WWE’s final PPV offering without live fans was the 6/20 Hell in a Cell show from Tampa.
The show was based around matches that mostly looked good on paper, for the most part delivered, and under normal circumstances would have been considered a very good show.
It took a lot of good work from creative to drag the show down to a mid-level show. The Alexa Bliss vs. Shayna Baszler match was pretty much as expected so that was the “given,” but the finishes of the last two matches really took the show down.
In the Raw women’s title match, Rhea Ripley was defending against Charlotte Flair. Aside from a foot stomp spot that would have been a viral sensation had it been in AEW, the two were having a great match. Then, out of nowhere, Ripley hit Flair with the top of the announcers table. The bell rang and it was over, with a DQ called. The idea was to turn Ripley heel and build a rematch, although not turn Flair babyface. But, Ripley then laid Flair out with the riptide after the match, which made no sense given the direction of the storyline. Bobby Lashley retained the WWE title in the Hell in a Cell match main event over Drew McIntyre. The stipulation was that if McIntyre lost, he could never challenge for the title as long as Lashley is champion. This could easily build to a brand switch, which also gives Roman Reigns a fresh new opponent since he obviously needs one.
Bobby Lashley retained the WWE Championship tonight at Hell in a Cell, defeating Drew McIntyre.
During the course of the Hell in a Cell match, a ref bump caused a second referee to enter the cage. This allowed MVP to come in and help Lashley. McIntyre ended up laying him out. Towards the end of the match, McIntyre avoided a spear attempt and connected with the future shock DDT. He went for the Claymore, but MVP grabbed him, allowing Lashley to roll up McIntyre and pinned him to retain the title.
As a result of the loss, McIntyre can no longer challenge for the WWE Championship while Lashley is champion.
Lashley has been champion since March 1, when he defeated The Miz on Raw. McIntyre first challenged Lashley at WrestleMania 37, where he was defeated. He lost a triple threat match at WrestleMania Backlash but was not the one pinned. He pinned Lashley on Raw last week in a six-man tag team match where he and The Viking Raiders defeated AJ Styles, Omos, and Lashley.
Hell in a Cell takes place tonight and is WWE’s final pay-per-view before next month’s return to touring.
The WWE Championship will be on the line inside of Hell in a Cell as Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre. If McIntyre loses, he won’t be able to challenge for the WWE Championship again while Lashley is still champion.
Roman Reigns and Rey Mysterio were originally supposed to face off in a Hell in a Cell match for the Universal Championship tonight, but that match was moved up and instead took place on SmackDown this past Friday night.
With Reigns vs. Mysterio off the PPV, Bianca Belair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship defense against Bayley will now be a Hell in a Cell match.
Also set for tonight are: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women’s Championship, Alexa Bliss vs. Shayna Baszler, Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn.
Tonight’s main card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a pre-show starting at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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Kick-Off Show
Kayla Braxton started the kick-off show by introducing her panel members Jerry “The King” Lawler, JBL, and Pete Rosenberg. They ran down the lineup for tonight and announced Mandy Rose vs. Natalya for the kick-off show. Next, they recapped the Bayley and Bianca Belair feud. Sonya Deville joined the panel to discuss the SmackDown Women’s title match.
They recapped the Alexa Bliss and Shayna Baszler feud, including the angle with Lily stalking Baszler backstage. Braxton noted she’s never see Baszler this frazzled before.
Deville and Rosenberg think Baszler has the skill set to handle Bliss. However, Lawler and JBL picked Bliss to win. Lawler claimed that he doesn’t know if Bliss is a witch, but her other car is a broom. The panel didn’t laugh at his joke. The panel then discussed Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair.
They showed highlights of the Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio Hell in a Cell match from SmackDown. Then, the panel turned their attention to the Seth Rollins and Cesaro feud.
They recapped the angle between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, setting up the match tonight. Zayn talked about his match with Owens backstage. Zayn claimed that he overheard that Owens is injured after Azeez hit him with the Nigerian Nail Friday night.
Natalya (w/Tamina) defeated Mandy Rose (w/Dana Brooke) (9:39)
This was a basic pre-show match that dragged at times.
They recapped the angle between Rose & Brooke and Natalya & Tamina from Raw last Monday.
