WWE Hell in a Cell 2014: Predictions for Event's Biggest Stars

Due to the creative direction of the card, WWE’s upcoming Hell in a Cell pay-per-view will likely serve as a big test for several big names on the roster. Indeed, it’s intriguing to think just what the writers have in mind for various wrestlers come October 26—and what those results will tell us about the future.

Dean Ambrose is the first name that springs to mind.

Hell in a Cell marks his first real incursion into the main event scene as a singles performer. He is currently scheduled to face John Cena at the Dallas show, with the winner getting to take on much-loathed heel Seth Rollins later in the evening in a Hell in a Cell match.

Interestingly, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Ambrose gain the victory over Cena. In fact, I'm practically expecting it.

WWE has to know it’s on to something with the talented and massively popular Ambrose (as I noted recently, with the proper booking he could potentially be the next Steve Austin).

Credit: WWE.com

Jobbing Ambrose out to Cena in his first big match—damaging his credibility in the process—makes no real sense. WWE’s bookers may not be infallible, but even they have to know this.

Ambrose defeating his foe and then clashing with Rollins later in the night—likely the culmination of their long-running feud—would be a perfect way to end the pay-per-view. Ideally, Ambrose would win the bout with Rollins, giving the show a nice ending to send the fans home happy. Such booking would also serve to mark Ambrose’s true arrival in the main event scene.

Besides, Cena’s crushing loss to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam indicates that the company might be deciding to move on from him and focus on newer stars like Ambrose, Rollins and Roman Reigns. Oh, he’ll still be a big deal and a major part of television, of course. But the SummerSlam result did seem to hint at a big change in the booking team’s mentality toward him.

Of course, how Cena would lose to Ambrose remains to be seen. If the booking team is feeling brave, it could script him to lose cleanly.

Credit: WWE.com

And think of what a major boost that would be for Ambrose’s blossoming career. Cena could even congratulate him and shake his hand afterward, marking an important “passing of the torch” moment.

I can also see Lesnar shocking the world and doing a surprise run-in, costing Cena the bout and reigniting their feud. Such a move could set up Lesnar vs. Cena for Survivor Series.

Lesnar’s absence from television in recent weeks is interesting, which makes me think the writers are setting him up for a shock appearance at the pay-per-view.

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Of course, Ambrose would still have to look credible here. Lesnar can’t do all the work. Perhaps the former MMA star could cause an outside distraction, which Ambrose could then capitalize on. This would further the Lesnar-Cena feud and allow Ambrose to look good.

Personally, I predict Hell in a Cell will mark Ambrose’s ascension onto the WWE main event scene and establish him as the industry’s next major star. Frankly, anything else just feels like WWE squandering its booking opportunities.