Based on the in-ring action alone, Raw’s first brand-exclusive PPV Clash of Champions was a success.
The wrestlers performed to the best of their abilities, but it was ultimately the ill-fated booking decisions from WWE that let the fans down. With many baffling booking decisions (especially Cesaro and Sheamus finishing their Best of Seven Series with a draw), fans were left unsatisfied with the results of certain bouts.
As Hell in a Cell is almost upon us this Sunday, let’s hope Raw have learnt from their past booking mistakes. Sure, the match quality is sure to be spectacular this Sunday, but it must coincide with smart decisions. For Sunday’s show to be considered a success, here are 7 Booking decisions that should be taken at WWE Hell in a Cell
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#7 The three Hell in a Cell matches should be spread out on the card
Instead of booking one or even two Hell in a Cell bouts for this year’s PPV, WWE decided to go all out and book three Hell in a Cell matches for the Universal, Women’s and United States Championship rivalries respectively.
Whether it is overkill is yet to be seen, but a smart decision to avoid the overkill of the stipulation would be to spread each match throughout the show.
Also read: WWE Hell in a Cell: 7 things we must see at the PPV
Placing the three Hell in a Cell matches as the opening, middle and closing bouts of the night, with regular matchups placed in-between, would keep fans’ attention more than back-to-back HIAC bouts would.
Although booking three Hell in a Cell matches was always going to lead to overkill for the HIAC stipulation, the smartest decision WWE could make would be to spread the matches throughout the card, as it is all that can be done at this point.
#6 Bayley beats Dana Brooke
With the short build and somewhat lacklustre feel to this undercard bout, a definite Bayley win over Dana Brooke is a necessity to put her back on track. Bayley has been floundering ever since Clash of Champions, and despite the initial potential of a strong rivalry with Brooke, the feud has been lacklustre since.
With botched finishes and arm wrestling contests, this short but poor rivalry between Bayley and Brooke must come to an end at Hell in a Cell, with Bayley emerging victorious.
Although it may seem logical in WWE’s mind to continue the rivalry for the time being by having Brooke cheat her way to victory on Sunday, it could lead to a severe lack of momentum for the already struggling Bayley.
WWE usually plan ahead of time and may look to continue the Brooke-Bayley feud as it only just got started, but a quick end to the rivalry with a Bayley victory on Sunday should be the final decision come Hell in a Cell and would make it that much better.
#5 Cesaro and Sheamus’ issues lead to a loss
Considering how close the New Day are to breaking Demolitions record 478-day Tag Title reign, it would be absurd to suggest that Cesaro and Sheamus will capture the titles this Sunday. But, rather than losing clean, the dysfunctional duo’s continual issues should be the deciding factor for the loss.
Although they were able to beat the New Day on Raw, putting their issues behind them, Hell in a Cell should be different.
Instead of a rushed climax to the mismatched tag partners story that WWE are obviously telling, Cesaro and Sheamus’ problems should continue for months, finally peaking with a momentous tag title win that sees the two men finally co-exist.
Whether the plan is to turn Sheamus face or Cesaro heel, the duo should continue to argue about their forced partnership for the time being.
A clean loss or even a win on Sunday would be detrimental to the story WWE is trying to tell with the pairing, so a loss directly caused by the tensions between the two would be the smartest booking decision, and it would arguably keep fans happy as the New Day would retain while Cesaro and Sheamus’ long-term story continues.
#4 Rusev looks strong in defeat
This may not be the case in every fan’s eyes, but the Rusev vs Roman Reigns match is debatably the least anticipated Hell in a Cell bout for Sunday. The build has been poor for this rivalry despite WWE’s efforts, as Rusev appears to be the face somehow despite being the foreign heel.
Reigns, on the other hand, has been portrayed as a bully, disrespecting Rusev’s family, wife and dignity. Nonetheless, despite the weak build, the bout should still be a physical battle, but unfortunately, the result is all too obvious. The ‘babyface’ Reigns will defeat Rusev, remaining United States Champion.
Knowing WWE’s tendencies to make Reigns look strong at the expense of others, there is a big possibility Rusev may be left completely buried at the hands of the Roman Empire.