Natalya had the early advantage with a side headlock, but Rose reversed, and Natalya escaped. Rose briefly gained control, but Natalya broke free. After that, they went back and forth but ended in a stalemate.
Natalya worked over the arm, but Rose made it to the ropes. Rose took over when she pulled Natalya into the top rope. Rose slowed the pace down with a body scissors, but Natalya hit a body slam to break the hold.
Rose locked on an abdominal stretch, but Natalya reversed it. Rose fought back and reversed the hold again. However, Natalya broke free again and briefly ran wild.
Natalya tried to place Rose on the top rope, but she fought her off. Rose then hit a flying cross body for a near fall. Next, Rose used a backslide and a jumping knee for another near fall.
They traded pin attempts until Natalya went for the armbar. Then, Natalya went for another backslide, but Rose tried to counter. Natalya then transitioned into the sharpshooter for the win.
The panel discussed Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntrye and recapped the feud.
Main Show:
Michael Cole kicked the show off and noted it’s the last pay-per-view in the ThunderDome before they return to the road next month.
Hell in a Cell: SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defeated Bayley (19:42)
Belair and Bayley had a good match. They both worked hard and used lots of innovative spots. Bayley got to do a lot of spots with kendo sticks that she tried her last Hell in a Cell that didn’t work.
Belair used a series of slams and a clothesline to start the match. Bayley rolled out of the ring and brought in two chairs. Belair tried to get one of the chairs, but Bayley kicked it out of the ring.
Bayley tried to hit Belair with the chair, but she dropped down and rolled up Bayley for a near fall. Belair then used her hair to counteract the chair. Belair got rid of the chair and backed Bayley into the corner.
They fought on the top rope. Belair used a backflip to avoid Bayley. Bayley took over and sent Belair shoulder first into the ring post. Bayley slowed the pace down and worked over the arm. Bayley brought the steps into the ring and trapped Belair’s hair. Belair fought back, but Bayley regained control with a knee in the corner.
Bayley then tied Belair’s hair to the bottom rope. Bayley charged at Belair, but she moved, and Bayley hit the steps. Belair then threw the steps at Bayley, but she moved out of the way.
Belair beat down Bayley at ringside, but she bit her to take back over. Bayley tied two kendo sticks together and attacked Belair. She followed up with a sunset bomb into the cage.
Bayley pulled out kendo sticks that were also tied together. She placed them between the cage and ring. McAfee noted Bayley tried doing this in the Hell in a Cell match with Sasha Banks last fall. Cole repeated what McAfee said, and Bayley told him to shut up.
Belair then slammed Bayley onto the kendo sticks. Bayley fought back to regain control.
Bayley beat Belair with a chair and then tied Belair’s air to it. Belair fought back and knocked Bayley off the chair. Bayley ran at Belair, but she got the chair up, and Bayley injured her knee.
Belair then tied her hair to Bayley’s hand and viciously beat her around ringside with various weapons. Bayley then crawled to the door and begged to get out. Belair then kicked Bayley into the cage door.
Bayley used a ladder to regain control. McAfee couldn’t believe Bayley found a ladder under the ring. Cole noted there’s lots of stuff under the ring.
Bayley sent Belair into the ladder. She then trapped Belair in the ladder and stomped on it. Bayley then hit the rose plant with Belair trapped in the ladder. Bayley couldn’t make the pin because of her injured knee.
Belair rolled up Bayley for a near fall. Bayley countered, using the ropes for another near fall. Cole pointed out that grabbing the ropes isn’t a DQ. McAfee noted he didn’t know that.
Belair slammed Bayley into the corner. She trapped Bayley in the ladder and climbed to the top. Belair attempted a 450, but Bayley moved out of the way. Belair landed on her feet and hit a senton. The finish came when Belair gave Bayley the KOD on the opened ladder. The finish looked awesome.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Belair. She noted the match was tough, and Bayley gave her a beating. She promised never to forgive Bayley.
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley was with MVP and the ladies in his locker room.
Alexa Bliss sat on her swing and discussed her match with Shayna Baszler later tonight. She said to expect the unexpected.
Seth Rolins defeated Cesaro (16:13)
This was a fine match, although it went a bit long and dragged at times.
