WWE Hell In A Cell 2013 Preview and Predictions

WWE returns to PPV with Hell In A Cell. R-Truth is on the poster. We have no idea why.

Giving their thoughs and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @TimWelcomed, @typicalROHfan and @TomBlackett.

Pre-show match. Curtis Axel vs. Big E. Langston for the IC Title:

typicalROHfan:

I’m as big a fan of Big E. Langston and his potential as anyone. I’m as big a doubter of Curtis Axel doing anything compelling as anyone. Clearly my emotions are split here. I’m hoping Big E. rescues the IC Title. I do believe he has what it takes to make the title at least somewhat noteworthy again.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Big E. Langston saves the (midcard) world.

Tim:

Not much I can really say about this one. I love the idea of Langston winning the belt and doing something with it. Not a huge fan of Axel, so the match doesn’t interest me too much.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Big E. Langston wins the Intercontinental Championship.

Tom:

For some reason, I feel like a feud between Langston and Ryback with Heyman in the middle actually has some potential to be a lot of fun, so I hope that’s the direction they take things. Before that can happen though, there’s the issue of getting Curtis Axel out of the picture. WWE seems to have just about given up on him though, so hopefully Big E. goes over here and gets an opportunity to be amazing.

Interest Level: 3/10
Prediction: Big E. Langston wins.

The Real Americans vs. Los Matadores:

typicalROHfan:

Not a huge fan of either team’s gimmick but there’s talent in the ring. Antonio Cesaro has been on fire lately. Maybe he does the big swing on both Matadores and the little bull whose name I refuse to look up at the same time. It will be a pretty good match.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Los Matadores win.

Tim:

This could be a fun match if Swagger minimizes his time in the ring. Los Matadores are two great wrestlers (with a gimmick that is kind of eye-roll worthy) and Cesaro is a beast.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Los Matadores win.

Tom:

Should be fine! I don’t think I’ve watched a Los Matadores match since their debut. They’re pretty good, but it’s hard to work up the energy to watch them and 3MB tear it up every week, brother.

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Los Matadores wins. The bull escapes the giant swing…. FOR NOW.

AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella for the Diva’s Title:

typicalROHfan:

This feels like the 4th PPV in a row we’re getting this. Contrary to the lyrics of the Bellas’ theme song, I can’t look and I won’t touch this match.

Interest Level: 2/10
Prediction: Brie Bella wins.

Tim:

I suppose this will be the end of them doing this match over and over, well, I at least hope so. Tamina and AJ is a pretty neat thing happening right now but I really don’t care about Brie when it comes to her wrestling. With that said, she’ll probably win the title.

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Brie Bella wins the Diva’s Championship.

Tom:

The AJ / Tamina pairing is fun, but I can’t say that’s enough to have me excited for this match. I’d much rather watch them… I dunno, go to a theme park or take a trip to the mall or whatever. Or fight someone who isn’t a star of Total Divas (NOTAL EXCEPTION: Naomi. Why isn’t she in this match instead of Brie?).

Interest Level: 2/10
Prediction: AJ wins.

Goldust and Cody Rhodes vs. The Shield vs. The Usos for the Tag Titles:

typicalROHfan:

This is probably going to be match of the night. I’ll never let go of the memory that the Usos had an awesome three team tag match on one of the recent Wrestlemania pre-show matches. I’m hoping they do it again here so people can remember it this time.

The Rhodes brothers and the Shield have been awesome and the match seems like a can’t miss. I also like the fact that I can easily see any of them winning.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: The Shield wins.

Tim:

The best thing about WWE lately has been Cody Rhodes and Goldust’s matches with The Shield. Add the often underrated Usos to the mix and I say we have ourselves a great match. I don’t see the titles changing here, however.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Cody Rhodes and Goldust retain.

Tom:

Really excited for this. The Fightin’ Rhodes Boys have been terrific, as have The Shield and The Usos deserve their place in this match. Hopefully, these three teams are all kept in the title picture for a while because I’d love to see them in some kind of ladder-based battle at TLC.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Those Rhodes boys do it again.

CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman:

typicalROHfan:

CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman would probably be my “Worst Feud of the Year” if I were keeping track, despite the fact that both are doing a pretty good job. Unfortunately, Paul Heyman can’t wrestle himself. Why couldn’t WWE choose New Jack to be his guy?

