WWE ‘Hell In A Cell’ 2016 Predictions: What To Expect From All The Matches

We’ve got just three days remaining before Hell in a Cell 2016, and predictions are beginning to come in for WWE’s upcoming RAW brand-exclusive pay-per-view. What can we expect from this event, which will be the first in history to include three Hell in a Cell matches in a single evening?

The main selling point of Hell in a Cell, if you ask WWE, is the “triple main event” setup. Confusing as this sounds, given that it’s the Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair match that shows up on most promotional materials for the event, this appears to be WWE’s way of hyping the unprecedented three Hell in a Cell matches taking place on Sunday night at the TD Garden in Boston. So who’s winning those three “main event” matches?

Let’s start with the one that’s gotten the most attention ahead of the event – Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte. As Smark Out Moment’s Hell in a Cell 2016 predictions pointed out, fans shouldn’t expect an “extreme” match with weapons and blood, as the event’s titular match is basically a no-disqualification match held inside a steel cage. But that’s still expected to be a good, intense, and physical match, one where Sasha emerges victorious in front of her hometown crowd and retains her RAW Women’s Championship against the self-proclaimed “Queen” of women’s wrestling. It should mark the perfect end to what has mostly been an entertaining rivalry, and a milestone for female wrestlers as the first-ever Hell in a Cell match to feature women.

Mileage tends to vary when it comes to Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship and Roman Reigns vs. Rusev for the United States Championship. While Smark Out Moment doesn’t see any title changes occurring in any of the three Hell in a Cell matches, GameSpot forecasts a Universal title win for Rollins against defending champion Owens, and a U.S. title win for Rusev as he gets the belt back from Reigns. In both cases, GameSpot expects the titles to change hands via shenanigans, with Chris Jericho possibly turning face and helping Rollins beat his erstwhile “best friend” Owens, and manager Lana helping Rusev out against Reigns.

The Hell in a Cell 2016 prediction of Rollins beating Owens with the assistance of Jericho is particularly interesting. While one may venture to guess Triple H, who has yet to explain his turn on Rollins, may return at Hell in a Cell for yet another assist for Owens, storyline tension between Jericho and KO has been escalating for the past few weeks. Despite Y2J’s heel status, fans have enjoyed his “List of Jericho” gimmick and storyline, and that could also be a motivating factor for a Jericho face turn. Is it time to put KO on the “list” once and for all? It could go either way, but there’s a fair chance Rollins beats Owens with Jericho’s intentional (or unintentional) help.

"@WWERomanReigns has done despicable things…inside #HellInACell, I am going to do despicable things to Roman Reigns!" – @RusevBUL #RAW pic.twitter.com/QyKN3cMHbg

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 25, 2016

As for Reigns vs. Rusev, the majority of prognosticators still have Reigns as the favorite, as it may be too soon for him to drop the United States belt, while the ongoing Reigns/Rusev feud may have already gone on for too long without a satisfactory resolution.

Moving on to other matches confirmed for Hell in a Cell 2016, most predictions are leaning toward The New Day successfully defending their RAW Tag Team Championships against the “odd couple” duo of Sheamus and Cesaro. The New Day is chasing after Demolition’s record-setting 478-day reign as Tag Team champions back in the ’80s, and have about a month and a half to go before breaking that record. And with Cesaro and Sheamus absolutely not getting along ahead of Hell in a Cell, that gives them a very slim chance of spoiling The New Day’s hopes of making the record books.

If Sheamus and Cesaro can’t beat The New Day and end their title reign once and for all, then who can? Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are still the most logical choice, even if they’ve lost a lot of momentum due to ill-conceived comedy segments and an unexpectedly weak performance in their previous title feud with The New Day. Chances are they’ll end up winning soundly against Enzo Amore and Big Cass, though WWE Creative has a lot of damage to undo as Gallows and Anderson rebuild themselves as legitimate title contenders.

Also on the main card of Hell in a Cell 2016 are two singles matches: Bayley vs. Dana Brooke and a Cruiserweight Championship match between champion T.J. Perkins and challenger Brian Kendrick. Fan favorite Bayley may have the edge in the former, freshly-confirmed match. Bayley needs a big win on PPV to establish herself as a force to be reckoned with on the main roster, and a win against Brooke may be the best way to do so.

The latter match, on the other hand, just might see the titles switch from the popular “Fil-Am Flash” Perkins to the crafty veteran Kendrick, who appears to be appropriating Heath Slater’s “I have kids!” shtick from SmackDown Live, albeit in a heelish vein. The International Business Times predicts a “controversial finish” allowing Kendrick to win the belt from Perkins, and if he does end up with his hand raised, his name recall with longtime fans could help WWE further legitimize the fledgling Cruiserweight Division.

As they often say, anything can happen in WWE. But for the meantime, those Hell in a Cell 2016 predictions aren’t pointing to a lot of major title changes, just solid wrestling action and good potential of interesting, satisfying storyline twists and/or resolutions.

[Featured Image by WWE.com]