WWE Hell in a Cell 2015: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis
WWE Hell in a Cell 2015 is upon us, but you wouldn't know it if you watched WWE programming over the last month.
A truly lackluster build to this pay-per-view has caused it to lose a little luster, which is saying something for an already B- or C-level event. Of course WWE has given us plenty of promos for Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker. Aside from that match, WWE Creative has treated the rest of this card as an afterthought, which is a shame since there is some intrigue surrounding some major players.
John Cena, current United States champion, is headed on sabbatical following Hell in a Cell, as noted by the Washington Post. Since there's been no true challenger, WWE is taking the route of hosting its U.S. Open Challenge at Hell in a Cell.
Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt "will fight to a finish" inside the steel cage, per WWE.com. Reading between the lines, this should mean the two will head in separate directions after Hell in a Cell.
Plus, after weeks of tormenting Seth Rollins, the Demon Kane will take his fight to the WWE heavyweight champion with not only the title on the line, but Corporate Kane's role as director of operations.
The rest of the card for WWE Hell in a Cell 2015, being held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, includes:
- A six-man tag team match featuring Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Neville against King Barrett, Sheamus, and Rusev in the pre-show.
- Kevin Owens facing Ryback for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
- Nikki Bella getting her rematch against Charlotte for the WWE Divas Championship.
- The Dudley Boyz looking to become 10-time WWE tag team champions against The New Day.
With a packed card, it's time to bring together the best expert panel in the business: Bleacher Report's WWE team.
Hell in a Cell Expert Panel
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As always, our panel of experts is composed of members of the Bleacher Report WWE team, who will answer the tough questions about the landscape in WWE and provide predictions for each match on the Hell in a Cell card.
This month, our panel consists of:
- Brad Jones (@beardjones)
- Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the Smack Talk podcast
- Aaron Bower (@AaronBower)
- Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
- The Doctor Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)
- James Moffat (@jamesmoffat)
We're kicking off the predictions with the pre-show match and Aaron Bower, who nailed the most match predictions in our Night of Champions panel from last month.
It's time to strap up the laces and get ready to rumble.
Cesaro-Dolph Ziggler-Neville vs. King Barrett-Sheamus-Rusev (Pre-Show)
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Moderator note: It was announced on Raw that the proposed Dean Ambrose-Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper-Braun Strowman match was pulled from the Hell in a Cell card. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer (h/t WrestlingNews.co), Orton suffered a dislocated shoulder prior to the company's tour in Mexico over the weekend.
Give one word to describe this booking, then explain why the WWE Universe should watch it after seeing these six tangle on Raw six days before Hell in a Cell.
Aaron Bower (AB): Lazy. There’s no directive to the match, with WWE clearly deciding at the very last minute it wanted to throw these together after the kayfabe attack on Orton from The Wyatt Family. So how are WWE fans supposed to be excited about this? The one saving grace for it is that there’s the Money in the Bank briefcase holder involved, and it’ll be interesting to see Sheamus in action. There’s also fan favorites in Cesaro and Dolph, too, but there’s little else to be excited about.
Match Prediction: King Barrett-Sheamus-Rusev.
James Moffat (JM): Lazy. This is the type of match you’d expect to see on Raw the night after a pay-per-view. Granted, Randy Orton’s injured shoulder necessitated a change to the Hell in a Cell schedule. But this? The same match we got on the Raw go-home show? A singles match with any of these six men could have potentially piqued my interest. Instead, I fear this will be a muddled mess.
Match Prediction: The faces win.
Chris Mueller (CM): Redundant. The only reason the WWE Universe has to watch this match is that all six men are very talented and will likely produce a solid performance. There is no real feud here, but that isn’t always important to the success of a match.
Match Prediction: Ziggler, Cesaro and Neville win.
Anthony Mango (AM): Pointless. This match could have possibly been interesting if WWE hadn't already shown it on Raw, but that's killed its chances. There's no reason why the audience should care and WWE's creative team should know better than to purposely book a match several days before doing a repeat of it on a pay-per-view.
