Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi are set to run it back for a third time at WWE SummerSlam. However, this time, it is inside Hell in a Cell, perhaps bringing an end to one of WWE's most physical rivalries of the year.
Both have a victory over each other in their first two singles encounters. Given this, the company has wisely raised the stakes by locking both powerhouses inside one of the company's most unforgiving structures. The match was officially announced following weeks of escalating violence. Oba Femi accepted Lesnar's challenge after winning the 2026 King of the Ring.
Everything about this contest screams spectacle. Thus, with so much momentum behind the feud, Triple H and the creative team must avoid several booking pitfalls that could undermine what should be one of SummerSlam's defining matches.
That said, in this article, we look at four things WWE must avoid doing with Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell.
Hell in a Cell exists for one reason: to provide a definitive ending to a rivalry. Fans expect violence, drama, and, above all else, a clear winner.
Nothing would damage the bout more than a contrived disqualification, referee stoppage without resolution, or an inconclusive ending designed solely to extend the rivalry. WWE has already spent months building this feud. Also, both men have a victory over the other heading into SummerSlam. This is the rubber match.
The Cell itself symbolizes finality. Historically, the company has used the structure to conclude blood feuds rather than postpone them. Thus, if Lesnar and Femi somehow leave the cage without settling the score, the entire stipulation would lose much of its meaning.
There are certainly creative ways to protect performers. However, this isn't the rivalry for that approach. Fans have invested in seeing which monster truly stands above the other.
Thus, SummerSlam should deliver closure, not another chapter that leaves viewers feeling they waited months for an incomplete payoff.
Referee involvement can occasionally add drama to a match, especially when officials are knocked down or struggle to maintain order. However, Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi should not become a story about referees.
This rivalry has been built around two dominant athletes trying to physically destroy one another. Thus, the focus needs to remain on their incredible strength, explosive offense, and relentless aggression, not multiple officials running into the Cell every few minutes.
One referee bump is understandable if it naturally fits the story. Repeated interruptions, constant official involvement, or endless attempts to separate the competitors would only slow the action and reduce the brutal atmosphere Hell in a Cell is supposed to create.
The Cell itself already prevents outside interference from wrestlers. Thus, WWE should embrace that isolation by allowing Lesnar and Femi to settle matters without unnecessary distractions.
Their chemistry has largely revolved around hard-hitting exchanges and displays of power. Thus, overcomplicating the match with excessive officiating would only dilute what has made this rivalry so compelling.
Brock Lesnar has built a reputation for explosive matches that don't always last long. However, this contest deserves more time than a typical Lesnar sprint.
Oba Femi has evolved into one of WWE's fastest-rising main-event stars because of his ability to combine incredible athleticism with believable dominance. Thus, a match that ends in seven or eight minutes would barely scratch the surface of what these two can accomplish together.
Also, Hell in a Cell is a stipulation that benefits from gradual escalation. The audience should feel the brutality increase as the contest progresses. Early power exchanges can evolve into weapon usage, creative Cell spots, and increasingly desperate attempts to secure victory. Thus, if the match is rushed, many of those moments would be sacrificed.
Longer doesn't necessarily mean slower. WWE can structure a highly physical, 18-to-20-minute battle that maintains intensity from beginning to end while still giving both competitors opportunities to showcase their strengths. This rivalry deserves memorable sequences that fans will discuss for years, not a quick succession of finishers before the final bell.
Considering the significance of the feud and the prestige attached to Hell in a Cell, the company should resist the temptation to speed through what could become one of the company's standout matches of 2026.
Perhaps this is easily the biggest mistake WWE must avoid. Modern wrestling sometimes falls into the trap of protecting everyone equally. Although that may preserve short-term credibility, it often prevents anyone from truly ascending.
Neither Oba Femi nor Brock Lesnar needs protection after SummerSlam. Someone should emerge as the definitive winner.
If Lesnar wins under questionable circumstances, or Femi survives only because of multiple flukes, neither competitor benefits fully from the result. The audience will continue debating who the superior competitor really is. Instead, the company should commit to making one man look unquestionably better on that night.
If the goal is establishing Oba Femi as WWE's next dominant force, then defeating Lesnar decisively inside Hell in a Cell would instantly become one of the biggest victories of his career. It would validate the company's enormous investment in him following his King of the Ring triumph and WrestleMania victory over The Beast.
Conversely, if the company believes Lesnar still has another championship run ahead, then he should convincingly reclaim his aura by overcoming perhaps the toughest opponent of his recent career. Either direction works.
The greatest rivalries are remembered because one competitor ultimately proved superior when everything was on the line. Thus, with Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi entering SummerSlam tied at one victory apiece, Hell in a Cell presents Triple H with the perfect opportunity to crown the definitive winner.
Anything less would diminish months of outstanding storytelling and perhaps rob one of WWE's brightest stars of the career-defining moment this rivalry has been building toward.
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