|Date: October 28, 2012
|Venue: Philips Arena |City: Atlanta, Georgia
|Attendance: 10,000 |Buys: 199,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Hell In A Cell returns but this show will only have one Hell In A Cell match. CM Punk was given the choice to either defend his WWE Championship against John Cena or Ryback. Cena had been petitioning for a rematch whilst Ryback has been silently working his way up the card and making his presence known to CM Punk. When it came to decision time John Cena took himself out of the running and claimed that Ryback should be the man to challenge for the WWE Championship and with Vince McMahon’s blessing the match was made. Tonight CM Punk defends his WWE Championship against the undefeated Ryback. Sheamus will be defending his World Heavyweight Championship against The Big Show who beat Randy Orton to earn a shot at the title. Since then The Big Show has taken a lot of stick about his previous World Heavyweight Championship reign which lasted 45 seconds.

The Divas Championship is set to be defended in a triple threat match. Eve has been ousted as the woman who orchestrated the attack on Kaitlyn, forcing her out of the DivaS Championship match at Night Of Champions. Eve has now been forced to defend her title tonight against the former champion Layla and the woman taken out the equation, Kaitlyn. The WWE Tag Team Championships will also be defended as Kane and Daniel Bryan, collectively known as Team Hell No defend against a team that won a number one contenders tournament to earn a shot at the titles. There were 8 teams that started the tournament but it would be Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow) who would win the tournament, defeating The Usos, Zack Ryder and Santino and then Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara in the final.

The Intercontinental Championship will be defended tonight as Kofi Kingston, who beat The Miz for the title on Main Event a coupe of weeks ago, defends against the former champion The Miz. This rivalry has been going on a few weeks and Kofi has beaten The Miz a few times already. Can he do it again tonight? Also tonight Randy Orton goes one on one with Alberto Del Rio.

A video package kicks us off, first focusing on The Big Show and Sheamus and then moving on to CM Punk and Ryback.

Michael Cole welcomes us to Hell In A Cell and we get a few cool shots of the Cell hanging from the ceiling. He’s joined on commentary by John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Jim Ross.

Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. Randy Orton is 2-1 at Hell In A Cell PPV’s, he’s wrestled on all events, Alberto is 1-0. Orton starts the match well with uppercuts, right hands and kicks before throwing Del Rio out of the ring and knocking him down with a clothesline. Orton smashes Del Rio off the announce desk and then into the ringpost before rolling him back into the ring and stomping away at all fo Alberto’s limbs. Randy lays in more kicks and right hands but eventually he gets distracted by Ricardo Rodriguez on the outside and Del Rio drops Orton’s arm on the top rope. Del Rio gets a two count and then applies a wristlock before head-butting Orton and going to the top and locking on an armlock over the top rope. Del Rio then tosses Orton into the ringpost before targeting the wrist and arm once again. Del Rio mocks Orton before taking him down and pinning him for the first near fall of the night.

Alberto Del Rio goes back to the arm bar on the left arm but Orton fights out with headbutts and then rolls up Alberto for a near fall. Del Rio is up first and takes Orton down with an armbar takedown for a two count. Alberto locks on a modified crossface but Orton gets up to his feet just for Del Rio to use the ropes adding leverage. Del Rio gets back into the ring but Orton hits him with three clotheslines and then looks for his trademark powerslam but Del Rio puts the brakes on and then locks on the cross arm breaker but Orton is right next to the ropes and reaches them. Orton hits a backbreaker and then looks for the hangmans DDT but Del Rio counters and drops Orton on the top rope. Rodriguez mocks Orton on the outside and then Del Rio mocks Orton too before locking for an RKO but Orton counters and then hits the hangmans DDT! Orton motions for an RKO but Del Rio counters with a backstabber for a near fall.