Match Prediction: The babyfaces win since the heels won on Raw, but it doesn't matter at all in the end.
Brad Jones (BJ): “Muddled” is the word to describe the booking for all six men. It seems that this match is an afterthought designed to cover for Orton’s injury, but fans should be interested because of the burgeoning "Eurotrash" stable. Barrett, Sheamus and Rusev are a great combination—and it would be great to see them team up for a while longer.
Match Prediction: Barrett, Sheamus and Rusev.
Erik Beaston (EB): Lazy. Rather than coming up with anything more interesting for these six guys to do, WWE Creative instead books the same match from Raw. Why should the WWE Universe invest themselves in the bout? That is as good a question as any, and one I have no legitimate answer for. Perhaps it will be as fun and fast-paced as Raw. Maybe something of note happens. But don’t hold your breath. The only question left is whether they replicate the same outcome or if the babyfaces score the win here.
Match Prediction: Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro and Neville.
Kevin Owens vs. Ryback (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
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The Sporting News’ Connor Casey has proclaimed that “[a]ll signs point to Owens being the man to save the Intercontinental Championship.” ProWrestling.net’s Darren Gutteridge once wrote that the title “has proven an albatross for the past decade, with almost all titleholders doomed to tread water.” Which statement do you most believe?
JM: The latter. I love Kevin Owens. I think he’s a bona fide Superstar and should be holding the most important title in the company sooner rather than later. However, I don’t trust how he’s been booked since holding the IC title. What made Owens’ persona spectacular was his brazen attitude toward opponents. Since losing his series with John Cena, his bookings are on par with Seth Rollins. And that’s not a good thing going forward.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
CM: Neither one of these men is completely right, but Connor Casey makes a better argument. Kevin Owens will be great for the Intercontinental Championship because he is excellent in the ring and on the mic. He can feud with just about anyone and it will be entertaining.
Match Prediction: Owens retains.
AM: Kevin Owens has yet to really do any wrong since making his debut earlier this year, so his track record makes me trust in his potential as Intercontinental champion. If anyone has proven that they can think outside of the box enough to get around this problem, it's Kevin Owens.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens retains via pinfall.
BJ: Casey is right to say that Owens is the man for the job. The current champion seems to understand that titles have a different significance in the hands of a villain compared to a fan favorite. For the latter, it’s all about the chase, which has proven to be a contributing factor to several disappointing reigns in recent years, as the journey to the title win is 90 percent of the fun. Owens as the obnoxious, self-engrossed champion helps illuminate his character, but it also sets up for an impactful win for whoever takes it from him.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
EB: Gutteridge has this one right. I’m a big believer in learning from history. There has been no reason to believe that Kevin Owens can be the guy to return credibility to the IC title, if only because we have heard repeatedly that so-and-so is going to do the same, only to wind up right back in the same situation where the IC title means little to nothing. Owens is a much more interesting champion than some of the more recent titleholders, but I have no reason to believe that he will change the fortunes of the title any more than Ryback did before him.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
AB: The first one, although he’ll need some help along the way. This feud with Ryback is hardly going to set the world alight, but it needed addressing as Ryback was, of course, the former champion. A win this weekend and the door starts to open up for other men to challenge Owens, with plenty to pick from. Going for someone like Dean Ambrose or even Cesaro again would inject some real enthusiasm into this championship, which admittedly has been too stale for too long.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns (Hell in a Cell Match)
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Following his feud with Roman Reigns, which is ending after their match at Hell in a Cell (h/t Wrestling Inc.), what does the future hold for Bray Wyatt and his flock?
CM: The Wyatt Family will have Bray Wyatt take a backseat for a little while following this match so the other members of the group can flourish. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them pursue the Tag Team Championship in the near future, especially if The Dudley Boyz win at Hell in a Cell.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns defeats Bray Wyatt.
