Randy Orton is once again WWE Champion after defeating Drew McIntyre in a barbaric battle inside Hell in a Cell. Elsewhere, Roman Reigns cemented himself as The Tribal Chief with a ruthless Universal Title victory over cousin Jey Uso, Sasha Banks overcame Bayley to become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion, and much more.
WWE 24/7 Championship: WWE 24/7 CHAMPION, R-Truth defeated Drew Gulak. (Kickoff match)
R-Truth is still the 24/7 Champion after a win over Drew Gulak on the WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff, defeating the mat wizard with a clever move of his own.
Little Jimmy even made an appearance, though he felt Gulak's wrath, as The Philadelphia Stretcher apparently attacked Jimmy, lighting a fire under Truth and prompting unusual aggressiveness.
Gulak wrestled control away from the 42-time 24/7 Champion before Truth executed several of his childhood hero John Cena's signature maneuvers. He put the challenger away with a crafty counter into a jackknife cover before being chased out of the WWE ThunderDome by Akira Tozawa, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado and Gulak himself, all in pursuit of Truth's coveted title. (Via WWE.com)
Little Jimmy even made an appearance, though he felt Gulak's wrath, as The Philadelphia Stretcher apparently attacked Jimmy, lighting a fire under Truth and prompting unusual aggressiveness.
Gulak wrestled control away from the 42-time 24/7 Champion before Truth executed several of his childhood hero John Cena's signature maneuvers. He put the challenger away with a crafty counter into a jackknife cover before being chased out of the WWE ThunderDome by Akira Tozawa, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado and Gulak himself, all in pursuit of Truth's coveted title. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Universal Championship: WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, Roman Reigns (With Paul Heyman) defeated Jey Uso. (Hell in a Cell "I Quit" Match)
Roman Reigns backed up everything he said he'd do at WWE Hell in a Cell, showing no mercy for his family as he defeated Jey Uso to retain the Universal Championship in one of the most emotionally torrid clashes in WWE history.
The 42nd Hell in a Cell Match proved to be one of the most unique, as it was the first to be contested under "I Quit" rules. Both Superstars resorted to heavy artillery early, as Reigns delivered two Spears before Jey countered a third and answered with two Uso Splashes.
But neither man even appeared to consider quitting, and the brutality quickly escalated. Uso introduced a strap from under the ring before Reigns uncorked a third Spear on his cousin and turned the strap around on him, punishing him with unforgiving lashings. Jey fought back, though, and nearly squeezed the life out of Reigns until The Big Dog hit a Superman Punch and put him out with a Guillotine.
Even Reigns' special counsel, Paul Heyman, began to look uncomfortable with what he was witnessing, as Reigns delivered a drive-by kick before hitting a second, which saw Reigns drive the steel steps into the side of Jey’s head.
Reigns refused to let the referee stop the bout, tossing him to the outside before officials tried to prevent Reigns from inflicting more damage on Jey.
The Universal Champion finally seemed to reconsider his heinous actions when cousin and Jey's brother Jimmy Uso ran to the ring, throwing himself on top of Jey and begging Reigns to stop. His pleas appeared to work temporarily, even evoking tears from Reigns.
But it was all a ruse. Reigns instead locked Jimmy in the Guillotine, refusing to let go until Jey finally said "I quit."
The Big Dog walked away with a self-satisfied smirk, and father Sika and uncle Afa — WWE Hall of Famers The Wild Samoans — formally anointed Reigns as "The Head of the Table.” And already, it was painfully clear that the family would never be the same. (Via WWE.com)
The 42nd Hell in a Cell Match proved to be one of the most unique, as it was the first to be contested under "I Quit" rules. Both Superstars resorted to heavy artillery early, as Reigns delivered two Spears before Jey countered a third and answered with two Uso Splashes.
But neither man even appeared to consider quitting, and the brutality quickly escalated. Uso introduced a strap from under the ring before Reigns uncorked a third Spear on his cousin and turned the strap around on him, punishing him with unforgiving lashings. Jey fought back, though, and nearly squeezed the life out of Reigns until The Big Dog hit a Superman Punch and put him out with a Guillotine.
Even Reigns' special counsel, Paul Heyman, began to look uncomfortable with what he was witnessing, as Reigns delivered a drive-by kick before hitting a second, which saw Reigns drive the steel steps into the side of Jey’s head.
Reigns refused to let the referee stop the bout, tossing him to the outside before officials tried to prevent Reigns from inflicting more damage on Jey.
The Universal Champion finally seemed to reconsider his heinous actions when cousin and Jey's brother Jimmy Uso ran to the ring, throwing himself on top of Jey and begging Reigns to stop. His pleas appeared to work temporarily, even evoking tears from Reigns.
