WWE Hell in a Cell 2014: Stars Under the Most Pressure at PPV

As the end of 2014 draws near, we're reaching a period of intense pressure on the entire WWE roster. The road to WrestleMania isn't too far off, and there isn't enough room for each and every Superstar to walk on it.

While main event programs are likely to be decided already, now is the time for a Superstar to claim his or her spot by putting on performances that simply cannot be ignored.

Everyone on the roster is under pressure to perform at his or her best and make it to the grandest stage of them all, but there are some that have even more riding on matches at Hell in a Cell.

Having spent his first few months on the main roster dominating all comers, Rusev was proving to be a cut above your standard monster going into Night of Champions. Bouts against the likes of Big E and Jack Swagger had demonstrated that he can put on a great match, and Mark Henry seemed like the ideal next step.

However, their Night of Champions battle never quite hit the heights of Rusev's previous matches. It seems now that the Bulgarian Brute's next pay-per-view opponent will be Big Show, who is not exactly easy to have a good match with.

WWE's heavy-handed portrayal of Rusev as a Russian loyalist is simple but effective. However, it's certainly the sort of character that can begin to wear thin. Up until now, the quality of Rusev's matches helped to assuage this, but it would be all too easy for him to lose his spotlight without that.

Credit: WWE.com

Rusev is very talented, and it could well be that his match with Henry was a mere blip. Pitting him against Big Show seems like a test of whether The Super-Athlete can work with a perennial main eventer, so a good performance could reap great rewards.

Hell in a Cell is set to be a turning point for Rusev's career, and it will determine whether his push succeeds or fails. Based on what we've seen from him so far, it's a fair bet that he'll be able to handle the pressure.

The question of whether the Bella Twins will be able to do the same is more difficult to answer. You might say that the Divas of the WWE main roster are under less pressure than other areas of the card—their matches are typically very short, even on pay-per-view, and a good showing is generally considered to be a surprise.

However, times are changing. A new crop of Divas are emerging, and they're demonstrating a focus on wrestling acumen that seemed lost for a while. Signings of the old era like The Bella Twins are being forced to step up their game, and with the pair looking set to settle their issues at Hell in a Cell, their match will be under scrutiny.

Television segments furthering the Bella feud have been met with derision by audiences, their run-in with Jerry Springer a few weeks back being particularly dire. They perhaps wouldn't be so bad if their feud was leading somewhere compelling, but the fact of the matter is that Bella vs. Bella doesn't spark thoughts of a compelling bout.

It has to be said that the pair aren't completely bereft of talent. Both Bellas have certainly improved since their early days. Brie's match with Stephanie McMahon at SummerSlam was a pleasant surprise, and Nikki held her own in the Divas Triple Threat match at Night of Champions.

When the duo are placed with top-level talent like McMahon, AJ Lee and Paige, they can pull one out of the bag, but will that be the case if the two sisters go one-on-one? We'll have to wait and see; if they can't, the event's Texan crowd will undoubtedly let them know about it.

Finally, we come to the two superstars who have the most pressure of all weighing down on them in the build to Hell in a Cell: Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Their white-hot feud has been the best thing on WWE television for months, and it would seem that a Hell in a Cell match would be the perfect way to cap it off.

Nevertheless, in recent weeks, we've seen a familiar face introduced into their issue: John Cena. It's unclear just how things are going to be stacked up at Hell in a Cell, but the way that these three are interacting at the moment would suggest that it won't simply be Rollins vs. Ambrose.

Credit: WWE.com

Feuding with Cena at this pivotal time would be a risky move for either man. Rollins continues to deliver brilliant in-ring performances and constantly engaging character work on a weekly basis, and Ambrose seems to be on the cusp of breaking out as everyone quietly hoped but few would have dared expect.

This time last year, many expected Roman Reigns to be the post-Shield priority, with his stablemates being left out in the cold. While it's clear that Reigns is destined for the top of the card, the same determination that Rollins and Ambrose contributed to the success of the Shield has allowed them to quickly flourish as singles competitors.

Make no mistake, we are watching the future being formed whenever we see The Lunatic Fringe and The Architect square off. Both share a desire to be the best and a chemistry that's given them the opportunity to make a very clear statement of intent.

Rollins and Ambrose find themselves on the brink of joining the highest echelons of WWE; the impetus is truly on them to prove that they belong there. Cena can kill an up-and-comer's momentum dead, but he can also act as the final stepping stone towards bona fide main event status.

Who else do you think is under pressure to perform at Hell in a Cell? Is it a big night for Adam Rose's bunny? A chance for stunt double Sandow to stand out? Will Slater Gator finally have the moment in the sun? Make your thoughts known in the comments section below.