BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
Hell in a Cell used to be a special thing. I remember watching Undertaker and Shawn Michaels go at it in the first one, I remember Mick Foley being thrown off the top of the cell, and I remember all of those really cool moments. Then as the WWE went more in a “PG” direction, the “anything can happen” vibe went out the door. I noticed we just weren’t going to see Triple H light a barbed wire wrapped 2x4 on fire anymore. I’m not a blood lusting fan, but if a feud is on the level of a “Hell in a Cell” match then I don’t want the idea in the back of my head that if someone bleeds they’ll have to patch it up, shots the head of off limits despite them wanting to “kill each other”, and just the idea that things will not get THAT crazy. The last Hell in a Cell at this point was Triple H and Undertaker. I don’t think they even used the cell. It was a good match, but the plot device of a big dangerous cage was useless. Never the less, I have no reason to hold on to any negative anticipation. Why not go into it and hope for the best? I just fear that getting your hopes up as a WWE viewer is a lost cause.
I never enjoy seeing Sheamus vs. Big Show. They pretend it never happened before, but it’s still stale. Sheamus has grown into a good wrestler and has put on some good matches, but he’s just not someone I want to see as the (Third) World Champion. I say that with all due respect to third world countries, but Smackdown is not on the same level as RAW. The champion of the show is a “Third World” Champion. Lame joke? Sure. This said, I think Big Show wins and is promptly then defeated by Dolph Ziggler. Then I’m sure we’ll get some 3-ways.
I think there is too much creative stuff being put into the weird dynamic of “Team Hell No” for them to stick with it for too long. If they get a group shirt and debut it at the PPV then they’ll win for sure and we’ll get more of them. “Team Rhodes Scholars” is a cool team and I think they’ve actually built an interesting Tag Team Title match here. The tournament was cool despite the week delay for the Finals. I’m going with Team Hell No on this one. Hopefully this storyline continues for at least a month or so before they change it up or drop it. I look forward to see Daniel Bryan and Damien Sandow trade moves and wrestling each other.
Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio will probably end up being the sleeper on this card. It doesn’t seem like anyone cares about this storyline at all. Orton and Del Rio are both really solid when they’re working with someone good. While the “heat” isn’t quite there, this could be a nice feud to build on. It just needs some good plot points and something to make it stand out. I’m confident if they get a good story they’ll run with it. For a feud to grow the typical deal is that the bad guy wins. For that reason only I’m going with Alberto Del Rio. On the flipside of this, The Miz and Kofi Kingston have had a fun storyline and feud over the past two weeks. They had a few cool interview segments, the match where Kofi knocked his face off, the really cool set up and match on Main Event, and now the big PPV match. It’s awesome to see the IC Title the focal point of a good heated rivalry. I want Kofi to be elevated, but I can see The Miz take his belt back. They can go back and forth and then have the big blow off at Survivor Series with a ladder match! Wishful thinking, probably.
Then we have the Main Event “Hell in The Cell” Match. Why would anyone want to see Ryback in a main event match against CM Punk? What has Ryback done since debuting to merit a big match like this? I’m all for new people getting a shot at the main event, but how about someone who worked at least a little up the ladder, who has shown they can wrestle a full length match, or at least someone who is not a flash in the pan. It’s not the exact same, but it would be like if they threw Brodus Clay into the World Title picture a few months into his start. If Ryback wins then I don’t think I’ll watch much wrestling anymore. It just goes against my tastes and better judgment. If they insult my intelligence for so long and I keep watching then it’s really me that’s insulting myself. There is going to be some kind of shenanigans during this. Maybe Brock will help? Someone new to add to Heyman’s stable? By hook or crook, CM Punkretains his belt and my wrestling insomnia continues…
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