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, Greg Coleman and Bodeen Green preview WWE Hell in a Cell 2021.
Instead of taking up it's usual spot in October, Hell in a Cell 2021 comes to us in June. However, this has led to one of the worst booked Hell in a Cell pay-per-views in recent memory. Who will walk out of the show as WWE Champion? Will Rhea Ripley successfully defend her Raw Women's Championship? And just what is going on between Roman Reigns and Rey Mysterio?
Question 1: Who will walk out of Hell in a Cell as the WWE Champion? Will the stipulation of Drew McIntyre being excluded from challenging Bobby Lashley for the title in the future if he loses make him more or less likely to triumph on Sunday?
ALLSOPP: I cannot see past Bobby Lashley walking out of Hell in a Cell with the WWE Championship. If reports are to be believed, Vince McMahon wants to make SummerSlam 2021 the WrestleMania style event we didn’t exactly receive this year. By that, I am referring to the appearance of part time talent, namely Brock Lesnar. Lesnar vs The All Mighty would be a phenomenal match, therefore I cannot see past him winning here. The stipulation, to me at least, has no real bearing on the outcome of this match.
COLEMAN: I believe that The All Mighty will continue, and Bobby Lashley will exit his first Hell in a Cell with the WWE Championship. The stipulation makes it more likely that Drew McIntyre would become a 3 time champion because usually, when it’s the last chance, the challenger or person under the stipulation will come through. Of course, this isn’t always the case, and I think McIntyre moves down into midcard for a bit after losing this match.
GREEN: Whilst Drew McIntyre has done an amazing job in 2020 as WWE Champion during the peak of the COVID pandemic, there is only so much time he can spend in the title picture until he feels overused. Although it is a little sad for McIntyre not to get his big moment in front of a crowd as WWE Champion, at least it allowed Bobby Lashley to finally have the title reign he deserves. Personally, I feel Lashley should keep the belt at Hell in a Cell, allowing McIntyre to move away from the title picture where he can have more freedom in his feuds.
Question 2: Will Charlotte Flair defeat Rhea Ripley to win yet another Women’s Championship? Or is Ripley just too strong to lose so early into her reign as Raw Women’s Champion?
COLEMAN: I hope Rhea Ripley wins this match and continues her reign. Unfortunately, I believe Charlotte Flair wins. I truly hope I am wrong, but considering that Ripley only has the title because Flair couldn’t wrestle at WrestleMania 37, it feels like this is the time for the champion WWE wanted to be crowned. I really hope I’m wrong!
GREEN: Whilst my heart hopes WWE sees the fault of their past mistakes and lets Rhea Ripley beat Charlotte Flair, my head thinks that Flair will once again rip out the souls of fans and beat Ripley for the belt. The only saving grace I can see from Flair winning is if she loses the title to a star from NXT, if WWE decides to call up someone after Hell in a Cell.
ALLSOPP: It would be silly to take the Raw Women’s Championship away from Rhea Ripley so soon, especially as Charlotte Flair’s current character arc doesn’t need it. Flair comes across as a whiny crybaby at the moment, which is something I don’t exactly hate. In order for this to continue successfully, she needs to lose. This would kill two birds with stone, as Ripley remains strong whilst Flair has more impetus to moan and complain.
Question 3: Will Roman Reigns vs Rey Mysterio follow a similar dynamic to Reigns’ Hell in a Cell match with Jey Uso from last year? Why do you think Mysterio has been booked as Reigns’ opponent this year?
GREEN: Whilst this should be an amazing match, it does feel somewhat lazy and thrown together at the last minute. As a result, there is little chance Rey Mysterio and Roman Reigns have of matching the magic that Reigns and Jey Uso had last year, especially as the cell stipulation feels forced and devalued. Mysterio’s motives are pointless, because it seems everyone attacks his son. Whilst this should be a win for Reigns, it will be interesting to see how Jimmy Uso will get involved, and if it will lead to Jimmy joining his family, or Jey leaving Reigns.
ALLSOPP: If we get twenty minutes of Roman Reigns destroying and ragdolling Rey Mysterio, I will be a happy man. Reigns has already established that he is happy to approach the demonic steel structure in a different manner to other wrestlers, so I’m highly optimistic. The issue for me is the clear dearth of top tier wrestlers who could have been placed into Mysterio’s spot in this match. Whilst not a bad choice, it is not a selection that makes me worry for the WWE Universal Championship reign of The Tribal Chief. Would Cesaro have been a better option? No doubt, but he has unfinished business with Seth Rollins to attend to first.
COLEMAN: WWE has done an excellent job of booking Roman Reigns since his return at last year’s SummerSlam, until now. Reigns vs Mysterio makes absolutely no sense! This match won’t have a similar dynamic to Reigns vs Jey Uso because this match doesn’t have the storyline that they had. This match is literally thrown together so Reigns can have a title defense inside of Hell in a Cell against a babyface. It’s lazy and forced booking! The obvious match that should’ve been made for Hell in a Cell is Reigns and Jey teaming up to challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. Reigns and Uso winning the tag titles when The Usos couldn’t would continue to deepen the rift between Jimmy and Reigns, whilst giving Jey even more reason to side with Reigns over his brother.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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