But it was all a ruse. Reigns instead locked Jimmy in the Guillotine, refusing to let go until Jey finally said "I quit."
The Big Dog walked away with a self-satisfied smirk, and father Sika and uncle Afa — WWE Hall of Famers The Wild Samoans — formally anointed Reigns as "The Head of the Table.” And already, it was painfully clear that the family would never be the same. (Via WWE.com)
Elias defeated Jeff Hardy by disqualfication.
Elias has certainly carved out his niche as WWE's songbird, but Jeff Hardy played him a painful tune at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Though the record books will show a disqualification defeat for The Charismatic Enigma, it was likely more than worth the price of retaliation. Hardy appeared poised for victory, hitting a Whisper in the Wind and Twist of Fate to create an opening for a Swanton Bomb.
Elias had the wherewithal to slither out of the ring, causing Jeff to pursue him. Instead of continuing with a conventional attack, Hardy wielded Elias' own guitar and smashed it over his back, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
But Jeff didn't look too distraught, as he ended his night by stomping the guitar and leaving Elias in a heap. (Via WWE.com)
Though the record books will show a disqualification defeat for The Charismatic Enigma, it was likely more than worth the price of retaliation. Hardy appeared poised for victory, hitting a Whisper in the Wind and Twist of Fate to create an opening for a Swanton Bomb.
Elias had the wherewithal to slither out of the ring, causing Jeff to pursue him. Instead of continuing with a conventional attack, Hardy wielded Elias' own guitar and smashed it over his back, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
But Jeff didn't look too distraught, as he ended his night by stomping the guitar and leaving Elias in a heap. (Via WWE.com)
Money in the Bank Contract Match: The Miz (with John Morrison) defeated Mr. Money in the Bank, Otis (with Tucker).
Not only did Otis lose his Money in the Bank Contract to The Miz at WWE Hell in a Cell, he may have lost something even worse: his best friend. Tucker betrayed Otis, costing him the match and his most prized possession.
The Miz nearly put Otis out early with a sleeper hold, but Otis began to power himself up and fight off The A-Lister before dropping him with a huge flapjack. John Morrison interfered on behalf of his partner, dragging Miz out of the way out of the Caterpillar.
Morrison was ejected moments later for again trying to intervene, but it turned out that Tucker was the biggest threat to Otis at ringside. Without warning, Tucker blasted his Heavy Machinery comrade with the briefcase while the referee’s back was turned.
Not even Miz could believe what he saw, though he was more than happy to capitalize by easily pinning Otis to become Mr. Money in the Bank for the second time, leaving Tucker to glare a hole through his former friend.
During a backstage interview moments later, Tucker denounced his friendship with Otis, claiming that he had been carrying his partner on his back. Suddenly, Otis attacked Tucker, and the two briefly brawled before Tucker bolted from the scene while Otis gave chase. (Via WWE.com)
The Miz nearly put Otis out early with a sleeper hold, but Otis began to power himself up and fight off The A-Lister before dropping him with a huge flapjack. John Morrison interfered on behalf of his partner, dragging Miz out of the way out of the Caterpillar.
Morrison was ejected moments later for again trying to intervene, but it turned out that Tucker was the biggest threat to Otis at ringside. Without warning, Tucker blasted his Heavy Machinery comrade with the briefcase while the referee’s back was turned.
Not even Miz could believe what he saw, though he was more than happy to capitalize by easily pinning Otis to become Mr. Money in the Bank for the second time, leaving Tucker to glare a hole through his former friend.
During a backstage interview moments later, Tucker denounced his friendship with Otis, claiming that he had been carrying his partner on his back. Suddenly, Otis attacked Tucker, and the two briefly brawled before Tucker bolted from the scene while Otis gave chase. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: Sasha Banks defeated SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Bayley by submission. (Hell in a Cell match)
The third time inside Hell in a Cell was the charm for Sasha Banks, who overcame ex-best friend Bayley at WWE Hell in a Cell to win the SmackDown Women's Championship for the first time.
Bayley arrived with her trusty steel chair, but the most experienced Women's Hell in a Cell competitor in WWE history pulled it from her grasp and tossed it out of the lowering cell, leaving The Role Model without her equalizer.
The champion resorted to a different weapon, opting for a Kendo stick, though Banks avoided it, and it marked the first of many attacks with foreign objects. The Boss wedged Bayley against the cell with a table, scaling it before delivering a spectacular Meteora. Banks was far from finished, as she deployed unique offense and later sent Bayley face-first into the chain link with a headscissors.
