WWE TLC 2018: Star Ratings For All 12 Matches
4. Ronda Rousey Vs. Nia Jax - RAW Women's Title Match
Ronda Rousey is an amazing professional wrestler. Amazing.
She had no right improving on such an improbably good match with, of all people, Nia Jax at Money In The Bank - especially given the one-note dynamic of the pairing and the limitations of her opponent. And yet, improve on it she did without once relying on easy, padding heat spots.
Lapping her opponent in both the narrative and ability level in the opening phase, Ronda conveyed her confidence without being cocky. This was such a frenetic and balanced performance that, already, the weird patter epidemic of November feels like a distant memory. To credit Nia Jax, who fairly receives little of it on these pages, the drama would not have resonated, had she not entered a powerful and credible performance herself.
In an awesome early spot, a great flash finish tease, Ronda grabbed the injurious fist of Nia Jax and turned into a jaw-dropping judo throw. Nia then powered out, flooring Ronda with a powerbomb. Escalating the drama and excitement brilliantly, Ronda, forced into risky territory, unleashed what was arguably the best WWE high spot of the year by flying halfway across the outside of the ring, with immaculate grace, to floor Nia with an unreal crossbody of which Hiroshi Tanahashi would be proud.
Ronda is an amazing athlete, too. Amazing. This is high praise, but there was something Kazuchika Okada-esque about the way in which she reversed a standing suplex into a headlock. Ronda, in channelling the two best wrestlers on the planet, in a match against Nia Jax (!), proved that she is the only choice to headline WrestleMania 35.
Star Rating: ***3/4