AM: At the moment, there aren't a ton of people Bray Wyatt can have an intriguing program with as far as singles competition. The best bet for this group is for The Wyatt Family to get into the tag team division soon enough, with Wyatt acting as more of a manager than the sole focal point.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns finds a way to come out on top.
BJ: The future looks bright. As a four-man unit, The Wyatt Family looks more imposing than it ever has. A Survivor Series match looks likely, and that would be a terrific time to demonstrate that the new Face of Fear and his family are more than just a spooky promo machine.
Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt.
EB: Here is exactly what will happen after the Hell in a Cell match: Bray Wyatt will target another babyface, with little to no explanation for doing so. He will ramble on, wax poetic, but never really make any sense or explain why he does what he does. From there, they will wrestle at several pay-per-views in a row, Wyatt winning one of the matches while the babyface scores victories in every other. And then, when they wrap up their program, WWE Creative will lather, rinse and repeat. Because that is what they do.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns.
AB: This is tough to predict, and may depend on what happens elsewhere on the night. It would be great to see Erick Rowan and Luke Harper go after the tag division, as they were starting to make a bit of an impact there before Rowan’s injury. As for Bray, perhaps a returning Randy Orton will be his next victim. He doesn’t quite feel like he’s ready for the world title scene yet, but another couple of feuds could be just what he needs before making the step up.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns.
JM: If WWE is smart (wishful thinking, I know), Bray Wyatt goes over in this spot and becomes an actual leader instead of a caricature. The Wyatt Family should be viciously attacking foes, disrupting matches and, in essence, holding the WWE hostage. It would be a great program that catapults Bray to main event status.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns.
Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella (WWE Divas Championship)
5 of 11On a scale of one to 10, how much pressure is on Charlotte and Nikki Bella following the Bayley-Sasha Banks rematch at NXT TakeOver: Respect earlier this month?
AM: There should be immense pressure and they may even feel it themselves, but the truth is there really isn't all that much. Enough time has passed that this match won't receive as much of a direct comparison to the Iron Man match, nor does the general wrestling community truly think there's a chance Charlotte and Nikki can equal or surpass it. Sasha Banks and Bayley had an amazing match, but if Charlotte and Nikki just do an OK job, it will be viewed as a success.
Match Prediction: Charlotte retains, but may only win the match by disqualification.
BJ: 10. Pressure is one of the biggest factors weighing on the Divas Revolution, but it’s something that a lot of observers are looking past. There are big expectations for a women’s title match at a PPV like this one, and it’s because of NXT matches like Banks vs. Charlotte and Bayley vs. Banks. The difference is, those matches had months of build that amplified the excellent ring work. This bout doesn’t have that narrative thrust, but it will no doubt be held to similar standards. The problem might be the "Divas Revolution" moniker, as the division is still a work-in-progress in terms of the main roster, and that’s fine for now.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
EB: One, if not lower. The fact of the matter is fans do not expect the same excellence from Charlotte and Nikki that they did from Bayley and Sasha. There is no prior performance that indicates the two are capable of delivering anything even remotely close to what their peers did at NXT TakeOver: Respect, so there is no real expectation or pressure put on them. Add to that the fact that fans hate Nikki Bella and misguidedly attribute her rise, development as a worker and success to her personal relationships outside of the squared circle and you have no reason to believe fans expect anything more than the standard fare.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
AB: Eight. That match was one of the best in Divas history, and it certainly does pile the pressure on both Charlotte and Nikki Bella in a wrestling sense. But the bigger pressure here is on the division in general to pull off a match and a storyline worthy of those involved in the Divas division. I would expect something big to happen with Paige here. She seems to be the one Diva who could really turn a stuttering division on its head, so a heel turn on Charlotte seems a good bet here, but not until after their match.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
JM: In my mind, a solid nine. In WWE’s eyes, probably a one. NXT has provided a blueprint for compelling women’s wrestling that WWE has no intention of embracing, which is disappointing. Instead, we’re given soap opera storylines that don’t connect with either casual fans or diehard wrestling aficionados. Women’s wrestling fans will have to outlast the Total Divas bookings, pining for a day when Banks, Bayley, Charlotte and Becky Lynch (criminally underutilized since her call-up) are given a chance to show exactly what they’re capable of doing when given a chance.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
CM: I would say the level of pressure on Nikki and Charlotte is about a seven, but it has nothing to do with anyone in NXT. The fans have come to accept that the Divas division and the Women’s division are two different things and need to be judged separately. However, the future of the Divas Revolution may be determined by how well they perform on Sunday.
