16 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania 39

2. Edge Vs. Finn Bàlor - Hell In A Cell Match

Star Ratings
WWE.com

This was undermined almost entirely by a nasty accident that, in accordance with WWE policy, meant that Finn Bálor had to receive several stitches in his head as the match was brought to a complete halt.

"Almost" is probably generous.

This won't be remembered as a good at best Cell match that did well to get the fans back into it briefly; it will be remembered as the match that was brought to a complete halt. Blood stoppage is bad enough during a normal match. In a Cell match, with its now-corny mystique of career-altering violence, it was antithetical to the spirit of it. The idea that Bálor and Edge were meant to be portraying sinister, supernatural-adjacent entities was annihilated as well - and it was very lame to begin with, that awesome Slayer entrance aside.

It wasn't trending anywhere near the direction of the iconic Cell matches before Edge rather recklessly threw a ladder full-force into Bálor's face. The colour-coded weaponry was frankly stupid, and the heavy grunting was an almost comical attempt at intensity that felt all the more fake in contrast with that incredible Triple Threat match.

The success of the big spots was mixed. Edge stationing a ladder to make it appear that he had organically arrived at an avalanche Edge-e-Ecution was very well done, but the platform that allowed Bálor to execute his (missed) Coup de Grace through a table was only put there to facilitate the spot.

Contrived and cursed, only Finn Bálor's awesome determination to get something out of it drives the rating.

Star Rating: ★★★

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!