Del Rio looks for lock on the cross arm breaker but Orton counters with a powerslam for a near fall. Orton lays in some kicks and headbutts and then pops Del Rio on the top rope but Del Rio fights him off and hits a stomp for a near fall. Alberto heads to the top and then jumps to the mat and there’s an absolute botch. More miscommunications and Orton hits a dropkick. Orton looks for an RKO but Del Rio counters and tries to throw Orton into the ringpost but Orton puts on the brakes. Orton kicks Del Rio away but behind the referee’s back Ricardo Rodriguez pulls Orton into the ringpost! Del Rio then locks on the cross arm breaker but Orton counter with a roll up which Del Rio kicks out of. Alberto attempts a running enzeguri but Orton counters with an RKO out of nowhere! He hooks the leg and gets the three! Orton beats Del Rio in the opening match tonight! Good match to kick things off with.

Rating: 6.75/10

We’re shown some tweets between Vickie Guerrero and John Cena. Vickie has proof that AJ Lee has been having an affair with John Cena.

There’s some footage from the pre-show with Vickie Guerrero and John Cena. Dolph Ziggler then tries to attack Cena but John fought him off.

Josh Mathews is backstage with Raw’s Managing Supervisor, Vickie Guerrero. Guerrero has proof of an affair between John Cena and AJ and will show the evidence on Raw. Paul Heyman then shows up and tries to get the match between CM Punk and Ryback cancelled. Vickie refuses and Heyman passively aggressively says that he wouldn’t want Guerrero to get fired like AJ.

Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan & Kane) (c) vs. Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow) – WWE Tag Team Championship match

This is a first time match between these two new tag teams. Kane and Daniel Bryan are both 1-0 at Hell In a Cell events, Cody Rhodes is 1-1 and Damien Sandow makes his Hell In A Cell debut tonight. Sandow and Rhodes get on the mic before the match and claim that tonight they will be able to say that “we are the tag team champions”. Daniel Bryan and Damien Sandow start the match and Bryan hits some kicks and then a knee to the middle section. Bryan tags in Kane and Sandow quickly tags out to Cody Rhodes. Kane pulls Rhodes into the ring, hits a low dropkick and pins him for a one count. Kane hits a clothesline on the corner and then tags out to Daniel Bryan and we get some teamwork from the champions. Bryan hits a couple of uppercuts and then more kicks in the corner before tagging Kane back in. Bryan holds Rhodes and Kane boots Cody in the face. Kane then hits a powerslam and an elbow drop for a two count.

Cody Rhodes manages a kick and a couple of right hands before tagging out to Damien Sandow who hits a chopblock. We then get some double teaming from Team Rhodes Scholars. Sandow tags Rhodes back in and he lays in more kicks as we start to get quick tags between the challengers. Sandow applies a front face lock as he looks for his first PPV victory tonight. Sandow tags Rhodes back in and he hits a low dropkick before tagging Damien back in. Sandow comes off the second rope but Kane hits him with an uppercut. Kane then tags in Daniel Bryan who hits a clothesline and then lays in some boots before hitting another big clothesline. Bryan hits more kicks and then knocks Cody off the apron before throwing Sandow out of the ring and hitting a suicide dive. Bryan rolls Sandow back into the ring and Cody distracts Bryan allowing Sandow to knock him off the apron. Sandow rolls Bryan back in the ring and pins him for a one count before tagging out to Rhodes.

Cody Rhodes hits a running knee on Daniel Bryan for a two count and then tags out to Damien Sandow. Sandow hits an elbow on the apron and then an elbow drop and knee drop for a two count. Sandow tags in Rhodes who applies an armbar. Bryan fights back with right hands but Rhodes hits him with a knee and then tags out to Damien Sandow who stomps away at Bryan and pins him for a two count. Sandow hits a side Russian leg sweep and then the elbow of destain for a two count. Sandow applies a chinlock and Kane shouts “come on goat face”. Bryan counters a side suplex and then drop toe holds Sandow into the middle turnbuckle. Sandow then tags in Rhodes and Bryan tags Kane! Hot tag alert. Kane hits Rhodes with right hands and a back body drop. Kane hits a big clothesline in the corner and then a side suplex for a two count. Kane heads to the top but Sandow distracts him long enough for Rhodes to go up with Kane. Kane fights Cody off and then hits a flying clothesline.

