Do you need a travel pass on your way to Hell? It’s that time of the year again when rivals duke it out inside Hell in a Cell (whether they deserve to or not). And you know what that means: it’s time to place your bets and speculate!
Stepping in for the first time in the Smark Henry predictions arena is our SmackDown reviewer and the master of the Supercard, Jacob Tambunting! And in the other corner is our returning RAW reviewer and the man currently fighting his nitpicking demons, it’s Ricky Publico!
Who will bag the most correct predictions and who will end up with nothing in this first-time matchup of weekly reviewers? Buckle up because we’re taking a detour to the ol’ fiery depths!
We’ll get three HIAC matches this year. Which one are you most hyped for?
Jacob: Quote me on this. Bayley vs. Sasha could actually be the Match of the Year. The chemistry these two have in the ring is nothing short of magic. This feud is the most deserving of a vicious stipulation like HIAC. Finally, it is the only match where we really have no clue who will win. Will they continue Bayley’s legendary reign? WIll Sasha exact her revenge? It’s a WWE miracle sent straight from Hell. The only way for them to screw this up is for there to be a screwy BS finish.
Ricky: Of course it’s the Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso HIAC match! It has the biggest heel megastar in the company today, the best storyline pumping drama into it, and the additional stakes of the I Quit stipulation for added flavor. How can you not be hyped for that? No offense to the other HIAC matches (okay, maybe some offense to the dragging McIntyre vs. Orton affair), but this match is the easiest main event pick for me.
The Tribal Chief meets Jey Uso at HIAC. How worried are you for Jey?
Jacob: Jey is going to have an amazing babyface moment. Then Spear, Spear, Spear. It is going to be ugly to watch and I can’t wait to watch it.
Ricky: Oh he dead. Jey Uso won’t stand a chance. They tried to give him his heat back at last week's SmackDown but notice how the officials were able to apprehend Jey but they didn’t even try to stop Reigns from brutalizing Strowman? Not exactly a great look for the conquering babyface.
Will Sasha Banks continue her HIAC losing streak?
Jacob: Probably. I think that WWE wants to squeeze the feud for all it’s worth. It could work if Bayley takes a break from this rivalry after this match. Do I want it to happen though? HELL NO. I want the Champ to get what’s coming to her.
Ricky: I’d like to stay optimistic, but yeah, she probably will. Just like Sasha can’t successfully defend a singles title, I think they’ll also embed not winning any HIAC matches into her lore. Here’s to another 500 days of Bayley!
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton inside HIAC. Do you care?
Jacob: This feud started off bad-ass—just two dudes who want to beat the hell out of each other. The Legend Killer nonsense to get heat for Orton fizzled out when he beat up four old guys in the dark.
Ricky: Not really. Randy Orton always gets to play the role of the crafty challenger a new champion can’t shake off somehow. This rivalry should’ve ended last month! Let’s give someone else a crack at it. I heard Keith Lee is available.
Should Jeff Hardy vs. Elias be a Guitar match?
Jacob: Yes. Anything to tie these two together and make the feud memorable is welcome. My pitch for Vince: Have a sequel Wargames Match and call it The Battle of the Bands.
Ricky: Hell yeah! Imagine them swinging guitars at each other like Star Wars fans swinging plastic lightsabers at each other. They should have a guitar riff-off prior to the match, just for the lulz.
How do you think Retribution will make their presence known?
Jacob: At this point, Retribution looks so weak after getting destroyed by both the Fiend and the Hurt Business that I won’t be surprised if they try to interrupt multiple matches only to get crushed every time. The only way to save them is if WWE were to run a complete Retribution takeover.
Imagine that before the bell rings in the main event, the lights go out. Lights back on then the main event stars are unconscious with 30 Retribution guys around the arena. Mustafa Ali starts demanding for people to step up. They start taking them out one at a time. That is how you end the show.
Ricky: Bold of you to assume they’re going to bother showing up. I’m pretty sure they’re going to sit this one out after getting trashed single-handedly by The Fiend. I guess Ali has yet to figure out how to hack a PPV.
And just for the heck of it, what’s your Retribution name?
Jacob: The Detonator. I am going to blow up the establishment. *pats self on the back*
Ricky: Landshark. Don’t google that.
That was quick. There you have it, I guess, another prediction piece is in the books. Who are your picks to win the HIAC matches this year? Who do you think will quit inside the Cell? Let us know in the comments below.
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Jacob Tambunting is a freshman at the Ateneo de Manila University currently studying BS Psychology. In his high school years, he authored plays for competitions, essays for projects, and fan fiction for fun. He currently lives with his two parents, his two siblings, and his two dogs, and is probably writing something angsty on his 10-year-old laptop.
Ricky Publico (@TeetotaleRicky) is Smark Henry's resident RAW reviewer... for better or worse. A known lover of wrestling tournaments, he's a sucker for well-executed promos and fast-paced matches. While he enjoys nitpicking shows, he now prefers enjoying wrestling for what it is instead of stressing himself over things he can't control. Let him in.
