Hell in a Cell 2022 was a professional wrestling live event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on June 5, 2022 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Seven matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match. In other prominent matches, The Judgment Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley) defeated AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, and Liv Morgan in a six-person mixed tag team match, Bobby Lashley defeated Omos and MVP in a 2-on-1 handicap match, and in the opening bout, Bianca Belair defeated Asuka and Becky Lynch in a triple threat match to retain the Raw Women's Championship.
Production
Background
Hell in a Cell is an annual gimmick pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE Network event produced by WWE since 2009, generally held in October. The concept of the show comes from WWE's established Hell in a Cell match, in which competitors fight inside a 20-foot-high roofed cell structure surrounding the ring and ringside area. The main event match of the card is contested under the Hell in a Cell stipulation. The 2021 event was moved from the October slot to June, which will only be the second time for the event to not be held in October; the first time was the 2018 event, which was held in September. The 2021 event will be the 13th event under the Hell in a Cell chronology. It is scheduled to be held on June 20, 2021—the previously scheduled date for Money in the Bank, which was moved to July 18—and feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.
Storylines
The show included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
After Cody Rhodes defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins at both WrestleMania 38 and WrestleMania Backlash, Rhodes was granted a United States Championship match on the May 9 episode of Raw. During the match, Rollins attacked Rhodes, thus costing Rhodes the match. The following week, Rhodes challenged Rollins to another match, this time inside Hell in a Cell, which Rollins accepted.
At WrestleMania 38, Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch to win the Raw Women's Championship. On the April 25 episode of Raw, Lynch cut a promo where she wanted a rematch against Belair, however, Asuka made a surprise return after nine months of inactivity due to injury. WWE official Adam Pearce gave Asuka a chance to face Belair in a championship contender's match on the May 9 episode of Raw, however, the match ended in a no contest after Lynch attacked both competitors. The following week, Asuka defeated Lynch to earn the right to face Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell. On the May 23 episode, Lynch was given another chance to face Asuka with the added stipulation that if Lynch won, she would be added to the championship match at Hell in a Cell. Lynch defeated Asuka thus the championship match became a triple threat match.
At WrestleMania 38, Bobby Lashley defeated Omos. On the following episode of Raw, Lashley's manager, MVP, turned on Lashley and aligned with Omos, who then defeated Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash with the help of MVP. Lashley then defeated Omos in a Steel Cage match when Omos threw Lashley through the cage allowing him to win by walking out of the cage on the May 16 episode of Raw. The following week, with Lashley wanting to put an end to their rivalry, he challenged MVP to a match where the winner would choose the stipulation of his match against Omos at Hell in a Cell. With the help of Omos, MVP defeated Lashley by countout. Omos and MVP decided that the stipulation at Hell in a Cell would be a 2-on-1 handicap match with Omos and MVP facing Lashley.
Event
Preliminary matches
The event opened with Bianca Belair defending the Raw Women's Championship against Asuka and Becky Lynch in a triple threat match. Asuka caught Belair in an Armbar, but Belair countered and slammed her onto the top turnbuckle. Lynch performed a Natural Selection on Belair. Lynch performed a Top Rope Leg Drop on Belair, but Asuka broke up the pin. Belair slammed Asuka onto Lynch and performed a handspring into a Standing Moonsault onto both for a nearfall. Asuka hit a Codebreaker on Belair and then caught Lynch off the ropes into another Codebreaker for a nearfall on both. Asuka placed both in a Double Ankle Lock, but both made it to the ropes. Lynch hit the Manhandle Slam on Belair, but Asuka broke up the pin. In the end, Lynch threw Belair out of the ring and hit a second Manhandle Slam on Asuka. Belair returned to throw Lynch out of the ring and pinned Asuka to retain the title.
Next, Bobby Lashley took on Omos and MVP in a 2-on-1 handicap match. In the end, MVP drove Lashley out of the ring with the Player's Boot. Omos tackled Lashley through the barricade, but Lashley made it back into the ring at nine. Cedric Alexander came out and entered the ring, but was thrown out by Omos. That distraction from Alexander allowed Lashley to hit a Spear on Omos and force MVP to submit to the Hurt Lock to win the match.
Then, Ezekiel took on Kevin Owens. Owens performed a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Owens went for a Swanton, but Ezekiel got his knees up. Owens hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb for a nearfall. Ezekiel went up top, but Owens crotched him on the ropes. Owens knocked Ezekiel off the ropes and then hit a Cannonball in the corner. Owens hit a Stunner on Ezekiel to win the match.
In the fourth match, AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, and Liv Morgan took on The Judgment Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley) in a six-person mixed tag team match. The two teams brawled in the ring to start. Judgment Day spent most of the match neutralizing Bálor from his teammates. Styles eventually tagged in and hit Edge with a Phenomenal Forearm, but Priest pulled Styles out of the ring on the pin. Ripley attempted the Riptide, but Morgan reversed and hit a DDT. Bálor attempted the Coup de Grâce on Priest, but Ripley crotched Bálor on the top rope. Priest hit a South of Heaven Chokeslam on Bálor, but was caught with a Phenomenal Forearm from Styles. Edge threw Styles into the ring post as Bálor again attempted the Coup de Grâce, but Ripley stepped in to stop it. After Morgan took out Ripley, Bálor missed the Coup de Grâce as Edge moved and then hit a Spear on Bálor to win the match for The Judgment Day.
