The 2018 Starrcade was the 20th Starrcade professional wrestling streaming event. It was the second Starrcade promoted by WWE and was held as a live event for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. A portion of the event was taped and aired as a one-hour WWE Network special. It took place on November 24, 2018, at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the one-hour special airing on November 25. The event included a special appearance from WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
| Starrcade | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring various WWE wrestlers | |||
| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown | ||
| Date | November 24, 2018 (aired November 25, 2018) | ||
| City | Cincinnati, Ohio | ||
| Venue | U.S. Bank Arena | ||
| Attendance | 7,500[1] | ||
| WWE Network event chronology | |||
| |||
| Starrcade chronology | |||
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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 non-televised live show, Seth Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose in a Steel Cage match to retain Raw's Intercontinental Championship. In the main event of the televised portion of the show, AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe in another Steel Cage match.
Production
editBackground
edit
Starrcade was a live closed-circuit event that was conceived in 1983 by Dusty Rhodes. The event was originally produced under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) banner by NWA member Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). 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 (WWF), 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; WCW and its assets were acquired by the WWF the following year (the WWF itself was renamed to WWE in 2002).[2][3]
After a 17-year hiatus, WWE revived Starrcade as a live event on November 25, 2017, held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown brand division.[4][5] On September 17, 2018, WWE revealed that a second Starrcade event, featuring both the Raw and SmackDown brands, would be held on November 24 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.[6][7] On November 16, it was announced that unlike the previous year, a portion of the 2018 event would be taped and air on November 25 as a one-hour WWE Network special.[8][9][10][11]
Storylines
edit| 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.[12][13] Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.[14]
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 for The Bludgeon Brothers' (Harper and Rowan) SmackDown Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam,[15] where The New Day won by disqualification, but did not win the titles.[16] The New Day captured the championships on the following episode of SmackDown[17] and retained them at Hell in a Cell.[18] On October 16 at SmackDown 1000, The Bar defeated The New Day to win the championship.[19] A rematch was later scheduled for Starrcade.[6]
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.[16] On August 24, a rematch between the two for the title was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.[20] 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,[18] which Styles won.[21] Styles retained the title against Joe at Crown Jewel.[22] A fifth encounter between the two, this time as a Steel Cage match, was later scheduled for Starrcade.[6]
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.[16] Throughout following weeks, the two attacked each other.[23] At Hell in a Cell, Lynch defeated Flair to win the championship.[18] A rematch was later scheduled for Starrcade.[6] On November 22, Lynch was replaced in the match by Asuka after suffering a legitimate facial injury.[24][25]
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.[19] A rematch for the United States Championship was later scheduled for Starrcade.[6]
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.[26] 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).[27] The following week, Ambrose burned his Shield gear and explained that being part of the group had made him weak.[28] After Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at Survivor Series,[29] 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.[6]
Results
editReferences
edit- ^ 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. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ Molinaro, John (December 17, 1999). "Starrcade, the original "super card"". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (November 27, 2003). "Thursday news update: It was 20 years ago today..." Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
- ^ WWE.com Staff (September 18, 2017). "Starrcade returns to Greensboro this November". WWE. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ "WWE Live presents Starrcade". Greensboro Coliseum Complex. September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "WWE Starrcade". U.S. Bank Arena. September 17, 2018. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (November 16, 2018). "One-hour Starrcade 2018 special listed on WWE Network schedule". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (November 16, 2018). "Oone-hour Starrcade 2018 special listed on WWE Network schedule". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Mrosko, Geno (November 16, 2018). "WWE Starrcade 2018 special to air on WWE Network". Cageside Seats. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ WWE.com Staff (November 19, 2018). "WWE Starrcade 2018 Special to stream this Sunday on WWE Network". WWE. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "WWE Network Schedule for November 25, 2018". WWE Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Keller, Wade (August 7, 2018). "WWE SmackDown results 8/7: Keller's report on Summerslam developments including The Bar vs. New Day in tag tourney finals, Miz's answer, Nakamura-Orton-Hardy". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c Keller, Wade (August 19, 2018). "WWE SummerSlam results 8/19: Keller's report on Lesnar vs. Reigns, Bliss vs. Rousey, Styles vs. Joe, Ziggler vs. Rollins, Carmella vs. Charlotte vs. Becky, Braun vs. Owens". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (August 21, 2018). "WWE SmackDown Results 8/21: Keller's report on Summerslam follow-up, Becky Lynch-Charlotte, Styles-Joe, Creepy Randy". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c Keller, Wade (September 16, 2018). "WWE Hell in a Cell PPV Report 9/16: Keller's report on Reigns vs. Strowman, Rousey vs. Bliss, Styles vs. Joe, Charlotte vs. Lynch, Orton vs. Hardy". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Keller, Wade (October 16, 2018). "10/16 WWE SmackDown Report: Keller's report on Smackdown 1000 including Evolution reuniting, Rey Mysterio vs. Shinsuke, Miz vs. Rusev, Batista, Ric Flair". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Powell, Jason (August 24, 2018). "WWE Hell in a Cell lineup: Two matches advertised for the September event". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Beaston, Erik (October 6, 2018). "WWE Super Show-Down 2018 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (November 2, 2018). "WWE Crown Jewel Results 11/2: Keller's report on Styles vs. Joe, Strowman vs. Lesnar, World Cup tournament, Michaels & Triple H vs. Kane & Undertaker". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (September 4, 2018). "9/4 WWE SmackDown Results: Keller's report on latest with Becky and Charlotte, Styles back-to-school BBQ, triple threat tag match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (November 13, 2018). "Becky Lynch off Survivor Series PPV". PWInsider. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Joseph (November 22, 2018). "Updated Card For WWE Starrcade". 411Mania. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (October 22, 2018). "10/22 WWE Raw Results: Keller's report on Reigns cancer announcement, final Evolution hype, Ronda Rousey-Nikki Bella contract signing, HBK and Triple H hype DX reunion, Braun-Drew fallout, Tag Title match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (November 5, 2018). "11/5 WWE Raw Results: Keller's report on USA Network broadcast including Survivor Series build up with Ronda Rousey, Kurt Angle, Seth, Dean, AOP". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (November 12, 2018). "11/12 WWE Raw Results: Keller's report on Stephanie McMahon addressing her Best in the World Brother, Survivor Series developments, Brock Lesnar, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Keller, Wade (November 18, 2018). "WWE Survivor Series PPV Report 11/18: Keller's full report with star ratings on Lesnar-Bryan, Rousey-Charlotte, Seth-Nakamura, Raw vs. Smackdown". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Evans, Jer (November 24, 2018). "Complete WWE Starrcade results from Cincy". PWInsider. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "WWE Starrcade « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Cagematch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2019.