Hell In A Cell 2018 Graded

Photo credit to Muzammil Hussain via Flickr

WWE

Hell in a Cell 2018 Final Results and Grades

Regardless if the show was praised or hated, Hell in a Cell 2018 was memorable. It could easily be considered one of the best Hell in a Cell pay-per-views of all time.

(SmackDown Tag Team Championships) The New Day def. Rusev Day via pinfall to retain (Pre-Show)

Final Grade: C

All in all, it was an ok pre-show match. Aiden English tried to win for his team by using Rusev’s finish, The Accolade. But The New Day secured the victory with a Trouble in Paradise kick from Kofi Kingston to English.

Hell in a Cell: Randy Orton def. Jeff Hardy via pinfall

Final Grade: A

Randy Orton is the best villain on the main WWE roster today. If anyone ever needed proof, watch this match. This was as close to a spot-fest street fight as you could possibly get. Ladders, tables, chairs, Hardy’s belt, and even a screwdriver were used during this match.

The end came when Jeff Hardy missed a splash from the ceiling of Hell in a Cell. Hardy had managed to swing from the support beams inside the cage. Orton moved at the last moment, forcing Hardy to crash through a table.

(SmackDown Women’s Championship) Becky Lynch def. Charlotte Flair via pinfall to win the title

Final Grade: A

Arguably match of the night. It’s no longer any argument about whether or not Charlotte and Becky are the best women’s wrestlers in WWE. They simply are, and the skills shown in this match proved that fact. Their SummerSlam bout was amazing. But one on one, Lynch and Flair are the best in the ring.

At any given point in the contest, either of these women could’ve been declared the winner. Charlotte attempted the Figure 8 several times. Becky locked in the Dis-Arm-Her, but Charlotte kept breaking out. The finish came when Charlotte attempted a spear but Becky used her momentum against her and slammed her for the pin.

(RAW Tag Team Championships) Ziggler & McIntyre def. Ambrose & Rollins via pinfall to retain

Final Grade: A-

The Rollins and Ziggler feud continues; Only this time, they brought their friends along. Several over the top spots throughout. Ziggler and McIntyre are more than likely the best heel team in WWE right now; Their ability to anger the crowd with the simplest of moves goes to show how great they both are. On the flip side, no team is more over than The SHIELD; Their likability is unmatched by any other stable currently in WWE.

When Rollins went for his signature Superplex/Falcon Arrow combo, McIntyre hit the Claymore kick just before the Falcon Arrow. Ziggler pinned Rollins for the win.

(WWE Championship) AJ Styles def. Samoa Joe via pinfall to retain

Final Grade: B

Samoa Joe is technically the WWE champion right now. Due to the referee being out of position, he could not see Styles submitting to the Coquina Clutch. Other than that, this match closely resembled their SummerSlam encounter. Only this time there was a dodgy finish other than a disqualification.

Miz & Mrs def. Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella via pin

Final Grade: C

It hurts to say that this match was better than Miz and Bryan’s SummerSlam match. It was, but it brings me pain to say that.

This was a general, nothing special, mixed tag match that could’ve easily been a SmackDown Live main event. Bryan attempted a flying headbutt that made the crowd uncomfortably silent for a few moments. Brie and Bryan did tandem Yes Kicks. The ending, which was very surprising, saw Maryse botch a roll-up to pin Brie Bella. One can only assume this isn’t the end of Miz vs Bryan.

(RAW Women’s Championship) Ronda Rousey def. Alexa Bliss via submission to retain

Final Grade: B-

Aside from maybe her match with Nia Jax at Money in the Bank, this is probably Ronda’s best match so far. Alexa should be given credit for, not really carrying the match, but helping Ronda hide some of her weaknesses. Ronda is still somewhat new to professional wrestling, but it is very clear she is improving greatly.

Alexa Bliss is the best female heel on either roster. Her selling and portrayal as “the Goddess” really reflect on her skills as a wrestler. Ronda’s overall intensity made you believe she was here to annihilate poor Alexa. A spinning Samoan Drop and the ever infamous Armbar resulted in Ronda’s win.

Honestly, if Charlotte and Becky hadn’t wrestled on this card, this may have been match of the night.

(Universal Championship) Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman goes to no contest

Final Grade: F

The ending… What was that ending? Brock Lesnar showing up, tearing the door off Hell in a Cell, and beating down Reigns and Strowman was great. 10/10 would agree it was great. But that was it… Nothing else happened after that. Since Referee Foley was down (thanks to a can of mace from Paul Heyman) another referee came down to the ring and called off the match.

This match had all the things it needed to be considered a fantastic Hell in a Cell match. Tables, kendo sticks, wrestlers throwing each other into the cage, all the good insanity any WWE fan could ask for.

The rest of the SHIELD and McIntyre and Ziggler showed up towards the end. Rollins and Ziggler crashed through the announce table after falling from the cell wall. Ambrose and McIntyre had beaten each other to a pulp on the roof.

If it weren’t for the absurd finish, this match would’ve easily gotten an A. It didn’t matter who won; This match was going to be remembered as a great Hell in a Cell match. But the finish let everyone down.

Overall Hell in a Cell 2018 grade: B-

Ignoring the finish to Styles vs Joe and Reigns vs Strowman, there really wasn’t a bad match on the card. Every match stood out in their own way. Granted some of those matches stood out for worse reasons than others. But, overall, Hell in a Cell 2018 wasn’t that bad. It’s possibly the best Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

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Photo credit: Muzammil Hussain via Flickr