WWE TLC 2018

WWE TLC 2018

San Jose, CA - December 2018

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into tonight's show, Brock Lesnar is the WWE Universal Champion, Daniel Bryan is the WWE Champion, Seth Rollins holds the IC Title, Nakamura reigns as the United States Champion, Becky Lynch is the SmackDown Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey holds the RAW Women's Championship, the RAW Tag Team Champions are Chad Gable and Bobby Roode, and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions are The Bar.

COMMENTATORS: M. Cole (RAW), R. Young (RAW), C. Graves, D. Otunga (SD), T. Phillips (SD)

R-Truth and Carmella vs. Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox was our opening contest, the finals of the 2nd Annual Mixed Match Challenge. The winners would automatically be awarded the #30 spots in their respective Rumbles, so there were some actual stakes on the line. Unfortunately, because none of these four have much of a chance to be WrestleMania headliners, it wasn't like these stakes have longterm potential (though, I could be wrong). Speaking of waste, R-Truth didn't waste any of his minutes and looked as crisp as ever. He doesn't have a ton of great matches under his belt and has been a comedy character in the WWE for what feels like 99% of his career, but that doesn't mean he can't pop a crowd. This felt like the kind of match you might use to kick off a house show - which is a compliment because it got the live audience engaged without tiring them out. Fox and Carmella aren't the smoothest workers, but both have undeniable stage presence and Carmella has improved tremendously over the past year and a half or so. Mahal, to me, remains a guy that has a great look, a booming voice, and nothing else to offer. The worst part of this match was the stilted, poorly executed-but-even-more-poorly written post-match interview. (2.5/5)

The Bar vs. The Usos vs. The New Day for The Bar's SmackDown Tag Team Championships was up second. These teams are so critically beloved and have delivered such good matches against each other and others that the "bar" was set high for this and I'm not sure it was ever designed for them to meet it. To me, on a stacked show like this, this was inconsequential and while there were some good spots and stretches, there was nothing innovative enough to make this a "must watch." As great as these three teams are, both tag divisions need some fresh blood to bring something new out of these teams. Not a bad match, but maybe the most inconsequential match I've seen out of any of these three teams in a good two years.(2/5)

Next up - Baron Corbin putting his General Manager role on the line against Braun Strowman (who was fighting to win a Universal Title Shot at the Royal Rumble) in a TLC Match. This was more of an angle than a match, but it still felt like it was overwritten and went too long. Corbin came out, believing that Strowman was not going to show up, and gloated about his appointment as RAW General Manager for Life. His celebration was, of course, interrupted by Strowman (who was still sporting a cast on his elbow). Rather than demolish Corbin, though, Strowman got on the mic and explained that in a TLC Match, there are no disqualifications - and that means he could have some back-up do his job for him. This led to Corbin trying to escape only to be surrounded by Apollo Crews, Gable and Roode, and Finn Balor. Corbin then tried to head down the aisle, but was halted by Kurt Angle (the crowd had been chanting "We Want Angle" a few minutes before this). Corbin was beaten down by all the babyfaces until Heath Slater (who had thrown his ref shirt at Corbin in defiance) made the count as Strowman stood over him. This segment effectively delivered Corbin's comeuppance - but it also undermined Strowman's mystique a bit (could you imagine peak babyface era Rock or Austin ever having to call on help to help them settle a score?), saddled Balor with Superstars-level compadres in Crews, Roode, and Gable, and then also burned through two potential storylines/moments (Heath Slater standing up for himself and Angle's return) that could've made for stand-alone, crowd-pleasing segments on RAW. A point-and-a-half rewarded for the crowd pop for Slater, Angle, and Strowman and the idea that this might've been the end of a storyline that should've never happened to begin with. (1.5/5)