As Cesaro made his entrance, Rollins jumped him from behind. Cesaro used a slam and back body drop to gain the early advantage. He then booted Rollins off the apron.
They fought around ringside with Cesaro rocking Rollins with an uppercut. Cesaro backed Rollins in the corner and hit a series of uppercuts. Rollins fought back and drove Cesaro into the turnbuckle.
Rollins raked Cesaro in the eyes and hit a DDT. Then, Rollins slowed the pace down and hit a series of knees to the gut.
Rollins attempted a suplex, but Cesaro countered with a suplex of his own. Rollins recovered and sent Cesaro to the floor. However, Cesaro didn’t know where he was and swung wildly. Rollins took advantage and hit a knee off the apron.
Rollins followed up with a springboard knee into the ring for a near fall. Rollins slowed the pace down again, but Cesaro fought back with an uppercut. Cesaro pulled off Rollins glove and put it in his mouth. He followed up with a series of uppercuts in the corner.
Rollins attempted the stomp, but Cesaro countered with a power slam for a near fall. Cesaro climbed to the top, but Rollins cut him off. Cesaro knocked him off and hit a flying crossbody, but Rollins rolled through for a near fall.
Rollins hit Cesaro in the back of the neck for two-count. A furious Rollins beat down Cesaro and hit the falcon arrow for a near fall. Rollins went for the stomp, but Cesaro hit a discus clothesline.
Cesaro caught Rollins in the big swing and transitioned into the sharpshooter. Rollins considered tapping but tried to grab the bottom rope. Cesaro went from the sharpshooter into the cross face, but Rollins rolled him up for a near fall.
Cesaro locked on the sharpshooter again. Cesaro then stomped on Rollins several times. Cesaro went from the sharpshooter again, but Rollins countered with a small package for the win.
The kick-off panel gave their thoughts on the night so far.
Bliss and Baszler had a basic match. There wasn’t much to it, and it dragged at times. Bliss did use some magic when she hypnotized Jax.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Baszler, Reginald, and Nia Jax. Baszler isn’t worried about Bliss’ threats earlier. Jax agreed but said there’s nothing with a little good luck. Reginald tried to kiss Bazsler’s hand, but she smacked him in the face.
Bliss stared at Baszler, but Reginald jumped on the apron. Bliss was distracted, and Baszler backed her into the corner. Bliss avoided Baszler and took over with a forearm.
Reginald jumped back on the apron but covered his face so she couldn’t hypnotize him. Baszler jumped Bliss from behind, but Bliss just smiled. Baszler slammed Bliss down for a near fall, and Bliss smiled again.
Baszler worked over the arm. She trapped Bliss’s arm and stomped on it. Bliss screamed in pain but then started laughing. Baszler went back to the arm but tried not to look Bliss in the face. Bliss then yelled at Baszler to look at her. Bazler was in some kind of trance and released the hold.
Bliss fired up and hit a DDT for a near fall. Bliss knocked Baszler to the floor, and Reginald went to check on her. Bliss started staring at Jax. She hypnotized Jax and made her slap Reginald in the face. Bliss and Jax looked at each other and then screamed.
Baszler went for the kirifuda clutch, but Bliss broke free. She followed up with twisted bliss for the win.
Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens (12:39)
Zayn and Owens had a good match. The story of the match was Owens came in with a throat injury and injured his arm during the match.
Owens had the early advantage as he chopped Zayn in the corner. Owens coughed throughout the match selling Azeez’s Nigerian nail from Friday.
Owens was firmly in control but had difficulty breathing. Zayn briefly took over, but Owens shot back with a hard chop. Owens then hit a cannonball in the corner for a near fall.
Zayn dropped Owens throat first on the bottom rope. He followed up with a dive to the floor. Owens grabbed his arm and rolled back in the ring. Zayn slowed the pace down and targeted Owens’ arm.
Owens fought back and stomped on Zayn in the corner. Owens couldn’t move his arm, so he rocked Zayn with a clothesline with the other arm. Owens attempted a Swanton bomb off the apron, but Zayn hot his knees up.
Zayn then hit the blue thunder bomb for a close two-count. Owens fought back with one arm and went for the stunner.
