WWE Hell in a Cell 2018: Results, Highlights and Grades

Photo Source: WWE.com

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match

The New Day (c) vs. Rusev Day (w/ Lana)

Result: The New Day defeated Rusev Day via pinfall

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

I don’t think we’ve given enough love to Aiden English’s ring gear, with the Rent-styled stencils of “RUSEV DAY” down the legs. If there was a legitimate WWE award for Comeback of the Year, is there anyone more deserving of it than English? He was a cult hero as a singles competitor in NXT, won the NXT Tag Team Championships as part of The Vaudevillains, and then floundered on the main roster until Simon Gotch’s release, when he hooked up with Rusev. Now, he’s as popular as ever.

Unsurprisingly, New Day went with Big E and Kofi Kingston for this defense. E counters Rusev’s considerable power, and Kofi has the experience to withstand any dirty tricks Rusev Day might have up their non-existent sleeves.

And wouldn’t you know, this match was fantastic. New Day rarely have a clunker, and Rusev and English have really gelled as a team of late. Lots of blind tags and great teamwork on both sides made it an exciting affair. English really stood out in this one to me, with his incredible work all around.

The Machka Kick to catch Kofi out of midair was excellent, but the spot of the match had to be English locking in the Accolade and nearly causing Kofi to tap out. The possible dissension between Rusev Day at the end is a bit upsetting, but nothing gold can stay, I guess.

This will also be my regular “STOP MAKING MATCHES ON THE KICKOFF SHOW WHEN THE BUILDING IS STILL HALF EMPTY” mention of the evening. Like, there were a bunch of empty seats on the floor facing the hard cam. No amount of pancake throwing by Xavier Woods outside the ring can distract from that.

Hall of Famer, Best Selling Author Resorts to Spray Painting Shirt

I get that Mick Foley’s schtick is that of the lovable loser, and he does ridiculous and goofy things. But no one should believe that a billion dollar company can’t afford a referee shirt for one of its most notoriously thrifty Hall of Famers. The whole thing with Baron Corbin is obvious, but unnecessary — just let things be without shoehorning 17 other stories into them.