It’s time to take a look back at this past weekend’s Hell in
a Cell pay per view presented by WWE, and how Tom and Jim fared in their picks
on the Head 2 Head podcast! (Special
note: all Two Spot Monkeys podcasts are now available via iTunes, so head there
and subscribe to be sure you get the newest ones as they come out!).
Tom and Jim each went 3-3 in their picks. Tom got the WWE Title Match, Women’s Title
Match, and Intercontinental Title Match right, while Jim got the Tag Title,
Women’s Title and IC Title Matches right, thus leaving Jim still with a one
match lead in their year long Head 2 Head competition, 37-21 to 36-22. With two PPV’s left, the time for Tom to
catch up is running short! Let’s take a
look at what each of us thought of the direction they took with Hell in a
Cell.
Jim’s Take: This was a match that could have made Del
Rio, they’ve spent ample time building up his cross arm breaker as a
devastating hold, why not have him go over with it and finally get him right in
the top of the mix again, but this time much more dangerous than it was
portrayed he was before? Instead, you
took Orton, who could lose for the next month straight and not have it affect
his over-ness, and put him over basically cleanly. So, why do I care about Del Rio at this
point? WWE just doesn’t get it when
trying to “make new stars”, they get so locked in on a certain few guys that
they just don’t get it.
Tom’s Take: When this match happened it made zero sense in
the moment for why Orton would get the win over ADR. Thinking to what would happen later in the
night, seeing Orton as the next title contender as a result of this win, that
could make sense…but let’s see if that actually happens.
Tag Title Match
Team Hell No vs.
Rhodes Scholars
Jim’s Take: While
I’m fine with having Rhodes Scholars get the DQ win, if you wanted to keep the
belts on Kane and Bryan (thus not having them pin either Rhodes or Sandow
clean), why not have it where Kane hits one with a chair or something other
than attacking in the corner until the ref throws it out. That’s always been a lame DQ in my eyes. Obviously the story between these two isn’t
over yet, and I still think Rhodes and Sandow will end the reign at some
point. So, it was ok, but kind of a weak
finish if you ask me.
Tom’s Take: Absolutely a weak finish. The continued deepening of both teams and
their respective characters could have really taken another step here and it
did not. I look forward to seeing where
they go next in this feud.
Intercontinental
Title Match
Kofi Kingston vs. The
Miz
Jim’s Take: As both Tom and I said, there was no way
Kingston could lose here, and he didn’t.
I like that they are putting a spotlight on Kingston and I hope they
continue to, as he’s someone I’ve long felt they could make alot of money off
of in a top spot, so let’s see the build to that start. As for The Miz, he’s been great in this as
well, and if he’s done with Kingston now (not sure that he is), I hope he still
has a prominent role as well, because he’s more than earned it. He’s so charismatic, he can help get guys
over without much trouble at all if given the shot.
Tom’s Take: Kofi is the man. He proved it again here and The Miz gets a
lot of credit and respect for me too.
These two could continue to feud, but again going back to a comment from
above, I don’t know that I have the faith of WWE to allow for the depth to
continue it to happen. I do have hopes
for Kofi to have meaningful feuds and issues so that the WWE Universe can
really see Kofi as a main event player.
United States Title Match
Antonio Cesaro vs.
Justin Gabriel
Jim’s Take: The Cesaro train keeps on rolling as he
avenges his non-title loss from Monday night with a defense here against Gabriel. As I said on the Head 2 Head podcast, I’m
really high on Cesaro’s chances to be a main event level player in WWE in the
next year or so, so I obviously approve of the win here. If this can lead to Gabriel getting a bit
more of a push, that’d be fine too as I think he is a heck of a hand who just
can’t seem to get a chance to really shine in a program with someone. Maybe continue this feud somehow? Or move him into a feud (with Tyson Kidd)
against the 3MB (where they win please).
Tom’s Take: Cesaro does continue to roll on and it is fun
to watch. Having watched NXT from last
week, there is something coming from Cesaro vs. Kidd on that show within the
next few weeks, so I am eager to see things there and hope it comes to either RAW or Smackdown.
Rey Mysterio & Sin
Cara vs. The Prime Time Playas
Jim’s Take: It seems that the rose has come off of
the Prime Time Playas with their loss here, as well as a loss to The Usos on
Superstars last week. There was a time
when it seemed like a title run was absolutely in the cards for them, but I
don’t know if they upset someone backstage or what has happened, but they are a
total after thought right now in the tag title picture. That being said, it’s completely the opposite
for Mysterio/Cara as I fully expect them to be the first feud for Rhodes
Scholars once they win the tag titles.