Lane motions for a chokeslam but Daniel Bryan tags himself in and comes off the top with a flying headbutt. Bryan pins Rhodes but Kane pulls Daniel off! The tag team champions then argue until Sandow pulls Kane out of the ring. Kane hits Sandow with an uppercut and Bryan then back body drops Rhodes out of the ring and into Kane! Bryan goes out to the apron and looks for a flying knee but Rhodes ducks and Bryan hits Kane! Kane and Bryan get into another argument on the outside and Rhodes Scholars hit them with baseball slides. Rhodes then rolls Bryan into the ring and hits him with cross-Rhodes, hooks the leg but Kane breaks the count! Kane lays into Rhodes with right hands and then pulls Sandow into the ring and kicks him down to the mat. The referee calls for the bell! Kane chokeslams Damien Sandow and the announcement is made that Rhodes and Sandow win by disqualification! Kane and Bryan retain the tag team championships though. This rivalry is not over! Great match though!

Rating: 7/10

Josh Mathews is backstage with The Miz who says because of Kofi Kingston the bar has been lowered. And because of this it will be the end of civilisation. Miz goes off to beat Kofi and save the world.

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. The Miz – WWE Intercontinental Championship match

This is a second PPV match between these two men. Kofi beat The Miz at Breaking Point 2009. Kofi is 2-0 at Hell In A Cell PPV’s, The Miz is 0-2. There’s a quick start to the match with both men attempting their finishers. Miz takes a breather outside the ring before getting back in and hitting a cheap shot. Kofi takes Miz down and lays in some right hands before throwing Miz back out of the ring. Kofi hits a baseball slide and then throws Miz towards the stairs but Miz reverses the Irish whip just for Kofi to leap over the steps before running into the boot of Miz. Miz rolls Kofi back into the ring and gets a two count before locking on a chinlock. Kofi gets out of it but Miz pulls him down to the canvas by his hair before hitting his trademark clothesline and then heading to the top and hitting a double axe handle for a two count. Miz hits a big kick to the ribs and then looks for another corner clothesline but Kofi hits first and knocks Miz down with a clothesline!

Kofi hits some dropkicks and a big clothesline before nailing the boom drop. Kofi then motions for trouble in paradise but Miz exits the ring. Kofi chases Miz around the ring and back into it before rolling him up for a two count. Kofi hits a top rope cross body for another two count and then looks for the SOS but Miz counters with a backbreaker. Kofi counters a neckbreaker and hits the SOS for a near fall. Miz targets the leg of Kofi and then pulls off the Intercontinental Champions boot. Miz wraps Kofi’s left leg around the ropes for a five count and then locks on a half Boston crab. Kofi manages to get out of it, rolling Miz up for a two count. Miz is first up and immediately goes back to work on the leg before hitting a DDT. Miz motions for skull-crushing finale but Kofi counters, rolling Miz up for a near fall. Kofi ducks a clothesline, Miz ducks trouble in paradise and sets up for skull-crushing finals but Kofi counters, shoving Miz out of the ring. Miz gets right back in but Kofi hits him with trouble in paradise for the three! Kofi beats Miz tonight in an ok match. Something didn’t click but there was some good action.

Rating: 5.5/10

Matt Striker interviews Kofi after the match and Kofi thanks Miz for bringing the “wildcat” out of Kofi Kingston.

Kane and Daniel Bryan are arguing backstage.

