10 WWE Hell In A Cell 2017 Impulse Reactions
6. The Sell
Company-wide failure to transpose NXT success stories on the main roster has now extended to actual matches, with Charlotte Flair and Natalya seemingly destined to never again reach the heights they ascended to in their legendary Full Sail effort.
That's not to say the two weren't competent, but their first singles meeting on opposite sides of the heel/babyface divide saw a narrative designed to heap sympathy on Flair without ever intending to give her anything close to redemption.
Convincingly selling her knee for the duration of the bout, Charlotte only drew a modicum of interest from a live crowd that were perhaps looking more for a blockbuster showdown between the two women rather than the opening chapter it eventually became. The disqualification finish as Natalya doubled down her targeted assault with the aid of a steel chair was thus a deeply unsatisfying conclusion for anybody that actually did invest.
It is a formula that is killing the credibility of the performers and future anticipation of first time title matches. AJ Styles and Kevin Owens didn't once have a match befitting their ordinarily lofty standards because the company used the rivalry as a clunky conduit to 'KO's programme with Shane McMahon. The feud must continue, but fan interest won't.