WWE Hell in a Cell Coverage: Thank You Lunatic Fringe, Where Was Everyone Else?

Drag is not the word for the 2014 Hell in a Cell Pay Per View. Despite a solid night of wrestling action, none of the matches had that spark. Long, too calculated and never daring, the pay-per-view failed to captivate.

Although Dean Ambrose managed to shine brightly in a match that many will say signaled a great change in his character, his one-of-a-kind performance was not enough to save an overall mediocre PPV.

Even with the return of Bray Wyatt, the event was a complete washout.

Matches:

Kick-Off: Bo Dallas vs. Mark Henry: Dallas shot off some entertaining promo, but Henry ripped his shirt off and promptly finished him off with The World’s Strongest Slam.

Two Out of Three Falls: Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Antonio Cesaro: The tempo was fast and Ziggler got the first pinfall with a Rollup following an attemptted pin by Cesaro after the Big Swing. Despite being behind, Cesaro kept pounding on the offense, nailing Ziggler with a Tiger Bomb and a wonderful Superplex, but Ziggler was resilient. Fighting back with the Fameasser, Ziggler nearly won at one point, but was unable to continue the offense. Still resilient, Ziggler was able to kick out of a vaulted European Uppercut and a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker before he fought back again with a Superkick and the Zig-Zag for the win.

Personal Assistant Match: Nikki Bella vs. Brie Bella: Brie was on the offensive with her signature Knee Attack, the X-Factor and a Missile Dropkick, but Nikki was tougher to put down than expected. Nikki got back in the match and nearly won with the Rack Attack, but Brie fought back with the Yes Lock. After she escaped the move, Nikki hit her signature Forearm and finished off her sister with a second Rack Attack.

WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust and Stardust vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso: Goldust sold like crazy throughout the match as the Usos laid on the offense including a pair of Superplexes. Stardust was able to save a pin following a Jey Splash, but after Stardust kicked Jey behind the ref’s back, Goldust won with the Final Cut.

Hell in a Cell for #1 Contender Spot: John Cena vs. Randy Orton: “The Viper” was in control most of the early going, using strikes and a nasty DDT to keep Cena grounded. But quick to showboat, Orton’s arrogance nearly got the best of him, but a few clothesline in the corner later from Orton kept him in the driver’s seat. Even after Cena made his signature comeback, Orton countered with a Boot and a Powerslam for a near-fall. Soon after, Orton continued the beating on the outside until Cena countered with an Irish Whip into the cage. Once back in the ring, the two traded blows and near-falls to pick up the match’s sluggish pace. After Cena went on another signature comeback, Orton nearly won with the RKO. With Cena reeling, Orton put him through a table in the corner, but still couldn’t get the win. Bringing in the ring steps, Orton was hell bent on putting Cena away, but Cena hit the Belly-to-back on the steps, but Orton stayed a step ahead with a low-blow. Unable to hit The Punt, Orton fell right into the STF from Cena, but was able to escape to the outside. After the action spilled to the outside again, Cena nearly won with an Attitude Adjustment and when he went for the move again, Orton countered into the RKO for a near-fall as well. Breaking down entirely, the match went nuts as Cena almost won with another Attitude Adjustment that forced Cena to bring another table into the ring. Setting up the table, it appeared Cena was going for the Sicilian Slice from the top, but Orton countered before another Cena counter, this time into the AA through the table for the win.

United States Champion Sheamus vs. The Miz w/Damien Sandow: Another match that went entirely too long. The two must have went through every move in their arsenal while Sandow performed on the outside. After interference from Sandow, Miz hit the Skull-Crushing Finale, but couldn’t get the win. Then rather unceremoniously, Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick on the Miz for the win. After the win, Sheamus had some more fun at the Miz and Sandow’s expense and hit another Brogue Kick.

The Big Show vs. Alexander Rusev w/Lana: A much better match than expected as Rusev managed to Suplex Show and Show locked in a nice Bow and Arrow Lock. Rusev got extra marks when he kicked out of a Chokeslam and fell outside the ring. With Mark Henry ringside, Rusev hit them both with the Super Kick and gave Show another one that sent him to his knee. Down on the mat, Rusev went for The Accolade on Show and although he didn’t tap out, the referee stopped the match and awarded Show the submission victory.

WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee vs. Paige w/Alicia Fox: One of the best matches of the night as it had the best pace and more logic than many of the other encounters. Paige was in control for most of the match with strikes until Lee battled back with a Thesz Press and a Neckbreaker. Quick to retaliate, Paige fought back and went for the Rampage, but Lee hit a kick to the jaw and hit a Tornado DDT for the near-fall. Paige soon hit a Fall Away Slam, but Lee fell to the outside as the action continued. After Lee knocked Paige off the barricade on the outside, she was nearly counted out. Although Fox threw her back in the ring, she walked right into the Black Widow and was forced to tap out.

Hell in a Cell: Seth Rollins w/ Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble vs. Dean Ambrose: “The Lunatic Fringe” began on top of the cell, but Rollins opted instead to send Mercury and Noble up the cage to get him. Although Ambrose took them out with a Kendo Stick, Rollins joined the match and all three beat on Ambrose atop the cage. Ambrose quickly fought back and after a Suplex on Noble, Rollins was able to escape the top of the cell. Well, sorta. Halfway down, Rollins was joined by Ambrose and the two traded punches before an Ambrose Headbutt sent the both of them went through the announce tables. Soon enough, medical personnel were on the scene and the replays were abundant. Just when you thought it was all over, Ambrose broke off his stretcher and dragged Rollins back into the cell. With the door finally locked, it only took 20 minutes for the match-up to get started.

Once it got underway, Rollins sold for the majority of the match until he hit a Belly-Back Suplex on some steel chairs, which allowed him to bring a table into the ring. But before he could completely set it up, Ambrose was able to nail Rollins and then Elbow-Dropped him as the table was leaned against the ring and the cage wall. With the clear advantage, Ambrose was sidetracked when Kane sprayed him with a Fire Extinguisher, allowing Rollins to Powerbomb him through a table on the outside. Down in the center of the ring Ambrose was then nailed with the Curb Stomp, but was able to kick out. Ambrose then went on a tear of his own, nailing Rollins with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but he, too, couldn’t get the pin-fall.

With Ambrose all geared up with the cement blocks, the match seemed all but sewn up for “The Lunatic Fringe,” until Bray Wyatt spoiled the party, hitting a Chokeslam, which allowed Rollins to get the win.