Zayn countered with a suplex for a near fall. Zayn busted his mouth as he stomped Owens out of the ring.
Zayn went after Owens, but he caught Zayn with a stunner. Zayn barely beat the ten count to get back in the ring. Owens and Zayn traded shots in the middle of the ring. Owens got the better of Zayn, but Zayn dropped Owens throat first on the bottom rope. Zayn then hit the helluva kick for the win.
After the match, Zayn went over to the commentators. McAfee stood up and tried to have Zayn talk in his headset. McAfee has been really good on commentary all night and a highlight of the show.
They showed highlights of Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio in Hell in a Cell from Friday night.
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair via DQ (14:11)
Flair and Ripley had a good match until the weak finish. Ripley got intentionally disqualified by hitting Flair with a piece of the announce table. It’s an odd finish since they’ve been using this part of the table for decades, and it was never a DQ until now.
Before the bell, the referee held the belt up in the air, and Flair grabbed it. She then threw it at Ripley and knocked her down with a forearm. Not sure what the point was.
Flair rolled up Ripley for a near fall to start the match. Ripley briefly took over until Flair pulled her off the top rope. Flair slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Ripley fought back, but Flair knocked her down.
Ripley reversed a suplex attempt, but Flair pushed her into the corner. Flair sent Ripley to the floor and booted her into the barricade. Flair made several pin attempts. She then targeted Ripley’s knee. Ripley fought back, but Flair regained control by attacking the knee.
Ripley fired up and hit a series of short-arm clotheslines. Then, Ripley rocked Flair with a head butt and superkick. Flair fought back and tied up Ripley’s leg in the ropes. Ripley recovered and hit a missile dropkick for a two-count.
Flair sent Ripley into the turnbuckle and hit Natural Selection for a near fall. Flair then attempted a moonsault off the top rope, but Ripley moved. Flair landed on her feet and hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Flair went for the figure four leg lock, but Ripley used a small package for a near fall. Ripley avoided a boot, but Flair hit a back elbow for a two-count. Flair climbed to the top rope, but Ripley cut her off and hit a superplex for another near fall. They brawled in the middle of the ring, but Flair took over with a chop.
Ripley sent Flair into the turnbuckle and hit Rip Tide, but Flair got her leg on the bottom rope. Flair rolled to the floor, and Ripley went after her. Flair attacked the leg and sent it into the steps.
Flair got the figure four leglock on Ripley, but they rolled to the floor. Ripley hit Flair with a part of the announce table, and the referee called for the bell.
After the match, Ripley and Flair continued to brawl. Ripley got the advantage and hit Rip Tide. Ripley then demanded the referee announce that she’s still the champion. As she walked away, Ripley admitted she got disqualified on purpose.
Hell in a Cell: WWE Champion Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) defeated Drew McIntyre (25:44)
McIntyre and Lashley had a good Hell in a Cell match. They used a lot of weapons, including kendo sticks, tables, and stairs. It was another odd finish since MVP ended up in the cell and the whole point of the cell was to keep MVP out. They did try to come up with a reason for MVP being in there.
They had a brief staredown, but Lashley jumped out of the ring. He tried to pull something out from under the ring, but McIntyre cut him off. He sent Lashley into the cage and then the ring post.
McIntrye grabbed the stairs, but Lashley cut him off. He then sent McIntyre into the side of the cage. McIntyre recovered and gave Lashley a suplex into the side of the cell. McIntrye then hit Lashley with the steps. He attempted the future shock DDT, but Lashley broke free. McIntrye then gave Lashley a belly-to-belly suplex across the ring.
McIntrye used a kendo stick on Lashley and set up a table against the cell. MVP passed Lashley his cane through the cell, and Lashley used it to gain control.
Lashley tried to give McIntrye a suplex on the stairs into the ring post. McIntyre fought back and hit white noise on the stairs. McIntrye then set up a second table. He then tried to suplex Lashley off the stairs onto the table. Lashley fought back and sent McIntrye into the cell. McIntrye bounced off the cell and rocked Lashley with a clothesline.