Match Prediction: Charlotte defeats Nikki Bella to retain the Divas title.
Bonus Question No. 1
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This has been a busy week for WWE rumors, including:
- The possible returns of either/both Shane-O-Mac (per Justin LaBar of TribLive.com) and Alberto Del Rio, as noted by B/R’s own Aaron Bower.
- Predicting Tyler Breeze’s main roster debut* (h/t Wrestling Inc., via F4WOnline.com).
- SmackDown becoming a live show starting in 2016 (h/t A Shot of Yager).
What rumor (mentioned or otherwise) has piqued your interest the most over the past week?
*Moderator note: Breeze made his WWE main roster debut Thursday night on SmackDown.
BJ: Tyler Breeze’s main roster debut. Prince Pretty has long been an NXT standout, and has done so without the "indie cred" that many other competitors possess. He’s significantly raised his game in terms of his character and his in-ring acumen, and he deserves a lot of success on the main roster as a result. Here’s hoping he doesn’t get lost in the shuffle, as Breeze is among the best prospects to come out of NXT.
EB: The arrival of Tyler Breeze has piqued my interest most, if only because of this effect it will have on the future of the product. Would it be cool to see Shane McMahon on WWE television? Of course. Would live SmackDown be fantastic and breathe life into the show? Absolutely. But at a time when WWE is struggling from a ratings standpoint, it needs to focus its attention on building toward the future rather than reliving days of old or trying to fix a SmackDown program it has repeatedly treated like the B-show for a decade.
AB: It would be hard to ignore the Shane McMahon rumor, but the one that catches my eye is the Tyler Breeze debut on the main roster. He’s really stood out in NXT over recent months, and looks to be seriously ready for the step up. Could he be the man to answer John Cena’s open challenge at Hell in a Cell? That would prompt a great reaction from the crowd, as Breeze certainly has something about him. I’m excited to see what’s in his future.
JM: The SmackDown rumor is most intriguing to me. If true, going to a live broadcast could present interesting opportunities. Moving SmackDown to Friday nights, thus eliminating competition from NFL broadcasts, college football broadcasts and traditional network television programming, could be a boon. If WWE really thinks outside the box, it could create a new type of show akin to DirecTV’s Red Zone Channel, with live look-ins at WWE house shows that typically split the roster on Friday nights.
CM: SmackDown going live is the most appealing of these rumors because it would give people a reason to tune in. Knowing the spoilers ahead of time can often misrepresent the quality of a show, and the fact that it would be live might entice more people to just sit down and watch it without prejudging.
AM: Easily, this goes to Shane McMahon's possible return. Tyler Breeze is bound to show up on the main roster eventually, Alberto Del Rio is old news, and SmackDown becoming live has been a possibility for years but that won't save the show from being extraneous. On the other hand, Shane's return would be monumental and actually could change things up quite a bit.
The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz (WWE Tag Team Championship)
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I think it’s safe to assume that everybody loves The New Day and what they bring to WWE. With that said: Name your favorite member of The New Day and why.
