WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades
By Bryan Heaton
Source: WWE.com
Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
Result: Bobby Roode defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
I’m not the only one sick and tired of Dolph Ziggler, am I? It was just one short year ago that Ziggler was in the middle of a fantastic feud for the Intercontinental Championship. Now, he’s doing a stupid entrance-based gimmick that makes me sad. Tonight, Dolph came out to silence (bet he didn’t expect crowd silence, too) with no lights, and it was strange.
No music. No lights. JUST @HEELZiggler! #HIAC pic.twitter.com/SAa6IeSqDZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 9, 2017
More from SmackDown
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
- Potential Challengers for Roman Reigns before WrestleMania
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: AJ Styles Will Help Randy Orton
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: Street Profits Will Dethrone Judgment Day
- SmackDown reminded us of how pointless the brand split is
I also think it’s the height of irony that Ziggler used a sleeper hold to try and put Roode away. For someone who calls himself The Show-Off, and a guy who is (usually) super exciting to watch, a sleeper hold is the polar opposite of what he should be doing.
After the sleeper was broken, things were kind of back and forth. A couple of dueling DDT attempts was won by Ziggler, and he got a close near fall off it. Of course, he went right back to the sleeper hold until Roode fought out.
Ziggler went to the next step in his slow evolution into Shawn Michaels 2.0 by tuning up the band in the corner. Roode countered with a big spinebuster to create some separation, and then the match went off the rails. A series of pin attempts and reversals with each competitor holding the tights throughout went on for way too long, until Roode got the win in his pay per view debut.
No more elaborate entrances, no more spectacles. @HEELZiggler is at @WWE #HIAC to COMPETE! @REALBobbyRoode @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/GbHb7bc26F
— WWE (@WWE) October 9, 2017
Ziggler didn’t take too kindly to this, and hit the Zig Zag after the bell. Apparently, this one isn’t over, so we get to relive it over and over, I guess.