Cesaro (c) vs. Justin Gabriel – United States Championship match

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. This match is a Hell In A Cell PPV debut for both men. It’s only a second PPV match for Cesaro, he beat Zack Ryder previously. Cesaro takes down Justin Gabriel early and then applies an armbar and then a wristlock. Gabriel hits an arm drag but Cesaro immediately hits a headbutt and a kick. Gabriel counters a hiptoss with a monkey flip and then goes up to the second rope but Cesaro pushes him to the outside. Cesaro drops Gabriel on the ring apron and then rolls his challenger back into the ring. Cesaro hits a legdrop for a one count and then a big uppercut. Cesaro hits some forearms and then pins Gabriel for a one count. Cesaro then hits an uppercut to the back of the head for a two count before applying a chinlock. Cesaro then picks Gabriel up and drops him on the top turnbuckle before hitting a fallaway slam for a two count.

Cesaro hits two double stomps for a two count. The crowd are pretty dead for this one so far. Cesaro applies an armbar, fish hooking him at the same time. Gabriel gets out of it and hits a spinning heel kick and a springboard moonsault for a two count. Cesaro comes back with a big clothesline for a near fall. A “we want Ryder” chant has broken out. Cesaro hits lefts and rights but runs into a boot. Gabriel hits a tornado DDT for a near fall and then heads to the top and looks for a 450 splash but Cesaro moves and Gabriel tries to land on his feet but doesn’t. Gabriel hits a slop drop for a two count and Cesaro heads to the outside. Gabriel hits a dropkick and then dives over the top rope but Cesaro nails him with an uppercut. Cesaro throws Gabriel back into the ring and hits the neutraliser for the three! Cesaro retains tonight.

Rating: 4.5/10

There’s a VT for Ryback.

Vickie Guerrero is backstage making demands for her lock room when Paul Heyman arrives again and tries to get CM Punk out of his match with Ryback tonight. Vickie refuses to cancel it again.

Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. The Prime Time Players (Titus O’Neil & Darren Young)

This is a first tag team match between these two teams on PPV. Sin Cara is 1-0 at Hell In A Cell PPV’s, Rey Mysterio is 0-1 and The Prime Time Players make their HIAC debut tonight. Sin Cara starts the match against Darren Young and Young powers Cara down to the mat in the early going. Sin Cara hits a hurricanrana and tags in Rey Mysterio who hits a snapmare and then a legdrop as Sin Cara hits a moonsault. Mysterio kicks Young on to the middle rope and looks for the 619 but Darren Young hits a belly to belly suplex. Titus O’Neil tags himself in and hits an uppercut before smashing Mysterio into the corner and tagging Darren Young back in. The Prime Time Players hit a double shoulder knockdown and Young hits a legdrop for a one count. Young applies a chinlock but Rey kicks his way out of it. Young tags in Titus O’Neil but Rey kicks him away. Rey then tags in Sin Caras who comes in with a missile dropkick and a handspring elbow. Cara hits both opponents with a kick and then a springboard cross body on Titus for a near fall.

Sin Cara looks for a top rope arm drag but Titus catches him and hits a couple of backbreakers before tossing Sin Cara aside. Titus tags in Darren Young who hits a side suplex for a one count and then applies a body scissors. Sin Cara elbow his way out of it and then reverses a side suplex with a cross body for a two count. Darren young kicks Sin Cara out to the apron but Sin Cara fights off both Prime Time Players until the numbers become too much and Young drops Sin Cara on the apron. Young tags in Titus who slams Sin Cara to the mat and then tags in Darren Young before slamming him down on Sin Cara. Sin Cara hits Young with some right hands but Darren drops him with a clothesline. Young celebrates but Sin Cara kicks him in the gut. Darren Young hits him with right hands and then tags his partner back in. Titus hits a suplex for a two count and then locks on an abdominal stretch. Titus hits some right hands and then tags Darren Young back in.

