WWE TLC 2018: Ratings, Implications & Beyond

Haris Gala·
WWE
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WWE TLC 2018
Flickr photo by Robert Owen shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC 2.0)

In this article, we’ll look to rate every match on the main card while focusing on the implications WWE TLC 2018 has on the Road to WrestleMania…

(Pre-show matches for WWE TLC 2018 will not be reviewed due to their limited relevance)

Match Ratings

R-Truth and Carmella def. Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox in the Mixed Match Challenge Season 2 Finale – ★

If I’m honest, I didn’t really care about the entire season. The fact that the teams went through so many changes due to injuries to countless superstars made the tournament all the more irrelevant. R-Truth and Carmella getting the No. 30 spots for their respective Royal Rumble matches really takes the element of surprise away from the 30th entry. However, I still believe R-Truth should be taken out before his entry at the Rumble or the match altogether to keep the surprise intact.

The Bar def. The New Day and The Usos in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match to retain the WWE SmackDown! Tag Team Championships – ★★+★/2

I expected much more from this match, but given the circumstances they did the best they could. A ladder match stipulation would’ve helped as the match was loaded with experienced and talented tag teams who had the ability to pull off some spectacular ladder spots at WWE TLC 2018. It had practically no story going in and just felt like a random tag team match. Moreover, these teams have faced against each other countless times and the match had nothing new to offer.

Braun Strowman def. Baron Corbin in a TLC Match to earn a spot in the WWE Universal Championship Match at the Royal Rumble against Brock Lesnar and remove Baron Corbin from his General Manager Position – N/A

This was more of an angle than a match and I applaud the WWE for its intellectual escape plan. Considering how Braun Strowman was unable to compete, it made complete sense to involve most of the baby faces who suffered atrocities at the hands of Baron Corbin and screw him out of the match. An interesting way to keep the flow of the PPV going.

Natalya def. Ruby Riott in a Tables Match – ★★

As expected, The Riott Squad were part of the match to take advantage of the no-disqualification stipulation. It was average at best with some memorable spots, especially at the end when Natalya put Ruby Riott through the table with Ruby Riott’s sticker pasted on it. It was just a feel-good moment for fans and completes Natalya’s revenge for the humiliation caused by Riott against her late father.

Finn Balor def. Drew McIntyre – ★★★

The NXT veterans pulled off a stellar contest in the little time they had and never let the match slow down – even for a moment. The best thing about Drew is that he knows his character so well, and every assault in his arsenal feels legit. Even the little mannerisms feel so real, helping his character evolve and become more relatable. Similarly, Balor played his part at WWE TLC 2018 just as well. It was good to see him finally getting a victory on a night when it mattered and it’ll help him build momentum for the Rumble. Dolph Ziggler’s interference was necessary to help protect Drew in the loss. However, the post-match attack by Ziggler on Balor just makes Ziggler’s disposition even more confusing. Is he on the good side or not?

Rey Mysterio def. Randy Orton in a Chairs Match – ★★★

This match was just a chaotic spot-fest. The two veterans put in as many as spots they could in the time they had. The encounter lacked heat due to its position on the card. Randy Orton’s character also has gotten very stale lately as he’s been playing the same gimmick for the past decade. It’s also affecting his storytelling between the ropes. The flash pin-fall suggests that the program would continue and should lead to a Hair vs Mask stipulation at a later date.

Ronda Rousey def. Nia Jax to retain the RAW’s Women Championship – ★★★

The bout was way better than I expected it to be. Ronda Rousey has to be the Best Debut of the Year. She carries herself like a superstar and took Nia Jax to an almost Match of the Night contender. The storytelling was great, but the result was never in doubt – which does affect the match’s rating to some extent. However, I’m glad that it’s over and we can move on to bigger match-ups for Ronda.

Daniel Bryan def. AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship – ★★★★+★/2

This was a monumental clash between two of the very best in the ring. There was never any doubt regarding the quality of the match and I am glad to see that they exceeded expectations at WWE TLC 2018. The storytelling was amazing and Daniel Bryan’s heel work feels so fresh. There are only few superstars who truly understand their heel character and Daniel Bryan is one of them. The false finishes in the match really had me guessing the winner. This was just beautiful and I’m pleased that they ended with a flash pin-fall because it leads to another rematch. Definitely a Match of the Year candidate.

Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins to become the New WWE Intercontinental Champion – ★+★/2

I cannot stress enough that this match was just bad. It sucked the life out of me because it went on for far too long. As expected, it focused more on storytelling than technical wrestling and the result was not good. A possible reason for this could be its placement on the card as it was tough to follow Bryan-AJ but in all honesty, the match just never shifted to another gear. I never expected it to be a show-stealer at WWE TLC 2018, but I did not expect it to be poor enough for the crowd to chant, “This is boring.” The only takeaway from this match is that Dean Ambrose, at the end of the day, is just an average wrestler and his in-ring skills are seemingly overrated. Come to think of it, I cannot recall an excellent singles match involving Dean Ambrose in recent memory.

Asuka def. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat TLC Match to become the New SmackDown! Women’s Champion – ★★★★+★/4

First of all, I am glad to see Vince finally giving Asuka a run with the title after her poor showing for most of 2018. In an earlier article, I pointed out how Asuka’s lack of English-speaking skills were denting her run – but it is more likely that Vince finally accepts Asuka’s popularity and talent. Overall, the match was just what a viewer would expect from a TLC Main Event. It had all the ingredients: raw emotions, jaw-dropping moments and the electricity to keep the match going at a great pace. I would have rated given it 4.5 stars but I deducted ¼ because there were times when it felt like the superstar was just waiting for her opponent to take her out with a weapon, which took away the realism from the match. Other than that, it was wicked. Ronda’s interference came across as heel-ish, but I guess it made sense to progress the triangular Ronda-Charlotte-Lynch rivalry.

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