16 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania 39
2. Edge Vs. Finn Bàlor - Hell In A Cell Match
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: ★★★