Darren Young hits a backbreaker on Sin Cara for a two count and then tags Titus O’Neil back in. Titus hits an elbow drop and then looks for a shoulder charge but Sin Cara moves and Titus hits the ringpost. Sin Cara hits a floatover and tags in Rey Mysterio. O’Neil tags Young but it’s all Rey Mysterio! He hits a seated senton and a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a near fall. Rey hits some big kicks and then low-bridges Titus. Sin Cara dives out at O’Neil with a cross body. Rey hurricanrana’s Young onto the middle rope and hits the 619! He heads to the top and hits a splash for the three! Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara beat The Prime Time Players tonight! Sin Cara is injured on the outside.

Rating: 5.75/10

There’s a video package next for Sheamus and The Big Show.

Sheamus (c) vs. The Big Show – World Heavyweight Championship match

This is a first time singles match between these two men on pay per view. Sheamus is 1-1 at Hell In A Cell PPV’s, Big Show is 1-0. Big Show uses his strength in the early going to push Sheamus across the ring. Sheamus comes back with a headlock but Big Show pushes him away and knocks down the World Heavyweight Champion with a shoulder block. Big Show clubs away at Sheamus and hits him with rights and lefts. Big Show hits a big chop as Dolph Ziggler watches from the back. Big Show hits a powerslam and then motions for another chop but Sheamus fights back with right hands and then a chop block. Big Show takes a breather on the outside and then slowly gets back into the ring but Sheamus hits him with right hands. Sheamus hits a couple of shoulder charges but Big Show throws him out of the ring! Big Show follows and hits another chop before throwing Sheamus into the barrier.

Big Show rolls Sheamus into the ring and chokes him on the middle rope. Sheamus tries to fight back with lefts and right but Big Show takes him down with a sidewalk slam for a two count. Big Show hits a headbutt and then stomps on the champion before hitting him with another chop. There’s a slow pace to the match now as Big Show pulls Sheamus out of the ring and throws him over the announce table. Big Show then rolls Sheamus back into the ring and hits a version of the slop drop for as two count. Sheamus hits lefts and rights but they don’t take much effect and Big Show tosses him back out of the ring. Sheamus gets back into the ring with a battering ram but runs into the boot of Big Show. Big Show hits a headbutt and then a knee to the face but Sheamus fights back with big rights and lefts but Big Show takes the advantage with a bear hug before slamming Sheamus down and hitting a Vader bomb for a near fall. Big Show then motions for a chokeslam but Sheamus counters with a DDT for a two count.

Big Show powers Sheamus out of the ring with that last kick out. Sheamus then drops Big Show on the top rope and then hits four clubbing blows in the corner. Big Show counters and then hits a chokeslam for a near fall. Big Show then looks for a colossal clutch but Sheamus fights out of it and looks for a clover leaf but Big Show kicks him all the way out of the ring. Sheamus fights Big Show in the ringpost and then heads to the top big Big Show catches him. Sheamus hits some knees and a couple of clubbing blows which take Big Show down. Sheamus then hits white noise and hooks the leg for a near fall. Sheamus motions for a brogue kick but Big Show catches the leg and hits a huge right hand! Big Show hooks the leg but Sheamus kicks out! Big Show looks for another WMD punch but Sheamus ducks and hits the brogue kick! He hooks the leg but Big Show kicks out! Sheamus motions for another brogue kick but Big Show side steps and hits another WMD punch for the three! Big Show wins the match and the World Heavyweight Championship! This match got pretty good, I liked the psychology a lot.

Rating: 6.75/10

Booker T is backstage an Eve wants a word with him but Booker goes to check on Sheamus. Teddy Long arrives and tells Eve that she screwed over Kaitlyn and Layla but tonight they get the chance to return the favour. Zack Ryder says that they all would like that, he’s dressed as the scariest witch in the WWE, Eve. Teddy says that he’s one letter off. Santino then arrives dressed as Lady Gaga. Ron Simmons walks in. DAMN.

Vince McMahon is backstage on the phone. CM Punk arrives and wants the main event called off. McMahon says that if he’s not scared of Ryback then Punk should go and prove that he’s the best in the world.