This match can’t possibly suck as much as last year’s Hell In A Cell main event did, can it?

Interest Level: -7/10 (Emphasis on the -)
Prediction: CM Punk wins.

Tim:

This feud has suffered considerably due to the newer “Heyman Guys.” When something is natural, like Punk or Lesnar being with Heyman, it works. When it becomes a thing and starts feeling forced, like Axel or Ryback being with Heyman, it comes off really bad. Punk and Heyman have done very well with this but it’s gone on too long and has two too many floating parts that I do not care about.

Interest Level: 3/10
Prediction: CM Punk wins.

Tom:

The Hell in a Cell stip is such a weird proposition these days. After… what, four or five years of it being just one of the regular fall PPVs, they’ve dialled back any expectations of Foley-esque bumps and such, so now it really is just a big cage match. Which I guess is fine, but it certainly doesn’t have the potential to lift up an otherwise uninspiring feud, which brings us to this match. I have enjoyed the dynamic of Ryback and Heyman, but the matches with Punk have been pretty dull affairs. I’m guessing this is the blow-off for Punk/Heyman, so maybe it’ll be more fun, though Punk promising to do things to Paul’s face isn’t that much of a draw for me.

I have literally no idea what Punk will go on to do after this though. Maybe he’ll hook up with R-Truth again and the team of Punky Truthsters will take the tag division by storm? We can only hope

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: CM Punk wins.

Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena for the World Heavyweight Title:

typicalROHfan:

I really enjoy Cena but I’ve seen the return so many times that I can’t get the full level of care and anticipation the younger fan base probably has. At least it adds some relevance to the World title match. It feels like the last time this title mattered, EDGE was an active wrestler.

I’m thinking Cena wins this title and challenges Orton to unify the belts during Wrestlemania season. Punk wins the Royal Rumble and we get a triple threat unification match to main event WM 30.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Cena wins.

Tim:

Cena returns so I am sure this match will have a great fan reaction. I wish he would have taken a longer break. Not because I do not like him but because I think it would help to take an extended break from his typical booking and character. Del Rio is always consistent. I can’t really make myself care too much but I think the match will be enjoyable.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: John Cena wins the World Heavyweight Championship.

Tom:

I’m not as excited for him as I would have been if he’d been out for another few months, but I’m still very glad to see Cena back. My memories of his last feud with Del Rio aren’t too favourable, but there’s something weirdly exciting about seeing him compete for the Smackdown Title. It’s been the obviously inferior belt for the longest time, so the idea of Cena taking it for a spin would be fun. Sandow’s been suspiciously absent for a couple of weeks, so could that be a sign we’ll see a Cena win and a Sandow cash-in? I’d be entirely okay with that!

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Cena wins the title, Sandow cashes in, people care about who’s in the World Title picture for the first time since Santino and Bryan at Elimination Chamber a couple of years ago.

Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Title with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee:

typicalROHfan:

This is interesting. I’m hoping it’s the final match between these two once and for all. It’s going to have a big match feel due to a blow off match, Shawn Michaels as ref and the cage. As everyone else does, I fear that Shawn Michaels superkicking Daniel Bryan is going to be the ending that leads to Orton winning the belt.

If the feud ends, it seems as if Orton would have a lot of challengers ready on the baby face side based off the Big Show, Rhodes and basically the entire good guy roster has been feuding with the McMahons. If Bryan wins and Orton stops challenging, there doesn’t seem to be another heel challenger ready. I hope my point proves wrong and Bryan wins of course.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Randy Orton wins.

Tim:

I pray that this is the final Bryan vs Orton match for a very long time. Michaels being the ref adds a special element to it, at least. What I think will happen is that Shawn Michaels superkicks Bryan, Orton goes for the pin but Big Show rips the cell door off, KO’s Michaels and Orton and then counts to three for Bryan to win with Michael’s hand.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Daniel bryan wins the WWE Championship.

Tom:

If Big Show doesn’t turn up in his big rig, I will riot (and by that, I mean I’ll throw some cushions around or something). The presence of HBK gives this a little extra spice, but I’m so ready for Bryan and Orton to be over and done with.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins.