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. 

Alexa Bliss defeated Shayna Baszler (w/Nia Jax & Reginald) (6:55)

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.