WWE TLC 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches
5. Rey Mysterio Vs. Randy Orton - Chairs Match
Randy Orton sold a chair shot in the first minute of this match better than you've ever seen a chair shot sold. His entire body reacted to it as if he'd just been stung. He was both in anguish and monumentally pissed off.
This illustrated the quality of the match itself: ultimately, two old very familiar pros knew what the f*ck they were doing, even within the confines of a useless filler of a stipulation. Mysterio then used a chair to assist his awesome sliding splash to the outside spot - i.e., working within the stipulation to accentuate his signature offence and strategy, not as a platform to do cool, incongruous sh*t.
Orton mounted his heat spot after a lip-purser of a missed, literal seated senton, something that delighted Orton into a wicked smile. Using actual and storytelling weapons in gruesome harmony, this was a creative match between two men who, on this evidence, WWE will rely upon as long as their bodies will allow. There's a reason both Rey and Orton remain upper midcard fixtures decades removed from their heights: they are each very, very good at this, when motivated and positioned to excel.
This heel version of Randy Orton is a sadistic pr*ck of a man, and on this night, he outshone so many of the men who have failed to succeed him.
Star Rating: ***