EB: Big E has been one of my favorite workers of 2015. He has been vastly underrated as a worker for the better part of a year but it is the fact that he has been allowed the opportunity to let his personality shine through that has made him a joy to watch. From making "Booty" a thing to using his preacher voice to elicit a reaction for New Day before he even explodes through the curtain, Big E has been a revelation for all those already not familiar with his Twitter antics.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
AB: Toughest question of the lot! I really, really like Big E, and have thought for a while he could be a world champion in the future. His breakaway from Dolph Ziggler all that time ago caught my eye, and I thought he was a decent midcard champion. The New Day has really freshened his career up, and he stands out both in the ring and out of it. The other two are brilliant, too, but I always feel that if The New Day split tomorrow, Big E would be best placed to survive as both a babyface and a heel. He’s that good.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
JM: Xavier Woods is the glue that holds The New Day together. Big E and Kofi Kingston take their cues from Woods. He’s the one that dictates whether The New Day will perform as more of a comedic act or dastardly heel trio. Everyone loves Kofi’s ability and Big E’s GIFs, but it’s Woods who is the maestro for this perfect orchestra of sublime talent.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
CM: Xavier Woods. As far as mic workers go, few have been as funny and entertaining as Woods over the last six months. His trombone can be annoying if overused, but his charisma and the fact that he understands his role perfectly make him the backbone of this team.
Match Prediction: The Dudley Boyz win the Tag Team Championships.
AM: This is incredibly tough, as they all have their benefits. Separately, I would say Kofi Kingston, but in the context of The New Day, I would lean toward Big E. As hilarious as Woods can be, Big E takes things to an even more ridiculous level. All in all, neither of them are booty, though.
Match Prediction: The Dudley Boyz win the titles.
BJ: Kofi Kingston. It’s been amazing to see him reinvent his on-screen persona, having spent several years without the opportunity to do so. Big E looks set to be the man to get a main event run once The New Day runs its course, but Kofi should see his stock go up, too.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
John Cena vs. ? (United States Championship)
8 of 11Two-part question: Who will be John Cena’s opponent at Hell in a Cell, and who should answer Cena’s challenge?
AB: My confidence in WWE is at such a low level that for the first part of the question, I’ll go for someone like Luke Harper. Basically, a safe option. Who should take up the challenge? If they’re going to be close to beating Cena or even getting the job done, someone like Tyler Breeze would be my pick. As I mentioned earlier, he stands out whenever I see him on NXT, and he looks ready to make the step up to the main roster permanently. Get Breeze in there and give him a go; he won’t disappoint.
Match Prediction: John Cena.
JM: Now that he’s not saddled with a pre-show match, Dean Ambrose will likely be the man to answer the call. Ambrose is as good a choice as any to be Cena’s successor, especially if the plan is to have the reigning United States champion drop the title prior to his hiatus from programming. As for who should answer the call? I’d love to see Owens beat Cena. Owens beating Cena for the title, tying their series and being the man who (in kayfabe) knocked Cena out of competition would reignite an aura around Owens that existed prior to his defeat at the hands of Cena.
Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose answers the call, defeats Cena to claim U.S. title.
CM: The most likely person to challenge Cena on Sunday will be someone like Mark Henry or Big Show. As far as who should challenge him, Daniel Bryan or Samoa Joe would both be excellent candidates. If Bryan is healthy, having him win the U.S. title on his first night back would be awesome. As for Samoa Joe, there’s no point in making him wait down in NXT. If the plan is to have him get to the main roster, debuting at a PPV and beating Cena would give him the most possible momentum.
Match Prediction: John Cena loses the U.S. title.
AM: With the rumors circling around, I think it should and will be Tyler Breeze answering the challenge and possibly even winning the championship.
Match Prediction: John Cena retains against anybody except a debuting NXT star.
BJ: Dean Ambrose seems like a likely candidate, even though it’s something of a plain choice. In an ideal world, Daniel Bryan would seem like a perfect fit. He could continue his efforts to raise the profile of a midcard championship, and the prospect of the U.S. Open Challenge continuing with the Yes Man fighting all comers has a lot of potential. However, he’s a long shot.
Match Prediction: Cena loses.
