WWE Extreme Rules 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches

9. Finn Bálor Vs. Baron Corbin

Minus Four Stars
WWE.com

One didn’t need the power of prescience to see the finish to this match encroaching, tediously, on the horizon.

Such a finish was all but foreshadowed the second Finn Bálor and “Constable” Corbin were programmed together; the former is well-protected by the standards of the meandering modern midcard act, and the latter is in the midst of a new role and a renewed push. Neither could afford to lose and so, in peak WWE fashion, both were portrayed as losers.

The finish was telegraphed as the action unfurled.

Corbin mounted obscenely disproportionate offence throughout the first five minutes. It was an elongated squash match; he controlled to such an extent that he choked the life out of it and his opponent alike. Bálor only fought back at the death, accurately enough, and scored a fluke roll-up pin at the 8:20 mark. This depicted him as lucky, and depicted Corbin as utterly feckless. He lost his Money in the Bank briefcase with similar, greenhorn behaviour. Shouldn’t that result haunt him? Why does he still lose with the frequency and inattention of a 2010 era Diva? This was a match that did nothing for anybody, not least of which the fandom. It was barely a match, but rather an awful travel brochure to the stars of the independent circuit:

Don’t come. You’re shorter than and thus weaker than mediocre-at-best in-house Performance Center graduates.

Star Rating: *1/2

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!