Tonight, SmackDown Live hosts Hell in a Cell, the blue brand’s first match-themed Pay-Per-View since Money in the Bank. There is a huge night planned with several championships being defended and two Hell in a Cell matches. Highlights of the show include The New Day defending the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against the Usos, Natalya defending the SmackDown Women’s Champion against Charlotte Flair, and Kevin Owens battling Shane McMahon inside the cell.
Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Hype Bros
A few days ago, this match was announced for the Kickoff Show. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin have recently become a tag team and they are trying to strengthen their chemistry while climbing the ladder of the tag team division. The Hype Bros have been failing to find success as of late and a win here could be the turnaround that they need.
After Benjamin counters a double team from the Hype Bros, he tag in Gable to finish Ryder off and win with their own version of the Doomsday Device. Winners: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
Predicted Winners: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (1/1)
The New Day (c) vs. The Usos – SmackDown Tag Team Championships (Hell in a Cell)
After months of trading the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, the rivalry between the New Day and the Usos ends in a Hell in a Cell match. This is the first time that the titles have been defended inside the cell, which is only fitting for a feud so personal. In their previous Pay-Per-View matches, the New Day and the Usos put on the best match of the night and the cell changes everything.
While handcuffed, Xavier Woods tries to fight through getting double-teamed, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Usos from hitting him with a chair-assisted double splash to pick up the win and to begin their fifth Tag Team Championship reign. Winners, and NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Predicted Winners: The Usos (2/2)
Rusev vs. Randy Orton
At SummerSlam, Rusev lost to Randy Orton in ten seconds and it embarrassed the Bulgarian Brute. Thanks to the help of Aiden English, Rusev would then defeat Orton a few weeks later in only nine seconds, making tonight’s clash their grudge match.
While Orton taunts for the RKO, Rusev tries to get in the Accolade out of nowhere, but Orton counters it into a successful RKO to pick up another Pay-Per-View over Rusev. Winner: Randy Orton
Predicted Winner: Randy Orton (3/3)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger – United States Championship
As of last Tuesday, this was just supposed to be a match between AJ Styles and Baron Corbin. However, Tye Dillinger defeated Corbin this week and he successfully convinced Daniel Bryan to let him compete in the match. It is completely fair, considering Corbin never did anything to actually earn the title match.
While Corbin is outside the ring, AJ Styles hits Tye Dillinger with the Phenomenal Forearm. Before Styles can make the cover, Corbin knocks him out of the ring and steals the pinfall to gain his first title in his WWE career. Winner, and NEW United States Champion: Baron Corbin
Predicted Winner: AJ Styles (N/A after addition of Dillinger)
Natalya (c) vs. Charlotte – SmackDown Women’s Championship
After shocking the world and beating Naomi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam, Natalya successfully defended the title and opened up a spot for a new challenger. Charlotte would then return from helping her father with his medical issues and become the new #1 Contender by defeating Carmella, Becky Lynch, and Tamina. Of course, Carmella is still lurking about with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
With an injured knee, Charlotte manages to hit a moonsault on Natalya outside of the ring. While both women recover, Natalya grabs a steel chair and attacks Charlotte’s knee, losing the match, but still keeping her title. Winner (via disqualification): Charlotte
Predicted Winner: Charlotte (4/4)
Jinder Mahal (c) (w/The Singh Brothers) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – WWE Championship
Like his entire title run, Jinder Mahal retained the WWE Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura at SummerSlam thanks to the help of the Singh Brothers. Nakamura defeated Randy Orton to earn another shot at the WWE Title and all that has happened since is that Mahal has been trying to make fun of the King of Strong Style.
Referee Charles Robinson ejects the Singh Brothers, but Jinder Mahal is able to evade the Kinshasa enough times to set up for the Khallas, giving Mahal only one legitimate victory as WWE Champion. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: Jinder Mahal
Predicted Winner: Jinder Mahal (5/5)
Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
For weeks, Dolph Ziggler has been making fun of elaborate entrances and claims that fans don’t care that he is the “greatest in-ring competitor” of all-time. Bobby Roode said that enough was enough, considering that he has the epitome of a flashy entrance. The former NXT Champion made his main roster debut a few weeks ago, making this Roode’s first WWE Pay-Per-View match after twenty years of wrestling experience.
Ziggler tried to roll up Roode while using the tights for leverage, but Roode countered and did the same thing. For Roode, though, it gave him the win. Right after the match, Ziggler ruined Roode’s celebration by hitting him with the Zig Zag. Winner: Bobby Roode
Predicted Winner: Bobby Roode (6/6)
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon – Hell in a Cell
Out of all of the matches tonight, this is by far the most personal. During Kevin Owens’ United States Championship feud with AJ Styles, he blamed Shane McMahon for every time he came up short. To his credit, some of his claims were legitimate. He then took this hatred toward Shane O’Mac too far when saying that his family would be better off if he died in a helicopter crash he was in a few months ago.
Owens would then assault Vince McMahon and followed by weeks of back and forth, Owens continued the assault last week all throughout the arena.
While both men are halfway up the cell, McMahon sends Owens through an announce table. Not satisfied, he then sets Owens up on another table. McMahon jumps off of the top of the cell, but Sami Zayn (out of nowhere) pulls his former best friend off of the table to save him. Zayn then drags Owens onto McMahon to end the match and let the EMTs attend to the Commissioner of SmackDown Live. Winner: Kevin Owens
Predicted Winner: Kevin Owens (7/7)
