Hell in a Cell (2019)

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.[4][5][6] 2019 was the eleventh event under the Hell in a Cell chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.[7][8][9]

The show comprised nine matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The matches 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. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[10][11] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live (with the latter renamed to Friday Night SmackDown two days prior to the event).[12]

Amid speculation that Bray Wyatt would challenge for the Universal Championship at Hell in a Cell, Wyatt seemingly confirmed the rumors in a Firefly Fun House segment on the September 2 episode of Raw.[13] Following Seth Rollins' successful title defense against Braun Strowman at Clash of Champions, Wyatt appeared as his sinister alternate persona The Fiend and attacked Rollins with a Sister Abigail and the Mandible Claw.[14] The following night on Raw, Rollins addressed The Fiend's attack and announced that he would be defending the Universal Championship against The Fiend in a Hell in a Cell match at the event.[15]

At Clash of Champions, the Raw Women's Championship match between Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks ended in a disqualification win for Banks; thus Lynch retained as titles do not change hands via disqualification unless stipulated. Following the match, Lynch and Banks brawled throughout the arena.[14] The following night on Raw, Banks challenged Lynch to a rematch at Hell in a Cell, and Lynch accepted as a Hell in a Cell match.[15]

Prior to Clash of Champions, Erick Rowan had attacked Roman Reigns backstage and lied about it, resulting in him and Daniel Bryan splitting as a tag team. Rowan then defeated Reigns in a No Disqualification match at Clash of Champions thanks to the returning Luke Harper, reforming their tag team.[14] On the following SmackDown, Rowan explained that he began to target Reigns to scare him and to show that Reigns was not the dominant figure he was presumed to be. Rowan also said that he had been overlooked, underappreciated, and disrespected and that he was not Bryan's equal, but better than him. Bryan later stated that regardless if he was a face or a heel, he had never lied, and he thought of Rowan as his friend. He was interrupted by Rowan and attacked by Harper. Reigns came out to Bryan's aid, only for Rowan and Harper to dominate Bryan and Reigns.[16] The following week, Rowan defeated Bryan and following the match, Harper and Rowan attacked Bryan. Reigns again came to Bryan's aid, where they eventually overcame Rowan and Harper. Bryan and Reigns then challenged Rowan and Harper to a tag team match at Hell in a Cell which was made official.[17] On SmackDown's 20th Anniversary on October 4, Reigns defeated Rowan in a lumberjack match and Bryan shook Reigns' hand out of mutual respect.[18] The day of the event, their match was made a tornado tag team match.[19]

At Clash of Champions, Bayley controversially defeated Charlotte Flair by slamming her head into an exposed turnbuckle to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship.[14] Their feud would continue on subsequent episodes of Raw and SmackDown, also involving Sasha Banks and Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch. On SmackDown's 20th Anniversary on October 4, Flair and Lynch teamed up against Bayley and Banks where Flair forced Bayley to submit to the Figure Eight Leg Lock.[18] Because of the win, Flair earned herself a rematch for the SmackDown Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.[20]

In the King of the Ring final on the September 16 episode of Raw, Baron Corbin defeated Chad Gable to win the tournament, subsequently changing his ring name to King Corbin.[15] The following night on SmackDown after Corbin insulted Gable, Gable attacked Corbin.[16] A rematch between the two on the September 23 Raw ended in a disqualification after Corbin attacked Gable with his scepter.[21] Another rematch was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[19]

On the September 16 episode of Raw, The O.C. (United States Champion AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) defeated Cedric Alexander and The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) in a six-man tag team match. Following the match, The O.C. attacked Alexander and The Viking Raiders.[15] The following week, The Viking Raiders defeated Gallows and Anderson in a tag team match.[21] On October 6, a match featuring The Viking Raiders and a partner of their choosing against all three members of The O.C. was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[19]

The day of the event, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were scheduled to defend the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane),[19] the team that Bliss and Cross last eliminated in a fatal four-way tag team elimination match to win the titles back in August.[22]

After weeks of feuding, a match between Natalya and Lacey Evans was scheduled for the Hell in a Cell Kickoff pre-show.[19]

During the Hell in a Cell Kickoff pre-show, Natalya faced Lacey Evans. In the climax, as Evans attempted a moonsault on Natalya, she avoided it and forced Evans to submit to the Sharpshooter to win the match.[23]

Also on the pre-show, Randy Orton and Ali had a confrontation which lead to Ali challenging Orton to a match which would take place on the main card.[23]

The actual pay-per-view began with Becky Lynch defending the Raw Women's Championship against Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell match. In the end, Banks threw several chairs in the ring and attempted a meteora on Lynch who was laying on top of the chairs, only for Lynch to intercept Banks with an Exploder suplex from the top rope onto the chairs. Lynch then forced Banks to submit to the Dis-arm-her to retain the title.[24]

Next was the Tornado Tag Team match where Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns faced Erick Rowan and Luke Harper. In the end, after Harper and Rowan dominated most of the match, Bryan performed a running knee on Harper, followed by Reigns performing a Superman Punch and a Spear on Harper to win the match. Following the match, Reigns attempted to shake Bryan's hand out of respect, only for Bryan to insist on a hug and the two eventually embraced.[24]

After that, Randy Orton faced Ali. In the end, Orton performed an RKO on Ali to win the match.[24]

In the fourth match, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defended the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). In the climax, Sane distracted Bliss outside the ring while Asuka spat green mist in Cross' face and performed a roll-up on Cross to win the title.[24]

After that, The O.C. (United States Champion AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) faced The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) and a partner of their choosing, which was revealed to be Braun Strowman. In the end, after Strowman dominated The O.C., the trio attacked Strowman with steel chairs and were eventually disqualified.[24]

In a backstage segment, Tamina (in her first appearance since WrestleMania 35) rolled up Carmella to win the WWE 24/7 Championship.[24]

Next, King Corbin faced Chad Gable. In the climax, Corbin attempted to use his scepter on Gable, who avoided it and rolled up Corbin to win the match, with the ring announcer announcing him as Shorty Gable (upon Corbin's request).[24]

After that, new 24/7 champion Tamina emerged from backstage to hide among the international broadcast teams. In a scuffle involving Funaki, Carmella performed a superkick on Tamina, followed by R-Truth pinning Tamina to win the 24/7 Championship for a record 20th time.[24]

In the penultimate match, Bayley defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair. In the end, Flair forced Bayley to submit to the Figure Eight Leglock to win the title for a record fifth time, and her overall record tenth women's championship on WWE's main roster.[24]

In the main event, Seth Rollins defended the Universal Championship against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Hell in a Cell match, which was bathed in red lighting. During the match, Rollins performed a total of eleven Stomps and one Pedigree on The Fiend, with The Fiend kicking out at one in every pinfall attempt, except the final, in which he kicked out at two. The Fiend used a gigantic mallet on Rollins, and later performed Sister Abigail on Rollins for a nearfall. Rollins then resorted to using a steel chair, a ladder, and a toolbox with Rollins specifically targeting The Fiend's head. With The Fiend buried under the weapons, Rollins obtained a sledgehammer but the referee urged him to not use it. After contemplation, Rollins slammed the sledgehammer on top of the weapons over The Fiend, and the referee called for the bell to stop the match without a winner. After the cage was raised, paramedics tended to The Fiend, who got up and attacked Rollins with the Mandible Claw. Outside the ring, The Fiend performed Sister Abigail on Rollins and then performed a second Sister Abigail on the exposed concrete before incapacitating Rollins with the Mandible Claw as blood poured from Rollins' mouth as the event ended.[24]