Hell in a Cell is taking place tomorrow night (Sun., June 20, 2021) from the ThunderDome in the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. It begins at 6:00 pm ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 7 pm ET on Peacock in the U.S., WWE Network everywhere else, or your local cable pay-per-view provider.
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
WWE HELL IN A CELL PREDICTIONS
Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre
Geno Mrosko: You know ... they’ve gone on with this just long enough to make me think they might actually just go ahead and go through with putting the title back on McIntyre just in time for fans to come back. Pick: Drew McInytre
Sean Rueter: One of these guys is a fresh, interesting match for Brock Lesnar whenever he returns. And that guy is not Scottish. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Kyle Decker: While I can make an argument for them putting the title back on Drew prior to the crowds coming back, Lashley is the hot hand here. Drew has been a bit dull lately. Lashley has been great. Keep rolling with the All Mighty. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Claire Elizabeth: If Drew’s gonna win the title back, it should be in front of people, and nobody should be beating this version of the All Mighty anytime soon. Easy. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Cain A. Knight: Drew should hide his sword under the ring so that he can use it to defend himself when the cell is breached by a new member of the Hurt Business. If he doesn’t do that, then he’s doomed for failure. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Stella Cheeks: The WWE Universe needs a break from William Wallace Drew McIntyre and his “inspirational” promos. Bobby Lashley needs a new opponent. Fingers crossed that this is FINALLY the end of their feud. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
Geno Mrosko: Nothing about the way they’ve put this entire program together tells us there is a single chance in hell that Bayley is winning this match. Pick: Bianca Belair
Sean Rueter: Because Bayley is winning her second briefcase next month. Pick: Bianca Belair
Kyle Decker: They’re upping the stakes by going inside Hell in a Cell, but that shouldn’t alter the winner. Bayley isn’t that far removed from a very long title reign. This was always meant to start Bianca’s reign with a win over an established wrestler. Pick: Bianca Belair
Claire Elizabeth: Bianca puts Bayley down again here and then maybe we do one more round at Money in the Bank with some kind of stipulation attached to it. Pick: Bianca Belair
Cain A. Knight: Bayley is laughing because she keeps getting title matches even though she hasn’t won a singles match since February. It’s hilarious, quite frankly. Pick: Bianca Belair
Stella Cheeks: This match is going to be amazing. Both women are top tier competitors and although they have faced each other many times before the added element of the Cell gives this a fresh new twist. The EST in Hell in a Cell?? I can’t even imagine the spots she’s going to attempt! That said, this is still the EST’s moment to shine and Bayley exists to put her over. Again. Pick: Bianca Belair.
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair
Geno Mrosko: I could see a change here but don’t think it’s the smartest play while establishing Ripley on the main roster. There’s no need to rush into anything here. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Sean Rueter: The way they’ve made it so I don’t even care if Rhea gets her win back from Charlotte is pretty impressive, honestly. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Kyle Decker: I echo what Sean says. I don’t really care and if you told me that a year ago, I’d be surprised. Not that surprised because it’s not like WWE has taken things I am excited about and ruined them. I’m gonna go with Ripley because I don’t feel there’s enough here to do a change and I think even they know Rhea losing her first truly big match as champ is a bad idea. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Claire Elizabeth: I don’t think it wise to bet against Charlotte Flair in a singles match on PPV. Pick: Charlotte Flair
Cain A. Knight: Why couldn’t this feud include more segments like their great pull apart brawl from Raw? Pick: Charlotte Flair
Stella Cheeks: Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair have terrible feud chemistry. Hopefully, their match at HIAC makes up for this sloppy storytelling. Frankly, I want Charlotte to have the title because then we could maybe get some interesting storytelling in the Raw Women’s Championship scene. Because let’s be real, if Charlotte doesn’t have the title, Charlotte trying to get the title is the only story they know how to tell. Pick: Charlotte Flair
Alexa Bliss vs. Shayna Baszler
Geno Mrosko: I hate everything about this supernatural nonsense but I can see the powers that be are in love with it. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Sean Rueter: Rather than grumble about how I’m not looking forward to this, I’ll celebrate the fact there are three women’s matches on this card. Maybe Hunter was right? (He wasn’t, but if Alexa’s gimmick gets us regular, non-title women’s PPV angles, I’ll roll my eyes at 6.66% less). Pick: Alexa Bliss
Kyle Decker: Yeah, it’s Alexa. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Claire Elizabeth: Sigh. Do we have to? I know Lily is “in time out”, but I’m sure the stupid doll is gonna slide out from under the ring in a flood of black ichor so Shayna trips and falls and loses by countout or some such... Pick: Alexa Bliss
Cain A. Knight: Sorry Shayna, but Eva Marie is the only woman on the roster who can save us from Lilly. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Stella Cheeks: Alexa Bliss is going to win and she should win. She needs to beat Shayna without the help of her weird NOT EVEN SCARY doll to reestablish herself in the division. Shayna can handle the loss because she can just chalk it up to magical nonsense later. If Alexa doesn’t win WITH her magical nonsense then she truly is destined to be a female Bray Wyatt. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins
Geno Mrosko: They teased a big Cesaro push and then instantly backed off it, for whatever reason. I could see them keeping him strong by giving him wins like this but I don’t think it will happen. Pick: Seth Rollins
Sean Rueter: Just assuming we’re getting the old 50/50 booking special for both the ‘Mania rematch late additions. Pick: Seth Rollins
Kyle Decker: I fear that Mick Foley’s prayers are going to go unanswered. Cesaro got the win when he was about to go feud with Roman. But now I bet Seth gets the win to move on to a bigger feud. Pick: Seth Rollins
Claire Elizabeth: I’m gonna say this is a springboard back to factionalism for Seth, and so Cesaro’s gonna win by DQ when a new disciple makes his debut or some other such underhanded business. Pick: Cesaro
Cain A. Knight: Seth has already lost two previous matches against Cesaro. WWE won’t book that same result three times in a row. Pick: Seth Rollins
Stella Cheeks: Cesaro punched Seth Rollins and then stole his pants. Seth “absolutely no chill” Rollins is getting his payback on Sunday. Pick: Seth Rollins
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
Geno Mrosko: I could see this going either way. I honestly don’t think it matters all that much who wins in a program like this either. Pick: Kevin Owens
Sean Rueter: See above. Pick: Sami Zayn
Kyle Decker: Tough to tell which way this is going to go. I think Sami still needs a win in this chapter of the feud so may as well get it here. Then they can set up a rubber match. Pick: Sami Zayn
Claire Elizabeth: One of the very few feuds in pro wrestling that never gets boring, and Sami’s had the upper hand playing spoiler lately, so this one is KO’s to lose. Pick: Kevin Owens
Cain A. Knight: Kevin Owens needs some wins after getting jobbed out to that Nigerian Nail so many times. Pick: Kevin Owens
Stella Cheeks: Sami wins by harnessing the power of the conspiracy and it activates the SmackDown writers room emergency Fight Forever Feud contingency plan. Pick: Sami Zayn
That’s how we see the card playing out.
You?