I really wanted to like the next bout - a Tables match between Ruby Riott vs. Natalya - and it started off with one of the best spots of the whole evening, an absolutely STUNNING table bump by Liv Morgan than made me audibly exclaim "Oh shit!" in the gym while I was on my eliptical. Unfortunately, the match quality kinda dipped from there with nothing reaching that same level of brutality - which, to be fair, was probably for the best if any of these women want to be wrestling past 2019. There were some noticeable instances of telegraphed moves and spot calling (including one point where Natalya sounded like she apologized for an extra stiff slap to the face) and too many stretches where one of the competitors had to lay around while the other set up a table, but the build up to this match obviously resonated with some fans based on the reactions they got and Riott is an engaging performer (and might be the most underrated female talent on a very deep roster). Not a great match - maybe not even a good match - but not too far removed from that level - thanks to some clever, crowd-pleasing moments. (2/5)

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor followed and while it didn't have as many technical flaws as the previous match, its high points weren't as high either. McIntyre dominated the early going and Balor fought from underneath valiantly, rallying at certain points but always getting cut off by the one-time "Chosen One." When McIntyre went to the outside, Dolph Ziggler showed up to attack him, but was eventually fended off long enough for McIntyre to make his way back into the ring. The distraction was big enough, though, for Balor to string together some offense and pin McIntyre after a Coup De Gras. To me, it looked more like a clean loss than a cheap one - the second one of its ilk for McIntyre this month. There was talk of McIntyre getting a strong push in 2019, maybe even a WrestleMania main event spot, but this match, and what looks to be a continued feud with Ziggler and Balor does not seem to be pointing to McIntyre receiving the mega-thrust it would take for him to be taken seriously as a challenge to Lesnar. Questionable booking aside, this wasn't a bad match, but it wasn't anything you'll find on either guy's Best Of list. (2.5/5)

A Chairs match pitting Mysterio vs. Orton followed and exceeded my (and I'm guessing most people's) expectations. For starters, "Chairs" matches aren't really a "thing" and didn't become a "thing" until a few years ago. Sure, chairs have been brandished by heels and faces alike for decades, but a match stipulation where the only legal weapon is a chair? Not nearly as common as Ladders and Tables matches, which both have been around since at least the 90s. Anyway...There were two crazy Rey spots early: a "Boogie Board" chair slide onto Orton on the floor and Rey basically doing a Bronco Buster onto a chair from the apron. Orton was noticeably motivated too, withstanding a ton of stiff chair shots, throwing himself into Rey's offense, and hitting his own signature moves with gusto (the powerslam he delivered looked like it could've given half the audience whiplash). I absolutely loved the way Orton slammed Rey head-first onto a chair in the corner - it was the kind of spot that wouldn't make sense 99% of the time, but worked here because Rey is so well known for being a high-flyer and could organically position himself for it. The final minute was a little bit of a letdown as I'm not sure delivering an RKO on a series of chairs would hurt Rey more than Randy. All in all, though, these two made a strong argument for deserving higher positioning on the card because this match felt, even without months of build or an abundance of promotion (was anyone talking about this match a week ago?), more personal and more brutal than every match that came before it. I don't often say that a Randy Orton bout could've benefitted from 3-4 more minutes of action, but this one was so good, I was left wanting more. (3.5/5)

The RAW Women's Championship was on the line in the next contest - Ronda Rousey defending against IWC punching bag Nia Jax. This was a fantastic match, arguably Ronda's best showing in a rookie year filled with highlights and maybe even Nia's best match too (and I was a big fan of her bouts with Alexa Bliss and Asuka). The match started out beautifully with Rousey using her speed to evade Nia and when Nia did get her in her grasp, Ronda used her expect counters to keep Nia's power advantage at bay. Ronda's facial expressions have improved and, whether or not this match was more rehearsed than others, there was also no blatant "Ready? Go!" spot-calling like there have been in some of her other matches. Nia stepped up it as well. Jax looked more focused and prepared than she ever has before. Again, it doesn't matter how much you lay out a match or rehearse, if the result is as excellent at this, then go ahead and do it. Great spots included Rousey hitting a giant splash on the outside of the ring,  Jax taking a powerbomb off the top rope, and Jax attempting to connect with a vertical suplex only for Rousey to miraculously turn it into a submission. The execution, pacing, facial expressions all clicked and resulted in one of the best matches in the WWE this year. (4/5)

The WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defended his title against AJ Styles in the next contest. Bryan's recent heel turn has made for some good promos, but it didn't feel fully complete at last month's Survivor Series, partially because Brock Lesnar isn't exactly a lovable protagonist. Here, though, Bryan was able to heel it up 1000% and AJ Styles did what he does best - slowly and methodically build fan support by selling his ass off, bumping like no other, and fighting back valiantly while still taking too many risks to ever really control the match. AJ's moveset is flashy, no doubt, but what I like about it more is that it looks effective and based on the hope of inflicting punishment. Compare that to Seth Rollins, who will attempt bucklebombs on bad legs or his ridiculously stupid Falcon Arrow (that looks like it would tire him out more than it would be painful for his opponent) or his multi-suicide dive spot (that, again, seems like it would tire him out to a far greater degree than it would actually hurt his opponent). The Phenomenal Forearm makes sense. The Calf-Crusher makes sense. The Styles Clash makes sense. The 450 makes sense. They're all flashy, but none are examples of showboating the way much of Rollins' signature spots seems to be. Anway, enough Rollins bashing, let's talk about the greatness of Daniel Bryan here. Bryan worked as a quintessential heel without needlessly abandoning his mat-based style, but what was noticeable was that the moves he busted out, while not out of his wheelbox, all featured just a touch more of menace, as if, for the first time, he wasn't just wrestling to survive or win a match, but actually working to injure his opponent. The crowd was engaged in the match and while hearing Corey Graves the entire night did a get bit tiresome (I'd love to see them sub him out on PPVs for a match or two), he was much more tolerable calling this match than he would be in the next contest (more on that in the next paragraph). In a year that saw several WWE "Dream Matches" occur, this one felt like the first that actually delivered on its promise. Unfortunately, despite a clean finish, it still felt like these two still had something left in the tank - not a bad thing if this rivalry continues to WrestleMania. (4.5/5)

Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose was next, a match that, on paper, should have been viewed as a "must see" battle but was, by the time the match happened, on this night, an exercise in tediousness. Where does one start in tearing apart this shitshow?  Well, the build significantly cooled any heat this storyline started with, in large part due to the questionable tone and subject matter of Ambrose's promos (getting a shot in his butt by a doctor, cosplaying as Bane). Rollins has never been a great promo, heel or face, but after a year of being RAW's MVP, felt like a bigger star than his Intercontinental Champion ranking. In fact, I wouldn't have been surprised to learn there were pre-emptive discussions of having him challenge Reigns for the title at Mania in a bit of a face/face Warrior/Hogan type deal. But, in December 2018, after this match, I'd be shocked if Rollins was still getting groomed to be RAW's top hero. Anyway, with such poorly written sketches working against them in the lead-up to this match, the loathsome commentary made sure the match itself was equally unwatchable. Graves and Renee Young spent most of the match discussing Young and Ambrose's real-life marriage while Cole tried to refocus them on the match - but forgot to get over the MacGuffin (the Intercontinental Championship) entirely, barely making any reference to the fact that this was a title match and that the title symbolized who the better man was (in Cole's defense, Rollins nor Ambrose bothered to sell that basic premise effectively in their promos either). Meanwhile, the live audience seemed to be expecting this to be a TLC Match and was understandably bummed that it wasn't. I say "understandably" becuase when the entire PPV is called TLC, the phrase "TLC" is used in every promotional spot for their match, and the Rollins/Ambrose feud was built around something so personal - the dissolution of The Shield and Ambrose's callous decision to attack Seth Rollins on the same night Roman Reigns announced he was essentially retiring due to his battle with leukemia - that it absolutely deserved to be a no DQ, weapons-heavy brawl! It wasn't. It wasn't a regular match not dissimilar to the dozen of other matches Rollins has wrestled this year. And, like the awful Rollins/Ziggler Ironman Match, was rightfully met with indifference (and even an audible "This Is Boring" chant). The match's lowest point may have been when Ambrose tried to stop Rollins from attacking him by sticking his fist out (a reference to their Shield brother) and Rollins actually sold it for half a minute rather than just say "Fuck you!" and beating his brains out. It was corny, dumb nonsense. Oh, we also got Rollins picking and choosing when to sell his damaged knee, which I needed to mention for those trying to fill their "Reasons Seth Rollins Is Overrated" Bingo Card as they read this. The right man won this match, but in a sense, the wrong man won because it means this feud will likely continue. If the first match on this show felt like the best kind of house show match (fun, entertaining, a little silly), this one felt like the worst kind of house show match ("get your shit in and go home"). (1.5/5)

Main event time - Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte vs. Asuka for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a TLC Match. There was a time when a women's match headlining a PPV would feel weird, but, credit to the WWE and the popularity of Becky Lynch, I didn't even bat an eye about this closing the show and nor did the live crowd (who woke up significantly for it). Lynch was mega over, but Asuka had a respectable number of fans supporting her as well, while Charlotte was met with heel heat. It didn't take long for the chairs and tables to come out as Asuka and Becky delivered some seriously stiff chair shots in and out of the ring. Lynch's confidence, from her entrance to the way she stuck her chin up throughout the match, made her seem like the biggest star on the show - and this show featured some really great performances out of Styles, Bryan, Orton, Rey, and Rousey. It has just been great to watch her step into the spotlight and own it. At one point Lynch hit a leg drop off the top of the ladder onto Charlotte (who was on an announce table) that was all the more punishing because the table didn't break at first and Charlotte sold it like her old man would've by bellowing in pain. The crowd erupted in a "Holy Shit" and then a "This is Awesome" chant, practically rubbing it in the faces of Ambrose and Rollins for stinking up the joint. As Asuka and Becky went for the belt, Charlotte sprung back to life and grabbed a Kendo stick to take them out (still selling her ribs like a real pro). Later, Lynch delivered a nasty Beckplex on her into the barricade, Flair taking her second nasty bump of the match as she had been sent through the bottom of a table from an Asuka powerbomb earlier. A little bit later, as Asuka celebrated her own use of the kendo stick, Charlotte speared her through the barricade in yet another terrific spot. From here, the match entered its final stage with Charlotte and Becky brawling in the ring and eventually bringing that rage to the outside. Charlotte hit a so-so senton off the top onto Becky through the table, which may not have looked too great, but made more sense than, say, a moonsault would've. From here, Charlotte and Asuka fought their way up a ladder to retrieve the belt and Becky recovered quickly enough to set up her own ladder too. Asuka got taken out and it looked to be a dead heat between Charlotte and Lynch before Ronda Rousey showed up (to a chorus of boos) and cost both of her enemies the title. It was an absolutely masterful piece of booking that was executed well and led to Asuka winning her first SmackDown Women's Championship.  Some in the crowd may have been upset about Lynch not winning, but they popped for Asuka's victory (cheap or not) and the finish undoubtedly adds even more intrigue around the Royal Rumble and the rest of the road to WrestleMania. While there were some telegraphed moments, for the most part, this was violent and fun as any TLC match in recent memory. (4/5)


If TLC 2018 wasn't the best main roster PPV of 2018, it was close to it. With 3 near-masterpeices and a handful of nice surprises (the pace of the Orton/Mysterio match, the perfect tone of the Riott/Natalya bout), TLC was only marred by the banal Rollins/Ambrose match, filler tag title contest, and lame Strowman/Corbin angle (one that they would stubbornly and stupidly repeat the next night sans Braun). There were some questionable bookings thrown in too, but for the most part, the right man (or woman) won every match and when they didn't, at least a storyline was pushed. With a Kwang Score of 2.80-out-of-5 that betrays just how high the peaks of this show were, TLC 2018 can be classfied as...

FINAL RATING - Watch It (With Remote in Hand)