WWE Hell in a Cell 2021 aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa, Florida. Bobby Lashley put the WWE Championship on the line against Drew McIntyre inside the steel cell. Bianca Belair defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match tonight.
Hell in a Cell 2021 Results
- Natalya def. Mandy Rose (Kickoff Show)
- Bianca Belair def. Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the SD Women’s Championship
- Seth Rollins def. Cesaro
- Alexa Bliss def. Shayna Baszler
- Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
- Charlotte Flair def. Rhea Ripley via DQ (Ripley retained RAW Women’s Title)
- Bobby Lashley def. Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship
Here are the takeaways from the PPV:
Bianca Belair Retained In A Great Match
Bianca Belair defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match tonight. Bayley and the champion circled each other and traded words before locking up in the middle of the ring. Belair hit two Body Slams and followed it up with a Clothesline that sent Bayley out of the ring to regroup.
Bayley hit Belair with a cheap shot and brought a couple steel chairs into the ring. Bayley grabbed one of the chairs and kicked the other one out of the ring so Belair couldn’t get it. Belair dodged a chair shot and rolled up Bayley for a two count. Bayley grabbed the chair again and Belair backed away.
Belair started swinging her hair but Bayley blocked it with the chair. Bianca then connected with a Dropkick that bounced the chair off of Bayley’s face. Belair hit a shoulder tackle in the corner and drove Bayley into the turnbuckle. Bianca perched Bayley up on the top tope and hit her with some punches.
Bianca went for a Superplex but Bayley blocked it. Bianca flipped to the mat and then hopped back up on the turnbuckle. Bayley bounced Bianca’s face off the turnbuckle and sent her flying into the ring post. Belair fell to the canvas and Bayley went for the cover but the champ kicked out at two.
Bayley focused her attack on Belair’s shoulder and slammed it into the post before stomping on it in the corner of the ring. Bayley applied an Armbar in the middle of the ring and transitioned into a cover for a two count. Bayley brought the steel steps into the ring and stood on top of them.
Belair tripped Bayley up and she fell back onto the steps. Bayley hit a knee to the face and went for the cover but couldn’t keep Bianca down. Bayley tied Belair to the bottom rope by her hair and went for a kick but wound up tripping over Bianca’s hair and fell into the steel steps again.
Bianca lifted the steps above her head and launched them at Bayley but she got out of the way at the last moment. Belair shoved Bayley’s face into the steel but Bayley bit Belair’s arm to break it up. Bayley bashed Belair in the ribs with a kendo stick and followed it up with a Powerbomb into the steel.
Bayley set up some kendo sticks from the apron and the cell but it backfired. Bianca slammed Bayley through the kendo sticks and brought her back into the ring for a near fall. Bianca bashed Bayley over the back with a steel chair and the challenger stumbled to the corner.
Bianca charged but Bayley caught her with a kick that sent the chair into Belair’s face. Bayley wrapped Bianca’s arm in the chair and relentlessly slammed it into the steel. Bayley then tied Bianca’s hair around the bottom of the chair and booted the injured shoulder again.
Bayley laughed as Bianca slowly made her way to her feet. Belair slapped Bayley in the face and then hit her in the knee with the steel chair. Bianca followed it up with a chop block and tied her hair to Bayley’s arm. Belair hit a couple Clotheslines and dragged Bayley to the outside.
Belair bashed Bayley in the midsection with the kendo stick before launching her into the steel cell multiple times. Bianca untied her hair and booted Bayley to the floor. Bayley grabbed a ladder from under the ring and hit Belair with it. Bayley slid the ladder into the ring and Belair followed her. Bayley smashed Belair’s face off the ladder and the SmackDown Women’s Champion fell to the canvas.
Bayley slammed Belair on the ladder and then delivered the Rose Plant. Bayley grabbed her knee in pain and the delay cost her as Bianca powered out at two. Bayley rolled up Belair and grabbed the ropes for leverage but Bianca was still able to kick out.
Bianca slammed Bayley’s face into the turnbuckle and then put the ladder on top of her. Belair hit a Senton and followed it up with the KOD on top of the ladder for the pinfall victory. Bianca Belair is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Seth Rollins def. Cesaro
Cesaro battled Seth Rollins tonight at the PPV. Rollins attacked Cesaro during his entrance but Cesaro caught him with a Powerslam right when the bell rang. Cesaro followed it up with a kick to the face that knocked Seth to the outside. Back in the ring, Cesaro climbed to the top rope and leveled Rollins for a two count.
Rollins connected with a DDT and went for the cover but Cesaro kicked out at two. Seth hit Cesaro with a knee to the midsection and went for a Suplex but Cesaro countered into one of his own. Seth knocked Cesaro out of the ring and connected with a knee to face off the apron.
