La Arquitecta

Chapter 59

WWE Hell in a Cell – September 16th 2018

The fatal five way Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Women's Championship was second on the card. After a video package to recap the build-up, the arena was shown with the cell already lowered around the ring.

Bad Reputation was the first piece of theme music to play, bringing the fans to their feet. As had been the case at Summerslam, there was great speculation among the wrestling community that this was going to be the night where Ronda Rousey finally got her hands on WWE gold. Most people were surprised that it hadn't happened before now, given the obvious star power she had.

"First to enter the cell will be Ronda Rousey," Renee Young said on commentary. "Last week on Smackdown, guys, battle lines seemed to be drawn between the five women in this match. We saw Ronda come to the aid of Zelina Vega, the Women's Champion, who was being taken apart by Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross and Bayley."

"I was surprised to see that, quite frankly," Corey Graves said. "If I was Ronda, I would have been happy to see one of my opponents being destroyed. It would have made things easier tonight."

"Thankfully, Ronda has more character and loyalty than you do, Corey," Brody Alexander said. "As you well know, Zelina came down to save Ronda from a similar attack the previous week."

"Well, they're not going to be able to act all friendly with each other tonight; it's every woman for themselves," Graves said.

"I don't know if Rousey and Vega are friends," Renee said. "But there is definitely respect between the two. As we know, Zelina had been training with Ronda this past month, and we've seen her elevate her game as a result. It's for that reason that I give Zelina a fighting chance of retaining her title here tonight."

"She has a chance," Graves acknowledged. "A one in five chance, and that's at best."

Ronda was in the ring, limbering up, ready for the intense battle that would soon commence. Her music faded out, to be replaced by the theme that was now shared by Sonya Deville and Bayley. Boos rained down from the crowd.

"Here comes a thoroughly miserable human being," Renee said with distaste. "We've seen the rest of The Vega Cartel change their ways for the better over the past month, but Bayley wanted no part of that. She turned her back on Zelina and the cartel, and instead allied herself with another classless, vile woman, Sonya Deville. Brody, they've been on something of a reign of terror recently."

"Yes they have," Alexander agreed unhappily. "Personally, I'm grateful that Deville lost her qualifying match, otherwise there would have been two people in the cell working towards the goal of making Bayley the Women's Champion."

"I don't know how you can say that," Graves protested. "Sonya openly said she wanted the title for herself."

"Deville is nothing but a mercenary," Renee said, still speaking with obvious distaste. "If Bayley offered her enough money, she would help her over her own title ambitions. I don't doubt that for a minute."

Bayley approached the door to the cell. Looking up at the structure, and noting Ronda waiting in the middle of the ring with a particularly scary expression on her face, she waved off the idea of entering the cell and walked off to the side instead. The fans were on her back right away, booing her cowardice intensely.

Sanity's music was next to play. Nikki Cross came running out into the arena, looking like a total basket case as always. "Nikki Cross, set for her first pay-per-view match as a part of the Smackdown roster," Renee said. "She might not have all her dogs barking, but she's a very dangerous woman."

"I agree," Graves said. "I said it last week, and I'll say it again: Nikki Cross is my pick to win here tonight. You can always expect the unexpected when Cross in involved, and inside Hell in a Cell, that's a scary prospect for the other four women."