WWE Hell in a Cell 2019 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Pain, suffering, torment and torture awaited four of the most prominent Superstars of WWE at Hell in a Cell Sunday night when they stepped inside the unforgiving titular structure.

Championship aspirations fueled them as Seth Rollins defended his universal title against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Raw women's champion Becky Lynch put her belt on the line against Sasha Banks.

Would two of WWE's most prominent stars leave Sacramento with their reigns intact or would the brash arrogance of Banks and unabashed terror of The Fiend prove too much for the champions to retain?

Find out the answer to that question and everything else that went down with this recap of the 2019 edition of the annual October pay-per-view extravaganza.

Natalya vs. Lacey Evans

Credit: WWE.com

The seemingly never-ending rivalry between Lacey Evans and Natalya opened Sunday's festivities as the women met on the Hell in a Cell Kickoff Show.

Evans grounded Natalya early, surprisingly outwrestling The Queen of Harts in the opening moments of the bout. An attempt by the veteran babyface to turn the tides ended with The Sassy Southern Belle halting her momentum and targeting the left knee.

After several minutes on the offensive, Evans attempted to add insult to injury by applying Natalya's own Sharpshooter against her. A big slap by the third-generation competitor created some separation, but her rival was back on the assault seconds later.

Another attempt at the Sharpshooter, another refusal by Natalya.

Despite a dominant effort by Evans, Natalya fought her way back into the match off a missed moonsault and applied her trademark submission finisher for the win.

After the match, the victor avenged Evans' actions from Monday, delivering her own version of the Woman's Right that left her rival in a heap.

Result

Natalya defeated Lacey Evans

Grade

C

Analysis

This was another fine bout between Natalya and Evans, but it's a matchup that has been too overexposed by WWE Creative since WrestleMania 35 in April.

Natalya has been Evans' punching bag for months and her win—especially after the disrespect shown her by The Sassy Southern Belle—should have been better and meant more. As it was, the in-ring product was adequate and her victory felt lukewarm.

Where Evans, once a top contender to the Raw Women's Championship, goes from here is the question WWE Creative must address next.

Hell in a Cell for the Raw Women's Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

The hottest rivalry in WWE came to a head in the opening match of this year's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view as Becky Lynch defended her Raw Women's Championship against Sasha Banks inside the event's namesake.

As the cell lowered from the ceiling, Banks attacked Lynch, sending her face-first into the steel mesh and dropping her with a suplex on the steel entrance ramp. With the structure on the ground, the assault by the challenger continued on the arena floor, outside the confines of the unforgiving structure.

A braggadocios Banks ate a steel door to the face as Lynch kicked it back at her. Inside the cage, The Man stomped away at The Boss, then stole the steel chain from the door. She proceeded to unload on the midsection of the challenger before grounding her with a big uppercut.

The champion continued her attack on Banks before retrieving a table from underneath the ring. She pulled a ladder from under the ring, but a momentary distraction allowed the self-proclaimed "Blueprint" to bash her with a chair. As Banks turned her attention to the same weapon, Lynch returned the favor with a chair to the back of her own.

A series of near-falls ensued before Lynch repeatedly sent Banks face-first into a chair. The challenger recovered moments later and delivered a Meteora that sent The Man back- and neck-first into a ladder propped up on the side of the cell.

She followed by slamming the champion's left arm and hand in the cell door, and then targeted the limb with a steel chair. Another Meteora, this one as Lynch was seated on a chair, earned Banks a two-count.

The champion fought back, delivering a Bexploder suplex to Banks into the side of the cell. She sent the challenger face-first into the open end of a chair and followed with a bulldog but could only net a near-fall. A missile dropkick from the middle rope earned her another two-count.

Banks regained control of the bout on the floor, where she set up two kendo sticks in the corner of the cell. Unfortunately for her, it would be her own head that cracked off them, courtesy of the champion. Lynch sat a chair atop those kendo sticks, placed The Boss on it and delivered a running dropkick from the ring apron.

