AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Photo courtesy of thewellversed.com and whoever made this neat wallpaper.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again – it’s early October, so that can only mean one thing: it’s time for Hell in a Cell! Today’s Sunday column is going to be simple: I’m just going to predict the results, and this is in line with the running prediction contest going on over at the LOP Podcast.

One interesting thing to note is that this show still falls in line with last year’s mind-boggling September-October PPV schedule, meaning we saw three PPVs in the span of two months in 2010, meaning we’re pretty much in for the same thing. That’s important to acknowledge because the quick turnaround usually means that most feuds are not likely to end in this pay-per-view (which, again, is also baffling because one would think that the Hell in a Cell match type would be the culmination of a long, bitter feud, but we’re not really here to discuss that). And when you’re sure that this is but a tourist trap in the journey, it makes predicting the event a lot easier.

There are five matches currently announced for the card. On paper it looks underwhelming, but the good thing with WWE pay-per-views is that they almost always end up putting out a better show than it looks on said paper. Let’s begin!

Sin Cara (Mistico) vs. Sin Cara (Hunico)
A match-up I’m personally invested in for obvious reasons. The stipulation is that the winner apparently gets to be the only Sin Cara in town, and when you really think about that, the logic should then be simple: Mistico automatically wins this one. It would make no sense for the original Sin Cara to lose his rights to the name, especially when Hunico is deserving of his own identity, being the more dynamic character between the two. So Sin Cara becomes the undisputed Sin Cara again, but that certainly doesn’t have to mean these two would stop feuding (that would be determined by the kind of match these two will put out).
Winner: Mistico

Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly (c) for the WWE Divas Championship
Another match-up I’m invested in for obvious reasons. (Thank you for the response towards the last column, by the way, I never expected it.) As I’ve already covered, something here has got to give; it would be really beneficial for all, even Kelly, if Beth were to finally win here – that’s how stagnant the story is in danger of becoming. There’s just no way this feud could go on for three months if the entire point was to actually bury the Divas of Doom by continually having them lose to inferior competitors. There’s no other logical result.
Winner: Beth Phoenix

Christian vs. Sheamus
I’ll be honest; after the long summer, it’s so damn refreshing to witness a Christian feud that doesn’t rely on lawyers and contracts and whatever. The build-up to this feud has been absolutely fun to watch – you’ve got two comic geniuses that have both proved that they can easily turn ruthless and brutal at a drop of a hat.

That said, however, I can’t help but feel that this is just a transitional feud to an eventual four-way rivalry for the World Heavyweight Championship; both men (well, Sheamus, at least) are currently not in the World Heavyweight title scene, but already clearly above the Intercontinental Championship. Because I really think this is one-half of a bitter four-man title picture, I prefer to see Christian pull out the cheap win to add fuel to the fire. However, given the evolution of the Christian character to what it is now, I also won’t be surprised if Sheamus goes over clean.
Winner: Christian

Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry (c) in a Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship
If you’ve already caught last Friday’s SmackDown, then you already know that Mark Henry has finally taken an RKO. Now while all the Mizark supporters are balking at the idea that their hero has been felled at least once by the Viper, making him look a bit weak for the first time in months, it has to be realized that it was a necessity on Orton’s end. After being downright dominated by Henry at Night of Champions, Orton needs to go into the PPV with at least a shred of credibility back, and that’s what happened. It would have been better if it were just a chairshot or something instead of an RKO, though. After that, it would not be far-fetched now to see Henry retaining, especially within the confines of the Cell, unless the SmackDown bookers really want to make a new Edge out of Orton.
Winner: Mark Henry

Alberto del Rio vs. CM Punk vs. John Cena (c) in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship
One thing’s for damn sure: I expect this to be a war. What’s very interesting is that in only two weeks, Alberto del Rio has been booked the way he should have been booked while he was the champion. Actually, make that the way he should have been booked since winning Money in the Bank. No, wait, make that since winning the Royal Rumble. If Creative had caught on a lot earlier, perhaps the Destiny schtick may have been a bit more tolerable.

But we’re already here, and Cena is already champion. Despite the fact that this is certainly going to be a blockbuster match (CM Punk will make sure of that, at least), there’s no point in taking the belt away from Cena now. It’s just not worth the trouble. If Alberto was still the champion going in, then I could make a stronger case for him dropping the title to Punk, but alas. After some Awesome Truth and Johnny Ace shenanigans, Cena ends up keeping it one way or another, pissing the fans off, and joining the Rock at Survivor Series as champion.
Winner: John Cena

Possible last-minute match-ups:

Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger vs. Air Boom (c) for the WWE Tag Team Championships
While this is certainly an affront to the United States Championship, I can’t deny that it looks feasible after what’s happened this week on both RAW and SmackDown. It can’t be the Usos as Jimmy pretty much messed up their chances in the near future with the DUI arrest (he’ll just have to pull an A-Ry), and the Awesome Truth is still missing, so there are no other legitimate tag teams to step up (they’re all in the undercard, waiting to blossom). So if a tag match does happen, expect it to be these guys, but don’t expect them to win.
Winner: Air Boom

Zack Ryder vs. Dolph Ziggler (c) for the United States Championship
Well, it’s either the tag title match, or this. This match is less likely to happen, however, because the Tag titles are more easily put up in impromptu matches, but then again, it’s this feud which has the longer build-up. Taking into consideration a side-by-side feud between Ziggler, Swagger and Air Boom, if they’re being groomed to be the next in line for a tag title feud, then Ziggler would be better off without the U.S. Championship. It may be time to test-run the Long Island Iced Z with a real championship.
Winner: Zack Ryder
On top of all that, the Undertaker and Mick Foley are teasing to show up at the event, but at the moment that’s neither here nor there when it comes to match results.

So, to take a page out of Hustle’s playbook, although you may have already answered it elsewhere: who do you have, my good readers? Let me know.

***

I've totally got social media!

Add me on Facebook (if you’re going to add me, please say if you arrived from LOP, for my information), follow me on Twitter, send me an email at pepseeh@gmail.com, or ask me something on Formspring. I'd love to hear from you.

Also, for my fellow Filipinos, please tune in to my buddy Stan’s radio show S&M: The Morning After every weekend from 6 to 9 am (10 am on Sundays) on Mellow 94.7. There’s something in store for you wrestling fans because he plays a game where you have to say you’re awesome the longest, and if you win you get a prize!

Source: lordsofpain.net