Tonight, the WWE Network hosts Monday Night Raw’s last Pay-Per-View before Survivor Series: Hell in a Cell. As demonstrated by the name of the event, the “marquee” matches will have the added stipulation of being inside the Cell. Roman Reigns vs. Rusev, Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins, and Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte are the three matches surrounded by steel. The other four matches on the card will be in the usual setup.
Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, & Sin Cara vs. Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, & Ariya Daivari
This match was announced for the pre-show, and while it doesn’t have any direction or “meaning,” it will include some great in-ring action and pump up the fans in attendance.
Prediction:
It’s really a flip of a coin here. Winners: Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, & Sin Cara
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke
A tiny spark to this feud started way back when Bayley made a guest appearance at Battleground to be Sasha Banks’s tag team partner against Dana Brooke and Charlotte. Bayley and Brooke would cross paths, but things really started getting put into motion the night that Sasha Banks reclaimed the Raw Women’s Championship. Brooke tried to assault Bayley, but the Hugger countered and left Brooke laid out backstage. After a couple matches and an arm wrestling contest, they square off on Pay-Per-View.
Prediction:
If my prediction lower serves me correct, these two women could potentially be fighting for #1 Contendership for the Raw Women’s Championship. Dana Brooke has shown some steady improvement since she moved up to the main roster, but Bayley is the best all-around performer in the Raw Women’s Division by far, and a third match between her and Sasha Banks could help boost Survivor Series even higher. Winner: Bayley
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Gallows and Anderson have had enough of the state of the tag team division, and they are finally trying to do something. At all. They have constantly lost to the New Day, so they’re just as much of a joke as they think everyone else is. They attacked Enzo and Cass before one of their matches, so inevitably they sparked a rivalry.
Prediction:
Gallows and Anderson were big names when they came into WWE, and nothing came out of it. WWE focused on New Day’s record-breaking title reign and pushed the Club to the wayside because of it. This could be the beginning of a new start for Gallows and Anderson, who can help make Raw’s Tag Team Division as credible as it should be. Winners: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
TJ Perkins (c) vs. Brian Kendrick – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
TJ Perkins retained the Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick at Clash of Champions, but Kendrick has another opportunity at his “last chance” in WWE. Yeah, it doesn’t really make sense that his last shot is two shots, but perhaps this is the opportunity that Kendrick needs.
Prediction:
Either WWE is delaying a story for Perkins’s title reign, or they have created a story for Kendrick’s return. I expect the latter. Winner, and NEW Cruiserweight Champion: Brian Kendrick
The New Day (c) vs. Cesaro & Sheamus – Raw Tag Team Championships
Cesaro and Sheamus squared off in a Best of Seven Series that led to the impossible: a tie (good thing this can’t happen in the World Series). Since Mick Foley promised the winner a title shot, he teamed them up so they both could have one. While Cesaro and Sheamus hate each other, they showed enough chemistry on Raw to pick up a non-title victory over Big E and Kofi Kingston. Perhaps this will be a Christmas Halloween miracle.
Prediction:
There’s no such thing as a “Halloween miracle” for a reason. WWE keeps pointing out the title reign record that the New Day hasn’t broken, and they are pretty clear that they want it broken. Winners, and STILL Raw Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Rusev – United States Championship (Hell in a Cell)
Roman Reigns ruined Rusev’s wedding celebration, and just keeps getting under the Bulgarian Brute’s skin. While getting in the head of Rusev, Reigns won the United States Championship at Clash of Champions. Rusev wants “his” title back, and cashed in his rematch for Hell in a Cell.
Prediction:
Since Reigns won the title so recently, it is unexpected that WWE will take the title off of him so soon. Hopefully they’ve learned from his WWE World Championship run and will refrain from playing “hot potato” with the belt. Winner, and STILL United States Champion: Roman Reigns
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins – WWE Universal Championship (Hell in a Cell)
On paper, Seth Rollins shouldn’t be getting another Universal Championship opportunity. He lost to Finn Balor at SummerSlam, lost to Kevin Owens in the fatal four-way match, and lost to Owens again at Clash of Champions. However, the two later losses were because of Triple H and Chris Jericho interfering. Inside Hell in a Cell, Rollins has a good chance no interference.
Prediction:
While Kevin Owens has been using other people to help him win matches, this is the time for him to prove that he can do it on his own. Rollins suffered from being a cowardly champion, and the man who beat John Cena in his debut should not be in that position. Winner, and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte – Raw Women’s Championship (Hell in a Cell)
This has been said many times, but this match truly does make history. Sasha Banks and Charlotte have one of the best feuds of the year, and the tension is palpable whenever they are in the ring together. They main-evented Monday Night Raw several weeks ago, and they take their ground-breaking careers one step further. These two women will be the first to ever have a Hell in a Cell match.
Prediction:
Charlotte is undefeated on Pay-Per-View, including her Divas and Women’s Championship title reigns. However, she has tapped out to Sasha Banks several times and lost the championship to her twice. In a match designed to encourage pulling out all the stops, Banks is in her element, and will destroy herself if she has to in order to retain the title. With her track record, I think she will. Winner, and STILL Raw Women’s Champion: Sasha Banks