Next, Madcap Moss took on Happy Corbin in a No Holds Barred match. Corbin beat Moss down with a steel chair, but Moss took control and returned the favor. Moss hit a DDT to Corbin for a nearfall. On the outside, Corbin ran and hit a huge Chop Block on Moss. Corbin placed the chair around Moss' neck and slammed him into the announce table. Moss hit a Fallaway Slam to Corbin into steel steps that was set up in the corner and then hit the Punchline. Moss placed Corbin's neck in a steel chair and slammed the steps onto the chair and pinned Corbin to win the match.
In the penultimate match, Theory defended the United States Championship against Mustafa Ali. Ali went for a 450 splash, but Theory rolled out of the way and Ali hurt his knee. Theory chop blocked the bad knee and hit Ali with the ATL to retain the title.
Main event
The main event saw Cody Rhodes take on Seth "Freakin" Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match. Rollins came out in polka dot themed attire to mock Rhodes' father, Dusty, while Rhodes competed in the match with a completely torn pectoral muscle. Rhodes hit Rollins with the Disaster Kick and the Cody Cutter on Rollins early. Rhodes locked in the Figure-Four Leglock on Rollins, but let go after Rollins refused to let go of the bottom rope. Rollins threw Rhodes into the cell wall multiple times with the injured shoulder. Rollins attacked the injured shoulder using the steel steps. Rollins pulled out a polka dot weight belt to lash Rhodes in the injured shoulder. Rollins attempted a Frog Splash, but Rhodes moved and Rollins crashed through a table. Rhodes pulled a bull rope out from under the ring and both he and Seth attached themselves to it. Rhodes struck Rollins in the head with a cowbell for a nearfall. Rollins used the rope to slam Rhodes' shoulder first into the ring post. Rhodes executed a Cross Rhodes on Rollins for a nearfall. Rollins performed a Buckle Bomb to Rhodes through a table for a nearfall. Rollins pulled a sledgehammer out from beneath the ring, but Rhodes was able to avoid being hit. Rhodes landed a Pedigree on Rollins for a nearfall. Rollins hit Rhodes with Cross Rhodes, but Rhodes was able to hit his own. Rollins hit the Stomp for a nearfall. Rhodes performed the Cross Rhodes twice on Rollins before hitting the latter with the sledgehammer to win the match.
Reception
It was reported by WWE on Twitter that the event was the most-watched Hell in a Cell in WWE history.
Aftermath
Raw
Cody Rhodes opened the following night's episode of Raw and said that he was finally done with Seth "Freakin" Rollins. Despite having an appointment to have surgery for his torn pectoral muscle that Thursday, he hinted at winning the Money in the Bank ladder match at the upcoming Money in the Bank event. Rollins then interrupted and said that he still did not like Rhodes, but Rhodes earned his respect. Rollins left the ring, but while Rhodes was making his exit, Rollins attacked Rhodes from behind with a sledgehammer and continued to attack Rhodes until separated by referees and WWE officials.
The Judgment Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley) boasted about their victory over AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, and Liv Morgan. Ripley said they were destined for victory and that she would win the fatal four-way match that night, also involving Morgan, and go on to Money in the Bank to win the Raw Women's Championship. Edge said they would be adding a new member to the group, who was revealed as Bálor. Bálor said he was tired of being told what to do and admired Priest during their match. Priest, along with Ripley and Bálor, then turned on Edge and attacked him. Later that night, Ripley won the fatal four-way match to face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Money in the Bank.
Ezekiel said he came up short in his match against Kevin Owens. He then challenged Owens to a rematch the following week. Owens agreed only if Ezekiel admitted that he was actually Elias. Ezekiel did, and after Owens agreed to the match, Ezekiel said he was lying and then attacked Owens.
Match Preview
| Cody Rhodes vs. Seth "Freakin" Rollins | Preview |
| Bianca Belair vs. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch | Preview |
| Bobby Lashley vs. Omos & MVP | Preview |
| Ezekiel vs. Kevin Owens | Preview |
| Theory vs. Mustafa Ali | Preview |
| Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match | Preview |
| Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin | Preview |
Results
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Bianca Belair (c) defeated Asuka and Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Raw Women's Championship (19:00)
- Bobby Lashley defeated Omos & MVP in a Two on One Handicap match (8:17)
- Kevin Owens defeated Ezekiel (9:21)
- The Judgment Day (Edge, Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley) defeated Finn Bálor, AJ Styles & Liv Morgan in a Six Person Mixed Tag Team Match (16:02)
- Madcap Moss defeated Happy Corbin in a No Holds Barred Match (12:03)
- Theory (c) defeated Mustafa Ali to retain the WWE United States Championship (10:42)
- Cody Rhodes defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match (24:22)
Other on-screen talent
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See also
- List of WWE pay-per-view events
- World Wrestling Entertainment/Event history
- Event gallery
- Hell in a Cell
DVD release
External links
Hell in a Cell 2022 Official website
Hell in a Cell 2022 Pre Show on WWE Network
Hell in a Cell 2022 on WWE Network- Hell in a Cell 2022 at CAGEMATCH.net
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