended on such a sour note that was completely unnecessary.
The closing ten minutes may be one of the worst decision WWE has made all year, and they had Asuka lose a championship match to a distraction from James Ellsworth in a shark cage.
Grade: A-
This looks like some weird sex thing, and I think Bryan is into it.
Monday Night Raw September 17, 2018
The Shield Is The Best and Worst Thing Going on Raw
Overview: Ambrose fought McIntyre one on one, injuring the monster heel's leg but still falling victim to The Claymore. With both injured, Rollins successfully retain his Intercontinental Championship against Ziggler.
Reigns battled through his own injuries against Baron Corbin to retain his Universal Championship despite the GM restarting the contest as no disqualification, but it was only thanks to multiple interferences from Strowman and his war dogs.
Analysis: This night went steadily downhill, starting one a high thanks to a quality TV match between Ambrose and McIntyre before ending in another unnecessary mess of interfering stars. Individually, The Shield are just about the best Raw has, but together the trio seems to be pulling out Raw's worst storytelling impulses.
WWE is Already Forgetting How to Book Ronda Rousey
Overview: After surviving a rib injury to take down Alexa Bliss and retain the Raw Women's Championship at HIAC, Ronda Rousey felt so good that she wanted to declare an open challenge.
The Riott Squad answered, dragging out Natalya, but, instead of taking the title match, they chose to attack The Baddest Woman on the Planet. The Bella Twins quickly arrived to even the odds and sent all three packing.
Analysis: Rousey looked like a dominant force up to her title victory, but it is clear WWE is already losing focus because she can't be Brock Lesnar and only show up a few times a year. Repeatedly now, she is being beat down and made to look weak by heels for no reason other than to prolong uninspired angles.
I have no problem with Rousey being made to look vulnerable against major rivals, but these aren't major rivals. No one is being built as a challenge. The booking just comes off as generic face overcomes heel antics by being tough, a story that is unnecessary for a unique talent like Rousey.
Conclusion
What happened to Raw? It looked like the brand might have a rhythm reestablished with its new champions, but everything went wrong when The Shield reformed. Now it's all shoddy angles and uninspired wrestling, and this was only a fine show because there was enough good matches to make up for the lackluster storytelling.
Overview: Ambrose fought McIntyre one on one, injuring the monster heel's leg but still falling victim to The Claymore. With both injured, Rollins successfully retain his Intercontinental Championship against Ziggler.
Reigns battled through his own injuries against Baron Corbin to retain his Universal Championship despite the GM restarting the contest as no disqualification, but it was only thanks to multiple interferences from Strowman and his war dogs.
Analysis: This night went steadily downhill, starting one a high thanks to a quality TV match between Ambrose and McIntyre before ending in another unnecessary mess of interfering stars. Individually, The Shield are just about the best Raw has, but together the trio seems to be pulling out Raw's worst storytelling impulses.
WWE is Already Forgetting How to Book Ronda Rousey
Overview: After surviving a rib injury to take down Alexa Bliss and retain the Raw Women's Championship at HIAC, Ronda Rousey felt so good that she wanted to declare an open challenge.
The Riott Squad answered, dragging out Natalya, but, instead of taking the title match, they chose to attack The Baddest Woman on the Planet. The Bella Twins quickly arrived to even the odds and sent all three packing.
Analysis: Rousey looked like a dominant force up to her title victory, but it is clear WWE is already losing focus because she can't be Brock Lesnar and only show up a few times a year. Repeatedly now, she is being beat down and made to look weak by heels for no reason other than to prolong uninspired angles.
I have no problem with Rousey being made to look vulnerable against major rivals, but these aren't major rivals. No one is being built as a challenge. The booking just comes off as generic face overcomes heel antics by being tough, a story that is unnecessary for a unique talent like Rousey.
Conclusion
What happened to Raw? It looked like the brand might have a rhythm reestablished with its new champions, but everything went wrong when The Shield reformed. Now it's all shoddy angles and uninspired wrestling, and this was only a fine show because there was enough good matches to make up for the lackluster storytelling.