The challenger halted her opponent's momentum, delivering a backstabber. She sought to deliver a superplex from the top rope, through a table, but Lynch fought out. Banks caught her with a Meteora through the table but was unable to put the titleholder away.

A frustrated Banks retrieved a kendo stick and used it to apply a Bank Statement as the commentary team questioned whether Lynch would tap. Instead, she inched toward the ropes and the floor, using her leverage to escape.

On the floor, she unloaded on Banks with the same kendo stick, but the challenger reversed her momentum and sent The Man into a chair.

The Boss introduced about a dozen chairs into the mix and scaled the ropes. Lynch met her up there, delivered a Bexploder from the top rope and onto the pile of chairs before forcing Banks to tap out via the Disarmer.

Result

Lynch defeated Banks

Grade

A+

Analysis

Once upon a time, Hell in a Cell was the culmination of intense rivalries. It was the playground of two competitors whose disdain was at such a level that they had no choice but to settle their differences in the unforgiving confines of the enclosed cage.

The introduction of this particular pay-per-view and the need to have a Hell in a Cell match every year watered down the gimmick over time, but after what felt like an eternity, Lynch and Banks returned the intensity, aggression, violence and sense of urgency to the bout.

This was an outstanding match that not only reminded fans of how excellent Banks is but also confirmed that Lynch is, without a doubt, the new face of WWE in 2019.

The Man withstood a tremendous beating but fought through and scored the victory to continue her six-month reign atop the women's division. It remains to be seen what that means for her future following the WWE draft, but one thing is for certain: The Man is no longer simply a catchy nickname or slogan stamped on a few t-shirts. 

Lynch is The Man in WWE.

Banks will recover and excel. She has no choice not to considering her work since returning from her hiatus—even if Sunday night was as good as any to crown her.

Tornado Tag Match: Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan

Credit: WWE.com

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Corey Graves said to explain the relationship between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan as they took to the squared circle for a Tornado Tag Team match against their common foes, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper.

Bryan flew through the ropes and wiped Harper out with a tope suicida early, and Reigns followed with a big Superman Punch to Rowan.

The bigger, more powerful heels overwhelmed the babyfaces shortly afterward, wresting control of the bout from the unlikely allies. With Reigns out of the equation, the former tag team champions turned their attention to Bryan, wearing him out and grounding him in an effort to take away his speed and agility.

Reigns reappeared and dropped Harper off the top rope with a big uppercut. Rowan, though, sent The Big Dog off the ring apron. Bryan seized an opening and applied the LeBell Lock, but Harper broke up the submission attempt.

The heels again teed off on Bryan until a missed charge by Rowan left him one-on-one with Harper. On the floor, Reigns unloaded with right hands to both opponents. He executed a barrage of corner clotheslines on Harper and hit the ropes for a spear, only for Rowan to pull him down to the floor.

Bryan unloaded on Harper with a flurry of kicks, but Rowan pulled him out of the ring and to the floor. A Drive-By from Reigns wiped Rowan out, but a big tope from Harper obliterated The Big Dog. The duo formerly known as The Bludgeon Brothers sought to do just that, clearing the commentary tables for what would be the assured destruction of their opponents.

Rowan ripped the timekeeper's position apart and crushed Reigns with its barricade, sending The Big Dog into the stands. The duo climbed onto the table and set Bryan up for devastation, but the former WWE champion caught Harper with a headscissors and Reigns exploded from out of nowhere with a spear that drove Rowan through the table.

Back inside, Harper survived three straight corner dropkicks and delivered a powerbomb from the middle rope for a near-fall.

Despite a valiant effort, Harper could not survive the numbers game. Bryan delivered his running knee, and Reigns followed with a Superman Punch before finishing with a spear for the win.

