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Potentially a bit outlandish, but here are five bold predictions for Sunday’s WWE Hell In A Cell 2017.
So far in 2017, the WWE has produced 12 pay per view shows and to be very honest, none have been all that spectacular. Sure, the Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania 33, and last month’s No Mercy were decent shows. However, when you talk of those events you also have to bring up other ones from 2017 like Money In The Bank, Battleground, and one pay per view that may go down as the worst of all time, Fastlane. For each solid show, there was an underwhelming one and with four more still remaining this year including Sunday’s WWE Hell In A Cell 2017, it’ll be up the WWE to try and finish the calendar year strong.
There are many reasons that some of this years shows have faltered. Some sub-par wrestling, some confusing booking, and an over-abuse of time have all been part of the reason. But another key problem is the shear lack of surprises during these monthly events. Outside of the return of The Hardy Boyz at Wrestlemania, and two shocking title wins by Bray Wyatt and Jinder Mahal at the Elimination Chamber and Backlash respectively, 2017 has been a lot of business as usual.
So with Hell In A Cell on the horizon, is there a chance that the WWE will try and spice things up? Let’s hope so. And if they do, here are some bold predictions that’ll make that happen.
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5. Carmella Cashes In
Honestly, it’s time. Carmella has been carrying the Money In The Bank briefcase for close to four months now and the whole routine is starting to get old. Not too many episodes of SmackDown pass by without “The Princess of Staten Island” coming to ring, now with James Ellsworth by a leash, just to remind everyone that she’s still relevant in the women’s title picture. Why not prove it to everyone that she actually is relevant as opposed to just having her parade around the case?
There would be no better time than Hell In A Cell. If you believe the rumors, and they are abundant, specifically from Wrestling Observer Newsletter that a WWE 4 Horsewomen versus the MMA 4 Horsewomen will be going down at Survivor Series, then most would have to believe that this is a one and down for Charlotte before engaging in that feud. That leaves Natalya as the most likely winner Sunday night which doesn’t exactly have anybody jumping up and down. Look, Natalya is a terrific in-ring worker and quite honestly, probably should have more than two titles on her WWE resume. But where Nattie excels in the ring, she lacks in character, and her title reign has been a lot like her: boring. Time to shake things up.
Truth be told, Carmella may be a year or two away from being ready to be a champion, but there’s a reason the company decided to give her the briefcase, and let’s hope it’s not so they can do to her like they did Baron Corbin. And if that Horsewomen match rumor is true, that will also tie up Becky Lynch, another blue brand top contender for a while as well. Might as well let a couple of the under the radar talents take the reigns for a bit and see what they can do. It would be a huge opportunity for Carmella, but if winning the first ever Women’s MITB match is a sign that the company thinks she’s a future star, she might as well start her ascent now.
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4. Tye Dilllinger Costs AJ Styles The U.S. Title
This could get interesting, right? When Dillinger officially debuted on the main roster last April, “The Perfect 10” seemed to have the heavy support of the WWE fans. In the ensuing six months, that sentiment still seems to be intact. The 36 year-old Canadian has much of what it takes to be a top level superstar within the company and that’s becoming apparent. He’s good looking, has great charisma, can talk on a microphone, and can bring it inside the ropes. All Dillinger is lacking at this moment is direction. Well, he’s one poor decision away from changing all of that, and that may just occur Sunday night.
Over the past six weeks, Dillinger has had his eye on AJ Styles and the United States title. He’s even gotten a couple of chances in that time span only for Baron Corbin to involve himself in each match. Dillinger, got his revenge on Corbin on September 19 SmackDown Live, costing “The Lonewolf” his title opportunity only for Corbin to come back and steal a count out win over Tye a week later. But Dillinger evened up the score with a clean pin on the “go home” episode of the show. So one way or the other, Tye is invested in this feud. Does that mean he’ll find a reason to insert himself into the title match Sunday?
Well, it makes sense. Corbin will undoubtedly attempt to cheat Styles out of the belt and with Dillinger being such a central figure in this rivalry, it may leave him no choice but involve himself. It would be way too predictable for Dillinger to come out and successfully aid the baby face champion, so let’s look for a swerve. Dillinger accidentally hits Styles resulting in An End Of Days and Corbin’s first title win of his career. Styles can look for some brief revenge but then head onto a world title program where everyone knows he belongs, while Corbin and Dillinger scrap over the U.S. belt.
