Here are seven things we learnt from the big show:
‘The Beast’ is back
Stepping inside a new-look red Cell (after 21 years it’s about time it got a lick of paint), Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman had a lumbering powerhouse match.
Special ref and WWE legend Mick Foley didn’t bring anything to the action, but there were distractions on the outside to keep things lively.
Dolph Ziggler and and Drew McIntyre tried to get in the Cell but Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose charged down for a brawl around and on top of the Cell.
It ended with Rollins and Ziggler dropping off the side and smashing into the announce desks.
But the big moment came when Brock Lesnar made a surprise return and kicked the Cell door through.
EVOLUTION How to watch and attend the historic WWE PPV
He laid out Foley and annihilated both Roman and Braun with F-5s, ending the match in a no contest.
It was a genuine shocker – no-one expected Brock back in WWE until after his next UFC fight. It looks like we’ll get a Brock v Roman v Braun three-way at the next PPV.
Ronda Rousey needs a new challenger
Ronda Rousey v Alexa Bliss wasn’t quite the one-sided destruction we saw at SummerSlam – but it was only ever going to end one way.
WWE stacked the deck against Ronda this time, giving her a rib injury to sell and sticking Alexa’s cronies, Mickie James and Alicia Fox, at ringside.
Alexa attacked Ronda’s ribs and dominated some of the match, before Ronda wiped the smile off Alexa’s face with the arm bar – forcing Alexa to tap immediately.
Alexa did a good job as a heel in this match but the feud is over – Ronda has destroyed her. Ronda has proved once again she’s a natural. But what legitimate challengers are left on Raw?
Natalya perhaps? Or is WWE really going to book a Ronda v Nikki Bella feud?
It was bad night all round for The Shield
Not only was Roman Reigns annihilated by Brock Lesnar and Rollins dumped off the Cell, but Rollins and Dean Ambrose also failed to win the Raw tag team titles earlier in the night.
Battling champs Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, the match was exactly what fans expected – a breakneck pace with big spots and near-falls. (Strangely, that made it almost dull – it’s hard to get excited when you know exactly how the action will play out.)
Ziggler and Rollins bumped around, Amrbose brought wild intensity, and McIntyre dominated with power moves.
Dolph and Drew retained after McIntyre nailed Rollins with a huge Claymore Kick.
Samoa Joe should be WWE Champion
It’s something that would have been impossible to imagine just five years ago.
Samoa Joe – a man that most fans thought would never make it to WWE – should be holding the company’s most prestigious title after making AJ Styles tap.
The match didn’t quite have the psychological edge for their SummerSlam collision, but it was fun to watch Joe unleash his ever surprising arsenal of moves.
In one heart-stopping spot, Joe dived through the ropes to hit AJ with a freight train-like forearm on the outside.
It looked like Joe had it won when he caught AJ’s Phenomenal Forearm mid-air and put on the Coquina Clutch.
AJ rolled backwards, pinning Joe’s shoulders for the mat for the win – but AJ tapped out before the ref counted to three.
The ref didn’t see the tap out, so AJ retained the title. Expect a rematch to settle the controversy at the next PPV.
Miz and Maryse are still WWE’s 'it couple'
The Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella v Miz & Maryse mixed tag has been booked like the main event on SmackDown – but didn’t quite get big match treatment on the PPV.
Miz dominated Bryan until Brie got the hot tag (though it was more lukewarm).
Bryan and Brie nailed Miz and Maryse with some his and hers Yes Kicks, before a mistimed finish saw Maryse catch Brie with a feeble-looking pinfall. That puts Miz 2-0 over Bryan in this feud.
It’s all good fodder for Miz, giving him further licence to brag on SmackDown and keep this feud going.
Becky Lynch is the new SmackDown Women’s Champion
Becky Lynch v Charlotte Flair had been one of the hottest feuds going into HIAC.
The match looked scrappy – and a few blown spots disrupted the flow – but fans were not disappointed with the result.
Becky was by far the more popular wrestler and targeted Charlotte’s shoulder.
Charlotte missed a big moonsault (and climbed straight to her feet again without selling it) before Becky finally locked in the Dis-Arm-Her.
Becky used heel-ish tactics to hold the submission even as Charlotte escaped under the bottom rope and the ref tried to break the hold.
“The Queen” bounced back with a spear, but Becky turned it into a roll-up for a shock pinfall victory.
Becky refused to shake Charlotte’s hand afterwards – and the fans lapped it up. Is there a double turn coming? Shouldn’t Charlotte be the heel in this feud?
Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton still have some new tricks
When the Hardy and Orton feud began, it didn’t feel like very dynamic – a rerun of an old feud between veterans with combined careers of 40-plus years.
But it’s been surprisingly violent and gripping – and they found ways to being something new to the much overdone Hell in a Cell match with never-before-seen spots.
Orton threw Hardy abdomen-first into the open steel of an inverted ladder, tangled Hardy in a ladder for a brutal update on the Orton stomp, and twisted Hardy’s ear piercing holes with a screwdriver.
Orton suffered sore-looking cuts to the back and arm when Hardy whipped him with his studded belt.
The finish was inventive but dangerous – Hardy set Orton up on a table and swung across the ceiling of the Cell monkey bars-style.
But Orton moved as Hardy dropped, sending the “Enigma” crashing through the table. Orton then covered for the pin and Hardy was stretchered off.
You can still watch WWE Hell in a Cell live on the WWE Network or re-runs on Sky Sports Box Office.
By subscribing to the WWE Network you will get a 30-day free trial, after this period you will be charged £10-a-month until you cancel your subscription.
You can sign-up to WWE’s Network by clicking here.
Want to watch WWE’s historic Evolution pay-per-view on October 28?
Click here for all the information on how to attend the event.
And check out the best deals Primera Air are offering to fly out to NYC for the showcase.
Source: Read Full Article