WWE TLC 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches

11. KICKOFF: Elias Vs. Bobby Lashley - TLC Match

Stars Daniel Bryan AJ Styles
WWE.com

Consider how big Bobby Lashley is. Bobby Lashley is a godd*mn mountain of a man, something we are reminded of every Monday when his stupidly impressive musculature is literally paraded in front of us by his gnat of a hype man.

About a minute into this nothing match, Elias, who's hardly a jobber but is hardly an actual sculpture, either, very casually rolled through his opponent in order to engineer a Lio Rush run-in. Very simplistic babyface versus heel stuff complete with add-ons with no real consideration to the psychology of the dynamic, WWE, in one of several morbidly impressive feats, contrived to ruin Lashley's heel act quicker than they'd ruined his abysmal babyface reintroduction.

Lashley's heat spot looked brutal enough, and there was some creativity lacing it, too - but then Elias took a crunching chest-first ladder shot, and Lashley used another ladder to set up a far less dangerous weapon, as we took a commercial break, thus ruining suspension of disbelief. It was unforgivable - the Network is not beholden to sponsors, and why not cut short the forgettable panel twaddling? On the subject of which, as Lio Rush ran halfway up the ladder, Michael Cole shouted "And now Lio Rush - where's he goin'?"

Up the ladder, dipsh*t. He was already halfway up the motherf*cker. It's a minor complaint, but Cole's bullsh*t reeked more than usual on the night.

Consider this too: RAW, to an hysterical extent, ritually strengthens its heel performers - and on Sunday, its three most prominent male heel acts were soundly defeated. WWE can't even piss us off correctly, so best not get your hopes up for Vince's big shake up.

Star Rating: *3/4

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!