WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Star Ratings For All 6 Matches
1. Women's Royal Rumble Match
From absolutely farcical to genuinely gripping, this first ever Women's Royal Rumble Match represented the history of Women's wrestling in WWE in microcosm.
When it was bad, it was really bad; the dispiriting glut of inexperienced acts in the opening third took us directly from Suplex to Botch City, a destination as quiet as it was strewn with trash. Lita's contribution, pitched as a nostalgic goodwill bit, fell way short of the mark. Tamina remains employed for reasons that are impossible to parse. For too long, the wisdom of the creative decisions mirrored the quality of the in-ring performances. Kairi Sane, winner of the Mae Young Classic - as irrelevant as the Cruiserweight Classic, just months later - was quickly and unceremoniously thrown out by, of all people, Dana Brooke. Then, in a strange succession of cameos, Michelle McCool emerged as the storyline star of the match - despite the very foundation of the Women's Revolution being built upon the relative inferiority of her era. The dire quality became contagious; Becky Lynch and Carmella bent time and space by engaging in a strange protracted hug in what was an atypical off night for the Lass Kicker.
Nia Jax, to her credit, acted as an unlikely linchpin. The match coalesced, literally, around her. The arrival of Asuka elevated this into the realm of the excellent. Her character work alongside both Sasha Banks - nay, The Boss - (who recovered to put forth her best performance in an age) and Trish Stratus (who very much lived up to her legend) underscored that her victory was the only logical choice. Nobody is ready for her. Nobody can touch her in the ring.
With a Men's mirror image finish that, fittingly, doubled up on the goodwill, this ranged from * at its worst to **** at its best.
A note on Stephanie McMahon's commentary: it was so inoffensive, so bereft of insight, that it ironically bordered on the offensive. She might as well have stayed in the back, she contributed so little - but she has to be front and centre.
Star Rating: **1/2