WWE TLC 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches

8. Braun Strowman Vs. Baron Corbin - TLC Match

Baron Corbin TLC
WWE.com

A decent idea executed dubiously, this glorified angle, at the very least, finally put paid to the dismal reign of perhaps the worst incarnation yet of sports entertainment's most tiresome, overused and antiquated trope.

Something about the visual of so many babyfaces ganging up on Corbin felt off. Where these balls on Monday nights? Finn Bálor, Heath Slater, Apollo Crews, Bobby Roode and Chad Gable received Corbin's torment much too meekly to have earned this retribution. They looked like punks. Did Steve Austin ever rely on the help of allies to get one over on Vince McMahon? If Corbin played* the same role as Vince, Vince must be used as the frame of reference.

The casting was as iffy as the plot, too: Roode and Gable are the RAW Tag Team Champions, and were handed multiple opportunities to win them. Wasn't there another tag team, one whose struggles in reality and fiction were made explicit six days ago, backstage? Heath Slater was browbeaten for all of a fortnight. This lacked heft.

*The use of past tense here is probably enough to have rendered this a worthwhile exercise. Weird means, but thank f*ck for the end, eh?

Star Rating: N/A

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!