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4:03 pm | September 16, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:

7:57 PM ET

The Hell in a Cell has a new red coat of paint, but one of WWE’s most iconic match formats is otherwise unchanged as the centerpiece of a pay-per-view of the same name. Braun Strowman is set to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase to challenge for the Universal championship, Jeff Hardy makes his debut inside the structure and five other titles are on the line.

The pay-per-view from San Antonio’s AT&T Center is underway, with Tim Fiorvanti, Matt Wilansky and ESPN Stats & Info’s Sean Coyle covering the action throughout the night.

SmackDown women’s championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Becky Lynch

Match in progress

Hell in a Cell: Randy Orton def. Jeff Hardy

If it was violence you expected between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton, it was violence you were granted.

The energy in the AT&T Center was sky-high as the Hell in a Cell cage descended on the ring in the first main-card match of the night.

But the action between Hardy and Orton was slow and methodical — and marred by more acts of depravity. Yes, tables, ladders and chairs were used, but that was the beginning. At one point, Orton took found a screwdriver under the ring, carried it inside and stuck it into Hardy’s already pierced ear, twisting it in a stomach-turning act of cruelty.

Hardy overcame the pain, but ultimately his biggest downfall was his own undoing. Holding on to the top of the cage and swinging, Hardy attempted to land a splash on Orton, who was lying on a table. But Orton moved just in time and the impact of the fall incapacitated Hardy, who was then taken out of the ring on a stretcher.

At this point, what more can we expect from Hardy and Orton? The feud was built on a whim, and despite these next-level gruesome spots, it never felt like anything the fans could truly embrace. It seemed as though creative didn’t have a good storyline for either and the beef was born out of convenience.

The chemistry between Orton and Hardy wasn’t terrible; Orton can deliver pain and Hardy can endure high levels of pain. But here’s hoping each can move on and find rivals that resonates more than the one they had together.In the end, this was a decent start to the pay-per-view, especially with the implementation of the cage. But it also felt like the end of a feud that never clicked in the first place.

SmackDown tag team championships: The New Day (c) def. Rusev Day (Rusev & Aiden English)

At this point, New Day having a chip on their shoulder because their match is on a pay-per-view kickoff show is essentially a given — but Rusev Day stepped up in their own right. It wasn’t a particularly long match, but it was a faced-paced, fun opener as New Day ultimately retained.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com47m ago

Still to come:

Hell in a Cell match for the Universal championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman (Special guest referee: Mick Foley)

WWE championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe

Raw women’s championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

Raw tag team championships: Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins

Mixed tag-team match: Brie Bella & Daniel Bryan vs. Maryse & The Miz