McIntyre dropped Lashley face-first on the chair for a close near fall. McIntyre jumped off the top, but Lashley caught him in the hurt lock. McIntyre broke free and hit a spine buster and sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
McIntrye knocked Lashley out of the ring and hit him with the stairs. Lashley blocked the stairs and rammed them into McIntrye’s head repeatedly. Lashley viciously beat down McIntyre and grabbed a kendo stick. Lashley and MVP used the kendo stick to trap McIntyre in the corner of the cell. He then dropped McIntyre face-first onto an open chair.
Lashley beat down McIntrye with the kendo stick, but McIntrye stood up.
He fought back and grabbed a chair, but Lashley poked him in the eye. McIntrye wildly swung the chair, and Lashley pushed him into the referee.
McIntrye then hit the future shock DDT, but there was no referee to count the pin.
McIntyre demanded the outside referee get in the ring. The second referee entered by left the cell door open. Lashley went for the hurt lock, but McINrye broke free. McIntyre then hit the claymore, but MVP pulled out the second referee. MVP tried to escape but was locked in the cage now.
McIntyre beat MVP around ringside and hit the claymore. MVP rolled to the floor, but McIntyre went after him. Lashley got the hurt lock on McIntyre on the floor. McIntyre broke free by backing Lashley into the table.
McIntrye rolled Lashley back in the ring and beat him down with a chair. Lashley avoided the claymore and choke slammed McIntyre off the apron through a table on the floor. Lashley attempted a spear, but McIntyre moved, and Lashley hit the ring post. McIntyre then used a backslide for a close near fall. He followed up with the future shock DDT. McIntyre set up for the claymore, but MVP grabbed his leg. McIntyre went after MVP but Lashley rolled him up for the win.
Lashley and MVP celebrated on the ramp to end WWE’s final pay-per-view from the ThunderDome.
The card for Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view is now up to six announced matches.
It was announced on SmackDown tonight that Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn have both been added to the card for Sunday’s PPV. Neither match will be taking place inside of Hell in a Cell.
Cesaro has defeated Rollins twice in singles matches this year. He defeated Rollins at WrestleMania 37 in April and on an episode of SmackDown in May.
There was an angle on SmackDown four weeks ago where Cesaro was stretchered out after being attacked by Rollins. Cesaro then returned last week and got revenge by attacking Rollins. Rollins was left in his underwear after Cesaro ripped off his suit.
Tonight’s SmackDown featured a segment where Cesaro was interviewed backstage. Rollins interrupted the interview but told Cesaro that he was only there to have a conversation. Rollins said Cesaro disgusts him. He said everything Cesaro does and everything Cesaro stands for is a disgrace. Rollins said Cesaro doesn’t deserve a single ounce of respect. Rollins told Cesaro that he’ll put him in his place on Sunday.
Cesaro responded by saying that he respects Rollins as a competitor. But as Cesaro got up to leave, he pushed Rollins down. The push made Rollins fall over in his chair.
Owens and Zayn also faced off at WrestleMania 37. Owens defeated Zayn in that match.
Owens vs. Zayn was made for Hell in a Cell after Zayn cost Owens & Big E a tag match against Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez on SmackDown tonight. Zayn, who was on commentary for the match, distracted Owens on the outside. Owens then went back into the ring and was given the Nigerian Nail by Azeez. Azeez pinned Owens to get the win.
Azeez gave Owens another Nigerian Nail after the tag match. Zayn laughed as he watched Owens gasp for air.
Owens later went to authority figures Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville and told them that he wanted to face Zayn. Pearce announced the match for Hell in a Cell.
Here’s the updated lineup for Hell in a Cell:
Hell in a Cell match: WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre (if McIntyre loses, he can’t challenge for the WWE Championship again while Lashley is still champion)
Hell in a Cell match: SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Charlotte Flair
With Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio off the Hell in a Cell card, a new Hell in a Cell match has been made for Sunday’s pay-per-view.
It was announced on SmackDown tonight that Bianca Belair will now be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match on Sunday. Belair vs. Bayley was first announced for Hell in a Cell two weeks ago, but it wasn’t set to take place inside of Hell in a Cell at that time.
Belair cut a promo on SmackDown tonight and challenged Bayley to make their match on Sunday a Hell in a Cell match. Bayley then came out to the ring and tried to attack Belair. Belair was getting the better of a brawl with Bayley, but Bayley turned the tide by grabbing Belair’s hair and sending her into the barricade.
