Hell in a Cell (2016)

Hell in a Cell is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, generally produced every October by WWE since 2009. The concept of the show comes from WWE's established Hell in a Cell match, in which competitors fight inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area. The main event match of the card is contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation.[3][4][5] 2016 was the eighth event under the Hell in a Cell chronology and was a Raw-branded event, following the reintroduction of the brand split in July. The 2016 event also featured the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match, which was subsequently the first women's match to main event a WWE pay-per-view.[2]

The card included eight matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show, that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw brand.[6][7] Storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television show Monday Night Raw.[8]

At Clash of Champions, Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks and Bayley to retain the Raw Women's Championship.[9] On the October 3 episode of Raw, after Bayley took out Charlotte's protégé, Dana Brooke, backstage, Banks defeated Charlotte by submission to become a two-time champion.[10] A rematch was scheduled for Hell in a Cell,[11] and on the October 10 episode of Raw, Banks challenged Charlotte to a Hell in a Cell match, which Charlotte accepted. This was later confirmed by Raw General Manager Mick Foley, making this the first women's Hell in a Cell match.[12]

At Clash of Champions, Roman Reigns won the United States Championship from Rusev.[9] The following night on Raw, the rematch between the two ended in a double countout.[13] On the October 3 episode of Raw, Rusev's wife, Lana, demanded a rematch, after which Rusev attacked Reigns and tried to leave with the title belt, but Reigns attacked him with a Superman Punch and declared he would fight Rusev in a Hell in a Cell match, a request that was later approved by management.[10]

At Clash of Champions, Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins to retain the WWE Universal Championship, largely due to the interference of Chris Jericho.[9] In the following weeks, the two continued to taunt each other. A rematch between Owens and Rollins was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[11] On the October 10 episode of Raw, General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon made the match a Hell in a Cell match to prevent further interference. On the same night, Rollins defeated Jericho to keep the match one-on-one. Had Jericho won, the match would have become a triple-threat match.[12]

Dana Brooke defeated Bayley on the October 17 episode of Raw[14] and attacked her the following week during an arm wrestling contest.[15] On October 26, a match between the two was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[16]

At Clash of Champions, T.J. Perkins defeated Brian Kendrick to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Kendrick attacked Perkins after the match.[9] The following night on Raw, Kendrick challenged Perkins to another match.[13] The following week, Kendrick defeated Perkins by submission.[10] On the October 10 episode of Raw, a match between the two was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[12]

At Clash of Champions, the final match of the best-of-seven series for a title opportunity between Cesaro and Sheamus ended in a no contest.[9] The following night on Raw, Foley wouldn't allow further matches between the two and decided to put Cesaro and Sheamus as a team against Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day.[13] The following weeks, the two continued to argue with each other. On the October 10 episode of Raw, a title match between the two teams was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[12]

On the October 10 episode of Raw, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson attacked Enzo Amore and Big Cass.[12] The following week on Raw, Big Cass defeated Karl Anderson.[14] On October 24, a match between the two teams was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[17]

On October 26, a match pitting Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, and Sin Cara against Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, and Ariya Daivari was scheduled for the Hell in a Cell Kickoff pre-show.[18]

During the Hell in a Cell Kickoff pre-show, cruiserweights Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, and Sin Cara faced Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, and Ariya Daivari. Alexander won the match for his team by pinning Gulak after executing the "Lumbar Check".[19]

The actual pay-per-view opened with Roman Reigns defending the United States Championship against Rusev in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Reigns executed a "Superman Punch" for a near-fall. Reigns attempted a Spear, but Rusev countered with a Jumping Sidekick and pushed Reigns into the steel steps, which were positioned on the top rope, for a near-fall. Rusev applied "The Accolade" on Reigns, but Reigns escaped. Rusev re-applied "The Accolade" on Reigns, who was draped over the steel steps, using a steel chain, but Reigns countered with a Samoan Drop onto the steel steps. Reigns executed a Spear off the steel steps on Rusev to retain the title.[20]

Next, Bayley fought Dana Brooke. In the end, Bayley performed a "Bayley-to-Belly" Suplex on Brooke to win the match.[20]

After that, Enzo Amore and Big Cass wrestled Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Gallows and Anderson executed the "Magic Killer" on Enzo to win the match.[20]

In the fourth match, Kevin Owens defended the WWE Universal Championship against Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, Owens accidentally sprayed the referee with a fire extinguisher, resulting in a second referee entering the cell to check on the downed referee. Chris Jericho ran into the cell and locked the cell door. Rollins attempted a "Pedigree" on Owens, but Jericho prevented the attempt, leading to Rollins performing a "Pedigree" on Jericho. Rollins performed a powerbomb on Owens through two tables stacked outside the ring, which was followed by a frog splash, but Jericho pulled the referee out of the ring to void the pinfall at a two count. Rollins attacked Jericho with a powerbomb into the cell wall. Owens performed a superkick and a pop-up powerbomb on Rollins for a near-fall. Rollins attacked both Owens and Jericho with a chair, but Owens executed a DDT on Rollins onto a chair. Owens performed a powerbomb through two chairs on Rollins to retain the title. After the match, Jericho attacked Rollins with a "Codebreaker".[20]

Next, TJ Perkins defended the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against The Brian Kendrick. The match ended when Kendrick feigned a knee injury. A concerned Perkins checked on Kendrick, who attacked Perkins with a headbutt and applied the "Captain's Hook". Perkins submitted, meaning Kendrick won the title.[20]

After that, The New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods) defended the Raw Tag Team Championship against Cesaro and Sheamus. In the end, Cesaro applied the "Sharpshooter" on Woods. Meanwhile, Sheamus attacked Big E with The New Day's trombone, followed by Kofi Kingston executing "Trouble in Paradise" on Sheamus. As Kingston was not a contestant in the match, the referee disqualified The New Day for outside interference. At the same time, Woods submitted to Cesaro's "Sharpshooter". However, as the referee had already issued a disqualification, Cesaro and Sheamus won the match, but The New Day retained the titles.[20]

Charlotte and Sasha Banks made history as the first two women to compete inside Hell in a Cell as well as the first two women to wrestle in the main event of a WWE pay-per-view. Charlotte defeated Banks to regain the WWE Raw Women's Championship for a third time.

In the main event, Sasha Banks defended the Raw Women's Championship against Charlotte in the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match. Before the cell lowered, Charlotte attacked Banks, leading to the two fighting outside the cell and into the crowd. Charlotte climbed the cell wall, but was knocked down by Banks. As Banks attempted to climb down, Charlotte threw Banks through a broadcast table with a Powerbomb. Banks was about to be taken away on a stretcher and Charlotte to be declared the winner by forfeit, but Banks got off the stretcher and entered the cell, thus the match officially started. During the match, Charlotte executed a Monkey Flip on Banks into the cell wall for a near-fall. Banks applied the "Bank Statement" on Charlotte, but Charlotte countered and executed a Sidewalk Slam on Banks onto a chair for a near-fall. Banks paid tribute to Eddie Guerrero by executing the "Three Amigos" and a "Frog Splash" on Charlotte for a near-fall. Banks re-applied the "Bank Statement" on Charlotte, but Charlotte escaped by rolling out of the ring. Outside the ring, Charlotte attempted a Superplex through a table on Banks, but Banks countered, knocking Charlotte onto the table. Charlotte applied the "Figure Eight Leg Lock", but Banks attacked Charlotte with a chair to break the submission. In the end, Banks attempted a Powerbomb on Charlotte through a table, but failed. Charlotte took advantage by throwing Banks onto the table, which was positioned in the corner, and then executed "Natural Selection" to win the title.[20]