WWEStrikesBack!: Hell in a Cell

Showing posts with label Hell in a Cell. Show all posts

Monday, October 5, 2009

DX Wins the War of Hell; Kofi Still Champion

The final title defense was a Triple Threat Match for Kofi Kingston’s United States Championship. Now, Kofi has defended the title successfully in two Fatal Four-Ways, a Six Pack Challenge, and numerous single defenses. The man is possibly one of the luckiest title holders in the WWE thus far. But does Kofi really deserve to be champion for so long? Since being drafted to RAW, Kingston has become the Intercontinental Champion and World Tag Team Champion. However, the last time he had a feud was back in ECW against Shelton Benjamin. His opponents for the night, The Miz and Jack Swagger, have disregarded Kofi as an actual threat to their title match. Miz and Swagger have a better standing feud with one another that it’s sad that Kofi is stuck in the middle of this. And it’s understandable seeing as both are egotistical and believe they deserve the title without actually fighting for it. Carlito would actually be a good match for Kofi Kingston, seeing as both are suppose to be from the Caribbean. That was until Kofi changed the country where he’s billed from now – Ghana, West Africa. And you know what would be nice… if Kofi actually got angry for a change and spoke on the mic. But that’s just me. This match was disappointing because both Jack Swagger and The Miz were primed to win that title.

And the final match of the night was contested again inside Hell in a Cell. D-Generation X reformed to take on Legacy, who they successfully defeated at SummerSlam. But then they lost to them in a Submission’s Count Anywhere match at Breaking Point. With each side holding a victory over the other, this dispute had to be settled once and for all inside Hell’s Playground. DX, not only did they stop taking Legacy lightly, but they were intent on ending the match early by attacking them at the entrance ramp. The battle, for the most part, took place outside of the Cell, until Legacy trapped Michaels inside the cell alone. Triple H attempted to pry the cell door open with a steel chair, which ended up being taken and used against HBK. Legacy then went for the same double submission that forced Michaels to tap out last time. Usually, when the same finish is being applied in an identical situation, it usually means that lighting will NOT strike twice. Triple H arrived on the scene with a pair of bolt cutters to gain entryway inside Satan’s Structure and save his partner. The match ended with Sweet Chin Music against the jaw of Ted DiBiase. Some people complain that the victory should have gone to Legacy seeing as they are the future of the company, but it was experience that won the fight. Maybe next time Legacy won’t be so cocky after winning just one match.

Overall, the pay-per-view was decent. I cannot complain seeing 2 World Champions were crowned and those that I expected to win, did. However, the US Title match is still disappointing. It’s been said, a champion doesn’t define a wrestler, but the wrestler defines the title; except, Kofi has not defined that title.

This is the end of the 3 article series of the Hell in a Cell ppv results. Now let us look forward to WWE’s new ppv Bragging Rights, which will be taking the place of Cyber Sunday.

John Cena Screws Up; JeriShow Remain Unified; Truthfully, McIntyre Won

The following match was for the Unified Tag Team Titles: Chris Jericho and The Big Show vs. Batista and Rey Mysterio. This reunion is a little offsetting, seeing as Batista was brought over to SmackDown to be in the World Title picture, while Mysterio was just suspended for failing the wellness policy. It was a spur of the moment kind of deal to match these two up again in hopes to wrangle up some more ticket and ppv sales. It was quite irresponsible for WWE to place Mysterio in a title match, when he was just suspended. Also, Batista and Mysterio did not win any qualifying matches to contest for the titles, it was solely on the basis of Batista pinning Jericho and then beating Big Show via disqualification. With not much to base this feud on, Batista and Mysterio did what every opposing tag team has done so far, isolate Jericho and hope for the best; but in the end, it's Big Show who is the deciding factor. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that JeriShow have retained their titles time and time again... but it's always the same ending! Big Show clobbers someone with the KO Punch and the match is over. I'd like to see a Code Breaker or a Walls of Jericho win a match once in a while. You know... to shake things up! Now seeing as WWE is upset with CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler lost to John Morrison, it appears that the reunion may have been a one time deal as Batista and Mysterio may set off on their own paths in pursuit of single titles.

