Review for WWE Hell in a Cell 2018

Where’s this WWE been for so long?

I have to admit that this is one of the few PPVs that I have looked forward to revisiting. It really was a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed so much of the event that I was so very surprised. Hell in a Cell is usually one that is handicapped by the Cell, but this year it felt like the Cell helped (especially in the main event). I was surprised that they did not include the Mick Foley special with him discussing the 20th Anniversary of his infamous match against The Undertaker at King of the Ring 1998, but it was great to see him as Special Guest Referee.

The first Cell match between Jeff hardy and Randy Orton was a great match, but I was a little unsure as to why it was taking place. That being said, it was full of amazing moments from the two and a great way to start the PPV. The SmackDown Women’s Championship Match between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch was good. It did feel a little bit ‘too little too late’ and that they should have allowed Lynch to have won the previous month, but this was still a great match between the two and I love the evolution of the Becky Lynch character.

RAW Tag Team Championship Match between Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose was possibly one of the best tag matches I have seen in a while and the two teams work really well together. I’m not sure about the storyline going in with the two factions, but in the ring I have no arguments.

The WWE Championship Match AJ Styles and Samoa Joe really should have been in a Cell, but I did enjoy this match. The ending was a little odd, but I have always liked the way that they do this double decision (or is it) and I love the storyline that has been going into this feud and it is a definite winner of Feud of the Year.

The Mixed Tag Team Match between Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella and The Miz & Maryse could have been good and I am enjoying the classic Heel tactics of Miz and Maryse. However, this match felt like it didn’t work as much as it should have done. RAW Women’s Championship Match between Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss also was a little odd. I love Rousey and I keep saying she needs to start having UFC-Style explosive matches that end in minutes, but I understand them trying to build her as someone who can put on a lengthy match. This was good, but nothing special.

Finally, we have the Hell in a Cell match for the Universal Championship between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman. As I say, I liked the aspect of Mick Foley being the referee and him making mistakes was a nice element. The match was full of insane moments, most of these were taken up by Rollins/Ambrose trying to take out Ziggler/McIntyre. The ending with Brock Lesnar (no point trying not to spoil it as it is on the cover anyway) was amazing and I actually expected him to lay Strowman on top of Reigns, but him taking out both was a great moment.

One of the benefits of these longer PPVs is that by making it two disks as forced WWE to include more extras to justify it. Included are the Kickoff Match which was the Smackdown Tag Team Championship between New Day and Rusev Day. This was a good match, but the two seemed to have a better entrance than the actual match, though it was fine and I do hope the teased breakup of Rusev Day is not the case.

Rusev Day’s match against The Bar to qualify from Smackdown is included which was a pretty good match. Shame the match between Brie Bella and Maryse from Raw wasn’t as it just felt like an excuse to showcase how amazing they both looked without the actual match meaning much.

There is a fantastic calm and quiet promo from AJ Styles calling out Samoa Joe, a great call out from Braun Strowman which leads to a brawl with Reigns. Highlight though is Mick Foley interrupting the always amazing Elias (How is he not pushed more?) announcing he will be the referee at Hell in a Cell. All of these were great at building up their matches.

Hell in a Cell was an amazing PPV and one of the few in 2018 that I would definitely recommend revisiting. Even the matches that didn’t work as well (Rousey/Bliss or Mixed Tag) where still miles better than most of the stuff that has been presented recently. If you wanted to watch some great wrestling with some great moments then this is definitely a PPV that will not be hell to watch.