After the match, Bryan implored Reigns to hug it out, to which the crowd approved. They did, and The Planet's Champion raised his partner's hand to leave the fans happy, though both men showed their fair share of damage from the battle.

Result

Reigns and Bryan defeated Rowan and Harper

Grade

A

Analysis

Two straight matches, two main event-worthy bouts.

This was utter chaos in the best way as Harper and Rowan destroyed and demolished Bryan and Reigns, tore the ringside area apart and worked cohesively to put away their foes. The babyfaces, though, did just enough to divide and conquer, eventually putting the lone Harper away to secure the win.

There was no heel turn from Bryan, as expected, just a fine tag team match that should put this rivalry to bed in time for the WWE draft, which will likely separate the four competitors in some form or another.

Ali vs. Randy Orton

Credit: WWE.com

The result of a backstage encounter on the Kickoff Show, Ali squared off with Randy Orton in the night's third match.

A focused, intent Viper worked on grounding Ali early, going as far as to drop him to his knees with a thumb to the eye. As his opponent scaled the ropes, the alert Orton shoved him from the top rope and to the floor, where he further punished his opponent with a side suplex onto the commentary table.

A big dropkick allowed Ali to create some separation, but The Viper answered, sending him face- and body-first into the ring post. Looking to capitalize, Orton trapped Ali in a bodyscissors that showed off a nasty bruise forming on the midsection of the babyface.

Ali fought out and delivered a tope suicida that sent Orton over the announce table. He unloaded on the third-generation performer with a series of rights. Back inside, she delivered the rolling facebuster for a count of two.

Orton culled Ali's momentum with a snap powerslam but could only keep him down for another near-fall as frustration began to mount.

Ali fought out and tried for a 450. Orton rolled out of the way and tried for an RKO. Ali escaped and delivered a tornado DDT. Another attempt at a 450, another dodge by Orton. The Viper followed with a big draping DDT and set up for his trademark finisher.

Ali countered the RKO with a handstand, then rolled him up for two. Ali tried for the rolling facebuster again, but Orton caught him with an RKO on the rebound for the pinfall victory.

Result

Orton defeated Ali

Grade

B

Analysis

The match started slow but once it hit its stride midway through, this was a hell of a fun showing from Orton and Ali.

The latter looked double-tough as he fought through the nasty bruise on his ribs to nearly upset The Viper. His creativity and athleticism is awe-inspiring and it meshed well with Orton's more methodical style.

There will be some who argue Ali should have won here, but without a ready-made storyline awaiting him or a clear push on the horizon, he benefits more from fighting and losing a battle like this than winning a match and being forgotten about again.

For a match made 20 minutes before the show went on air, this was very good and would have benefited more from just the slightest build.

Women's Tag Team Title Match: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Kabuki Warriors

Credit: WWE.com

Asuka and Kairi Sane sought to make the most of their previously unannounced opportunity at the Women's Tag Team Championship Sunday night when they took the fight to Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross early.

The Kabuki Warriors teed off on Cross early, but some stellar teamwork from the champions allowed them to work over The Empress of Tomorrow. At ringside, she benefited from some interference from Sane and blasted Bliss with a hard kick.

Back in the squared circle, the challengers cut the ring off, keeping Bliss from her partner while working a heel style. A thumb to the eye led to a pin that the official was out of position to count, thanks to a distraction from Cross. Asuka applied an ankle lock, looking for a tapout.

Bliss rolled through, sent Asuka into the ropes and made the tag to Cross. The frantic performer exploded into the match and unloaded on the opposition.

The challengers survived the onslaught and Sane tried for her In-Sane Elbow. Cross got the knees up, though, causing The Pirate Princess to crumble in pain on the arena floor. Back inside, Asuka fired off a series of kicks to the chest, but the Scot delivered a chest-caving clothesline.

Sane tried to run interference on the floor, but Bliss wiped her out. Back in the ring, Asuka spit green mist in the eyes of Cross and scored the win and titles.

