The rivalry between The New Day and The Usos reached its boiling point at WWE Hell in a Cell 2017, where both teams clashed inside the unforgiving steel structure for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. This match was not only one of the most brutal tag team battles in recent WWE history but also a defining moment in the long-standing feud between two of the greatest tag teams of the modern era.
From the moment the cell was lowered, it was clear this was not going to be an ordinary tag team contest. The New Day, represented by Big E and Xavier Woods, entered the structure with their usual energy, while The Usos, Jimmy and Jey, looked laser-focused, understanding the gravity of the situation.
As the match began, The New Day wasted no time utilizing the weapons inside the cell. Kendo sticks, steel chairs, and even chains came into play early, with both teams showing their willingness to push the limits of violence. Woods and Big E isolated one of The Usos against the cage, trapping him with multiple kendo sticks wedged into the steel, leaving him momentarily incapacitated. This innovative strategy showcased The New Day’s creativity, but The Usos responded with equal brutality.
The match continued with high-impact moves and vicious strikes. The Usos turned the tide with a series of superkicks and a brutal assault with steel chairs. Jimmy and Jey demonstrated why they had been one of WWE’s most dominant tag teams, using the environment to their advantage. They delivered a devastating double-team Samoan Drop onto a steel chair, nearly securing the victory.
Xavier Woods, who took the brunt of the punishment, showed immense resilience throughout the match. He endured relentless chair shots and was even handcuffed to the ring post, where The Usos unleashed a merciless kendo stick assault. The sound of each strike echoed throughout the arena as Woods absorbed the punishment, screaming in agony but refusing to surrender.
Big E eventually rallied, using his unmatched power to shift momentum. He delivered a series of belly-to-belly suplexes, followed by his signature spear through the ropes, sending one of The Usos crashing into the steel structure. The New Day came inches away from victory when Woods delivered a gut-wrenching top-rope elbow drop, but The Usos barely kicked out in time.
In the final moments, The Usos executed their signature tandem offense, including a brutal double splash from the top rope onto a chair-covered Woods. The impact left Woods motionless, and the referee counted the decisive three-count, crowning The Usos as the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
The match was an instant classic, blending high-risk maneuvers, unrelenting aggression, and dramatic storytelling. Both teams left everything inside the cell, proving why they were the backbone of WWE’s tag team division. The Usos emerged victorious, but The New Day’s performance cemented their status as one of the greatest teams in WWE history.
This Hell in a Cell match remains one of the most memorable in WWE’s history, defining an era of tag team wrestling that fans still talk about today.