The action returned to the ring and Rollins hit another knee to the face for a near fall. Cesaro responded with a series of uppercuts that sent Rollins to the corner. Cesaro ripped off Rollins’ glove and shoved it in his mouth. Cesaro leveled Seth with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Rollins kicked out at two.
Cesaro hit another Powerslam and went for the cover but Rollins kicked out at two. Cesaro connected with a Crossbody but Rollins rolled through for a near fall. Seth hit an Enziguri and followed it up with a forearm to the back of Cesaro’s head for a two count.
Seth applied an Armbar in the middle of the ring but Cesaro battled to his feet. Rollins connected with a Falcon Arrow and went for the cover but Cesaro kicked out at two. Cesaro caught Rollins with a Clothesline and both superstars fell to the mat. Cesaro got Rollins in the Swing and transitioned into the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Seth reached for the ropes but Cesaro transitioned into a Crossface in the middle of the ring.
Rollins countered into a cover to break the hold but Cesaro got the Sharpshooter locked in again. Cesaro then bent back Rollins’ arm and stomped on it several times. Rollins rolled Cesaro up out of nowhere for the pinfall victory.
Alexa Bliss def. Shayna Baszler
Alexa Bliss faced Shayna Baszler tonight at Hell in a Cell. Baszler controlled the action early but Bliss battled back and laughed off the punishment. Shayna stomped on Alexa’s elbow but Bliss didn’t stay down. Alexa connected with a DDT and went for the cover but Baszler kicked out at two.
Alexa Bliss somehow was able to take control of Nia Jax’s body and slapped Reginald in the face. Alexa then planted Shayna with Sister Abigail and followed it up with Twisted Bliss for the pinfall victory. Bliss laughed on the entrance ramp as Lilly was shown on the jumbotron behind her.
Sami Zayn Picked Up A Win Over Kevin Owens
Sami Zayn battled Kevin Owens tonight at Hell in a Cell. Owens dominated the action early and launched Sami into the turnbuckle. Sami rolled out of the ring to regroup but Owens followed him. Kevin threw Zayn into the barricade before the action returned to the ring.
Zayn caught Owens with a kick as he was getting into the ring and then beat him down in the corner. Zayn sent Owens out of the ring and flipped onto him. Owens hobbled to the timekeeper’s area and then got back into the ring. The referee checked on Owens to see if he could continue and Zayn got pissed off. Sami connected with a kick to Owens’ face and then stomped on the injured arm. The announcers noted that Owens is also dealing with injuries to the throat caused by Commander Azeez hitting him with the Nigerian Nail on SmackDown.
Sami continued to attack the injured arm and Owens rolled out of the ring to buy himself some time. Back in the ring, Owens took Zayn down and unloaded some punches to his face. Owens sent Zayn to the outside and connected with a Clothesline. Kevin leaned up against the steps and held his wrist/arm in pain. Owens then went for a Senton off the apron but Sami got his knees up.
Zayn hit Owens with a Blue Thunder Bomb in the ring and went for the cover but Owens kicked out at two. Owens battled back with some chops to the chest and went for a Stunner but Sami countered into an Exploder Suplex for a near fall. The action spilled to the outside again and Owens connected with a Stunner.
Sami made it back into the ring at the last second to break the count. Owens and Sami traded punches from their knees and then Kevin headbutted Zayn down. Kevin booted Sami in the face and he fell to the apron. Sami bounced Owens’ injured arm off the top rope and followed it up with a running knee. Owens got up in the corner and Sami leveled him with the Helluva Kick for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn delivered yet another great match tonight. I don’t think it is possible for them to have a bad match. They needed to deliver tonight to get the show back on track after the ridiculous Alexa Bliss & Shayna Baszler match.
Rhea Ripley Retained via DQ
Rhea Ripley defended the RAW Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair tonight at Hell in a Cell. Flair controlled the action early and kept the RAW Women’s Champion grounded. Ripley connected with a chop and knocked Charlotte to the ring apron.
Ripley went for a kick but Charlotte was ready and locked in a submission using the ropes. Flair broke the hold and Ripley caught her with a kick to the face that knocked Charlotte to the floor. Ripley screamed and rolled Flair back into the ring. Rhea connected with a massive Dropkick off the top rope and went for the cover but Charlotte somehow was able to kick out at two.
Rhea went for a submission hold but Charlotte countered and sent her into the turnbuckle. Charlotte hit Natural Selection and went for the cover while using the ropes for leverage but Rhea kicked out. Flair went for a Body Slam but Ripley escaped and sent Flair across the ring with a release German Suplex.
Charlotte connected with a Backbreaker and then bounced the champ’s face off the middle turnbuckle. Flair climbed to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but Ripley got out of the way. Charlotte landed on her feet and connected with a Standing Moonsault for a two count.
