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Starrcade (2018)

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Starrcade
Promotional poster featuring various WWE wrestlers
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown
DateNovember 24, 2018
(aired November 25, 2018)
CityCincinnati, Ohio
VenueU.S. Bank Arena
Attendance7,500[1]
WWE Network event chronology
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Survivor Series 		Next →
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
Starrcade chronology
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2017 		Next →
2019

Starrcade[2] was a professional wrestling live event and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on November 24, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio and aired on November 25, 2018.[3][4] It was the twentieth event promoted under the Starrcade chronology and the second produced by WWE. The event included a special appearance from Hall of Famer Ric Flair.[4]

Eleven matches were contested on the card, four of which were shown for the one-hour WWE Network special. In the main event of the show Seth Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose in a steel cage match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship, meanwhile in the main event of the televised portion of the show, AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe in another steel cage match.

Production

Background

Starrcade, a live closed-circuit event, was conceived in 1983 by Dusty Rhodes. The event was originally produced under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) banners. The NWA and JCP regarded Starrcade as their flagship event of the year, much in the same vein that its rival, the World Wrestling Federation, would begin to regard WrestleMania two years later. In 1988, JCP was sold to Turner Broadcasting and became World Championship Wrestling (WCW), with Starrcade being held by WCW until 2000.[5][6]

After a 17-year hiatus, WWE revived Starrcade as a SmackDown-branded live event on November 25, 2017.[7][8] On November 16, 2018, WWE revealed that a second, co-branded Starrcade event would be aired as a one-hour WWE Network special on November 25, 2018.[9][10]

Storylines

Other on-screen personnel
Role Name
Commentators Tom Phillips
Byron Saxton
Ring announcers Greg Hamilton
Referees Chad Patton
Rod Zapata

Starrcade consisted of eleven professional wrestling matches, four of which aired on the WWE Network special, that involved various different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands.[11] Storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.[12][13]

On the August 7 episode of SmackDown, The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) to become the number one contenders[14] for The Bludgeon Brothers' (Harper and Rowan) SmackDown Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam, where The New Day won by disqualification, but did not win the titles.[15] The New Day would win the championships on the following episode of SmackDown and retained them at Hell in a Cell. On October 16 at SmackDown 1000, The Bar defeated The New Day to win the championship. A rematch was later scheduled for Starrcade.[4]

At SummerSlam, during the WWE Championship match between AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, Joe taunted Styles by disrespecting his wife and daughter, who were in attendance. An irate Styles attacked Joe with a steel chair, resulting in Joe winning by disqualification, but Styles retaining the title.[15] On August 24, a rematch between the two for the title was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[16] At the event, Styles countered Joe's "Coquina Clutch" into a pin to retain the championship, despite Styles tapping out to the "Coquina Clutch" which the referee did not see. After the match, Joe attacked Styles. An irate Joe demanded a rematch with Styles. Paige agreed and scheduled a third match between the two for the title at Super Show-Down, which Styles won.[17][18] A fourth encounter between the two, this time as a steel cage match, was later scheduled for Starrcade.[4]

At SummerSlam, Charlotte Flair defeated Becky Lynch and Carmella in a triple threat match to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship. After the match, Lynch attacked Flair, thus turning heel in the process.[15] Throughout following weeks, the two attacked each other.[19] At Hell in a Cell, Lynch defeated Flair to win the championship.[17] A rematch was later scheduled for Starrcade.[4] On November 22, Lynch was replaced in the match by Asuka after suffering a legitimate facial injury.[20][21]

On October 16 at SmackDown 1000, Rey Mysterio competed in his first WWE singles match since 2014, where he defeated United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in a non-title WWE World Cup qualifying match.[22] A rematch for the United States Championship was later scheduled for Starrcade.[4]

On the October 22 episode of Raw, after Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose captured the Raw Tag Team Championship from Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, Ambrose suddenly attacked Rollins, turning heel.[23] Two weeks later on Raw, Ambrose proceeded to attack Rollins again, after the latter lost the titles in a handicap match against AOP (Akam and Rezar).[24] The following week, Ambrose set his signature Shield gear ablaze, after explaining his attack on Rollins, stating that he was a "burden" to both of his former Shield teammates and they made him weak.[25] After Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at Survivor Series, it was announced that Rollins would defend the Intercontinental Championship against Ambrose in a Street Fight at Starrcade. On November 22, it was announced that the match would now be held in a steel cage.[4]

