The PPVs just keep on coming. After the sensational AEW Double or Nothing 2022 from Las Vegas last weekend it is the turn of WWE to put on Hell in a Cell 2022. This show will be coming from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL (essentially Chicago) and while it will be hard for it to match Double or Nothing (it won’t) there should still be some solid graps in action. In this era, it really is a case of eat, sleep, watch pro wrestling, repeat. It is almost like that is a cool enough slogan for a shirt like this one…
Here are four things we NEED to see at Hell in a Cell this year.
A Big Return
This is a weird card that lacks star power. It almost feels like WWE has given up on its product – as it tends to do over the summer and into the fall – even earlier than normal this year. AEW and NJPW are doing their best to eat into the WWE market, so what better than a major return to change the narrative.
There are three possible names that come into play here. Bayley hasn’t been around for nearly a year and Hell in a Cell has always been a major storyline mover for her character. John Cena is a possibility seeing as WWE has announced June as Cena month. He likely wouldn’t wrestle, but Cena showing up would at least pop a news story. The final – and most interesting – option is Bray Wyatt. Wyatt was released last year and a character like his needs time away to reset the creative juices. Recent Tweets suggest a comeback is imminent, but if it is Hell in a Cell (or even WWE) is very much up for debate.
SmackDown Matches
Maybe the reason why the build to this PPV feels lazy is that there isn’t a single match from one of WWE’s two main brands on the card. There are six Raw matchups announced (as of Friday morning) and none from SmackDown. The blue brand has long been the redheaded stepchild, but to have their entire roster blanked from a show just feels weird.
It is likely a match or two will be added, but even then the distribution is bizarre. The Usos VS Shinsuke Nakamura and Matt Ridde looks like it is going to be a Money in the Bank Match, Happy Corbin vs Madcap Moss is boring, and Richochet vs Gunther for the Intercontinental Title feels too early in their budding feud. The options are so limited that it is easy to wonder what the bookers on SmackDown are doing.
Cody Needs To Go Over
I have enjoyed the feud between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins since the former returned at Wrestlemania. There was some worry that Cody’s AEW ties would sink him quickly, but that hasn’t been the case. Whether that is because WWE believes in Cody or because they want other members of the AEW roster to see that they can have viable careers when transitioning back to the sport’s entertainment leader, only time will tell.
The Hell in a Cell gimmick is one that is often shoved into feuds for no reason because of this PPV. In this case, however, it actually fits. This will be the third match between the pair and Cody needs to win in a decisive fashion to put the rivalry behind him and move on. Similarly, Seth needs this feud to be over. Losing it is fine, but then he needs another high-profile rivalry where he can go over.
Always remember folks. Pro Wrestling is Real.
