WWE Hell In A Cell: WWE Intercontinental Championship - Ziggler (c) VS Cesaro

[Jack-Hammer]

Announced on tonight's episode of SmackDown!, Dolph Ziggler will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Cesaro in a 2 out of 3 falls match at Hell in a Cell this Sunday.

With the terrible inconsistency in how the IC champ has been booked for the past few months, this could go either way. I'd have personally liked to have seen Ziggler have a strong run with the title, but the title's been either a proverbial hot potato or the champ has lost more matches than he's won. I have a feeling that Cesaro takes this match and becomes the new champ. Here's hoping that Vince's latest bout of unstable championship booking decisions is out of his system.

I'd love to see these two have a 2 out of 3 falls match go 45 minutes or so, but with 7 other matches on the card, it's just not gonna happen. What I think will happen is that one of them will score the first fall about the 10 minute mark, the second fall will be decided maybe 3 minutes later and the third & final fall will happen maybe 4 or 5 minutes after that. Such rapid falls lessens the impact that this sort of match can make, but the match itself should still be highly entertaining.

 

[BenChillin]

This and Ambrose/Rollins should be the matches of the night. I see Cesaro taking it. Looking forward to this. Not looking forward to the many rematches but Cesaro is one of the top wrestlers there so he'll keep it interesting.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I can't believe how quickly Cesaro has become a nobody (just like Ziggler) in my eyes. Kofi Kingston could be in this match instead of Cesaro and I honestly don't think I'd notice.

Ziggler should keep the title because otherwise there was not point in putting it on him in the first place. Alternatively Cesaro should win so he doesn't fail at the final hurdle like always.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I can't believe how quickly Cesaro has become a nobody (just like Ziggler)...

Which is a pretty clear indication of what's happened to the IC title. Remember how highly regarded it was when Ultimate Warrior wore it while challenging Hulk Hogan for the world title?

Okay, so the worth of the belt has decreased dramatically since then, becoming a mid-carder's championship. That's okay, since two mid-carders are going to contest it at HIAC. Thing is, Cesaro vs. Dolph is exactly what we've seen on the latest editions of Raw and Smackdown, with each taking a clean victory.

Not that I'm criticizing this match-up being on a PPV. Sometimes, we have to just let the storyline coast and enjoy a well-fought match between two guys in the same boat. They'll fight their hearts out....and that's good enough.

I'll pick Cesaro, but it could go either way.

 

[Dagger Dias]

This should be pretty good. It's my prediction for the 2nd best match of the night after Ambrose VS Rollins. Ziggler and Cesaro could potentially steal the show here. As for who wins? Hard to say. It really could go either way. Cesaro has done next to nothing relevant since he stopped being managed by Heyman and that annoying ambulance in his entrance theme is not doing him any favors either. Winning the Intercontinental Championship could help him gain back some momentum if he is able to get a strong reign. Ziggler's probably going to retain, although I'm not fully convinced. Much like the Divas Championship match, I am fine with either outcome. We would have a champion who can put on good matches either way. This match due to its stipulation and competitors is one I have high expectations for. I look forward to it. I'll go with Cesaro winning if I had to pick one. He needs it more. I could see it going on toward the middle of the evening, but within the first half of the show.

DAGGER'S PREDICTION
Cesaro will win the Intercontinental Championship.

 

[Aquaman6686]

Dolph Ziggler NEEDS to win this match. Absolutely NEEDS to. Nobody in WWE is treated worse than Dolph Ziggler, who should be headlining PPVs on a regular basis and is instead wallowing in the midcard. Give Ziggler a quick pinfall win for the first fall with a rollup, then have Cesaro physically dominate the match with his strength and pick up the second fall with a Neutralizer, thus saving face for Cesaro, and finally have Ziggler beat Cesaro with a Superkick for the final fall to retain the title.

 

[Brushfire]

A lot of people talk about how much the Intercontinental Title needs to mean something, and that the person holding it needs long title reigns with defences to cement that, yet it seems that these are the same kinds of people that want Cesaro to win on Sunday. Now I'm a big fan of Cesaro and think he has been sorely mistreated over the last few months but I think that for the sake of the IC title that Ziggler needs to win this and move on to the next challenger. I'd personally have Sheamus turn heel after losing the US title for Rusev, but that's just a bit of fantasy booking.

If WWE does decide to go the route of hot potato with the IC title again and have Cesaro win here, it means that we'll likely have to have Cesaro v Ziggler again because of the "rematch clause", which while I don't mind watching these two wrestle, just seems unnecessary after a 2 out of 3 falls match.

 

[MartialHorror]

I'm guessing Ziggler will retain, as much as it will continue the downward spiral of Cesaro's career. Cesaro already failed as a U.S champ contender, so a win over Ziggler will imply that the IC Belt is inferior to the U.S belt. The IC belt would also continue its downward spiral by changing hands too much. I didn't like what they did with 'Miz Vs Ziggler'. Ziggler needs a steadier reign, if only for one more month. I also predict this match will be awesome.

 

[TheLegendKiller97]

Ziggler will probably win but not completely clean, i'm predicting Cesaro gets the first fall, Ziggler hits the zig zag for a second fall, then Ziggler does a rollup pin for the 3rd fall.

 

[kadroan]

Ziggler's been booked weak for the past couple of weeks. I got Ziggler with the win. Him beating Cesaro in the match that matters, for the title, makes him look strong again as champion.