WWE Hell in a Cell 2014: GSM's Pick, Preview and Potential for Each Match
In a few hours' time, WWE will present its sixth annual Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event, which will be live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas at 8 p.m. ET.
Hell in a Cell has never been a top priority of WWE with Survivor Series right around the corner, and this year has been no exception. The undercard for the event has been poorly built over the last month, but it still has potential to be better than expected.
For months, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have been at each other's throats after Rollins turned his back on The Shield, but their long running rivalry will culminate inside Hell in a Cell. Will Ambrose score his first singles victory over Rollins? Or will Mr. Money in the Bank put an end to Ambrose once and for all?
John Cena and Randy Orton both have their respective claims to being the rightful No. 1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Which one of them will survive Satan's Structure and go on to challenge Brock Lesnar for the title?
Rusev is undefeated in singles competition since his WWE debut the night after WrestleMania 30. Big Show has posed a major threat to that winning streak in recent weeks, but will he be able to channel his anger in his match against the ruthless Russian on Sunday?
I will provide previews and predictions and discuss the potential for every match on the advertised card over the following pages.
Sheamus vs. The Miz (United States Championship)
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Preview
Sheamus and the Miz crossed paths a handful of times this past summer, but it wasn't until recently that the two engaged in a full-on feud with each other. Miz pinned Sheamus in one-on-one action on the October 6 edition of Raw before beating him via count-out the following week.
Both wins put the Awesome One in contention for Sheamus' United States Championship. Damien Mizdow, Miz's stunt double, was also successful in defeating him in a six-man tag team match on the October 20 Raw.
Prediction
It's a shame virtually no one cares about this feud. These two work well together, but at the same time, it's unsurprising that there is a lack of interest. WWE has done next to nothing to make their midcard mean anything as of late, and this feud has suffered as a result. Most fans have forgotten Sheamus was even holding a title because he's been a background player all year long.
Miz, on the other hand, has been excellent in his new Hollywood role, but Mizdow is the one people have been paying attention to. Expect him to get involved here, only for his interference to backfire, cost Miz the match and further tease a split between the two.
Potential
Although Sheamus and Miz have struggled to make fans care about this feud, they still have very good in-ring chemistry. Again, though, most of the focus will probably be on Mizdow at ringside, since his antics are usually far more entertaining than whatever's going on in the ring.
Gold and Stardust vs. The Usos (WWE Tag Team Championship)
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Preview
After failing to win the WWE Tag Team Championships from Jimmy and Jey Uso on the August 25 Raw, Gold and Stardust viciously attacked the twin brothers, turning heel on the process. At Night of Champions, the two teams faced off in a championship rematch that ended with Gold and Stardust taking home the titles.
The Usos have been in chase mode ever since, but they have refused to give up in their request to regain the gold. At Hell in a Cell, they'll be given one last shot to win back the titles that were once theirs.
Prediction
I'm glad we have an actual feud in the tag team division for once, but it's hard to call this a real rivalry, given all the two teams have done is clash in six-man tag action. Their matches have been great, sure, but what else do we know about either tandem?
Their lack of mic time has made this feud forgettable, and I am ready to see it reach its end. There are far more potential challengers for the Usos as champions than the heel duo of Goldust and Stardust, so one can only assume the Usos will win back the straps on Sunday night.
Potential
What this feud has lacked in terms of storyline support has been made up for in in-ring action. With the Wyatt Family off TV, the Usos and Gold and Stardust are the two best teams WWE has to offer at the moment. Their matches are never short of stellar, and with time, they're primed to have another barn burner of a bout at Hell in a Cell.
AJ Lee vs. Paige (Divas Championship)
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Preview
One night removed from WrestleMania 30, Paige made her Raw debut and beat AJ Lee for the Divas Championship. Upon AJ's return to the ring, she won back the Divas title from Paige on the June 30 Raw.
The two have traded the title back-and-forth on several occasions since then, and their latest clash will come at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. Which Diva will solidify their superiority over the other?
Prediction
I, along with many others, had high hopes for this feud when it first kicked off after WrestleMania 30. However, it's definitely lost its way since SummerSlam. The various approaches they've taken over the course of the rivalry (going from "frenemies" to rivals to lovers and back to rivals) have hindered more than helped it, and it's time for this feud to conclude.
The title has changed hands so many times since the start of the year that the belt is essentially worthless, but it'd be wise to keep it on AJ as she (hopefully) enters a feud with Stephanie McMahon going into WrestleMania season.
Potential
AJ and Paige have had a handful of very good matches since the start of their feud, but none of them have been that one great match we all know they're capable of having. It all comes down to how much time they're allotted, and while I don't expect them to get much of it, their blow-off bout should be their best yet.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Cesaro (2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the Intercontinental Title)
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Preview
After winning back the Intercontinental Championship from the Miz on the September 22 edition of Raw, Dolph Ziggler shifted his sights to Cesaro. The two first faced off for the title on the September 26 SmackDown, but after Ziggler won in controversial fashion, Cesaro was granted another opportunity days later in a Triple Threat match also involving Miz.
The Swiss Superman came up short of capturing the gold on that night, as well as on the October 24 SmackDown. Cesaro challenged Ziggler to one last title match contested under 2-out-of-3 Falls rules at Hell in a Cell, which the bleached-blonde Superstar accepted.
Prediction
This is another feud that has lacked storyline support, but Ziggler and Cesaro have made the most out of what they've been given by having excellent matches. Technically, there isn't any reason for this match to be happening, since Cesaro has failed to win the gold so many times before, but does it really matter?
The match could very well go either way, but since Ziggler recently won back the strap, it'd be mind-boggling to take it off him now. That hasn't stopped WWE from having it constantly change hands before, but I'll hold out hope.