This would be incredibly detrimental to the strong work WWE have been doing with Rusev as of recent months, and it would once again leave The Bulgarian Brute in no man’s land as was the case after John Cena squashed him in mid-2015.
Instead of Reigns emerging victorious in very convincing fashion, Rusev should somehow be protected in the loss. Whether he kicks out of a Spear or survives one hell of a fight, Rusev must look strong in defeat on Sunday if he is to remain a relevant superstar in the months after Hell in a Cell.
#3 Sasha Banks retains the Women’s Championship
After delivering time and time again with stellar matches in recent months, Sasha Banks and Charlotte have been granted the opportunity to make history, as they will be the first women competitors to ever step foot inside Hell in a Cell.
Whether they main event the PPV or not is yet to be seen, but no matter what it is almost guaranteed to be a splendid bout. Although Banks retaining is obvious in many fans’ eyes, anything can happen in WWE, and they have been known to book a title change to increase the quality of a bout, even if it is the wrong decision.
In addition to this, Charlotte is currently undefeated in singles matchups on PPV, and WWE may be hesitant to end this streak at a smaller stage PPV, rather than one of the big four. Although it would be a shock to see Charlotte emerge victorious, it would be the absolute wrong booking choice.
The Women’s Championship has been switched between the two women too much as of late, with both Banks and Charlotte having reigns under two months long.
For the championship to gain the credibility it had around Charlotte’s waist during her original 113-day reign, Banks must retain on Sunday and go on to have a lengthy title reign, possibly all the way up to Wrestlemania 33. From there, she could drop the championship to a worthy challenger (hopefully Bayley).
Overall, a Banks win on Sunday to retain the Women’s Championship is something we must see in the first Women’s Hell in a Cell bout.
#2 Owens and Rollins main event the show
Although it would be an even bigger statement for women’s wrestling if Banks and Charlotte were to main event Hell in a Cell, it doesn’t feel right. Sure, their rivalry is hot, and it has been entertaining throughout, but it would feel a little forced if WWE booked the women to main event over the Universal title scene.
Only just main eventing Raw a couple of weeks ago, a women’s main event on PPV shouldn’t feel rushed and should be organically built up at a later date. So, why should Owens and Rollins main event? For starters, the Owens-Rollins bout has many more intriguing developments possible.
Will Rollins somehow win the Universal Title? Will Triple H screw him out of the title again? Will Chris Jericho turn on Kevin Owens? These aspects of the story are unfortunately missing from the Women’s match, and if any of those developments were to occur in the Universal Title bout, it would be a fitting way to close the show.
In addition to this, the Universal Championship’s prestige and importance has been lacking since its introduction.
Finn Balor’s injury, unfortunately did damage to its early development, and with only one PPV main event under its name, the Universal Title needs to be placed in the spotlight if it is to come anywhere close to the credibility of the WWE World Championship.
Overall, despite the temptation to place the Women’s Hell in a Cell bout as the closing bout, the Owens-Rollins Universal Title match deserves the main event slot.
#1 Kevin Owens remains Universal Champion
From the beginning of Kevin Owens’ Universal Title reign, he hasn’t been depicted as a strong champion. Only winning the title due to Triple H’s heavy interference, and then needing Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon to help him retain at Clash of Champions, the Prizefighter has appeared awfully weak.
Heading into his Hell in a Cell bout with Rollins, Owens is arguably the champion who needs a win the most on Sunday. Having a long reign and moving on to fresh challengers, Owens could be on top of Raw all the way until Wrestlemania 33. In Rollins’ case, a Universal Title win for him right now is not a necessity.
He is only early into his fresh babyface run, and a long-term quest against Triple H and Owens would be far better than a rushed title win on Sunday. Also, finally clinching the title at Wrestlemania 33 would be a much more satisfying story for ‘The Man’ than a title win at Hell in a Cell would be.
Whether Triple H helps Kevin Owens retain on Sunday or ‘the Prizefighter’ does it all on his own, a victorious Owens standing tall with the Universal Championship still in his possession must be the final scene to close the Hell in a Cell PPV.
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