Flair connected with a boot to the face and went for the cover but Ripley kicked out. Charlotte got pissed and unloaded several punches to Ripley’s face before dragging her to the middle of the ring. Flair set up for the Figure Four but Ripley booted her away. Charlotte climbed to the top turnbuckle again but Ripley attacked her.
Ripley joined Charlotte on the top turnbuckle and connected with a Superplex for a near fall. Rhea connected with the Riptide but Charlotte got her foot on the bottom rope to break up the cover. Ripley yelled in anger as Charlotte rolled out of the ring and the match continued.
Rhea hobbled after Charlotte and Flair caught her with a chop block. Flair hit a Spear in the middle of the ring and then applied the Figure Four. Ripley battled through the pain and reached the bottom rope. Charlotte kept the hold in but Rhea escaped by dragging them both to the floor.
Charlotte charged at Rhea but Ripley was ready and hit her with the top of the announce table to end the match in a DQ. Rhea planted Flair with the Riptide after the match.
Opinion: A DQ finish would have been bad, but a disqualification for using the announce table cover is just terrible. I guess a finish this was to be expected in a feud that revolved around both superstars losing in silly ways to Nikki Cross.
Lashley Retained The WWE Championship
Bobby Lashley put the WWE Championship on the line against Drew McIntyre in a Hell a Cell match in the main event. McIntyre dominated early and sent Lashley into the ring post. McIntyre grabbed the steel steps but Lashley connected with a kick to the midsection and the steps fell to the floor.
McIntyre battled back and struck Lashley with the steel steps a couple times. The action returned to the ring and McIntyre connected with an overhead throw. McIntyre grabbed a kendo stick from under the ring and struck Lashley with it. Drew then set up a table against the cell.
Lashley battled back and slammed McIntyre’s face into the steel. McIntyre blocked a Suplex and hit Lashley with White Noise on top of the steps. Drew set up another table next to the ring and brought Lashley back to the steps. Lashley dropped McIntyre with a jab to the throat as MVP cheered him on from outside the cage.
McIntyre set up a chair in between the ropes but Lashley caught him with an elbow to the face. Drew shrugged it off and planted Lashley with a reverse Alabama Slam on top of a chair for a near fall. McIntyre climbed to the top rope with a steel chair and leaped but Bobby countered into the Hurt Lock.
Drew escaped and connected with a Spinebuster for a near fall. McIntyre followed it up with a Powerbomb and went for the cover but the WWE Champion was able to kick out at two. Lashley rolled out of the ring and McIntyre followed him. McIntyre bashed the WWE Champion in the face with the steel steps and tried to do it again but Bobby blocked it.
Lashley bashed the steel steps into McIntyre’s face against the steel until Drew fell to the floor. Bobby hit McIntyre with several punches to the face and grabbed a kendo stick. MVP trapped McIntyre in the corner of the cell with the stuck and Lashley unloaded several punches to the ribs.
McIntyre broke free but Lashley slammed him to the floor. Lashley set up a chair in the ring and slammed McIntyre’s face onto it a couple times. Lashley hit Drew with a kendo stick a few times but McIntyre powered to his feet. McIntyre shoved Lashley to the corner and bashed him in the ribs with a steel chair. Lashley then shoved McIntyre and he accidentally laid out the referee. McIntyre launched Lashley into the chair in the corner and hit him with the Future Shock DDT.
Drew couldn’t go for the cover and instructed another referee to get into the ring. Lashley went for the Hurt Lock but McIntyre countered into an overhead throw. McIntyre launched a chair at Lashley’s face and followed it up with the Claymore. McIntyre went for the cover but MVP dragged the referee out of the ring at two.
McIntyre stared at MVP and started walking towards him. MVP realized he was locked in the cell and McIntyre sent him into the ring post. Drew rolled MVP into the ring and hit him with the Claymore. McIntyre continued to attack MVP and Lashley capitalize by applying the Hurt Lock. Drew broke free by sending Lashley through the table against the cell.
Back in the ring, McIntyre hit Lashley over the back with the steel chair over and over again. Drew set up for the Claymore but Lashley ducked and McIntyre crashed to the mat. Lashley shoved McIntyre into the ring post and then Chokeslammed him off the apron and through a table below. Lashley brought McIntyre back into the ring and went for a Spear but McIntyre dodged it. Drew sent Lashley into the turnbuckle and rolled him up for a near fall.
McIntyre connected with the Future Shock DDT and geared up in the corner. MVP grabbed McIntyre’s legs and held him back. Lashley then capitalized with a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Lashley is still the WWE Champion and McIntyre will not get another shot at the title as long as Bobby holds the belt.
Opinion: Lashley and McIntyre had a great match tonight that unfortunately had a really underwhelming finish. I did not expect to see this feud end with a roll-up. Overall, Hell in a Cell was a flawed show that featured a few good matches. I thought Bianca Belair and Bayley had the match of the night.
