Hell In A Cell 2021 Review

Sunday, June 20th, 2021
Yuengling Center
Tampa, Florida

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Hell In A Cell Match For The SmackDown Women's Championship

Bayley vs. Bianca Belair

Bianca frustrates Bayley early and she grabs some chairs. Bayley grabs one and then knocks the other one out of the ring. Bianca uses her hair to wrestle it out of her hands and then they battle on the turnbuckles. Bianca goes for a superplex, but Bayley blocks it and slams her into the ring post. After bringing in some ring steps, Bayley ties Bianca's hair onto the bottom rope. Bianca is able to trip up Bayley and she lands into the steps and untie her hair. Bianca throws the stairs wildly and misses Bayley, but kicks her into the cage anyways. Bayley grabs a kendo stick and hits her in the midsection and then hits a sunset flip powerbomb into the cage. Bayley sets up some double kendo sticks in the ring and the cell. Naturally, Bayley is the one who goes through them. Bianca grabs a chair and uses it on the back, but Bayley then gets her feet up and smashes it into Bianca's face. Bayley uses the chair to work on the arm of Bianca. Bianca starts unleashing the fury and uses the cell to her advantage. A ladder now gets in on the action and Bayley gets the better of it. Bayley smashes Bianca between the ladder and then hits the Rose Plant. Bayley's injured knee slows her down from covering and Bianca is able to kick out at 2. Bianca throws Bayley into the turnbuckle and goes up top. Bayley moves out of the way, but Bianca rolls through. Bianca then splashes Bayley on the ladder. Bianca hits the KOD onto the open ladder and gets the victory. That was a great looking finish. It is no surprise, but both ladies really put in a good effort here. They kept up a good pace and we were treated to some really good action. This was a nice way to kick off the show. 

Match Rating: ***3/4

We get a really quick Bianca interview and then get a backstage shot of Lashley with his ladies. Now it's Alexa Bliss in the Playground. All filler, no killer. 

Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins

They start brawling after Rollins attacks Cesaro on his entrance. They start the match and Cesaro hits a big boot to Rollins on the apron, sending him into the guardrail. Cesaro stays on offense until Rollins rakes his eyes and then hits a DDT. Cesaro shows off his freakish strength and hits a vertical suplex. Cesaro gets flipped over the top rope and Rollins hits a knee off the apron. Back in the ring and Rollins hits a top rope knee to the face for a nearfall. Rollins goes back to the eye of Cesaro, but Cesaro fights back. Rollins gets a kick to the midsection in and goes for the Stomp. Cesaro counters that into a powerslam and a 2 count. Cesaro goes up top, but Rollins runs up the turnbuckles. Cesaro counters that and hits a crossbody, but Rollins rolls through for a 2 count. Rollins hits a big clubbing blow to the back of the head/neck and gets another close call. Both of these guys are really tremendous competitors. These two and Daniel Bryan all blew me away back in my ROH days. Rollins hits the Falcon Arrow and again a 2 count. Rollins misses with a kick, but then leaps for a reverse kick to the back of the head. That was smooth. It's time for the Cesaro Swing and then locks in the Sharpshooter. Cesaro swaps it over to the Crossface. Rollins rolls through for a pin attempt, so Cesaro switches back to the Sharpshooter. Rollins reaches for the ropes, so Cesaro grabs Rollins' arm and stomps on it. Rollins somehow is able to get him into a small package and this time it gets the victory. This was another really strong match on this show, which again is no surprise. Rollins had to get a victory eventually, so it makes sense here. I'm good for another couple matches between these two. 

Match Rating: ***3/4

Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax and Reginald are backstage. Baszler says Alexa likes playing with dolls and Shayna likes hurting people. Shayna then slaps Reginald. 

Shayna Baszler vs. Alexa Bliss

We're about 30 seconds into the match and there have been about 28 camera cuts. I am probably underestimating. Somehow they basically miss her somersault splash onto Shayna. Reginald distracts Alexa and Shayna is able to attack her from behind. I do think the contrast in characters works here a little bit, but as I have made clear many times, I don't like anything to do with the Fiend and the Playhouse. Shayna begins with the joint manipulation and then Alexa gets her to release it with mind bullets. Bliss hits a DDT for a 2 count. Alexa now locks eyes with Nia and she gets her to slap Reginald. Shayna comes from behind and tries to put on the Kirifuda Clutch, but Alexa gets out of it. Bliss hits Twisted Bliss and gets the victory. Well, we knew we were getting a dud here, so this was what it was. I guess it could have been worse, but both ladies are more than capable of something better. 

