Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Bodeen Green and Matt Morgan review the 2020 edition of WWE Hell in a Cell.

WWE Hell in a Cell 2020 was a solid and enjoyable event, with each and every match coming across well. Some matches were more exciting than others, but it was easily one of the more consistent WWE events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Was the story driven nature of Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso a success? Is The Miz a better Money in the Bank holder? And was the main event a suitable way to end the show?


ALLSOPP: I was honestly astounded by this encounter. I cannot believe that I am a huge Roman Reigns fan, but his work is flawless. The action itself was rather by the numbers, but his commitment to his character made the match. Randy Orton may be the WWE Champion, but I feel Reigns is the guy everyone is tuning in for. Reigns is finally the top guy Vince McMahon wanted him to be.

GREEN: This was my favourite match of the night. Whilst the Hell in a Cell structure may not have been entirely necessary, the match still felt brutal and hard hitting, with plenty of drama being added as well. The match was also a nice break to what we see in modern wrestling, with the slow tempo helping to tell more of a story. This match definitely helped establish Roman Reigns as the top guy on SmackDown, if not the entire main roster. His ruthless and unempathetic aggression mixed with his emotion has been amazing to watch, and has easily been a massive improvement for his character. As for who is going to challenge Reigns next, I have no idea, although there are plenty of names such as Daniel Bryan, Big E, and even Rey Mysterio, once he finishes his feud with Seth Rollins.

MORGAN: I am very appreciative of the storytelling that has taken place between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. Reigns' new heel persona has been a breath of fresh air due to its novelty. Beyond that, his new Tribal Chief character has been strongly and successfully established each time he viciously assaults one of his cousins. I would not be angry if WWE decided to keep this feud going, because the storytelling so far has been exceptional.


GREEN: Whilst I'm slightly annoyed that the Money in the Bank briefcase was wasted for a few months, The Miz winning it is a far better option then Otis having it, especially as it seemed WWE had no idea what to do with the briefcase on Otis. I don't see things going well for Otis now that he's alone on SmackDown without Tucker or Mandy Rose. Whilst we may see Otis and Tucker face each other at Survivor Series, I can easily see him falling down the card in the near future, as even with the Money in the Bank briefcase, he was barely used on television.

MORGAN: I was disappointed that Otis lost the Money in the Bank briefcase. The Miz is a consistently strong performer, so in that respect, it makes sense for him to have the briefcase because he has proven that he is a reliable superstar who can fit into any role. However, I really enjoyed having Otis as the Money in the Bank briefcase owner. It wasn’t something I was expecting, which made Otis’ win back in May feel fresh and new (which for the WWE can usually be a problem). However, if he can’t be Mr. Money in the Bank, I am hoping that Otis can have a long and engaging feud with Tucker since there is a strong backstory between those two.

ALLSOPP: Yes, but only because he brings a genuine threat of successfully cashing it in. Otis should never have won the briefcase, but he at least made it memorable. We've all had our fun now, so let's watch The Miz use the threat of cashing in to successfully manipulate the WWE Champion, who will likely be Randy Orton until WrestleMania 37. As for Otis, I can see Heavy Machinery reuniting. Otherwise, Otis will be left adrift, which is honestly a crying shame.


MORGAN: In terms of what direction the company may go towards for WrestleMania 37, I believe that last Sunday’s main event served its purpose. I enjoy Drew McIntyre, and I am extremely glad that he got a decently long run with the title. At the end of the day though, I feel like WWE sees big money with a Randy Orton and Edge title match. Whilst I was upset that McIntyre lost, I was not surprised. That being said, Orton's work since March has been exceptional. Orton has really stepped up his game, so in that sense, I feel he has earned this title reign. And now that he is WWE Champion, I am hoping he continues putting on good matches and promos as we gear up for WrestleMania season.

ALLSOPP: It wasn't a great main event, and I believe it was because the match didn't feel appropriate to the storyline. There wasn't the visceral hatred and violence I was expecting, and in comparison, Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso was a much better choice. Hell, even Bayley vs Sasha Banks would have been a better choice. I'm not happy with Randy Orton as WWE Champion, but if it leads to a fairytale Edge title reign, then who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

GREEN: Whilst it wasn't the best match on the card, it was still a very solid match and great main event. I enjoyed seeing Drew McIntyre as WWE Champion as his reign was extremely dominant and strong. That being said, Randy Orton capturing his 14th World Championship isn’t a bad thing. After his match against Roman Reigns at Survivor Series, it looks like we might be getting a feud between Orton and The Fiend. Whilst I believe The Fiend does not need a title to look strong, the feud should be highly entertaining and enjoyable to watch considering both men's history with each other. There is also the fact that Edge could be medically cleared soon, meaning there are plenty of options for WWE and Orton both before and after the Royal Rumble.