Potential
As previously noted, the matches these two have had in the last month have been excellent, but it felt like they were holding back in the bouts. One can only assume that Hell in a Cell will serve as the perfect platform for them to go all out and have the instant classic they're capable of having.
Brie Bella vs. Nikki Bella (Loser Becomes the Winner's Assistant for One Month)
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Preview
After a lifetime of friendship and sisterhood, the Bella Twins parted ways after Nikki turned on Brie at SummerSlam, helping the vindictive Stephanie McMahon defeat her sister. Brie attempted to reconcile with Nikki but to no avail.
The two have traded both blows and insults over the last two months, but had yet to go one-on-one until Hell in a Cell. The stipulation of their match states that the loser must become the winner's assistant for one month, and failure to do so will result in that sister's termination from WWE.
Prediction
We all feared that we would be in for the worst when the Bella Twins first started feuding at the end of the summer. Needless to say, this rivalry has definitely met expectations in being exactly what everyone envisioned it would be: terrible.
Thankfully, it hasn't been shoved down our throats as much lately, but that doesn't take away from the fact that no one could care less who wins this match. There's no way a face Brie would force her heel sister to do her bidding, so it's obvious Nikki will emerge victorious and (unfortunately) keep the rivalry alive.
Potential
While both Bellas have improved immensely in the ring over the last year or so, neither of them have shown they can have good to great matches. At least the crowd in Dallas should prove to be entertaining if they choose to chant for random things during the contest.
Rusev vs. Big Show
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Preview
It's been over six months since Rusev first arrived on the WWE scene. In that time, he's run through everyone who's stepped foot in his path of destruction. His long list of helpless victims includes R-Truth, Big E, Jack Swagger, Rob Van Dam and others.
After disposing of Mark Henry with ease at Night of Champions, Big Show came to Henry's aid and managed to knock Rusev out on the September 26 edition of SmackDown. Will Show deliver on his promise by doing what Henry couldn't and snap the undefeated streak of the ruthless Russian?
Prediction
Whether you like him or not, you have to admit WWE has done a solid job of building up Rusev since his debut. I continue to fear the end game for him will be a feud with John Cena, but nevertheless, his current rivalry with Big Show has exceeded expectations.
The solider angle from the October 20 Raw was hokey, but everything that preceded it was well done. Of course, it's far too soon for Rusev to be beaten, so I fully expect him to beat Big Show here. A heel turn for Henry is definitely on the horizon, but I have a suspicion it will happen on Raw and not on the pay-per-view.
Potential
On paper, this looks like a battle of the behemoths (which, we all know, rarely ever works), but their last two matches against each other were far better than I originally anticipated. This won't be a five-star match classic or anything, but it could very well one of the night's more suspenseful matches if booked correctly.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell No. 1 Contender's Match)
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Preview
After failing to defeat Dean Ambrose on the October 13 edition of Raw and earning the right to face Seth Rollins at Hell in a Cell, John Cena instead turned his attention to long-time rival Randy Orton. The history between the two dates back to their days in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2002, and they've clashed countless times since.
Despite all their differences, the one thing they currently have in common is their desire to become WWE World Heavyweight champion again. For the second time in five years, Cena and Orton will go to war inside Hell in a Cell to determine who the true No. 1 contender to the title really is.
Prediction
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc) noted earlier this month that Brock Lesnar is currently slated to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena at January's Royal Rumble event, so if that's any indication, chances are Cena will win this match. However, that was before Orton gained popularity online with "RKOs out of nowhere" Vines and started to tease a babyface turn.
I just can't fathom a No. 1 contender being named here only to not go for the gold for another three months. Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but I'd love to see Orton revert back to being anti-hero and face Lesnar for the title in his hometown, St. Louis, at Survivor Series. Whether it happens at that event or not, I still have faith in Orton coming out on top in this bout. Cena facing Lesnar for a fourth time would be ridiculous.
Potential
What can Cena and Orton do in this match to separate it from all their past encounters? My guess is not much, especially since they've already faced off inside Satan's Structure before.
WWE makes Cena vs. Orton out to be the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. the Rock of this generation, but their lack of in-ring chemistry separates them from those two icons. Still, their 2009 Hell in a Cell match was enjoyable, and given what's at stake, this should be a better bout than usual from the familiar foes.
Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell Match)
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Preview
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins (along with Roman Reigns) came up in WWE together as part of the Shield, but their 18-month partnership came to an end in June when Rollins sold out to join the Authority. Ambrose has spent the last few months seeking retribution, making life miserable for his former stablemate. Although he fell short of victory at SummerSlam, the Lunatic Fringe will look to put Rollins away indefinitely at Hell in a Cell.
Prediction
Despite being slightly silly at times, the feud between Ambrose and Rollins has been the best thing going in all of wrestling since it started. The best part about it is it's always unpredictable. Either guy could win here and neither of them would be damaged by the loss.
Since Rollins is in possession of the Money in the Bank briefcase, officials may see that as an excuse for him to come up short in this contest without losing anything in defeat. Plus, Ambrose has yet to win any of their pay-per-view encounters, so he's my official pick.
Potential
Rollins and Ambrose are excellent workers in their own right, but together, they make magic. That was evident during their battle at SummerSlam, and fans have been anticipating a rematch ever since.
Hell in a Cell matches this day and age are better when the combatants have a story worth telling inside the cell—and these two definitely do. I fully expect them to thrive inside Satan's Structure, regardless of whether they're given the main event slot.
Read more prediction pieces for past WWE pay-per-views here.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website at Next Era Wrestling and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
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