WWE TLC 2018 PPV: Results, Review, Analysis, and Grades

Credit: WWE.com

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor

Let’s just say Drew McIntyre stomped on Finn Balor’s hands while yelling, “too sweet!”

McIntyre is definitely in control of the beginning of this match, stomping on Balor, smacking Balor. Balor does counter out, but it’s not for long; McIntyre backs Balor into the corner and gerts him situated on the top rope before screaming at him. Balor slips through McIntyre’s legs however, but again, not long after McIntyre throws Balor.

McIntyre’s still doing the whole throwing and then screaming bit. I can’t really say that there’s much going on here except McIntyre being unbelievably sadistic every chance he can get.

Balor finally starts countering, landing a clothesline and a big stomp to McIntyre’s chest. Balor lands in some chops to McIntyre’s chest before landing a whirling DDT and sending McIntyre over the top rope.

Balor flips out onto McIntyre, but back in the ring, McIntyre hit Balor with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Balor turns a reverse Alabama Slam attempt into a roll-up, but he can’t get the pin. Balor climbs the rope looking for the CDG, but McIntyre’s up and at ’em.

McIntyre plants Balor onto the mat, but it still doesn’t get him the win. Balor gets McIntyre trapped in the ring awning, but when get goes for a kick, McIntyre catches him and plants him onto the edge of the ring. McIntyre lands the Glasgow Kiss before raising two Too Sweets. The NERVE, man, am I right?

McIntyre throws Balor back into the ring, but Dolph Ziggler arrives out of nowhere to attack McIntyre. The ref doesn’t really see what happens; he just sees McIntyre throwing Ziggler into the ring and McIntyre with a chain.

Finn gets the opportunity to hit the Coup De Grace, and he gets another satisfying win.

Grade: Surprised this match went as long as it did, but it perfectly highlighted McIntyre. I would have been happier with some more room for Balor to shine, but I won’t complain.