WWE TLC 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches

7. Natalya Vs. Ruby Riott - Tables Match

Natalya TLC
WWE.com

Entertaining for so many of the wrong reasons, Natalya Vs. Ruby Riott, pitched, hilariously, as some sort of tribute to Jim Neidhart, dropped that premise over our heads with the subtlety of, yes, an Anvil.

It was brilliant. Well, it was the fakest and most crass WWE match in recent memory, but that's what made it so brilliant. Too long and tedious at times to truly be considered among the best of the so-bad-it's-good pantheon - and too proficiently worked - it was, nonetheless, a flawed masterpiece of schadenfreude.

Liv Morgan took a bloody ace bump through a table, before Ruby Riott mounted an hilariously tasteless heat spot. To put this OTT awesomeness even more over the top, Natalya, the babyface in this scenario, performed in as poor taste as her repugnant opponent by donning the jacket of her departed father, as if it had retained his spirit, or something. Natalya, the most put-upon performer in a company defined by its insane dedication to cruelty, then easily destroyed an entire faction (!). She had in part accomplished this by destroying Ruby Riott with a slap to the face, before checking on her opponent's wellbeing immediately afterwards.

Jesus Nattie, it's no wonder they walk all over you.

A well-worked finish led to a rare moment of triumph, as all the while, the glued-to-a-f*cking-table spirit of Jim Neidhart stroked his beard in appreciation.

Star Rating: **1/4

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 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!