WWE Hell in a Cell 2015: Re-Booking Full Card from PPV
After a mixed night at Hell in a Cell 2015, fans will immediately think about what could have been done differently at WWE's latest event.
There were some high points, notably the two matches inside the cell. But some matches had little attraction to them before the event and proved just as disappointing on the night.
Whether it's booking an unexpected swerve or even just parts of the matches themselves that could have been done differently, there are always elements that could be improved.
So let's take a look through what WWE could have done differently if the card was re-booked from start to finish.
John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio
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The opening match of the night provided the biggest surprise for WWE fans, as Alberto Del Rio returned to claim the United States Championship from John Cena.
There was also a swerve in aligning Del Rio with Zeb Colter, a move which seemed strange on first glance and doesn’t appear any differently now.
If we’re re-booking the show from start to finish, could Del Rio have stood alone here? He’s had someone by his side for the bulk of his career in WWE, and with a fresh start for the Mexican, could this have been his opportunity to go it alone?
Also, with Cena set to take time off, could Del Rio have returned in spectacular fashion by writing Cena off television at Hell in a Cell? It would have marked a spectacular first night back with the company and sent out a major statement.
WWE should have let him beat Cena down so heavily after the match that we wouldn’t see him for a lengthy period. That would have also enabled Del Rio to get stuck into his next foe the night after without putting this situation to bed.
Kevin Owens vs. Ryback
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Arguably the most disappointing bout of the night at Hell in a Cell was Kevin Owens’ clash with Ryback.
The feud between the two has done little to spark imaginations, and from start to finish here, there wasn’t a great deal to write home about.
So what could have been done differently? Well, as Owens was so reliant on another controversial finish, has that done anything to increase his standing as intercontinental champion? Could he have got a much-needed cleaner win to not only boost his momentum but move on from Ryback?
The more he keeps getting sneaky, controversial victories, the longer this feud could drag on. Owens’ reign needs something a little bit more than in the weeks to come.
The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz
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Another disappointing match in the tag division, with little in-ring action to speak of.
The New Day is becoming a real hit on the microphone, but its rivalry with The Dudley Boyz really has yet to take off.
Here, you felt Big E and Kofi Kingston were always hampered with Xavier Woods at ringside. He does the talking more often than not, which allows Kingston and Big E to provide the action in the ring.
Woods should have been at ringside, even with bandages on, to sell the beating from Bubba Ray and D-Von. The match would have been much more entertaining with him around.
Elsewhere, the return of The Dudley Boyz to WWE hasn’t really taken off yet, so could WWE have thrown a stipulation into the works here to make things more interesting?
A match involving tables might sound too obvious, but with The New Day starting its own "Save the tables" chant, it could have created a much-needed dynamic to a flat, flat match.
Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte
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The Divas Championship bout between Nikki Bella and Charlotte offered one of the more surprisingly enjoyable matches of the entire night.
Standing out for her in-ring performance was Nikki, who largely outshined the champion and looked good from start to finish.
The actual content of the match itself doesn’t need re-booking, but the ending certainly needs addressing.
There’s no issue here with Charlotte winning and retaining her title, but what followed after was simply bizarre. Becky Lynch and Paige emerged to celebrate with her, but this would have been the perfect time to execute a full heel turn for Paige.
There’s nothing quite like a turn on pay-per-view, as it’s the biggest forum for it to be done. The confusion surrounding Paige has been infuriating to say the least, and this was a chance to put that right and set up Paige vs. Charlotte.
Instead, she celebrated with her as the cameras panned down and left everyone wondering what the long-term plan for the division will be.
Seth Rollins vs. Kane
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Seth Rollins’ match with Kane was another that failed to sparkle, as a disappointing and uninspiring feud ended in a rather tepid way.
It was obvious from the start that a feud with Kane was going to end only one way: with Rollins retaining the title in relatively uninspiring fashion.
But what could have been done differently on the night? Well, could the match have been inside the cell? Kane has a nice history with Hell in a Cell matches, and throwing Rollins into one for the second year in a row would have been a wise move.
The cell often brings the most brutal actions out of anyone who steps inside it, and you feel this title match would have been much more gripping in that format.
As for the ending itself, it was refreshing to see Rollins chalk up a clean win, something he really did need moving forward as champion. It gives him a strong platform to build on in the weeks to come.
The Two Cell Matches
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When you’re re-booking a full card, there are always some matches that couldn’t be done much differently. For Hell in a Cell, it was the two bouts in the cell which fall into that category, the most exciting matches of the night.
There are only minor details you can pick up on. Some would have liked The Wyatt Family to play a role in Bray’s loss to Roman Reigns, but this was a great match that didn’t need any outside interference. For WWE’s plan to have Reigns continue to move toward the main event scene, this was another result that also needed to happen.
Both cell matches also carried the level of brutality and physicality we expected from them, too. Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker certainly was the more violent, though, with plenty of blood and aggression.
Could there be a slight complaint with Lesnar's needing a cheap shot to put Taker away, though? Sure, it struck up memories of what happened at SummerSlam, where Taker won in controversial circumstances, but maybe Lesnar would have looked better with a clean win.
Again, these are minor points in the grand scheme of things. As for as its flagship matches, WWE will have been pleased with Hell in a Cell and the outcome of both headline bouts.
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