But Bayley showed she could administer pain in creative ways as well, sending Banks through a Kendo stick and into the steel steps with a devastating drop toe-hold before slingshotting Banks into two more Kendo sticks.
Sasha rallied to hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the cell, but Bayley later tore a page out of her opponent's playbook, hitting her own sunset flip to propel Banks back-first into a chair.
Bayley wasn't satisfied with merely brutalizing Banks, preferring to humiliate her as well. She covered her in spray paint but the time it took to execute proved costly, as Bayley missed a huge diving attack with a chair, leaving her vulnerable for Banks to hit a Bayley-to-Belly — Bayley's own signature maneuver — on a ladder.
Though The Role Model recovered the same chair she originally brought to the ring, it proved to be her downfall. Banks wrapped it around Bayley for a chair-assisted Bank Statement, ruthlessly stomping on her hand just as she did at TakeOver Brooklyn until Bayley tapped out.
And with the final bell, Banks ended the longest SmackDown Women's Title reign in history at 380 days and realized an unparalleled moment of catharsis all in the same moment, snapping her previous 0-for-2 mark inside Hell in a Cell in the most satisfying of fashions. (Via WWE.com)
Bayley arrived with her trusty steel chair, but the most experienced Women's Hell in a Cell competitor in WWE history pulled it from her grasp and tossed it out of the lowering cell, leaving The Role Model without her equalizer.
The champion resorted to a different weapon, opting for a Kendo stick, though Banks avoided it, and it marked the first of many attacks with foreign objects. The Boss wedged Bayley against the cell with a table, scaling it before delivering a spectacular Meteora. Banks was far from finished, as she deployed unique offense and later sent Bayley face-first into the chain link with a headscissors.
But Bayley showed she could administer pain in creative ways as well, sending Banks through a Kendo stick and into the steel steps with a devastating drop toe-hold before slingshotting Banks into two more Kendo sticks.
Sasha rallied to hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the cell, but Bayley later tore a page out of her opponent's playbook, hitting her own sunset flip to propel Banks back-first into a chair.
Bayley wasn't satisfied with merely brutalizing Banks, preferring to humiliate her as well. She covered her in spray paint but the time it took to execute proved costly, as Bayley missed a huge diving attack with a chair, leaving her vulnerable for Banks to hit a Bayley-to-Belly — Bayley's own signature maneuver — on a ladder.
Though The Role Model recovered the same chair she originally brought to the ring, it proved to be her downfall. Banks wrapped it around Bayley for a chair-assisted Bank Statement, ruthlessly stomping on her hand just as she did at TakeOver Brooklyn until Bayley tapped out.
And with the final bell, Banks ended the longest SmackDown Women's Title reign in history at 380 days and realized an unparalleled moment of catharsis all in the same moment, snapping her previous 0-for-2 mark inside Hell in a Cell in the most satisfying of fashions. (Via WWE.com)
United States Championship: UNITED STATES CHAMPION, Bobby Lashley defeated SLAPJACK by submission.
RETRIBUTION's open offer to The Hurt Business turned into an impressive showcase for The All Mighty, as Bobby Lashley defeated Slapjack to retain the United States Championship at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Mustafa Ali allowed MVP to choose which member of his unit would face a RETRIBUTION member of his choosing, and MVP countered by even agreeing to put Lashley's title on the line.
As unpredictable as he is unorthodox, SLAPJACK posed an unfamiliar challenge for Lashley, who appeared on his heels early. But the champion's unbridled strength simply proved to be too much for SLAPJACK to negotiate, and he tapped out to the Full Nelson.
However, the rest of RETRIBUTION assaulted Lashley immediately afterward with Ali directing traffic. The Hurt Business soon rushed the ring to provide backup, stopping RETRIBUTION in their tracks and prompting a swift retreat. (Via WWE.com)
Mustafa Ali allowed MVP to choose which member of his unit would face a RETRIBUTION member of his choosing, and MVP countered by even agreeing to put Lashley's title on the line.
As unpredictable as he is unorthodox, SLAPJACK posed an unfamiliar challenge for Lashley, who appeared on his heels early. But the champion's unbridled strength simply proved to be too much for SLAPJACK to negotiate, and he tapped out to the Full Nelson.
However, the rest of RETRIBUTION assaulted Lashley immediately afterward with Ali directing traffic. The Hurt Business soon rushed the ring to provide backup, stopping RETRIBUTION in their tracks and prompting a swift retreat. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: Randy Orton defeated WWE CHAMPION, Drew McIntyre. (Hell in a Cell Match)
Randy Orton defeated Drew McIntyre to make history as a 14-time World Champion, and fittingly, one of the most sinister Superstars of all time accomplished the feat inside WWE's most sinister structure in an all-out war at WWE Hell in a Cell.
