WWE Referee Explains Why He Stopped Sunday’s Hell in a Cell Match

The finish of Sunday’s Hell in a Cell match between Seth Rollins and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt still has many fans upset and frustrated. During the match, Wyatt was left laying under a pile of debris with Rollins striking down on him with a sledgehammer. Suddenly without explanation, Referee Rob Zapata called for the bell and ruled the match a “No Contest” although nothing was officially announced in the arena or on commentary. The match just stopped.

This finish to the match that traditionally “can only end in pinfall or submission” caused the crowd to boo loudly and chant for “refunds” as well as “AEW” chants. A lot of people thought it was a disqualification. Even WWE Hall of Famer Sean “X-Pac” Waltman thought it was a DQ.

Amen, @TheRealXPac! #HIACpic.twitter.com/djLXjF9MbU

— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) October 7, 2019

Referee Rob Zapata went on WWE’s “The Bump” show today and explained why he made such a controversial decision.

Referee Rod Zapata has told us what was going through his mind in the closing moments of the #HellInACell Match between @WWERollins and #TheFiend @WWEBrayWyatt this past Sunday… #WWETheBumppic.twitter.com/WZn3Iwn6FC

— WWE’s The Bump (@WWETheBump) October 9, 2019

As you can see there, Zapata said he was thinking of the competitor’s safety. Obviously, he did what he was told by Vince McMahon and WWE’s management team.

Here’s some of that post show booing too.

When the PPV goes off the air 40min earlier than you’re accustomed to, there’s a DQ finish in a no-DQ match men have nearly died in and you kill Seth’s finisher at the same time you kill a hyped monster… you’re gonna have a bad time. #HIACpic.twitter.com/yCC0mbi9kC

— Dave Hancock (@dhancock110) October 7, 2019

Matt’s Musings: This is a poor explanation for an even poorer booking decision. This is just the WWE trying to pass the blame on the poor Referee for their asinine decision. They should have tried to address it on Raw at least. WWE will bounce back from this, and the fans will forgive and move on, but this did piss off a lot of people. A second rate explanation on a third rate WWE show will not get them to that point any quicker.