Retro Rowe: WWE Hell in a Cell 2010 Review

WWE Hell in a Cell 2010

by Samoa Rowe

October 3, 2010

-From Dallas, TX. Our hosts are Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, and Matt Striker.

United States Championship (Submissions Count Anywhere):
Daniel Bryan © vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz

Looks like we’re getting this show off on the right note. Miz cuts a promo on his way to the ring bitching about how Bryan and Morrison wouldn’t have made it without him. Miz gets overwhelmed quickly and takes a break. He gets chased around the ring , forcing Morrison and Bryan to work together. Bryan and Morrison show off some chain wrestling while Miz is down. They roll to the floor with their legs locked and Miz finds an opening to attack both of them. Morrison ties Miz up in the ropes but Bryan breaks it up with a drop-kick. Bryan locks Cattle Mutilation on Miz! They reverse heel hooks in entertaining fashion until Morrison breaks it with Starship Pain. Morrison almost makes Bryan tap to a modified Haas of Pain and connects with a corkscrew plancha on Miz. They brawl into the crowd with Miz in the driver’s seat. Miz brings a production cart from the back and rams it into Morrison. Bryan gets placed on the cart and Miz drives it into the stage! Morrison counters and leaps over the cart for a drop-kick. Miz bounces back with the Skull Crushing Finale on Morrison on the concrete! Bryan and Miz square off on the stage and wipe each other out with clotheslines. Morrison climbs the lighting and perches on the cage wall on the stage. Morrison delivers a flying cross body onto the stage! Morrison applies a Texas Cloverleaf on Miz, but Alex Riley runs in for the save, tossing Morrison down the ramp. Bryan throws Riley into a cameraman. Bryan forces Miz to tap out to the Labell Lock at 13:30! I know I wasn’t paying close attention to WWE during this time, but I didn’t hear a thing about this match. This was a wildly inventive outing, worth checking out, ***¾.
Winner and still United States Champion: Daniel Bryan

WWE Championship (Hell in a Cell match):
Randy Orton © vs. Sheamus

They lock up and have a shoving and punching contest. Orton connects with some clotheslines and sends Sheamus crashing to ringside. Sheamus avoids the cell but Orton continues to dismantle him in the ring. Sheamus rebounds with a flying shoulder block. Orton fights back but suffers a reverse Irish whip into the cell. Sheamus tosses the ring steps, but Orton dodges and drives him spine-first into the wall. Orton cracks the steps over Sheamus’ skull. Sheamus blocks a suplex in the ring and launches Orton off the apron into the cage. Sheamus removes some turnbuckle padding, because I guess the Hell in a Cell surrounding them isn’t enough. Orton rolls to the floor and gets his face raked against the cell for his troubles. Cue the rear naked choke from Sheamus. At least it’s not a chinlock. Orton makes his inevitable comeback. Orton delivers a belly to belly suplex for a 2 count. Orton counters with a backbreaker but the RKO is blocked. Sheamus brings the steel steps into the ring but Orton counters with a power slam onto the steps! Sheamus blocks a DDT onto the steps but gets snapped onto the ropes. Orton settles with a DDT onto the floor. The RKO is blocked and Orton gets knocked into the ring post. Sheamus delivers a backbreaker on the steps, which seems rather pointless. The Brogue Kick only gets a 2 count. Sheamus delivers some chair shots but still can’t get the pinfall. Sheamus misses a wild chair shot and eats the RKO. Sheamus rolls to the floor to prevent a cover. The Orton Death Punt misses and Sheamus nails a second Brogue Kick. Orton counters a Celtic Cross by dropping Sheamus on the steps. RKO on the ring steps finally finishes it at 22:45. I couldn’t wait for this to be over until about the 15 minute mark when this became pretty damn compelling, ***.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Randy Orton

-Orton takes a minute to pose with his championship on top of the cell.

-Josh Mathews interviews the NXT divas backstage. They are quickly interrupted byThe Nexus. Wade Barrett takes over the interview. Mathews reminds Barrett that if he loses against John Cena, the group will be disbanded. Barrett says he’s more than capable of beating Cena on his own (Nexus members are banned from ringside) and looks forward to forcing Cena to join them.

-Ricardo Rodriguez provides ring introductions for relative newcomer, Alberto Del Rio. He’s still in that “My name is _____” stage of getting himself over. They show a picture from Smackdown of Del Rio holding up a Chihuahua wearing a Rey Mysterio mask. After putting Mysterio and Christian on the shelf, he’s not sure who’s going to mess with him now. Del Rio rants about how he’s better than everyone and is interrupted by Edge, who is in the midst of his second face turn of 2010. Edge calls Del Rio stupid. They’re about to fight when Jack Swagger interrupts. Swagger is upset that he doesn’t have a match and wants revenge against Edge for spearing his mascot. Edge picks a fight with Swagger, but Del Rio jumps him from behind. Swagger continues a beat down when the anonymous Raw GM beeps and makes an impromptu match between Edge and Swagger.