After laying out Belair in the ring, Bayley stood above Belair and posed with Belair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Reigns was originally supposed to defend his Universal Championship against Mysterio in a Hell in a Cell match on Sunday, but that match was moved up to tonight’s SmackDown.
Here’s the updated card for Hell in a Cell:
Hell in a Cell match: WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre (if McIntyre loses, he can’t challenge for the WWE Championship again while Lashley is still champion)
Hell in a Cell match: SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Charlotte Flair
SummerSlam tickets for 8/21 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas officially go on sale to the public on 6/18, but with no matches or talent announced, it looks like the idea of making it the company’s big-time travel show of the year is going to work.
Actual ticket sales started on 6/14 and at press time there were just over 3,000 seats remaining. The question, and WWE hasn’t answered, The building right now is set up for 41,600 total people which means for an event of this level, about 35,000 paid. However, many sections that would hit that total were not put on sale yet. They did come close enough to presale expectations since they put more seats on sale after day one than were on sale on day one. It appears that more than 30,000 tickets are out at this point between those sold and business comps, so tickets moved very well. WrestleMania did most of its selling in the presale and each night ended up in the 20,000 range. It is interesting that so many piggy backed off WrestleMania as was tradition, but right now nobody seems to be piggy backing off this even though it looks to end up with a lot more traveling fans.
The card for Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has a new addition.
It was announced on tonight’s episode of Raw that Alexa Bliss vs. Shayna Baszler will take place at Hell in a Cell this Sunday. The match comes after a storyline where supernatural occurrences have caused Baszler to lose matches over the last several weeks.
During an Alexa’s Playground segment last Monday, Bliss denied that she was responsible for what had been happening during Baszler’s matches. Bliss wanted Baszler to apologize for calling Bliss’ doll Lilly “just a stupid doll,” but Baszler doubled down and stomped on Lilly.
After Baszler stomped on Lilly, the video screens at the ThunderDome started to go out and fire pyro went off as Baszler headed to the back. When Baszler got to the back, no one else was there. Baszler ended up in a room where she could see in a mirror that Lilly was behind her. But when Baszler would turn around, Lilly wasn’t there. Baszler kicked the mirror but could still see Lilly in its broken pieces. The lights then went out and we heard Baszler screaming as the show went off the air.
Tonight’s Raw opened with Bliss saying that she had received a lot of “strongly worded complaints” for what Lilly did last week. Bliss said that even she was taken aback by how far it went. Bliss said that she had put Lilly in timeout. Baszler’s tag team partner Nia Jax then confronted Bliss and told her that she’d be seeing Baszler at Hell in a Cell.
Jax asked Bliss what happened to her and said they used to be friends. Jax told Bliss that she needed to stop interfering with her career and messing with her friends. Bliss said she didn’t appreciate Jax coming to her playground with these vicious and disgusting allegations. Jax then challenged Bliss to face her on tonight’s Raw.
Bliss vs. Jax ended with Bliss winning by disqualification when Reginald broke up a pin after Bliss hit Twisted Bliss. Following the match, Bliss appeared to hypnotize Reginald.
Here’s the updated card for Hell in a Cell:
Hell in a Cell match: WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre (if McIntyre loses, he can’t challenge for the WWE Championship again while Lashley is still champion)
Hell in a Cell match: Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Rey Mysterio
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Charlotte Flair
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
A SmackDown Women’s Championship match has been added to the card for Hell in a Cell.
During tonight’s episode of SmackDown, it was announced that Bianca Belair will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley at Hell in a Cell. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, June 20.
Belair, who was unhappy about Bayley laughing in her face last week, challenged Bayley to face her at Hell in a Cell during a promo on tonight’s SmackDown. Bayley appeared on the video screen from a room that was a shrine to herself. Bayley accepted Belair’s challenge and then laughed at Belair again. Bayley laughing at Belair then appeared on all of the screens in the arena at the WWE ThunderDome.
Belair defeated Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 this April to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Belair then retained against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash last month. Bayley tried to use Belair’s braid against her during that match, but Belair was instead able to use the braid to help her pin Bayley.
Bayley teamed with Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler to defeat Belair, Natalya & Tamina in a six-woman tag match on SmackDown two weeks ago.