EB: John Cena’s challenger will and should be Tyler Breeze. Prince Pretty made his debut on Thursday’s SmackDown and immediately targeted Dolph Ziggler. With The Showoff participating in the pre-show match, the company will likely want to get Breeze on the show elsewhere. Having him accept Cena’s open challenge and win the title (which is the likely outcome given Cena’s upcoming absence) is the perfect way to “make” him going forward. Then, Breeze and Ziggler can feud over the title as Cena takes his hiatus.
Match Prediction: Tyler Breeze defeats John Cena.
Seth Rollins vs. Kane (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
9 of 11True or false: Seth Rollins will hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship leading into a match at WrestleMania 32.
JM: Absolutely true. However WWE decides to book Rollins over the next few months, I think we’re staring at a Rollins-Brock Lesnar-Roman Reigns triple threat match at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas. That, in turn, will set up the long-rumored Rollins vs. Triple H showdown at next year’s SummerSlam. WWE is slow burning that feud, and it will likely come to a head when Rollins doesn’t have the title.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins.
CM: False. Rollins might make it out of WrestleMania 32 as the champion, but it’s doubtful his reign will last an entire year. He is a great heel champion, but his reign hasn’t been as good as it could have been with better booking. He has been made to look weak too often, and at this point some time without the belt would help him find new motivation. Also, if WWE wants to reunite The Shield for the big event, Rollins needs to lose the belt so all three men can be on the same level.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins beats Kane to retain the title.
AM: True. I can see only two possible options for Rollins at WrestleMania 32, which are Triple H or a triple threat with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. If the former were to happen, the title wouldn't be on the line, but it seems more likely for The Rock to face Triple H, which makes me lean toward the latter, which would definitely have the title involved.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins absolutely retains as Kane has no shot whatsoever.
BJ: True. With Rollins unlikely to lose the title this weekend, and only two pay-per-views left until the Royal Rumble following that, it seems very likely that he will hold the belt until WrestleMania. Whether it’s a Shield triple threat or some other main event, The Architect is a fine choice for a marquee match on the grandest stage of them all.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins.
EB: True, Seth Rollins will hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship heading into WrestleMania. The bigger question is whether he will hold the title uninterrupted, what with Sheamus running around with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Despite wanting to believe the Celtic Warrior will cash in sometime prior to the Showcase of the Immortals, I expect Rollins to hold onto the title before dropping it to Roman Reigns in Dallas. It makes the most sense and would put a cap on a story created a year later. It is still possible that The Architect loses the gold, then regains it in time for the big event but that would be a misstep on the part of WWE Creative.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins.
AB: True. He might drop it in between, but the way things are looking right now, all the top talent seems destined to be tied up elsewhere. He’s going to be at the head of WWE for the next six or seven months at least, which is where he deserves to be. A feud with Roman Reigns is likely in his destiny in the short term, and that could even draw out to a long-term rivalry that culminates at WrestleMania. But as far as I can see, Rollins isn’t dropping the title in the near future.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins.
Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match)
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Q: Fill in the blanks: Brock Lesnar’s next opponent will be ________ at _________. The Undertaker’s next opponent will be ________ at _________.
CM: Lesnar will probably end up facing The Rock at WrestleMania 32. As for The Undertaker, it’s hard to say. Now that he doesn’t have The Streak, any feud he gets into has to have a more personal angle to it. John Cena would be a good candidate because he has never had a real program with Taker. If I were booking it, he would have one last match with Kane and put him over so The Big Red Monster can regain some of the credibility he has lost in recent years.
Match Prediction: Someone will interfere on The Undertaker’s behalf, allowing him to defeat Lesnar and setting in motion Lesnar’s next feud.
AM: Brock Lesnar's next opponent will be losing to him at the Royal Rumble. The Undertaker's next opponent will be either Sting, John Cena or Sheamus at WrestleMania.
Match Prediction: The Undertaker wins via pinfall.
