Review for WWE Hell in a Cell 2012

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I HATE THEMED PPVS!

Hate them so much that even when I sat down watching this I had no intention enjoying it.

But... I did.

In fact this PPV had one of my Top Ten Matches of the Year with The Big Show against Sheamus. Granted this was one shining gem amidst all the awful, truly awful matches that I often wonder who is booking WWE and who are they booking it for?

Randy Orton against Alberto Del Rio was awful and obvious who was winning. Antonio Cesaro against Justin Gabriel for the US belt was so quick it could have easily been a match on Superstars, this also applies to the shocking Divas Triple Threat between Eve, Layla and Kaitlyn. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara vs The Prime Time Players was fine, but again just felt like a nothing match and the same could be said about Kofi Kingston against The Miz for the IC belt. This last match was good for them, but I've seen it so many times and certainly wasn't given the time it deserved.

Team Rhodes Scholars vs Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) was a fine tag match and I think this was more to do with the fact I actually wanted to see them. Both teams worked well and I just love the interaction between Bryan and Kane.

CM Punk vs Ryback was painful to the point that I actually wonder why they still put this as the main event. I love CM Punk, but even he cannot get a good match out of Ryback. Ryback is only good for Ultimate Warrior/Goldberg-style squashes and much like those two, anything beyond that it becomes painfully obvious how technically bankrupt he is in the ring.

The saving grace of this PPV was the awesome Big Show vs Sheamus match for the World title. This match was much better than it ever deserved to be. To be honest, it almost had a Steamboat/Savage at Wrestlemania 3 feel. By that, I don't mean it was technically brilliant. I just mean that they knew that the Punk/Ryback feud was selling the PPV and so they decided to steal the show from under them, much like Steamboat/Savage did to Hogan/Andre. This was a brutal match and one of the best uses of the Hell in a Cell match I have seen in a long time. It actually felt like a feud that would end in a Cell, not just a random match that it has become thanks to this stupid themed PPV.

Hell in a Cell 2012 simply does not have enough going for it to recommend. Despite having one of my Top Ten matches of the year it is still painful to watch anything else and only those who want the complete set of 2012 will buy it, or those who really want to see a great Hell in a Cell.