The second Hell in a Cell Match was for the WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Randy Orton. Now, it's one thing to open up the show with a World Title match, but to have the last World Title match thrown into the middle of the pay-per-view... what were they thinking? John Cena has been going on about how this was Orton's final chance at the WWE Title. Really? Cause Orton could just win another contender's match and instant title shot! But usually when the Champion says it’s the challenger’s final chance - you can usually put your money on the challenger. Randy Orton not only pinned, but he punted Cena's skull for the title win. Consider this as the match that never took place at No Mercy 2007. Randy Orton has only been in one Hell in a Cell match in his career - one more than Cena - but he lost to The Undertaker. But after last night's victory, he is now 1-1. Now, the WWE Creative staff were rattling their brains on how to make each hell in a cell unique, while still trying to keep to WWE’s PG environment. The theme of the ppv "Monster" by Skillet, was about Orton and what he would do to become Champion again even if it meant shedding some blood. However, things didn't go as planned as John Cena lost the blade mid-match. What is this blade you ask? Well, in wrestling, wrestlers hide a small blade in their wrist band or trunks to insert a small cut for the bleeding effect. Apparently, creative team got the ok to show blood on TV and it would’ve been a great effect if it wasn’t for Cena. Despite how things went down, it was still a brutal match that kept to the PG standards.

The Drew McIntyre and R-Truth match was added less than 24 hours to the pay-per-view. It is unsure whether this or the Divas Title defense was meant to fill the void of an ECW match, but it was rather pointless. Drew McIntyre connected his Double Underhook DDT for the quick victory. It was not so much a match as it was a replay of the segments seen on SmackDown. McIntyre does not have an impressive ring persona and hopes that changes soon.

Controversy Over CM Punk; John Morrison and Mickie James Retain

The Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has replaced No Mercy with the promise of instilling a Hell in a Cell match for each of its main events. The three matches advertised as Hell in a Cell matches were D-Generation X vs. Legacy, CM Punk vs. The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title, and John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Title.

But the night started off, much like No Mercy 2007, with a World Title match. I know! But when the chime of the bell rung and the ramp was filled with the mist and fog, it could only be a sign that the World Heavyweight title was underway.

The first match was The Undertaker challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Title inside the confines of Satan's Structure. A match that was assumed to take place last was bumped as the opening bout. Undertaker is usually rooted as the favorite in these type of matches, but after "losing" to CM Punk at Breaking Point, it would seem that WWE would allow CM Punk to avoid from being laid to Rest in Peace from the Phenom. But the match was short and simple, with CM Punk just failing to overcome the mere strength and power of the Deadman. And despite having Hell's Gate ban removed, it was The Tombstone Piledriver that won Undertaker his 7th World Title. It's been reported that due to Jeff Hardy's departure from the company, Undertaker had to come back sooner than expected, postponing much needed hip surgery, to fill in the void of the main event scene. It's also the reason why Batista was sent over to SmackDown, to one day hold the title again. But why give Taker the title? Well, CM Punk is under bad terms with the WWE company over an incident that occurred overseas in their European tour. According to Wayne Daly @OfficialXWS, it was an issue of how CM Punk was dressed and when questioned of his attire he replied, "What about John Cena?" WWE management took this as Punk believing he is better than Cena, and was reprimanded. Thus, not only did CM Punk lose the title, but the WHT match was bumped as the opening match.

The following match was John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. For those that don't remember, Dolph Ziggler won a #1 Contenders match over a month ago in a Triple Threat match on WWE Superstars. However, due to Rey Mysterio's failure with the Wellness Policy, Rey Mysterio was forced to drop the title. But instead of dropping the title to Ziggler, who was set to win the title at the Breaking Point ppv, the title was dropped to John Morrison instead, in what was one of the best matches in recent SmackDown history. The title match was scrapped from the Breaking Point ppv, in order to build the feud. Morrison has mostly had the upper hand when it came to making fun of Ziggler, or Mr. Ziggles, but on the Decade of SmackDown taping, Ziggler pinned Morrison with the Zig Zag, building him momentum for the match. What was an intense match of counters and close calls, eventually boiled down to John Morrison knocking down Ziggler for Starship Pain. Thus, John Morrison retained the Intercontinental Title in a hard fought match. Which was a lot better than the Ziggler-Mysterio title matches.

Then the Divas Title match between Mickie James the champion against Alicia Fox the challenger was no more than an I told you so. Fox was able to showcase some of her moves, a body scissors hold, a shoulder breaker, and an attempted scissors kick - but in the end Mickie James connected with the MickDDT. Ever since Alicia won the contender's Fatal Four-way, she has not wrestled to prove herself, instead Mickie fought each week. Sure Alicia could study her opponent all she wants, but if she is not up to par with her own ability then what's the use? Some people were upset with Alicia Fox losing, but honestly, she had no business playing with actual wrestlers.

Congrats to Undertaker for his 7th World Title Reign and for John Morrison and Mickie James on retaining their titles.