WWE Hell In A Cell 2018: Star Ratings For All 8 Matches

3. Maryse & The Miz Vs. Brie Bella & Daniel Bryan

Randy Orton Screwdriver III
WWE.com

In which the Dream Feud between The Miz and Daniel Bryan was used to build anticipation for an epic showdown between Brie Bella and Maryse.

While the cynicism has long since subsided, it was still difficult to shake the notion that this whole thing is a gigantic missed opportunity destined to nestle alongside "The Big Show is Daniel Bryan now" as a borderline criminal misuse of a legitimate Superstar.

Let's instead rate this latest mixed tag team match in a vacuum, for sanity's sake; Miz and Bryan's work was really good (*at times), though derivative and clearly withholding something of real substance for Super Show-Down which, really, too much of this show cast one eye towards. As expected, Maryse slimed her way out of the match at all opportunities, though she did perform the limited role effectively enough. She didn't inspire the fervour Stephanie McMahon did at WrestleMania 34, in what will remain the best mixed tag match of a year in which several hundred more, at this rate, are set to follow.

*At other times, Miz harkened back to pre-2016. He totally no-sold Bryan's dragon screw - Hiroshi Tanahashi would have wept - and clumsily fell off the top rope to all but ruin Bryan's big Frankensteiner spot.

That aforementioned showdown was transitioned to excellently, mind, with a well-timed and executed Brie Bella baseball slide spot. Bar the abysmal-looking finish, she looked alright here.

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!