Edge vs. Jack Swagger

Swagger enjoys the early advantage but Edge quickly counters. Swagger reverses an Irish whip to regain control. Gut-buster by Swagger gets a 2 count. It’s sad that this match has zero heat thus far. That damn computer GM was the lamest thing ever and just made everything associated with it seem lame too. The crowd gets behind Edge while he’s trapped in a body scissors. Swagger attempts a suplex off the apron, which doesn’t connect on the grounds that it would kill both of them. Edge forges a comeback but Swagger goes for the ankle again, but Edge reverses with a toss into the ring steps. Missile drop-kick by Edge gets 2. Swagger rebounds with a belly to belly suplex off the top. Back suplex by Swagger but Edge counters the Swagger Bomb. DDT by Edge but the spear is countered into a gut-wrench power bomb. Swagger awkwardly blocks an enziguri and goes back to the ankle lock. Edge bounces back with the spear to end this clunker at 11:27. This was dull and unnecessary, **.
Winner: Edge

-David Otunga tries to get the other Nexus members to get behind his plan to tamper with the Barrett/Cena match without causing a DQ.

Wade Barrett vs. John Cena

If Cena wins, the Nexus must disband. If Barrett wins, Cena must join Nexus. Cena outwrestles Barrett in the early going. Cena is about to hit the AA when the Nexus runs down the ramp for a distraction. Barrett orders the group to stay back because he has a plan. Barrett takes control of the match with the usual methodical heel offense. Cena takes lengthy beating before mounting his typical comeback. The Nexus surround the ring as Cena delivers the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Big Show leads the locker room into assaulting Nexus! The referees restore order and send the Raw and Smackdown guys to the back. Barrett blocks the STF and plants Cena for a near fall. Cena rebounds but the AA is countered. Side slam by Barrett gets yet another near fall. Barrett’s flying elbow drop misses! They battle for position on the top rope with Cena delivering the flying leg drop. Barrett comes back and nails Waste Land for only 2! Cena explodes with the AA but Barrett kicks out! Cena locks on the STF when NXT rookies Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris interfere! McGillicutty provides a distraction while Harris clocks Cena in the head with a weapon! Barrett scores the pinfall at 17:44! Believe it or not, but the fans were really into the stipulations of this match and several people in the audience are beside themselves. This match fired on all cylinders, ***½.
Winner: Wade Barrett

-The Nexus spills into the ring and celebrates with Barrett. The commentators didn’t recognize Harris and McGillicutty and are speculating about the “fans” who interfered. The Nexus leave the arena as Cena lingers to let the consequences of his loss sink in.

-Josh Mathews interviews Paul Bearer backstage about his surprise return. Bearer says he’s been biding his time over the past six years, waiting to make his presence felt. Kane might be the devil’s favorite demon, but he’s not Bearer’s favorite son.

Divas Championship:
Michelle McCool © (with Layla) vs. Natalya

A confident Natalya is aggressive in the early going and causes Michelle to flee the ring. McCool lures Natalya into Layla distraction at ringside and drives her into the barricade. McCool takes control of the match, working over the back. Layla’s interference backfires and Natalya almost scores the pinfall. Natalya locks on the Sharpshooter but it’s countered into a McCool heel hook. Natalya counters back into the Sharpshooter but Layla throws a shoe into the ring to draw a DQ. This was actually pretty good in the short time they were given, *½.
Winner via DQ: Natalya

-Natalya gets a measure of revenge by locking Layla into the Sharpshooter. This feud will continue.

World Heavyweight Championship (Hell in a Cell match):
Kane © vs. The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer)

As of January 2013, this is the last time a World Heavyweight Championship match ever went on last on a WWE pay-per-view. Kane attacks Undertaker as he enters the cell and they begin to brawl. The bell doesn’t ring, but I’m starting my stopwatch anyway. Undertaker quickly takes control after delivering some chair shots. Undertaker bats Kane around the cell to justify this being a Hell in a Cell match. Kane reverses a whip into the ring steps and regains control with some chair shots. Undertaker side steps, causing Kane to crash into the steel. Undertaker retakes control and delivers his leg drop on the apron. Kane drop-kicks the injured knee and continues to work it over. They trade punches and Undertaker emerges on top. Kane blocks Old School and delivers a superplex. Flying clothesline by Kane but Undertaker surprises with Hell’s Gate. They both go down after hitting stereo big boots. DDT by Taker gets 2, as does a choke slam. Kane delivers a choke slam of his own for a near fall. Undertaker counters with the Last Ride for only 2. Kane counters the Tombstone Piledriver but Taker kicks out. Kane loses his temper and uppercuts the referee. A group of referees open the door to replace officials, inadvertently allowing Paul Bearer into the cell as well. Kane menacingly stalks Bearer into the ring. Undertaker sits up and delivers another choke slam. Undertaker’s lighting and pyro comes on as he sets up another Tombstone, but Bearer blinds him with the urn. What, is this 1995 or something? Bearer gives the urn to Kane, allowing him to clock Taker in the head. Kane nails another choke slam for the win at 21:55. This had a much better flow than the Night of Champions match, but was still far too long and had a mind-numbingly stupid finish, *¾.
Winner and still World Heavyweight Champion: Kane

Final Thoughts: The main event kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but this show had a strong under-card. The opener and Cena/Barrett were both pleasant surprises. There was a lot to like here, just don’t stick around for the finale, thumbs in the middle.