Opinion

DeMarco: 5 Days Later, And I Love The Hell In A Cell Finish

Published

6 years ago

October 11, 2019

WWE Hell In A Cell Finish The Fiend Seth Rollins

Greg DeMarco does a 180 degree turn, falling in love with the Hell In A Cell finish that saw Bray Wyatt’s The Fiend and Seth Rollins end with no winner.

We all saw it, and if we didn’t, by now we all know about it. Last Sunday, WWE presented Hell In A Cell, and Bray Wyatt’s The Fiend challenged Seth Rollins for Raw’s WWE Universal Championship. The referee threw the match out when Rollins blasted The Fiend with a sledgehammer, later citing Wyatt’s safety as the reason for his decision.

When the decision was first rendered, I was far from happy with the outcome. I even tweeted about it, saying people have every right to be pissed. I encouraged it. I even said they owed me–the WWE apologist–an apology.

Yeah, I was wrong. The finish was perfect, and 100% bad ass. Here’s why…

Rod Zapata’s Logic Is, Well…Logical

In the statement linked above, Rod Zapata claimed he made the call to protect the competitors, namely Bray Wyatt. His statement is a really interesting one, too.

“With Bray motionless, and Seth clearly doing whatever it was going to take to win that match … I had to think of the competitor’s safety and at that moment, I did what I thought was best.”

Note that he doesn’t refer to Bray Wyatt as “The Fiend,” but as Bray Wyatt. This is a key element, because it shows how Zapata made his decision–based on human emotion towards human beings. He was worried for the well-being of Bray Wyatt, a WWE wrestler for nearly a decade now, who he has known for most or all of that time (if not longer). He warned Seth Rollins, even calling him “Colby” during the exchange (another amazing little thing that goes a long way), and then immediately called for the bell after the sledgehammer shot.

Now is a great time to talk about 1998’s Hell In A Cell match between The Undertaker and Mankind, when Mankind took two bumps that should have ended the match, but the match wasn’t called. Let me remind you: this was 21 years ago. TWENTY ONE. We’ve changed. We’ve evolved. Player safety is a bigger concern in sports. Everyone is more concerned with the day-to-day well-being of professional wrestlers/sports entertainers. Fans are calling for more time of, and a rotating cast to help their favorites live a better life. Calling a Hell In A Cell match for concern for someone’s health makes perfect sense in 2019, in the same manner that not calling a Hell In A Cell match for the same reason makes perfect sense in 1998. Comparing the two is as silly as comparing Raw’s ratings from the two years (but y’all still do that, so…).

It Actually Helped Everyone

I know you don’t like this heading, but it’s true. It really does help everyone.

Bray Wyatt’s The Fiend – Rod Zapata made the (storyline) mistake of treating The Fiend like a mortal human being. He called the match because if anyone else was under all that rubble, a sledgehammer shot could have ended their career, or worse. He called the match, and The Fiend was immediately tended to by paramedics, even placed on the board to be loaded onto the stretcher, and into the ambulance. But that didn’t happen, didn’t it?

The Fiend attacking Seth Rollins after being tended to solidifies that he’s almost supernatural, stronger than a mortal man, perfectly fine after taking that beating. It’s going to take more than a normal “move set” to beat him, and as talented as Seth Rollins may be, all that talent can’t beat a man who is seemingly impervious to pain.

Plus, The Fiend didn’t lose the match. Instead, he was a horror movie character, which fits the persona to a tee.

Seth Rollins – It might not seem like it at first, but this really helps Rollins. He’s a babyface in WWE, which is really hard to maintain with anyone other than kids and fangirls. Seth is one of the best wrestlers in the world, and his normal actions were powerless against The Fiend. He needed to do more to win, and he was willing to do just that. His willingness to “embrace the hate” and fight like a man who was desperate and afraid further humanizes him. Placed in the same position, it’s fight or flight for most of us. Many of us would run, and would be eaten alive because we were trapped. The rest of us? We’d win, kill, or die trying. That’s exactly what Seth was willing to do.

The Finish Didn’t Tarnish Hell In A Cell

There have been 42 Hell In A Cell matches in WWE, and 3 of them have ended without a decision:

Mankind vs. Kane in 1998
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman in 2018
Seth Rollins vs. The Fiend in 2019

Guess what? The first two listed never came up when anyone was previewing this year’s PPV. And one of them happened two months after the Hell In A Cell match everyone always wants to reference when saying there must be a definitive winner. Quite the convenient omission, eh?

In modern day WWE, no style of match is above the life of a performer, and as I referenced above that factored into Rod Zapata’s storyline decision. And it was the launching pad for what’s to come at Survivor Series.

Would You Change Anything, Greg?

I most certainly would change one thing, and one thing only. And it’s the one thing that probably caused me to react in the manner I did: match order.

Match order matters, and has for a long time. Look at WrestleMania 34: had Charlotte Flair beat Asuka in the main event, and not Brock Lesnar over Roman Reigns, the event is met with better reception. Same with putting Ronda Rousey’s debut in the show closing spot, although you get the same complaints about part-timers in the main event. Fast forward to this year’s WrestleMania 35, and you had a clunky finish to a “historic” main event, one that probably is better served a match or two further down the card, with Kofi Kingston’s crowning achievement over Daniel Bryan being a more satisfying way to end the night.

Same with Hell In a Cell. Put The Fiend vs. Seth Rollins on 3rd or 4th, and close the show with Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks in the Cell, and the show has a stronger reaction overall. The mind is a crazy thing, and how a show ends greatly impacts the overall impression most (not all) viewers are left with.

But in the end, I really like what they did, what it did to both performers, and where it can lead. Survivor Series has to top it, and Hell In A Cell wasn’t the “feud-ender” many wanted it to be (it often isn’t), it was another step in the story (it often is).

PS – I don’t hate the red lighting, either.

How do you feel 5 days later? Tweet me @ChairshotGreg and let me know!

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Related Topics:Bray Wyatt Featured Featured Big Hell In A Cell Seth Rollins The Fiend WWE

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1