WWE Hell in a Cell: Charlotte makes history by beating Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens retains title against Seth Rollins
Chris Jericho has a major say in the Raw Universal Championship match between Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins and The New Day suffer defeat
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Your support makes all the difference.History accompanied brutality as rivals descended into a steel abyss at WWE Hell in a Cell 2016, writes Ryan Dilbert of Bleacher Report.
The Devil's Playground welcomed women for the first time, when Sasha Banks and Charlotte clashed inside the infamous structure for the Raw women's championship. Their battle was everything it needed to be and more.
Banks and Charlotte proved that they and their peers belong in that sadistic contest. They made it clear that WWE made the right move in making them the pay-per-view's main event.
The Boss and The Queen carved their name in the history books as they demolished each other brick by brick.
The rest of the night featured an up-and-down card.
Roman Reigns and Rusev underwhelmed. Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens killed it during their own trip inside Hell in a Cell. And the Raw-exclusive event saw a veteran claim a championship from an old friend.
The following is a breakdown of Hell in a Cell, looking at where the event thrived and where it stumbled.
Cruiserweight 6-Man Tag Team Match
Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado and Sin Cara vs. Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari
The pre-show's in-ring action featured six stars of the cruiserweight division.
Sin Cara fended off the heels early. Dorado went on his own flurry before the action moved to the outside. All six men battled at once, the chaos allowing Daivari, Gulak and Nese to take over.
Order unraveled, and the pack quickened until Alexander put away Gulak with the Lumbar Check.
Roman Reigns vs Rusev
Boston welcomed Roman Reigns with jeers. The champ looked unfazed as he traded blows with Rusev. The two rivals slugged it in and out of the ring.
An aggressive Reigns battered Rusev, using the cage and ring steps as tag team partners.
The Bulgarian Brute battled back. He issued a methodical offense that stunned Reigns.
Reigns first whipped Rusev with a Kendo stick. Rusev paid him back with cane strikes of his own.
The challenger followed by throttling his foe with a chain, stretching it across Reigns' face in the Accolade. Reigns escaped the hold, hit a spear and walked away with the win.
Bayley vs Dana Brooke
Dana Brooke pounced on Bayley's injured shoulder right away. She tortured the babyface, wrenching and stomping on the weak point.
Bayley gutted out a comeback with one good arm. She tagged Brooke with lefts before suplexing her for the three-count.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Enzo Amore and Big Cass trashed Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson on the mic.
Cass clubbed Anderson in the corner. Amore hoped to continue the momentum, but the heels pounded on him, punishing them on their side of the ring.
The Club withstood Cass' onslaught, but Amore left the duo bewildered with his speed. Gallows and Anderson double-teamed the babyfaces in the end, though, pinning Amore after hitting Magic Killer.
Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins
Kevin Owens retreated immediately, fishing for a weapon under the ring. Seth Rollins leaped onto him to prevent whatever Owens was planning.
A slugfest broke out.
Owens zeroed in on Rollins' bad back. He left The Architect wincing with a relentless attack.
Rollins charged back, flying at his opponent. Owens, though, cut his comeback short. The champ blinded the referee with a fire extinguisher, which led to Chris Jericho sneaking into The Devil's Playground.
After sending Owens crashing through tables, it looked as if Rollins had the match sewn up. Jericho saved his best friend, however.
Owens and Jericho clocked Rollins with steel chairs.
TJ Perkins vs Brian Kendrick
Backstage, Brian Kendrick begged T.J. Perkins to throw the title bout.
Kendrick attacked the champ with a fast-paced offense, but Perkins was able to evade and counter much of it. The veteran followed by using Perkins' wrist tape to tie him to the ring rope.
Perkins used his speed and agilty to rattle his foe.
Kendrick came down awkardly on his knee and looked to be injured. Perkins came over to help, only to receive a head butt for his efforts. Kendrick clamped on the Bully Lock for the win.
The New Day vs Sheamus and Cesaro
Kofi Kingston led the way as The New Day hyped up the crowd before the bout.
Xavier Woods and Big E represented the champs up against Sheamus and Cesaro. The challengers took control early, taking turns beating on Woods.
Big E rode a series of suplexes to gain back control of the match. Sheamus and Cesaro recovered, though, using surprisingly good teamwork.
Sheamus accidentally knocked out Cesaro with the Brogue Kick. A brawl broke out at ringside, ending with Kingston kicking Sheamus.
The referee disqualified the champs just before Woods tapped out to Cesaro's Sharpshooter.
Sasha Banks vs Charlotte
Four men carried Charlotte to the ring on a palanquin. Sasha Banks rode in atop an Escalade surrounded by security guards.
As the Hell in a Cell descended, Charlotte ambushed Banks. As the cell's lowering paused, Charlotte took the champion out of the ring where the rivals battered each other in the crowd.
Charlotte scaled the cage; Banks followed. The Queen then slammed her foe through the table, leaving Banks struggling to stand.
Medical staff tried to take Banks out of the arena, but hearing that Charlotte would win by forfeit, The Boss charged into the cell.
Charlotte withstood an offensive flurry before overwhelming Banks by attacking her spine. After a long stretch of punishment from Charlotte, Banks gritted her teeth through a comeback. The women clobbered each other until both were wobbly and drained.
Banks' bad back failed her in the end, and Charlotte took advantage, pinning the champ after using Natural Selection.
Results
Alexander, Dorado and Sin Cara DEF Tony Nese, Drew Gulak and Ariya Daivari by pinfall
Roman Reigns DEF Rusev by pinfall
Bayley DEF Dana Brooke by pinfall
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson DEF Enzo Amore and Big Cass by pinfall
Kevin Owens DEF Seth Rollins by pinfall
Brian Kendrick DEF TJ Perkins by submission to win the Cruiserweight Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro DEF The New Day by DQ
Charlotte DEF Sasha Banks by pinfall to win the Women’s Championship
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