Here’s the updated card for Hell in a Cell:
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Charlotte Flair
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
None of the matches that have been announced for the PPV thus far have been announced as taking place inside of Hell in a Cell.
Drew McIntyre will be getting another shot at Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship.
Lashley will defend his WWE Championship against McIntyre at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, June 20. McIntyre got the title shot by defeating Kofi Kingston in a number one contender’s match in the main event of tonight’s Raw.
McIntyre pinned Kingston after connecting with a Claymore as Kingston was coming off the top rope. After the match, McIntyre and Kingston shook hands.
McIntyre and Kingston’s number one contender’s match had a stipulation where Lashley would have been suspended without pay for 90 days if he or MVP interfered or even came out to ringside during the match. When the match was over, Lashley came out to the stage and posed with the WWE Championship.
McIntyre vs. Kingston had originally taken place on Raw last week, but it ended in a disqualification when Lashley and MVP simultaneously attacked them.
Lashley has been WWE Champion since winning the title from The Miz this March. The storyline was that Lashley got the first shot at Miz’s title as part of a deal where he helped Miz cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase on McIntyre.
Lashley defeated McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 37 last month. At WrestleMania Backlash, Lashley retained by defeating Braun Strowman and McIntyre in a triple threat match. Lashley pinned Strowman to get the win.
This is the second match that’s been made official for Hell in a Cell. Rhea Ripley defending her Raw Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair is also set for the pay-per-view. Neither Lashley vs. McIntyre nor Ripley vs. Charlotte has been announced as taking place inside of Hell in a Cell.
Charlotte Flair is getting a one-on-one shot at Rhea Ripley’s Raw Women’s Championship.
Ripley will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Charlotte at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, June 20. The match was announced after Charlotte defeated Asuka on Raw tonight.
At WrestleMania Backlash earlier this month, Ripley retained her Raw Women’s Championship by defeating Asuka and Charlotte in a triple threat match. Ripley pinned Asuka to win that match.
Charlotte went to WWE authority figures Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville on Raw last week and wanted a one-on-one title match against Ripley. Deville told Charlotte that they’d consider it if she defeated Asuka last week, but Asuka pinned Charlotte with a small package after Ripley distracted Charlotte leading into the finish.
Asuka put Charlotte in the Asuka Lock during tonight’s rematch, but Charlotte rolled through to pin Asuka and get the win.
Ripley was in action against Nikki Cross in a Beat the Clock challenge on Raw tonight. The match was set up by an angle where Cross said she could defeat either Ripley or Charlotte. Charlotte said she could beat Cross in two minutes if she didn’t already have a match tonight. After being challenged by Charlotte to defeat Cross in two minutes, Ripley accepted. But the clock expired as Ripley was attacking Cross with strikes in the corner.
Ripley became Raw Women’s Champion by defeating Asuka for the title at WrestleMania 37 last month.
Ripley vs. Charlotte is the first match that’s been announced for Hell in a Cell. On Raw next Monday, Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston will face off in a number one contender’s match to determine WWE Champion Bobby Lashley’s challenger for the pay-per-view.
Neither the Raw Women’s Championship match nor WWE Championship match for Hell in a Cell has been announced as taking place inside of Hell in a Cell as of now.
WWE has revealed the date and theme of its next pay-per-view.
During WrestleMania Backlash tonight, it was announced that Hell in a Cell 2021 will take place on Sunday, June 20. The PPV will air live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else.
This year’s Money in the Bank PPV had been set to take place on June 20 before the June PPV was changed to Hell in a Cell. Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast reported that he’s hearing that Money in the Bank will instead take place on Sunday, July 18 with a live audience. WWE is targeting mid-July for its return to running television shows in front of live crowds.
June 20 is also Father’s Day in the United States.
Since the event was introduced in 2009, Hell in a Cell has traditionally been an October PPV. The only exception until now was the 2018 Hell in a Cell PPV being held in September.
Last year’s Hell in a Cell event featured three Hell in a Cell matches. Randy Orton defeated Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match to win the WWE Championship, Sasha Banks defeated Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and Roman Reigns defeated Jey Uso in a Hell in a Cell I Quit match to retain the Universal Championship.