Rhodes Scholars vs. Mysterio/Cara will be alot of fun (it already has
been) and could lead to Sin Cara getting his first taste of WWE gold.
Tom’s Take: I agree with much of what Jim shared. I do see Rey & Sin Cara as the team who
is ready to challenge for the Tag Team Titles when Team Hell No and the Rhodes
Scholars conclude their issue. If WWE
were to go with it sooner than the conclusion of their feud, I could see all
three teams in Ladder Match for the Tag Titles in December at the TLC
pay-per-view, a spot where Rey and Cara could really shine in their high spot
element.
World Heavyweight
Title Match
Sheamus vs. The Big
Show
Jim’s Take: This one makes me want to bang my head
against a wall. Sheamus should have gone
over here to continue to put over the Brogue Kick as a devastating finisher
that even put down a giant. Show did not
need the title win here...not at all.
Unless Sheamus is hurt and taking time off, or failed a drug test or
something (and I’m not at all suggesting either), there is NO reason to have
Sheamus lose his title to Show here, none whatsoever. And then on top of it all, you have Ziggler
saying he’ll cash in at Hell in a Cell, only to show him backstage watching and
then....oh wait. That was it. No follow up.
At least have him come out and have Show look at him threateningly and
then have Ziggler decide against it. Or
have Vickie say now the briefcase could be used for either title and Ziggler
comes out after the main event.
Something! No payoff at all, no
attempt at cashing in, just Ziggler watching from the back. UGH.
WWE, seriously, get a damn clue.
Tom’s Take: Sheamus has had a really good reign. It is really too bad that somehow, some way he
has not just taken the next step to really break out and become a top level
superstar, specifically in the eyes of fans.
It is a challenging situation: who is at fault – Sheamus or WWE? Could either side have done more to make this
reign more successful? The idea that Big
Show is something of WWE’s “fall back” champion at times like this shows two
things; one, their respect for him and his place in WWE hierarchy and two, the
lack of young building up of new talent and new stars that they feel confident
in (see: Del Rio, Alberto) to hold and be successful as champion. When this result occurred, the Orton win made
more sense in hindsight. Gotta say,
though, that a possible Big Show vs. Randy Orton feud isn’t getting me excited.
Divas Title Match
Eve vs. Layla El vs.
Kaitlyn
Jim’s Take: Pretty much what we expected, Eve finds a
way to sneak herself a win and keep the title.
I like that she didn’t pin Kaitlyn, and hopefully we get another one on
one between them where Kailyn finally gets revenge. Not much else to say here.
Tom’s Take: Storyline-wise, things made sense. I really think they should have given Layla a
title run, even if she lost it on RAW or Smackdown. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, the partnership with Susan G. Komen and Layla’s personal story (you’ve
had to seen it on WWE TV over the last few weeks), it would have made for a
feel good moment.
Hell in a Cell - WWE
Title Match
CM Punk vs. Ryback
Jim’s Take: Well, I went out on a limb and picked
Ryback, and was wrong, it certainly happens!
While the ref hitting a low blow seems a bit of a weak way out, at least
they had Ryback come back and look strong by laying out Punk on top of the
cell, that should be a good visual and kept Ryback as a strong contender and
someone who is hot on the heels of CM Punk as he continues his reign. It also continues Punk’s way of finding a way
out of everything that gets put in front of him. If he’s going to do the cowardly heel thing
(which he’s so much better than and shouldn’t be doing), at least he’s really,
really good at it. I liked them having
Punk and Heyman trying to get anyone they could to cancel the match throughout
the show as well, as it made Ryback seem even more of a monster and more of a
man not to be messed with, especially inside a cell.
Tom’s Take: I know I made the Punk pick on the
podcast and I was confident, but there some shadow of doubt as well. I think the time we are in with Punk right
now is a special time, one that defines an era of WWE history. To have Ryback win the title would have been
damaging to that. Whether people were
satisfied or not with the ending, it was necessary to keep Punk as champion and
keeps Ryback strong. I do not think the
story is done here and hope that Punk can really do wonders to help continue
Ryback be the best he can be.
Don’t forget, our next podcast is coming this week Thursday
night, November 1st at 9:30pm EST.
We will be talking about the upcoming Dragon Gate USA shows scheduled
for this coming weekend. Please join us or listen once uploaded via the link
here or at iTunes.
