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

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The Miz & Maryse vs. Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella

Result: The Miz & Maryse defeated Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella via pinfall

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

This match unfolded almost exactly as I expected it would. The weeks leading to the match set things up perfectly. And even though it went exactly as would be expected, it wasn’t particularly great for the first, say, 99 percent.

Then the finish itself happened, and it was a train wreck and a half.

Let’s start with the fact that this was, for most of it, a singles match between The Miz and Daniel Bryan. Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you. But I get it — The Miz and Maryse are storyline cowards, so they should be doing everything they can to back that up. If that means Maryse has to bail on the match at every opportunity, so be it.

But let’s not forget that both Maryse and Brie Bella are former Divas Champions. If this was Mrs. Mizanin’s first match ever, then the coward thing makes more sense. Instead, it just ruined the flow of the match with all the stops and starts.

The intergender waters were again tested, as Brie unloaded on The Miz after the final attempt at preventing Maryse from legally entering the ring. I still think it’s on its way at some point, even if only in very niche settings.

But the finish was a turd sandwich, especially considering what came earlier in the show. Brie and Maryse, though both former champions, are dripping with ring rust. I don’t care how good a competitor someone is — childbirth is going to slow you down for at least a little bit. And it takes time to get back.

Knowing this, maybe the finish shouldn’t have relied on smooth transitions and impeccable timing? It didn’t totally kill the match, but it didn’t help matters, either.