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3. Shinsuke Nakamura Dominates Jinder Mahal
Yeah, this whole Jinder Mahal as champion nonsense is over. Look, it was an absolute shock when Mahal stunned Randy Orton to win the belt at Backlash in May. It was just as surprising to see him keep that belt through two rematches with “The Viper”. But at first, the idea that “The Modern Day Maharaja” had become champion was actually a bit refreshing. It was a good sign to see the WWE Championship get strapped around the waist of a different person. Heck, Orton had just won it for a thirteenth time. Having a first time champion dethrone him was a breath of fresh air and actually helped Mahal through the first couple of months of his reign.
But it only took a few months before reality set in. And that reality is the fact that outside of a recently buffed up physique, Mahal isn’t very good in any facet of the the sport. He’s not a great in ring worker, he’s not a natural heel, he has virtually zero charisma, and if his final promos leading up to Hell In A Cell are an indicator of his microphone skills, then Jinder needs to go back to the drawing board in that department as well.
Let’s face it, his win over Nakamura at SummerSlam was a slap in the face to almost any wrestling fan on earth. These two guys aren’t even remotely in the same class when it comes to wrestlers and it’s time for the company to show that they understand that. And that’s exactly what should unfold Sunday night. Nakamura needs a dominant, signature championship win if he wants to restore the luster that he brought with him when he first came to the main roster in April. There’s a very good chance this happens.
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2. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan Return
There are so many reasons that the duo of Erick Rowan and Luke Harper should return to the WWE as soon as possible. For one, they’re pretty awesome. They’re former NXT Tag Team champions who also made a serious run at the WWE tag belts in the summer 0f 2014. Individually, Harper is the star but Rowan is a tremendous tag team worker and together the duo makes up one of the most fearsome teams in the company.
Additionally, Smackdown needs some life in their tag division. The champions, The New Day have been battling tooth and nail for nearly four months against The Usos and why? Because there’s really no other competition. Currently on the blue brand, the only other teams are the brand new Chad Gable/Shelton Benjamin pairing, The Colons and Breezango who haven’t been in a televised tag match since June, and The Ascension who apparently annoyed someone in upper management about 18 months ago and have been playing jobber ever since. Rowan and Harper could theoretically walk on to SmackDown and be immediate title contenders.
So there are two avenues that the company could go down if they decide to bring this tandem back at HIAC. One, they could be finally be unveiled the culprits behind the attacks on Breezango. If you believe a rumor, the mystery is going to be revealed Sunday (H/T to CageSide Seats). But will that carry enough impact? No way. The best way to bring them back would be via an attack on The New Day after they successfully defend their titles against The Usos. It’s a typical Wyatt Family tradition to randomly attack other superstars after a few brief moments of arena darkness, especially inside a cage. It’s a perfect way to bring Harper and Rowan back and would instantly revitalize the tag division.
Smackdown Live. Photo by WWE.com
1. Sami Zayn Turns Heel, Assists Kevin Owens
Yes, this is definitely a reach. But there could potentially be a brilliant story to tell here between these two former best friends. One would have to wonder what Zayn’s motive would be for aligning with Owens, especially considering the vicious assault that Owens laid on him on the September 26 SmackDown Live. But imagine for one second that Zayn came to his senses and realized that an Owens partnership would be the best possible move he could make for his future.
After all, look at their WWE resumes so far. Outside of a match of they year type win over Owens at last years Battleground pay per view, “The Underdog From The Underground” does not even factor into the discussion with Owens when it come to achievements in the WWE. Zayn’s one title win which resulted in a 62-day reign as NXT champion, pales in comparison to Owens resume. In just over three years, “KO” has also been NXT champ but then went on to win six titles on the main roster including the Universal title last year.
Zayn has done everything in his power to remain loyal to his fans who see him as the ultimate good guy and where has it gotten him? Nowhere. He continues to take severe beat downs from Owens on a regular basis and it makes him look weaker each time it happens. Maybe it’s time for Sami to change his way of thinking. And with Owens opponent, Shane McMahon changing this match to a head-scratching “falls count anywhere match”, Zayn can get involved without having to breach the cage.
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A potential Owens/Zayn alliance brings forth the possibility of a compelling story line. As reunited best friends and two of the best wrestlers on the entire roster, the duo would waste no time running roughshod over the SmackDown roster. With Owens help, Zayn could finally achieve some of the success that his former friend has found in spades. If Zayn embraces the dark side, he could be a main event type guy. And this is the perfect way to go about it.