WWE Hell in a Cell 2014: Bold Predictions for Massive Showcase

With no WWE World Heavyweight title defence set for tonight's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, it certainly seems that there's a lot riding on the event's ability to satisfy fans.

It's been some time since we saw a WWE pay-per-view go by in which the world champion was fit to compete but didn't defend his title. A strong card has been assembled to fill that void, but there will need to be something a little extra on the night to really send fans home happy.

World title defences provide intrigue; the possibility of the top title changing hands suggests the possibility of real drama whenever it headlines a pay-per-view. It's important for a pay-per-view to deliver in its own right, but it also needs sufficient intrigue to draw a viewer in for the next lap of television and the subsequent pay-per-view.

It's a good bet that something is in the works to shock audiences tonight, a talking point to replace the standard title debate. Where it comes from is more difficult to predict, but it's certainly a night to expect the unexpected.

Ambrose and Rollins Bring Brutality Back

Remember The Shield's in-ring debut at TLC 2012? Remember the chaos we saw when the Hounds of Justice took on Evolution in a No Holds Barred Elimination match earlier this year? Remember that instant-classic Lumberjack match at SummerSlam?

These bouts had three things in common: They were all hugely entertaining; they all featured Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose; and they all featured at least one death-defying act that left the crowd stunned into silence.

Rollins and Ambrose have demonstrated their ability to make a stipulation mean something, and this weekend they look set to remind us all why Hell in a Cell is known as The Devil's Playground.

It's difficult to say exactly what we're going to see take place—and that's all part of the intrigue. We've seen Rollins leap from balconies and the TitanTron in the past, but perhaps he could take flight from The Cell itself? Or will we see Ambrose use his deathmatch experience from the independent scene to prove he's still got some explicit violence up his sleeve?

Big Show vs. Rusev Will Set Up a Traditional Survivor Series Match

Credit: WWE.com

It's rare that a pay-per-view match featuring Big Show elicits anything other than yawns from an audience, but pairing him with Rusev might just make for his best match in some time.

Rusev has been excellent during his first few months on the main roster, and a strong showing against Big Show is exactly what he needs to cement his position on the card. However, more than one singles match against The World's Largest Athlete would almost certainly see the feud outstay its welcome.

With Survivor Series coming up, there's a golden opportunity for an elimination match, something that's gone out of style in recent years but is always entertaining.

Big Show would have plenty of prospects for a team of patriots slighted by Rusev—although The Bulgarian Brute might have fewer friends to turn to. Perhaps we could see Mark Henry turn on his friend and defect to Russia? Stranger things have happened in WWE.

Brock Lesnar Will Be in Attendance

Credit: WWE.com

We've known for some time that we won't see The Beast Incarnate defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Hell in a Cell, but that doesn't mean we won't see him at all.

Randy Orton and John Cena will clash inside Hell in a Cell to decide the No. 1 contender to the world title, which would suggest that the title shot will come at next month's Survivor Series. With the champion and challenger set, waiting any longer would leave very little room for the main event storyline to progress in the meantime.

However, with only four weeks of television between Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series, time is of the essence to make the feud matter. Many will be hoping that it's Orton who'll be facing Lesnar for the sake of variety, so it's important that their issues with each other kick into gear as soon as possible.

Lesnar rampaging down to the ring and breaking into Hell in a Cell would be an ideal way to accomplish that and would also make for the truly memorable visual of a domineering world champion. It's an easy chance to subvert audience expectations and could be just the thing to cap the night off with a bang. 

Have you got your own bold prediction for tonight? The 2-out-of-3 Falls match not going to three falls? Bella vs. Bella being match of the night? Make your voice heard in the comments section below.