Best and worst of WWE Starrcade (WWE Network Special)

By Riju Dasgupta
Modified Nov 26, 2018 19:13 IST
Starrcade was a really enjoyable watch from start to finish
Starrcade was a really enjoyable watch from start to finish

I wasn't present on ground at Starrcade and therefore must limit my analysis to the WWE Network Special only. I genuinely thought that Starrcade was a very enjoyable show with a fair number of negatives. It was especially enjoyable for me as a WCW fan. I'm not ashamed to say that growing up I was a WCW guy, and Starrcade was a great annual attraction.

Starrcade is no longer the biggest pay-per-view of the year, of course. Instead, it is a WWE Live Event with both brands competing to put on quite a show. I thought there was more good than bad, in this particular edition.

Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on Starrcade. Did you personally think that the show lived up to the hype?

Also let me know if you disagree with my assessment here...

#1 Best: The hour flew by like a breeze

I also liked Rey Mysterio selling the beat down from Randy Orton
I also liked Rey Mysterio selling the beat down from Randy Orton

The actual event was obviously a lot longer, but the Network special was very easy to watch and enjoy. This is because unlike one of the weekly shows, this was only an hour long. In fact, by the time the show was over, I personally wanted more. When was the last time one could say that about a WWE show?

The pacing of the hour was great and it did not feel like it dragged at any point. Considering how easy NXT is to watch, one wonders if hour long shows are the way to go, in the future. Attention spans are dropping and only having an hour to fill means you put your best foot forward every time.

Starrcade was a very easy show to watch. It felt like a Live Event, but much bigger.

As a WCW fan, this made me quite happy.

#1 Worst: Miz TV promos

This had to be one of the worst Miz TV segments ever
This had to be one of the worst Miz TV segments ever

Let's just say that The Miz, who's possibly the best promo in WWE, had an off day at Starrcade. This leaves us with the other gentlemen in the segment. The first is Rey Mysterio who's never been known to be the best promo. The other is Shinsuke Nakamura, a man oozing with charisma, for whom English is not the first language.

I thought the script for this promo segment was not very good. I don't know if the crowd was supposed to pop for Nakamura calling Starrcade 'arcade'. The Miz was fumbling his lines too.

I really do think that even the Nakamura and Miz pairing came out of nowhere. Just because they are heels doesn't mean they are such good friends.

Let's just say that this segment did nothing for me, really.

#2 Best: The main event match

These two men just have fabulous chemistry
These two men just have fabulous chemistry

As is tradition in Starrcade, an ominous steel cage descended invoking sheer terror. Samoa Joe cut a chilling promo on his opponent AJ Styles, ahead of the big match. The crowd was absolutely hot for the former WWE Champion.

Styles and Joe went to war in the cage yet again. It was a very solid match, though not the best one that the men have waged among themselves. There was no title on the line, but considering that this was a Live Event, both men worked very well indeed.

As one would expect, AJ Styles picked up the win and will go on to face Daniel Bryan at WWE TLC. This was a prelude of things to come in the future, and I'm certain that Bryan and Styles will prove to the world why they're two of the most gifted sports entertainers ever.

#2 Worst: Joe tapping out

I would have preferred a different end to the match
I would have preferred a different end to the match

Samoa Joe was an absolute monster during his time in TNA, wasn't he? He continued his dominance during his time in NXT where he was booked as an absolute beast. Somehow, much of his aura has been diminished in the main roster owing to the way that he has been booked thus far.

I thought AJ Styles defeating Samoa Joe was the right call, for sure. He has a big match against the WWE Champion at TLC and he needs to look strong for that. I did not agree with the fact that they made Samoa Joe tap out, especially after the poor showing he had at Survivor Series, where he got pinned almost immediately.

I wonder if Samoa Joe will ever regain the sheen that he once had. Remember how he went toe to toe with Brock Lesnar during his time on RAW?

#3 Best: Meeting of the generations

Flair and Elias were both absolutely awesome
Flair and Elias were both absolutely awesome

Elias kickstarted the Network special with a unique performance. Alongside him was the man who'd arguably made Starrcade. Ric Flair and Elias put on quite the show to kick the event off, on the right note. It got even crazier when the heels from the women's division came in.

Ric Flair got very excited and animated when he saw the beautiful ladies step to the ring. Elias had to get him to calm down. I must admit that I roared with laughter at that point.

Nia Jax is receiving an incredible amount of heel heat since she took out Becky Lynch with a shoot punch. She was drowned out in boos when she interrupted Elias' performance with a tuneless and awkward singing bit.

This won't go down as the best segment in WWE history, but it was a lot of fun.

#3 Worst: US title match interrupted

The Miz ruins every good thing, doesn't he?
The Miz ruins every good thing, doesn't he?

Rey Mysterio took on Shinsuke Nakamura for the US Title at Starrcade. The US Title came up through WCW, and it made a lot of sense for it to be defended at the show. Unfortunately, even before the match really got underway, The Miz interfered resulting in a no contest. And Rusev would then make a save.

We went into a tag team match after that. Mysterio and Rusev teamed up to take on The Miz and Nakamura. It was a match with no stakes and therefore, not easy to care about.

The match in itself wasn't too bad really but it suffered from being meaningless. It was quite nice to see Rusev pick up the win for his team but I wonder if that really means anything.

Could Mysterio or Rusev get a US title shot soon?

#4 Best/worst: Strong showing for Sasha Banks

It was Boss Time at Starrcade this year
It was Boss Time at Starrcade this year

When Sasha Banks got called up to the main roster, she was absolutely the hottest act in the whole company. Over time, she's just lost a lot of her sheen. Therefore, it was great to see her pick up a win at Starrcade for her team. It reminded me of the Sasha Banks of old.

But, I wonder if a win at a Live Event means anything at all. Will this translate into a push for The Boss? Does this mean that she'll get a title shot down the line?

There's possibly a lot of money in a fight between Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey someday. The problem is that Rousey has been portrayed as an unstoppable force and Banks as a character on the sidelines at best.

Maybe her fortunes will change after Starrcade...

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