9 Match Star Ratings For WWE Hell In A Cell 2019

5. The Kabuki Warriors Vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross - Women's Tag Team Title Match

Seth Rollins Hell In A Cell
WWE.com

A pretty bloody good match that also didn't work, because fans were wholly unprepared to boo the gradual Kabuki Warriors heel turn with any conviction.

This is what people talk about when they talk about WWE being out of touch: who was going to boo Asuka and Kairi Sane? Asuka is defined as WWE's most sinfully wasted talent at this point, and Kairi Sane is fundamentally likeable. She is a sweetheart with an admirable organic fire. And Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, who together do form a good and enjoyable act, granted, only just turned heel.

This isn't going to work - anybody can foresee that, except for the people who make these decisions - but the match did in terms of its content, if not its story.

Because Kairi is so talented, she can play heel well, even if nobody was prepared to accept it in the intended spirit. She toyed with Alexa Bliss in a good (nominal) heat spot, feigning respect, and strutted up to Nikki Cross only to poke her in the eye in a quality spot that fell apart when she, as the heel, found herself in the old referee-is-too-distracted-to-count-the-pin bit. That's a babyface predicament.

Iffy storytelling aside, this did draw mild support on behalf of Cross and Bliss, and as a welcome showcase of the formidable talent of the Kabuki Warriors, this worked. Except it also didn't work.

WWE, everybody.

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!