Result

The Kabuki Warriors defeated Bliss and Cross to win the titles

Grade

B-

Analysis

The performers figuratively flipped the bird to the fact there was no build for this match and delivered an energetic title bout that showcased a new side of The Kabuki Warriors: Asuka and Sane demonstrated some heel tendencies we have not seen out of them.

They were the aggressors in the match: They poked eyes, pulled hair and spit mist en route to their victory. The title win this close to the draft suggests WWE officials want to keep them together, perhaps as standard-bearers for a tag team division that has been severely hampered by booking in recent months.

As for Bliss and Cross, the draft may send them on their separate ways. One can only hope WWE Creative pays off the story of The Goddess using her partner to her own benefit before any moves happen, though.

The Viking Raiders and vs. The O.C.

Credit: WWE.com

The ongoing rivalry between The Viking Raiders and The O.C.'s Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson continued here with a Six-Man Tag Team match in which AJ Styles joined his stablemates for a war with Erik, Ivar and their mystery partner, Braun Strowman.

Ivar started with Anderson, overpowering him and applying an early armbar. A tag to Gallows turned the tides momentarily, but the athleticism of Ivar allowed him to fight back and tag Erik into the match. The smallest man (!) on the babyface team tossed Gallows across the ring with a suplex, but Styles seized an opening and knocked the surging competitor to the floor.

Back inside, Gallows delivered a fallaway slam to Erik and fired away with rights and lefts to the midsection. The Phenomenal One entered the bout for the first time and took a cheap shot at Ivar. He tried the same with Strowman, but The Monster Among Men grabbed hold. The alert Gallows pulled the big man to the floor and laid him out.

A Pele Kick to Erik continued his suffering.

Erik finally created separation and made the hot tag to Strowman, who entered the match by bowling over Styles. He obliterated the United States champion with a corner clothesline, and he then took off with a series of running shoulder blocks to all three members of The O.C.

However, a blind charge saw Strowman crash shoulder-first into the ring post. Styles delivered a chop block to the knee and applied the Calf Crusher, looking for a submission. Erik blasted him with a knee to break the hold and The Viking Raiders cleared out Anderson and Gallows.

Styles caught Ivar with a Phenomenal Forearm but found himself in the grasp of Strowman. Before the big man could flatten him, Gallows and Anderson entered and a three-on-one beatdown ensued, drawing a disqualification.

After the bell, The Viking Raiders delivered stereo tope suicidas that wiped out Gallows and Anderson, leaving Strowman in the ring with Styles. He caught the soaring champion in midair with a hard right hand, leaving him unconscious in the center of the ring.

Result

Strowman and The Viking Raiders defeated The O.C. by disqualification

Grade

B

Analysis

As a match, this was another surprisingly fun bout that did not really accomplish much from a storyline standpoint but did further tease a showdown between Strowman and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, particularly with the right hand that ended the match.

The O.C. was able to build some heat, Styles particularly as he was carried out by his partners and an official, while The Viking Raiders were allowed to showcase their jaw-dropping athleticism in a high-profile tag team match.

In that regard, this was a success and difficult to find fault with.

Chad Gable vs. King Corbin

Credit: WWE.com

Chad Gable may have failed to win the 2019 King of the Ring by defeating Baron Corbin, but he had the opportunity to ruin the sire's first pay-per-view appearance with an upset win.

Corbin cut a promo about his Friday night on SmackDown with The Rock and then vowed to defeat "shorty" Gable.

Frustrated by the blatant disrespect repeatedly shown to him by his rival, Gable attacked with a rolling heel kick at the opening bell. He fired off with a series of forearms to the face and trapped Corbin in an ankle lock he was barely able to escape.

The king regained control, though, sending his opponent shoulder-first into the ring post.

Corbin's oppressive, power-based offense overwhelmed Gable as chants of "STD" rained from the stands, a reference to The Rock's promo on the heel from SmackDown.