Eve (c) vs. Layla vs. Kaitlyn – Triple threat match for the WWE Divas Championship

This is a first time triple threat match between these three girls. All three girls make their Hell In A Cell PPV debut. The bell rings and Layla and Kaitlyn double team Eve. Eve exits the ring but Layla follows just for Eve to shove her down. Kaitlyn clotheslines Eve down and rolls her back into the ring where Kaitlyn and Layla go back to double teaming Eve. Layla then rolls up Kaitlyn for a two count! Kaitlyn and Layla elbow Eve down and both pin her. Kaitlyn and Layla then go at it and exchange pinfalls to no avail. Eve then hits Layla with a flatliner before kicking her out of the ring. Eve then powerslam Kaitlyn into the ropes and targets the left ankle of Kaitlyn. Eve applies a modified Texas Cloverleaf and then an ankle lock but Eve breaks the hold as she spots Layla on the apron. Layla kicks Eve in the face and then lays in more kicks in the corner.

Layla hits her trademark springboard cross body for a two count and the two girls then knock each other down in the splits but Kaitlyn knocks their heads together before hitting Layla with a suplex. Kaitlyn applies an armbar to Layla but Layla gets to the bottom rope. Kaitlyn hits Layla with a gutbuster and then Layla ducks a clotheslines and hits a kick to the face before hooking the leg but Eve breaks up the cover and throws Layla out of the ring. Eve pins Kaitlyn but Layla breaks it up. Eve drops Layla on the middle rope and Kaitlyn rolls up Eve for a one count. Kaitlyn hits a springboard bulldog on Eve and then a couple of clotheslines on Layla. Kaitlyn rams Layla in the corner but then runs into Layla’s boot. Layla hits a cross body but Kaitlyn rolls through and hits a powerslam. She hooks the leg but Eve comes off the top with a senton to breaks it up and then pins Layla for the three! Eve wins the match and retains the WWE Divas Championship! Not a terrible match, it had a quick pace to it.

Rating: 4/10

Josh Mathews is backstage with The Big Show. Big Show challenges anybody to try and take the title off him.

Sheamus is being seen to by doctors backstage.

There’s a package for CM Punk and Ryback.

CM Punk (c) vs. Ryback – Hell In A Cell match for the WWE Championship

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. CM Punk is 0-2 at Hell In A Cell PPV’s, Ryback makes his debut at the event. There are plenty of “feed me more” chants for Ryback. CM Punk leaves the ring as the bell rings. Punk gets back in the ring and the two men circle each other until Punk leaves the ring again. Heyman motivates Punk from outside the cell. Punk manages to avoid Ryback, ducking clotheslines and eventually hits a chop that Ryback doesn’t sell. Ryback then lifts Punk up by his throat and then takes him down with a kick. Ryback smashes CM Punk off the mat and then hits a hard Irish whip. Ryback hits another but this time runs into a boot. Punk then looks for a tornado DDT but Ryback shoves him away and then clotheslines him out of the ring. Ryback throws Punk into the cell twice and Punk crawls away and then hides under the ring as Heyman shouts at Ryback. Punk sprays Ryback with a fire extinguisher which then allows the WWE Champion to fire Ryback into the cell.

CM Punk lays in some knees outside the ring and then picks up a chair but Ryback hits him with a running boot. Ryback gorilla press slams Punk back into the ring and then gorilla press slams him inside the ring. Ryback starts a “feed me more” chant and then looks for a clothesline but CM Punk avoids it and drops his challenger on the top rope. Punk hits a springboard clothesline and then heads to the top and hits a double axe handle. Punk hits another, dropping Ryback to one knee and then goes back up to the top but this time Ryback catches him and forces Punk into the corner. Ryback then looks for a clothesline but Punk hits a dropkick. Ryback rolls to the outside and Punk hits him with a suicide dive. Punk then jabs Ryback with a chair and then hits a neckbreaker. Punk jabs Ryback with the chair again and looks for another neckbreaker but Ryback counters and looks for a shoulder charge but Punk moves and Ryback hits the ring steps. Back in the ring and Punk locks on a chinlock.