Grade: C-
SmackDown Live September 18, 2018
Aiden English's Heel Turn is a Tragedy Because He Won't Last 2 Months Alone
Overview: After Rusev Day failed to defeat The New Day at HIAC, Rusev blamed Aiden English and refused to let him come out for Rusev's United States Championship match. English freaked out and arrogantly declared he was the reason Rusev Day had ever become popular with Lana hearing him.
Lana never got a chance to tell Rusev, who changed his mind and let English sing him to the ring. Thanks to a distraction from The Drama King, Shinsuke Nakamura retained with a roll up. The Artiste then attacked The Bulgarian Brute with a microphone.
Analysis: This was inevitable move, but I hate it. The story is strong, some of the most compelling long-term storytelling WWE has put on in a while. The problem is simple: this all ends with English returning to doing nothing while Rusev loses his more interesting manager.
Get Maryse and Brie Bella Far Away from Daniel Bryan and The Miz Please
Overview: Maryse stole a victory in the mixed tag match at HIAC thaks to a roll up. On SmackDown, she announced she was stepping away from in-ring action for a while to take care of her daughter. After some insults, Daniel Bryan came out and almost injured Maryse, realizing the heels were pulling a farce and clotheslining The Miz.
Analysis: Maryse and Brie feel like relics of a forgotten age in WWE. They are charismatic, but they cannot match up to the current in-ring product. Moreover, they seem to just take the air out of Bryan and Miz. Their involvement has drain life from SmackDown's most interesting angle.
Conclusion
Short and sweet, this was SmackDown at its finest. The wrestling throughout was top notch. The angles were all well worth the time they got. It was the blue brand asserting its dominance, and I have no idea why this show is so much better every week than Raw.
Overview: After Rusev Day failed to defeat The New Day at HIAC, Rusev blamed Aiden English and refused to let him come out for Rusev's United States Championship match. English freaked out and arrogantly declared he was the reason Rusev Day had ever become popular with Lana hearing him.
Lana never got a chance to tell Rusev, who changed his mind and let English sing him to the ring. Thanks to a distraction from The Drama King, Shinsuke Nakamura retained with a roll up. The Artiste then attacked The Bulgarian Brute with a microphone.
Analysis: This was inevitable move, but I hate it. The story is strong, some of the most compelling long-term storytelling WWE has put on in a while. The problem is simple: this all ends with English returning to doing nothing while Rusev loses his more interesting manager.
Get Maryse and Brie Bella Far Away from Daniel Bryan and The Miz Please
Overview: Maryse stole a victory in the mixed tag match at HIAC thaks to a roll up. On SmackDown, she announced she was stepping away from in-ring action for a while to take care of her daughter. After some insults, Daniel Bryan came out and almost injured Maryse, realizing the heels were pulling a farce and clotheslining The Miz.
Analysis: Maryse and Brie feel like relics of a forgotten age in WWE. They are charismatic, but they cannot match up to the current in-ring product. Moreover, they seem to just take the air out of Bryan and Miz. Their involvement has drain life from SmackDown's most interesting angle.
Conclusion
Short and sweet, this was SmackDown at its finest. The wrestling throughout was top notch. The angles were all well worth the time they got. It was the blue brand asserting its dominance, and I have no idea why this show is so much better every week than Raw.
Grade: A
All Drew Gulak wanted to do was make this a better brand. Was that so wrong?
205 Live September 19, 2018
Drew Gulak's Run Should Have Ended in Championship Gold
Overview: After the referee threw both Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick out for their interference, Cedric Alexander slowly fought his way back into this match. He barely survived the Gu-Lock and hit the Lumbar Check for the win to retain his title.
Analysis: It was inevitable Gulak would lose this rematch. Alexander already has an opponent for Super Show-Down, and Gulak vs. Buddy Murphy would not sell. Still, this was such a waste of a fantastic momentum building story. I said it when he first won the title, but the heel had too much behind him to not take the gold.
This is not an indictment of Alexander as a champion. He continues to put on great matches including this one with Gulak (far better than their SummerSlam Kickoff), but you can't make an unstoppable heel with that much momentum and then waste it on a successful title defense.
Overview: After the referee threw both Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick out for their interference, Cedric Alexander slowly fought his way back into this match. He barely survived the Gu-Lock and hit the Lumbar Check for the win to retain his title.
