10 BOLD Predictions For WWE In 2019
5. WWE Will Scrap The Hell In A Cell Pay-Per-View (At Least)
WWE has already made good on one fan complaint under this so-called “New Era”, which has thus far manifested as the 20th consecutive year of a McMahon family member acting as an onscreen authority figure: the Authors of Pain and Becky Lynch and Charlotte were not automatically granted rematches for the titles they recently lost.
Another fan complaint—which the above may inform and correct—centres around the backwards practise that is gimmick pay-per-views.
For WWE, Hell In A Cell is an easy show to promote, one an audience is usually hyped for in spite of themselves. But there’s a certain hatred rearing its ugly, beautiful head in WWE right now, particularly at the epicentre of the total blast that is the Becky Lynch Vs. Charlotte Flair programme. There, the hatred informs the matches, and not the other—incorrect—way ‘round. Something seminal is unfolding around us in real time. The worked animosity is genuinely inspiring—and it might yet inspire WWE to reverse its philosophy.
Besides which, if the automatic rematch clause is no longer in place, some sort of heel transgression is now required to bring about and justify a stipulation bout sequel. This might not necessarily happen in October.
WWE’s injury record must be of some concern, too. At least one big PPV match hit the skids as result of this emerging trend—one that has emerged in parallel with gimmick match overload.