The Viper entered the bout with an unblemished record in Hell in a Cell Matches with the WWE Title on the line, and he left with a perfect mark as well. But it appeared far from imminent for much of the bout, as McIntyre seemed to have an answer for all of his rival's moves.
Orton ambushed The King of Claymore Country, dressing as a member of the stage crew and attacking him from behind before the match started. But McIntyre, all too familiar with Orton's ploys by now, seemed prepared and quickly collected himself before using the cage to his advantage early in his first-ever Hell in a Cell Match.
Cracking Orton across the back with a steel chair and blasting him with steel steps, McIntyre showed he was more than willing to match The Legend Killer's renowned sadism. But an early Claymore attempt backfired, and Orton unleashed an assault of his own with a chair, wedging it into McIntyre's previously fractured jaw.
Orton controlled the battlefield with his signature deliberate pace, carefully calculating every move. McIntyre found a way to rally with a series of belly-to-belly throws, including a third that sent Orton crashing into a table.
But The Viper's plotting didn't relent, and he used bolt cutters to escape the cell and began scaling it moments later, challenging McIntyre to pursue him. That appeared to be Orton's plan all along, as he retrieved a lead pipe atop the cage, though McIntyre ducked his wild swing to thwart this particular scheme.
While climbing down, both men struck each other repeatedly while clinging to the cell. Unable to hold on, McIntyre careened down through the announce table. Likely suffering from internal injuries, McIntyre gasped for air while a sick grin appeared across Orton's lips.
After returning to the ring, the champion dug deep and nearly caught lightning in a bottle once again, countering an RKO attempt into a backslide pin reminiscent of their first WWE Title clash at SummerSlam, but it only netted a two-count.
McIntyre found the will to deliver a Claymore, though Orton demonstrated his veteran ring presence, rolling out to prevent a possible pin. After dragging Orton back into the ring, McIntyre attempted a second, but Orton dodged it and planted him with a vicious RKO for the victory.
The win adds to Orton's already enduring legacy, tying him with Triple H for the third-most World Title reigns all time behind only John Cena and Ric Flair, who each have 16. Meanwhile, McIntyre was left with his dreams crushed, a pain likely worse than any of the physical devastation Orton unleashed. (Via WWE.com)
The Viper entered the bout with an unblemished record in Hell in a Cell Matches with the WWE Title on the line, and he left with a perfect mark as well. But it appeared far from imminent for much of the bout, as McIntyre seemed to have an answer for all of his rival's moves.
Orton ambushed The King of Claymore Country, dressing as a member of the stage crew and attacking him from behind before the match started. But McIntyre, all too familiar with Orton's ploys by now, seemed prepared and quickly collected himself before using the cage to his advantage early in his first-ever Hell in a Cell Match.
Cracking Orton across the back with a steel chair and blasting him with steel steps, McIntyre showed he was more than willing to match The Legend Killer's renowned sadism. But an early Claymore attempt backfired, and Orton unleashed an assault of his own with a chair, wedging it into McIntyre's previously fractured jaw.
Orton controlled the battlefield with his signature deliberate pace, carefully calculating every move. McIntyre found a way to rally with a series of belly-to-belly throws, including a third that sent Orton crashing into a table.
But The Viper's plotting didn't relent, and he used bolt cutters to escape the cell and began scaling it moments later, challenging McIntyre to pursue him. That appeared to be Orton's plan all along, as he retrieved a lead pipe atop the cage, though McIntyre ducked his wild swing to thwart this particular scheme.
While climbing down, both men struck each other repeatedly while clinging to the cell. Unable to hold on, McIntyre careened down through the announce table. Likely suffering from internal injuries, McIntyre gasped for air while a sick grin appeared across Orton's lips.
After returning to the ring, the champion dug deep and nearly caught lightning in a bottle once again, countering an RKO attempt into a backslide pin reminiscent of their first WWE Title clash at SummerSlam, but it only netted a two-count.
McIntyre found the will to deliver a Claymore, though Orton demonstrated his veteran ring presence, rolling out to prevent a possible pin. After dragging Orton back into the ring, McIntyre attempted a second, but Orton dodged it and planted him with a vicious RKO for the victory.
The win adds to Orton's already enduring legacy, tying him with Triple H for the third-most World Title reigns all time behind only John Cena and Ric Flair, who each have 16. Meanwhile, McIntyre was left with his dreams crushed, a pain likely worse than any of the physical devastation Orton unleashed. (Via WWE.com)