Match Rating: *

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

This is the first ever meeting between these two. Owens just chucks Sami into the corner. He hits a back elbow and a senton. Zayn hits a big clothesline to the injured throat of Owens. Owens suplexes Zayn onto the ropes and hits the cannonball for a 2 count. I kind of like the different dimension the injured throat adds to the match. Zayn hits a somersault dive onto Owens on the outside. The referee is checking in on Owens and Zayn sneaks in for a kick to the face. Owens is selling his injuries that now includes a left wrist. Owens is still able to hit a clothesline on the outside of the ring. Owens goes for a swanton, but Zayn gets the knees up. Back in the ring, Zayn hits the always awesome, but never a finisher, Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn hits a reverse exploder suplex and almost gets the victory. Owens rolls out of the ring and he's able to hit the Stunner out of the ring. Zayn barely beats the count and gets back in the ring. They start swinging wildly on their knees and Owens hits him with a stiff looking elbow. Owens gets hit with a kick to the back of the head and then follows it up with a Helluva Kick and gets the victory. This was far from their best work, but it was another strong outing with a lot of hard hitting action. Owens was masterful in his selling. Bret Hart would be proud. 

Match Rating: ***1/2

They show highlights of the Rey Mysterio/Roman Reigns Hell In A Cell match from SmackDown 2 days ago. 

WWE Raw Women's Championship Match

Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley

Before the match starts, Charlotte tries to get an advantage by stealing the belt and shoving Rhea down. Charlotte hits a boot to the face and gets a 2 count. Charlotte is on her game here tonight. Charlotte continues with the aggression and is all over Rhea. Ripley fights back and hits a big headbutt and a superkick. Ripley hits a missile dropkick and gets her first nearfall. Charlotte hits Natural Selection and gets a 2 count. Charlotte misses with a boot in the corner and Ripley hits a German suplex. Charlotte goes up for a moonsault, but Ripley moves out of the way. Charlotte lands on her feet and hits her on the second moonsault. Ripley is able to hit a superplex, but again Charlotte kicks out. Ripley hits Rip Tide and this time Charlotte is able to get her foot on the bottom rope. Charlotte is able to lock in the Figure Four and Ripley is able to get to the ropes and then drags her out of the ring. Ripley hits her with part of the announce table and they ring for the bell. Ripley attacks Charlotte after the match and they announce her as still the champion. Then we get some awkward mic'd up interaction between the two. I know Ripley isn't a traditional babyface, but that was a total heel move. They really worked hard for a match where they knew that the finish was going to be lame. Charlotte in particular looked really good here, but it's hard to ignore that finish. 

Match Rating: ***1/4

Last Chance Hell In A Cell Match For The WWE Championship

Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley looks to go under the ring, but McIntyre isn't having it and slams him into the cell. McIntyre hits a suplex into the cage and he falls pretty hard to the ground. Back in the ring, McIntyre launces Lashley. McIntyre grabs the kendo stick and uses it to slam the back of his head into the cage. McIntyre sets up a table, but MVP slips Lashley his cane through the hole in the cage and jabs it in the throat of McIntyre. McIntyre hits the Celtic Cross on the steel steps to turn the tide. McIntyre is doing a great job of just laying it all on the line here. McIntyre hits a Alabama Slam onto a steel chair and Lashley is able to kick out. McIntyre goes up top with a chair, but Lashley catches him and tries to put him into the Hurt Lock. McIntyre counters that into a spinebuster and a sitdown powerbomb. Lashley is able to counter McIntyre with the steps and drive him into the cell to finally make his comeback. Lashley traps McIntyre in the corner of the cell with a kendo stick and Lashley is relentless with his attack. Lashley drives McIntyre face-first into a chair and then starts whacking McIntyre with a kendo stick. McIntyre fights back with a steel chair. The referee accidentally gets taken out and he hits the Future Shock DDT. There is no ref to count and now the door is being opened so that another referee can get in. Lashley comes from behind and tries for the Hurt Lock. McIntyre counters and launches Lashley again. He hits him with the chair and then tosses it in his face. McIntyre hits the Claymore Kick, but MVP pulls the referee out of the ring during his count. MVP is locked in the cell and McIntyre focuses on him. He hits a Claymore Kick on MVP. Lashley goes for the Hurt Lock, but McIntyre drives him into the table set up on the cage and both men are down. McIntyre misses with a Claymore Kick and Lashley hits a chokeslam off the apron and through a table. Somehow the cameras don't get a good angle of that live. McIntyre hits the Future Shock again and sets up for the Claymore Kick. MVP grabs his ankle and Lashley rolls him up for the victory. McIntyre is of course in shock that he lost his last chance for the title. The finish wasn't the best, but what was in the water backstage tonight? These guys busted their butts here and worked a pace that we would expect from much smaller wrestlers. I did not expect this match to be my favorite on the show, but it certainly was. This was so much better than their very lackluster WrestleMania match. 

Match Rating: ****

Where did this show come from? This was one of the better shows that I can remember the main roster putting on. 5 out of the 6 matches were very good and everyone really put in a good effort. I'm not sure if it will help sell some tickets for the upcoming live shows, but it should. There were a few questionable booking decisions, but the match quality helped make up for that. Well done here.

Overall Rating: 83%