Views From The Turnbuckle: Hell In A Cell Review, Star Ratings, Analysis And More

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of WrestlingInc or its staff.

Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose: ****3/4

Where to begin? The start of the match was very impressive, with Ambrose starting on the top of the cage and then Rollins ordering Noble and Mercury to go and get him. Eventually they brawled on the top of the cell (always cool) and they did a pretty significant bump into the tables. Both men and the medics did a really good job selling the damage done, and just when it looked like WWE might actually end the match like that, Ambrose popped up and dragged Rollins off of the stretcher and into the Cell.

Once they got back into the cage, they picked up right where they left off, with a good series of high spots and exciting moments. Rollins is probably the best bump taker around right now, and he earned that reputation by taking some nasty spills in and outside of the Cell. Ambrose was excellent managing the psychology of the match, and nobody except maybe Bray Wyatt (we will get to it) is more in touch with his character.

For the first time in a while, the fact that this match was a Hell in a Cell match actually mattered. The biggest difference between Cena/Orton and Ambrose/Rollins was that they felt like completely different types of matches. Cena and Orton might as well have had a standard street fight or no disqualification match, Ambrose and Rollins could have only taken place inside of the Cell.

The finish was conflicting. The WWE pulled out all the stops, killing the lights and creating a freaking hologram for Wyatt. On paper, Bray Wyatt vs Dean Ambrose sounds fantastic, but there is something holding it back. Wyatt is certainly dynamic, but WWE did a spectacular job killing his momentum and taking him from the "Eater of Worlds" to just another heel on the roster. When push came to shove, Wyatt was unable to get over the top guys in WWE, so why should this time be any different?

John Cena vs Randy Orton: ***1/2

The problem with the match wasn't really anything to do with the wrestlers it was just the over saturation of these two having matches against each other. WWE blasted through plenty of false finishes and weapons, but through out it all, none of it ever seemed that surprising or exciting. Anyone who watched these two wrestle in their numerous PPV bouts could have recognized this formula, and the outcomes was never really in serious doubt. This all reflected in the crowd. WWE tried their hardest to make this match matter, they dangled the #1 contendership in it, talked about how this was the end of their feud and the biggest battle of their generation, but none of it really mattered as the crowd was remarkably quiet for a HIAC match.

The match itself slightly exceeded expectations and that was mostly thanks to Orton. If he really was working with an injury, it wasn't a factor thanks to proper medical treatment, adrenaline and sheer toughness. Orton delivered a quality match with a below-average wrestle, once again cementing himself as one of the most valuable assets in the company.

Cena as the #1 contender again is both unnecessary and repetitive. The first Brock/Cena match was brilliant for reasons that will likely never happen again, and the second one was mediocre, which means the third one will probably be underwhelming. Cena earned his spot in the number one contenders match by losing a match, so WWE clearly isn't concerned about logic in the feud, so strap in for some more fun over the next coming weeks.

Dolph Ziggler vs Cesaro: ****1/4

Sometimes, WWE remembers that they are a wrestling company, and that a core of their fanbase enjoys watching high-quality wrestling work. WWE just decided to go "Here are two of our best wrestlers, watch them go" and it worked. The crowd was into the match and was very responsive to all of the spots. Both men dug deep into their large arsenals of maneuvers (that backbreaker by Cesaro!) and mixed tight grappling with exciting high spots.

Ziggler becoming the first wrestler since Bronko Nagurski to win a 2 out of 3 falls match in two straight falls may actually signal the rise of Ziggler once more. Could it be that he is finally receiving a push back into the main event scene? Things are so hectic within WWE that it's impossible to say for sure, but Ziggler certainly has shown he has the working ability, charisma and fan supports to deserve a good crack at it.

Sheamus vs The Miz: **1/4

The bulk of the quality in this match was achieved by someone who wasn't even in it. Mizdow has been beaten down by the WWE hierarchy, but he lives to ride again thanks to his ability to portray a character. Sheamus winning the title is an afterthought in this match, and hopefully WWE doesn't overdo it with Mizdow.

Rusev vs Big Show: **

The match wasn't terrible, with Big Show carrying the match against a still very green Rusev. Rusev came out of the match looking pretty strong, but I don't know if he really gained anything, because again, Rusev just knocked off another guy defending America in under 10 minutes. WWE has followed this formula for the last six months or so, and it is getting extremely repetitive. Rusev should either lose soon, or become champion, anything else is just treading water.

AJ vs Paige: ***

Finally a breakthrough between these two. Paige and AJ got on the same page in the rign and did a lot of different stuff for a Diva's match. AJ did some luchadora spots, Paige and AJ exchanged some stiff kicks, and there was even a couple rough bumps taken on the outside. It is unfortunate that AJ won cleanly, since I would really like to see more of this match.

Usos vs Gold and Stardust: ****

Another well wrestled match between two tag teams that are really working well together. The Rhodes brothers continue to be excellent sneaky heels, and The Usos are capable straight babyfaces. The tag division has supplied some of WWE's best action over the last few years, and both these teams have had a big hand in doing that.

Nikki Bella vs Brie Bella: 3/4

While the opening match showed that WWE actually does care about wrestling, the following match reminded us that that isn't always the case. The match was sloppy and the crowd was mostly quiet. Both sisters were a little too ambitious in their moves, which led to a botch-heavy match. Nikki won, so Brie has to be her assistant, which will likely have her make Brie do a bunch of demeaning tasks which will result in plenty of poorly acted segments. Enjoy.

Overall Hell in a Cell has a strong case for being the best wrestled WWE event of the year. There were several high-quality matches, there was a good deal of excitement on the card, and they did set things up for a potentially interesting Survivor Series. There were some bumps in the road, but WWE fans should have a lot to feel good about after tonight.