With the plans to return to live touring for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE called an audible and moved Hell in a Cell from its usual spot in the fall to June 20, surprisingly pushing back the expected Money in the Bank pay-per-view to when it could be held in front of a live crowd.
Hell in a Cell marks the true beginning of the transition to SummerSlam season, with top brand champions from Raw and SmackDown entering the Cell to defend their titles. WWE champion Bobby Lashley is set to face Drew McIntyre one final time, with McIntyre blocked from any future shots at Lashley’s title should he lose inside the Cell. From the SmackDown side, Bianca Belair will defend the SmackDown women’s championship inside the cell when she takes on former champion Bayley.
Hell in a Cell will take place from inside the ThunderDome at Yuengling Center in Tampa. The event will stream live on Peacock at 7 p.m. ET with a kickoff show one hour prior.
Let’s take a look at what we know — and what we expect — at WWE Hell in a Cell.
WWE Hell in a Cell matches
WWE Championship — Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell): The latest entry into WWE’s long list of feuds that never end, Lashley and McIntyre seemed destined for at least one more singles match after Lashley defeated McIntyre at WrestleMania and then beat Lashley and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match at WrestleMania Backlash. McIntyre earned this shot by beating Kofi Kingston in a singles match on Raw. At the contract signing for the match, McIntyre made the challenge to have the match take place inside Hell in a Cell. Lashley accepted, but with his own stipulation. If McIntyre loses, he will not be granted another shot at the title as long as Lashley is champion.
Raw Women’s Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair: Flair has been angling for a singles match with Ripley since the two women were part of a triple threat with Asuka at WrestleMania Backlash — a match Flair forced herself into. Ripley retained the title by pinning Asuka, giving Flair the angle she needed to push for a one-on-one clash. With a singles win over Asuka on Raw, Flair cemented the opportunity at Hell in a Cell and now will try to expand her record number of reigns as champion.
SmackDown Women’s Championship — Bianca Belair (c) vs. Bayley (Hell in a Cell): Bayley didn’t seem ready to back off after losing to Belair at WrestleMania Backlash. With no other clear-cut immediate contender for Belair and a need to keep a still fresh champion on every major card, a rematch only made sense. Not the type of champion to wait for a challenge to be issued, Belair took the lead, throwing down the challenge herself on SmackDown, with Bayley accepting. This all led to Belair eventually making the challenge to put the match inside the Cell, a challenge Bayley accepted while brutally attacking the champion.
Alexa Bliss vs. Shayna Baszler: Bliss has tormented Baszler with the help of her doll Lilly. It’s not the most compelling story, but Bliss as a supernatural being is something WWE has committed to and Lilly has been an extra force in that story. Baszler was attacked by Lilly backstage during Raw and the following week, Baszler’s tag partner Nia Jax accepted a match at Hell in a Cell on her behalf.
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn: Another in the long line of WWE feuds that never ends, Zayn and Owens did put on another one of their great matches at WrestleMania, but after Zayn interfered in Owens’ business with Apollo Crews on multiple occasions, Owens demanded another crack at Zayn. WWE official Adam Pearce granted his wish, setting up the match for the pay-per-view.
Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro: Rollins executed some brutal attacks on Cesaro, including hitting a stomp on the entrance ramp. The tensions between the men had not eased, with Cesaro attacking Rollins during Rollins’ appearance on Bayley’s “Ding Dong, Hello” segment. During the go-home edition of SmackDown, Cesaro made the challenge for the pay-per-view official, shoving Rollins to the floor and telling him he would see him on Sunday.