Gable attempted a comeback, but Corbin turned him inside out with a wicked clothesline. With Gable perched up top, The Lone Wolf set him up for a superplex. The Olympian fought out, though, and delivered a missile dropkick that grounded the king and created an opening for the babyface to exploit.

He tried for a crossbody from the middle rope, but Corbin caught him in midair and flattened him with a spinebuster. He recovered enough to land a basement dropkick, then unloaded with a series of forearms while talking trash on his opponent.

Gable countered a sidewalk slam attempt and delivered a rolling German suplex. He unloaded with a corner-based attack but ran right into a powerbomb for another near-fall. Gable recovered and slammed Corbin's left leg into the ring post, looking to take his base from him and cut him down to size.

Corbin withstood the attack and hammered away at Gable with clubbing blows, taking time to taunt the crowd in between. Gable popped up, delivered a swinging neckbreaker and executed a picture-perfect moonsault for a near-fall. He applied an ankle lock next, looking for a submission, but Corbin inched toward the ropes and onto the sanctuary of the arena floor.

A chokeslam on the ring apron halted Gable's momentum. Back in the ring, Corbin teased using the scepter, but the official provided a momentary distraction that allowed Gable to score the pinfall victory off a schoolboy rollup.

Result

Gable defeated Corbin

Grade

B

Analysis

Gable and Corbin have wicked in-ring charisma that helped this match overcome a relatively quiet crowd.

Corbin is such a spectacular heel that he could conceivably get anyone on the roster over as a babyface that fans want to see succeed. He has done as much with Gable, who is as over now as he has ever been, thanks in large part to opposing a Superstar who is worried about getting heat rather than being the cool heel who sells T-shirts.

One thing still bears watching, though: WWE Creative's commitment to Gable. This was his first appearance in over a week. Now the company has sacrificed Corbin to help him build momentum, a loss or de-emphasis renders this entire match meaningless. Everyone involved deserves better than that.

SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley

Credit: WWE.com

Prior to the SmackDown Women's Championship match between Charlotte Flair and Bayley, new 24/7 champion Tamina made her way through the crowd, only to be confronted by former champion Carmella. Hijinx ensued and R-Truth won the gold for the 20th time, according to Michael Cole.

Back inside the squared circle, Flair overwhelmed Bayley early, trapping her in a Boston Crab. The Hugger escaped to the floor, raked the eye of her challenger and took The Queen down. She hammered away at Flair and turned her attention to the left knee of her opponent, using Flair's leg-based attack against her.

The champion tried for a Figure Four to add insult to injury, but the challenger fought out. A hard right hand dropped Bayley and allowed Flair to smash The Hugger's own knee into the ring post.

Regaining her momentum, The Queen kicked the leg from underneath her opponent. She followed up with a backbreaker and Natural Selection, but Bayley grabbed hold of the bottom rope to break the count.

Flair grounded her rival and tried for the moonsault, but she landed ribs and sternum-first across the waiting knees of the champion. The Queen recovered and suplexed Bayley on the floor, then smashed her leg into the ring apron. 

Back inside, the challenger tried for the Figure Four, but Bayley executed a small package for a two-count. The champion tried to steal one with another rollup while holding onto the ropes, but Flair escaped and applied the Figure Eight for the submission victory and title reign No. 10.

Result

Flair defeated Bayley to win the title

Grade

C+

Analysis

The layout of the match was...interesting, to say the least.

Flair had her own knee worked over by Bayley for a good portion of the match, but all of that work did not factor into its conclusion.

Instead, The Queen essentially shrugged it off, applied her finisher and picked up the win after minimal damage had been done to her opponent's leg. Strictly from a storytelling standpoint, it was strange to devote so much time to Bayley working the limb to no avail.

The post-match tantrum by Bayley added to her heelish persona and appears to set up her return to Raw.