BJ: Brock Lesnar’s next opponent will be The Rock at WrestleMania. The Undertaker’s next opponent will be John Cena at WrestleMania. All signs point toward Hell in a Cell ending the feud between the Beast and the Deadman, but it’s likely that both will be on the WrestleMania card in an attempt to force a sellout. There are few bigger options for both men than one another—but The Rock and John Cena would be terrific options.
Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar.
EB: Brock Lesnar’s next opponent will be The Rock at WrestleMania 32. The Undertaker’s next opponent will be The Wyatt Family, with Kane as his tag team partner, at the Royal Rumble. I’m not really sure why I feel like Undertaker will work Royal Rumble but somewhere, Vince is salivating about the idea of ‘Taker working Braun Strowman. With that match likely being a disaster of epic proportions, Kane, Bray and either Rowan or Harper being there to help maintain the quality of the match makes the most sense. As for Lesnar, WWE will want to use his star power in the most efficient way possible. For all of the talk about The Rock and Triple H squaring off, something that has been teased in the past, it feels as though Rock vs. Lesnar is a match much more fitting of the grandest stage in wrestling.
Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar.
AB: Brock Lesnar’s next opponent will be loads of other guys at Royal Rumble. Don’t ask me why, there’s no rumors being attributed here, it’s just something I can see happening. Lesnar might dip away for an extended period before coming back to declare his intention, which is winning the Royal Rumble. It’s there where he’s screwed by someone to set up a match at WrestleMania. As for Taker, I think he’ll go in with someone like Sting at WrestleMania 32. It's been great to see him more active in the ring, but this match will be his last for a while.
Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar.
JM: Brock Lesnar’s next opponent will be Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble, where Rollins will somehow escape with the championship, leading to a Rollins-Brock Lesnar-Roman Reigns triple threat match at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas. The Undertaker’s next opponent will be Finn Balor at WrestleMania 32 in a Deadman vs. Demon match, where Taker will exit with a win and thus cap his storied career.
Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar.
Bonus Question No. 2
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Q: It’s become a staple of our pay-per-view roundtables, so here goes: Which WWE Superstar are you most disappointed is not part of WWE Hell in a Cell 2015?
AM: Since his previous match has been pulled, Dean Ambrose is the one leaving the biggest gaping hole in the card as far as I'm concerned. He's too good to be pushed aside so often like what has happened for the past few months.
BJ: Sasha Banks. The Boss is the breakout star of 2015, and she hasn’t been used to full effect on the main roster as of yet. Hopefully, we’ll see Banks become a major focus once the division as a whole has settled into its new era.
EB: This answer is the same as last month: Sasha Banks. The Boss is one of the best wrestlers in the world, regardless of her gender. She is the best worker in the Divas division, but despite tremendous performances against Bayley at the last two NXT TakeOver specials, has been unable to garner the support of WWE’s main roster creative team and enjoy anything resembling a consistent push. She deserves better.
AB: Yet again he’s been reduced to a sideshow act, and it’s criminal how Dean Ambrose is being treated right now. It’s pretty diabolical booking from WWE to not have him competing again, and you can only hope there’s some sort of grand plan in the pipeline. Personally, I’d like to see Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship. That would be a feud that would set the wrestling world alight. The promos, the in-ring work, everything. It would be unmissable.
JM: My gut says Sasha Banks, but I don’t trust WWE Creative to book her properly so I want her as far away from the current Divas storylines as possible until they clean the whole division up. So I’m going with Randy Orton. First, you never want to see someone go down with an injury. Second, I was really looking forward to seeing how the Dean Ambrose-Randy Orton tension was going to play out, especially if it led to an extended program between the two. Yes, he was going to be in a pre-show match, but the story might have gotten juicy if booked properly. Get well, Randy.
CM: Dean Ambrose. He might not have a storyline to himself at the moment, but he is one of the few people who delivers a topnotch performance at every single PPV he is booked for. After Hell in a Cell, Ambrose needs to be in the hunt for the IC or U.S. title. He is in a position to use his popularity to help the midcard scene become so much better than it is right now.
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