Ryback gets out of the chinlock with a stunner but CM Punk takes the advantage with a running knee and a clothesline. CM Punk then hits a flying elbow drop before leaving the ring and grabbing a kendo stick. Punk unloads on Ryback with the kendo stick but Ryback no-sells, rips the kendo stick out of CM Punk’s hand and tosses it out of the ring. Ryback hits a couple of clotheslines and back body drop before taking Punk down with a spinebuster. Ryback hits the meathook clothesline and then motions for his finisher, the shellshock! The referee (Brad Maddox) then stops Ryback  from hitting it before hitting Ryback with a low blow! CM Punk rolls Ryback up and the referee counts a very fast three count! CM Punk wins the match and retains the WWE Championship!

Punk and Maddox look for a quick getaway but the referee on the outside doesn’t unlock the cage door quick enough. Ryback gets up and lays out the referee, hitting him with a meathook clothesline in the ring and then launches Maddox into the cell! A shocking conclusion to this match! Ryback then goes after Punk who climbs up the cell. Ryback follows Punk up to the top of the cell and hits him with shellshock!

Rating: 6/10

And that was Hell In A Cell 2012. I think it was a decent enough show. Nothing too memorable until the end but it wasn’t terrible. I liked the opener. You had two main eventers with nothing else to do make the most out of their situation. Randy won and I think I would have liked to have seen Del Rio win but when you’ve got a heel World Champion it makes more sense to build the faces up as potential future opponents. Good match between these two. Rhodes Scholars then beat Tell Hell No by disqualification which keeps this rivalry going. I like Kane and Daniel Bryan as tag team champions and they have loads of chemistry which is making for some really good matches. Rhodes and Sandow are a good team and it has really elevated Sandow. I’m sure we’ll get another match between these two teams in the future.

Kofi Kingston beat The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Championship. This match was ok, it didn’t set the world alight but I do feel like I’ve seen this match a lot recently. Kofi always seems to have a title, he’s an entertaining worker and he’s popular. I doubt that this feud will continue. Cesaro beat Justin Gabriel in a solid enough title reign for Cesaro. Cesaro is great and I think when he’s taking on fellow upper-midcarders like Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler then we’ll see some really good matches out of him. It’s nice to see Justin Gabriel on pay per view but it’s very rare that he wins these days. It seems like his best days are behind him. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara beat The Prime Time Players in a match to end their rivalry. I like both of these teams and The Prime Time Players have been getting a lot of exposure as of late. I don’t think this feud will continue. Sin Cara apparently injured himself again.

Big Show beat Sheamus to become World Heavyweight Champion again. I liked this match, Big Show is great when he’s booked to destroy somebody. He looked really good in this match much like he did in the triple threat match with John Cena and CM Punk at Summerslam. Big Show isn’t on top of the pile very often so I look forward to seeing this title reign. Eve then retained her Divas Championship in a nice heel fashion. She’s been very impressive as a heel and I like her title reign so far. Eve and Layla have had a good rivalry and they’re both much improved in the ring. Then in the main event CM Punk defeated Ryback to retain the WWE Championship. This match was good fun and CM Punk did some great selling for Ryback. The finish was controversial with referee Brad Maddox costing Ryback the match with a low blow. I have noticed Maddox as of late and he’s seemed out of place as a referee. I’m looking forward to seeing where this storyline is going. Could Maddox be in cahoots with CM Punk and Paul Heyman?

Overall Rating: 57.8/100 (ranked joint 148th out of 283)

Match Of The Night: Team Hell No vs. Team Rhodes Scholars
Worst Match Of The Night: Eve vs. Layla vs. Kaitlyn
Surprise Of The Night: Brad Maddox costs Ryback the WWE Championship
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: CM Punk
Hell In A Cell 2012 Will Be Remembered For: Brad Maddox costing Ryback the WWE Championship