As for Flair, it is obvious she will remain with the blue brand as one of the faces for its run on Fox.

Hell in a Cell for the Universal Championship: Seth Rollins vs. The Fiend

Credit: WWE.com

The culmination of "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt's terrifying rampage on the WWE roster culminated Sunday night inside Hell in a Cell as he challenged Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship. 

The arena stayed bathed in red as the bell rang and The Fiend launched himself at the champion. Rollins landed some rights and lefts, but the masked challenger appeared unfazed, amused even as he stood tall inside the squared circle.

Rollins retrieved a kendo stick and smacked The Fiend twice, only to have his opponent no-sell it. Wyatt sent The Beastslayer into the cell, achieving great pleasure in his punishment of the titleholder. He continued to dominate him until the champion grabbed hold of the steel steps and blasted his rival with them.

Rollins scored on a tope suicida, but Wyatt recovered and delivered Sister Abigail into the cell. Back inside the squared circle, the heel eyed the table The Architect had set up. He teased a uranage, but his opponent fought out. The champion delivered a superkick that left his opponent prone on the table. A frog splash through it did The Fiend no damage.

Nor did the stomp, from which the challenger stood right back up. A second Sister Abigail, this time in the ring, earned only a two-count. The Fiend snapped Rollins' neck, leaving him limp. He tossed the champion to the floor, where he retrieved an oversized mallet. He attacked the champion's midsection with the weapon, but Rollins fought back with a desperation superkick.

He seized an opening and delivered a stomp onto the mallet. Back inside, he delivered a springboard knee on two occasions and then a series of superkicks. Rollins unloaded a series of stomps, but The Fiend still fought back to his feet. A pedigree and a fourth stomp followed; Rollins went for the cover, but the challenger kicked out at one.

Rollins continued to assault Wyatt with stomps as boos rained down from the stands. He produced a chair from under the ring and inched toward his opponent. He blasted The Fiend with it, only to have him kick out at another one-count.

With the chair lying on his opponent's face, Rollins drove a ladder into it. Still, a two-count.

Rollins laid the ladder and chair on top of Wyatt's face, grabbed a toolbox and crashed it into the weaponry. The frustrated champion pulled out a sledgehammer, harking back to his days as a member of The Authority under Triple H.

After the official pleaded with Rollins, he bashed the pile of weapons with the sledgehammer and the referee called for the bell.

As officials hit the ring to check on The Fiend, the masked maniac recovered and applied the mandible claw. He dragged Rollins to the floor and laid him out with Sister Abigail. A second, this time on the concrete, left the champion motionless as chants of "AEW" filled the arena.

Another mandible claw, this time complete with blood, ended the assault as the boos continued. 

Result

The Fiend defeated Rollins via disqualification

Grade

F

Analysis

This was an overbooked atrocity that Vince McMahon and WWE should be embarrassed to present to its fans after the week that was in wrestling.

On the heels of a highly successful Fox debut and a Wednesday night that proved there is an audience for the alternative, the idea the WWE chairman presided over a creative meeting where this was the approved finish is ludicrous.

WWE had a rare character on its hands that completely captivated the audience and left them wanting more. Instead of paying it off with the short, sweet and dominant victory that would serve as its coronation, it overthought the scenario and sought to drag things out for another pay-per-view rather than pay it off.

A year ago, WWE pulled the trigger on Becky Lynch when it realized it had captured lightning in a bottle. She went on to become the biggest thing in the industry and is, arguably, the biggest star in the industry today.

Instead of learning from that, the company failed its fans and Wyatt to the point that whatever aura The Fiend had built for himself has now been extinguished.

Why? Because WWE didn't want to take the universal title off Rollins so soon after he won it, or to get another month of matches out of the program.

Either line of reasoning is deeply flawed, and the outcome was horrendously damaging.

Good luck recapturing that, WWE. Sometimes, giving the audience the obvious outcome is not a bad thing.