Analysis: It was inevitable Gulak would lose this rematch. Alexander already has an opponent for Super Show-Down, and Gulak vs. Buddy Murphy would not sell. Still, this was such a waste of a fantastic momentum building story. I said it when he first won the title, but the heel had too much behind him to not take the gold.
This is not an indictment of Alexander as a champion. He continues to put on great matches including this one with Gulak (far better than their SummerSlam Kickoff), but you can't make an unstoppable heel with that much momentum and then waste it on a successful title defense.
NXT September 19, 2018
Ricochet vs. Pete Dunne Is Everything NXT Needs Right Now (Rating: 9.25/10)
Overview: In a champion vs. champion match with both the North American and United Kingdom Championship on the line,Ricochet and Pete Dunne went all out to defend their gold and capture more. However, as the two seemed to be at a stalemate, Undisputed Era stormed the ring and caused a no contest.
Analysis: I can only talk about so many matches on this article before it goes too long, but I'm going to devote this section to praising a fourth match from this week. Unsurprisingly, Ricochet vs. Pete Dunne was absolutely phenomenal. The two are among the best in the business.
It was surprising just how great their chemistry was especially playing the role of two faces competing for pride and top billing. This was not about Dunne grinding down Ricochet and playing the faux heel. The two just went off on each other in an incredible sequence of explosive moves.
Overview: In a champion vs. champion match with both the North American and United Kingdom Championship on the line,Ricochet and Pete Dunne went all out to defend their gold and capture more. However, as the two seemed to be at a stalemate, Undisputed Era stormed the ring and caused a no contest.
Analysis: I can only talk about so many matches on this article before it goes too long, but I'm going to devote this section to praising a fourth match from this week. Unsurprisingly, Ricochet vs. Pete Dunne was absolutely phenomenal. The two are among the best in the business.
It was surprising just how great their chemistry was especially playing the role of two faces competing for pride and top billing. This was not about Dunne grinding down Ricochet and playing the faux heel. The two just went off on each other in an incredible sequence of explosive moves.
Mae Young Classic Week 3
The Talent in This Tournament Feels Underutilized in Round One
Overview: Kaitlyn won in dominant fashion with a Spear to Kavita Devi. Toni Storm took out Jinny with the Storm Zero. Xia Li caught Karen Q with a flying X kick to advance. Finally, Mia Yim and Allysin Kay went to war with Yim barely escaping with the victory thanks to the Soul Food.
Analysis: This was the most interesting week to date with a lot of big names in these matches, but it continues to feel like the stacked field is being cut too quickly. Seen as a potential sleeper, Jinny did not last too long against an obvious favorite in Storm, who should have been given more time and spotlight.
Kay is the second Impact Wrestling alum to go down in round one though at least she got to have the longest match of the tournament so far. While I am a big fan of Yim, it is odd how many of the performers who were in the tournament last year are advancing again. It's making the second round look a lot like last year.
Overview: Kaitlyn won in dominant fashion with a Spear to Kavita Devi. Toni Storm took out Jinny with the Storm Zero. Xia Li caught Karen Q with a flying X kick to advance. Finally, Mia Yim and Allysin Kay went to war with Yim barely escaping with the victory thanks to the Soul Food.
Analysis: This was the most interesting week to date with a lot of big names in these matches, but it continues to feel like the stacked field is being cut too quickly. Seen as a potential sleeper, Jinny did not last too long against an obvious favorite in Storm, who should have been given more time and spotlight.
Kay is the second Impact Wrestling alum to go down in round one though at least she got to have the longest match of the tournament so far. While I am a big fan of Yim, it is odd how many of the performers who were in the tournament last year are advancing again. It's making the second round look a lot like last year.
Mixed Match Challenge Week 1
Everyone is Better on Mixed Match Challenge Than the Main Roster
Overview: Natalya and Kevin Owens could not match the surprising cohesion of Braun Strowman and Ember Moon with Moon hitting The Eclipse off Strowman's shoulders to win. Styles and Charlotte looked lethal in week one with The Queen making Naomi tap to the Figure-Eight after Jey Uso also took a Figure-Four from Charlotte.
Analysis: This is a slight exaggeration but only slight. Mixed Match Challenge will not produce all-star matches, but it does have something that no other WWE program has: fun. The wrestlers just let loose, and it's so much more interesting especially watching performers who come off as wooden and stale.