Results

No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[28]
1Bayley, Dana Brooke, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox, Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Tamina by submissionEight-woman tag team match[26]6:50
2Drew McIntyre (with Dolph Ziggler) defeated Finn BálorSingles match[4]15:28
3The B-Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) defeated The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson)Tag team match[27]10:36
4The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) (c) defeated The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) (with Xavier Woods)Tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship[4]18:20
5Bray Wyatt defeated Baron CorbinSingles match[27]2:44
6Bray Wyatt defeated Baron CorbinNo Disqualification match[27]13:43
7Charlotte Flair defeated AsukaSingles match[4]14:55
8Rey Mysterio defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (c) by disqualificationSingles match for the WWE United States Championship[4]24:11
9Rey Mysterio and Rusev (with Lana) defeated The Miz and Shinsuke NakamuraTag team match[27]6:10
10AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe by submissionSteel cage match[26]11:58
11Seth Rollins (c) defeated Dean Ambrose by escaping the cageSteel cage match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship[4]12:58
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

References

  1. ^ Powell, Jason (November 24, 2018). "11/24 WWE Starrcade 2018 results: A surprise return, Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose in a cage match for the Intercontinental Championship, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe in a cage match, Charlotte vs. Asuka". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  2. ^ "WWE Starrcade 2018 Special to stream this Sunday on WWE Network". WWE. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "WWE Network Schedule for November 25, 2018". WWE Network.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "WWE STARRCADE". U.S. Bank Arena. September 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Molinaro, John (1999-12-17). "Starrcade, the original "super card"". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  6. ^ Meltzer, Dave (November 27, 2003). "Thursday news update: It was 20 years ago today..." Wrestling Observer. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  7. ^ "Starrcade returns to Greensboro this November". WWE. September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  8. ^ "WWE Live presents STARRCADE". Greensboro Coliseum Complex. September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  9. ^ Joseph Currier (November 16, 2018). "ONE-HOUR STARRCADE 2018 SPECIAL LISTED ON WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Geno Mrosko (November 16, 2018). "WWE Starrcade 2018 special to air on WWE Network". Cageside Seats. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "Triple H Conference Call Report: Discusses 205 Live, NXT Takeover: Toronto, Says HBK Working at the Performance Center and More - 411MANIA". 411mania.com.
  13. ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  14. ^ Barnett, Jake. "8/7 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: AJ Styles responds to Samoa Joe, New Day vs. The Bar for a Smackdown Tag Title match at SummerSlam, Becky Lynch and Charlotte vs. The Iiconics". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE SummerSlam 2018 live review: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship, Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women's Championship, Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  16. ^ Powell, Jason. "WWE Hell in a Cell lineup: Two matches advertised for the September event". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE Hell in a Cell 2018 live review: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman in an HIAC for the WWE Universal Championship with Mick Foley as referee, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Title, Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton in an HIAC match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  18. ^ Pappolla, Ryan. "WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe". WWE. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  19. ^ Powell, Jason. "9/4 Powell's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: The Usos vs. Sanity vs. Rusev Day to earn a spot in the No. 1 contenders match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, the road to WWE Hell in a Cell continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  20. ^ Johnson, Mike (13 November 2018). "BECKY LYNCH OFF SURVIVOR SERIES PPV". PWInsider.
  21. ^ Joseph Lee (November 22, 2018). "Updated Card For WWE Starrcade". 411Mania. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  22. ^ Sharma, Praval (October 11, 2018). "Rey Mysterio return match announced". SportsWhy. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  23. ^ Powell, Jason. "10/22 Powell's WWE Raw Live TV Review: Roman Reigns announces he has leukemia, forfeits the WWE Universal Championship, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose for the Raw Tag Titles, Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella contract signing for WWE Evolution, Triple H and Shawn Michaels appear". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  24. ^ Powell, Jason. "11/05 Powell's WWE Raw Live TV Review: Survivor Series developments, Raw Tag Title match, Riott Squad vs. Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Natalya, Dolph Ziggler vs. Elias, Nia Jax vs. Ember Moon, Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  25. ^ Powell, Jason (November 12, 2018). "11/12 Powell's WWE Raw Live TV Review: Brock Lesnar and Stephanie McMahon appear, Alexa Bliss names the women's Team Raw, last two men announced for men's Team Raw, final hype for WWE Survivor Series". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "WWE Starrcade 2018 Special to stream tomorrow on WWE Network". WWE.com. November 24, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d Jer Evans (November 24, 2018). "COMPLETE WWE STARRCADE RESULTS FROM CINCY". PWInside. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  28. ^ "WWE Starrcade « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
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