Look at how Natalya came off working with Kevin Owens and against Ember Moon. She was so much more likable here than in her work as Rousey's best buddy. I don't know that I will cover the MMC every week (mainly because it is fairly bare bones for real stories), but it should be watched all the same because it's delightful.
Overview: Natalya and Kevin Owens could not match the surprising cohesion of Braun Strowman and Ember Moon with Moon hitting The Eclipse off Strowman's shoulders to win. Styles and Charlotte looked lethal in week one with The Queen making Naomi tap to the Figure-Eight after Jey Uso also took a Figure-Four from Charlotte.
Analysis: This is a slight exaggeration but only slight. Mixed Match Challenge will not produce all-star matches, but it does have something that no other WWE program has: fun. The wrestlers just let loose, and it's so much more interesting especially watching performers who come off as wooden and stale.
Look at how Natalya came off working with Kevin Owens and against Ember Moon. She was so much more likable here than in her work as Rousey's best buddy. I don't know that I will cover the MMC every week (mainly because it is fairly bare bones for real stories), but it should be watched all the same because it's delightful.
Match of the Week
Raw Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre vs. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins (Rating: 9.75/10)
This might have been the best overall match from WWE's main roster all year, standing tall with some sensational work in NXT and 205 Live as well. These teams went off for near 25-minute banger that everything else on a really good night of wrestling look lesser in comparison.
It has been clear for a while how good Ziggler and McIntyre are as a team with several great matches on Raw, but this was on another level. With no commercial breaks and full time to deliver, they were absolutely electric working off Rollins in his best year and a motivated Ambrose.
Honorable Mention: WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (Rating: 9/10)
Once again, Styles and Joe went all out in a brutal bloody affair that only let me down by not telling much of the story. Not only did the two not continue the storytelling from before HIAC, they didn't replace it with anything as the veterans just went off in a plain but electric wrestling match.
Both Styles vs. Joe matches have been great for different reasons, and I expect their third and final encounter will be the match of the year contender of the lot. This here was a showcase of how great both men are, showing a chemistry of a higher level than most wrestlers ever find.
Honorable Mention: AJ Styles vs. Andrade Cien Almas, SmackDown September 18, 2018 (Rating: 9/10)
I always knew that Almas and Styles could have a good match, but I didn't expect it would come this soon. El Idolo looked like a star from bell to bell here, pushing The Phenomenal One to work like he was 10 years younger. This was actually a better athletic showcase from Styles than on Sunday.
Almas pushed him again and again in a match that never stopped. TV commercials broke up some of the flow, but I was there for every second of this. It was proof that Cien can translate to the main roster unlike many of his NXT peers.
This might have been the best overall match from WWE's main roster all year, standing tall with some sensational work in NXT and 205 Live as well. These teams went off for near 25-minute banger that everything else on a really good night of wrestling look lesser in comparison.
It has been clear for a while how good Ziggler and McIntyre are as a team with several great matches on Raw, but this was on another level. With no commercial breaks and full time to deliver, they were absolutely electric working off Rollins in his best year and a motivated Ambrose.
Honorable Mention: WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (Rating: 9/10)
Once again, Styles and Joe went all out in a brutal bloody affair that only let me down by not telling much of the story. Not only did the two not continue the storytelling from before HIAC, they didn't replace it with anything as the veterans just went off in a plain but electric wrestling match.
Both Styles vs. Joe matches have been great for different reasons, and I expect their third and final encounter will be the match of the year contender of the lot. This here was a showcase of how great both men are, showing a chemistry of a higher level than most wrestlers ever find.
Honorable Mention: AJ Styles vs. Andrade Cien Almas, SmackDown September 18, 2018 (Rating: 9/10)
I always knew that Almas and Styles could have a good match, but I didn't expect it would come this soon. El Idolo looked like a star from bell to bell here, pushing The Phenomenal One to work like he was 10 years younger. This was actually a better athletic showcase from Styles than on Sunday.
Almas pushed him again and again in a match that never stopped. TV commercials broke up some of the flow, but I was there for every second of this. It was proof that Cien can translate to the main roster unlike many of his NXT peers.
