RISING STAR & FADING STAR – WWE TLC: Finn Balor, Booker T, Braun Strowman, Enzo, Elias, Asuka, Angle

Despite the clustermess (thank you Wade on Twitter for that) that was the main event, I really thought TLC had some great moments and just a couple of ones that make you feel your age if you started as a fan in the Attitude Era.

RISING STAR OF TLC: Finn Balor

I don’t think I need to say meningitis is horrible, but I will state it now just so it’s on the record: meningitis is terrible stuff and nothing to screw around with, so I hope Bray, Roman, Jo Jo & Bo are totally okay, but this whole situation with A.J. as a fill-in opponent is best for both parties involved. I was against a dream match such as this being hot-shotted with very little build, but the way the bout was laid out left us fans wanting more. I really think A.J. should have been given the victory because it builds real good anticipation on their next encounter (“like an outsider, a thief in the night, AJ comes into Raw territory and gets a win – then leaves. When will we see him against Finn again? We just don’t know…”), but Finn looks stronger and better because of this win. Adding the Bullet Club “Too Sweet” sign at the end pushed his star power to the next level.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Braun Strowman: Is this a face turn for Braun or just a man left to his own destructive devices? Either one is a great spot for him. The guy is so over that it makes sense to not have him in a pure monster heel role and who would have guessed him getting thrown into a dump truck would potentially take him there? And Kane’s a great adversary for Braun, but I honestly think it’s time for the Big Red Machine to get another appearance change on his part (more ominous and less chatty) otherwise it’s going to look and feel like the same old hat. Great fodder for Braun, but stale for fans.

Asuka: From an in-ring standpoint, Asuka’s main roster debut really had nothing memorable, but her unique ring presence can’t be understated. She’s a star, no doubt, and may be the perfect fit to fill in that Bayley spot we initially perceived her to be in (I will always be upset about that one). That Minneapolis crowd was all ready for her debut and if done right, Asuka can continue to get those type of reactions.

Enzo Amore: Listen, I get the Enzo hate, especially regarding his backstage antics and attitude, but what I don’t understand is the negativity he gets as an on-air persona. Enzo is just a great thing for the cruiserweight division. Remember crybaby Jericho in WCW? I wanted to see Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon all take him to the woodshed and he kept escaping such deserving fates. Enzo’s in-ring ability may be more comparable to Ralphus’s (ha, okay that’s even a little mean), but I’ll be damned if you can convince me that he is not entertaining and appropriate in his role.

Elias: He, along with Jason Jordan, were in several segments on a pretty well-stacked card and Elias is someone who not only been protected, but has accrued a pretty decent following since he stepped onto Raw. Him being featured so prominently boosted him up a few rungs on that popularity ladder.

FADING STAR OF TLC: Booker T

Wow, if you’re going through Game of Thrones withdrawal and wanted to see someone get shamed, Booker T found himself in many Cersai-like situations last night. Graves and Cole let him have it too, not letting up on him after he contradicted and backpedaled his way through a good deal of the card. This was most evident during the Elias & Jason Jordan match-up and I will say if you’re going to forget or not pay attention to the product you’re supposed to be commentating on, then you better be good at faking it. Booker isn’t and if I were him I could probably sympathize since I find it myself very hard to watch sometimes (then again, WWE’s not signing my paychecks). Booker, c’mon, you’re better than that.

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS

Kurt Angle: Okay, Kurt is not really “fading” from a star standpoint as he was arguably the most exciting part of these past few days of TLC hype. Add that with him in Shield gear (really a cool visual) and you still build excitement toward him in the ring with his full on “Olympic Hero” look down the line, but from a wrestling standpoint, I was nervous and concerned. He didn’t look and move like a crisp or fresh Kurt Angle. Those past injuries are starting to show their wear and tear. Although Kurt looks very much like the Angle of old, he really doesn’t move like him, and that was a little jarring. Maybe it’s just the current lack of endurance combined with ring rust and the abrupt timeliness of his return, but seeing him like that epitomized what the toll of working in the ring so hard and so long will do to you. I love Kurt Angle, I really do, but I don’t want to see him like that. I hope he isn’t like that.

NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: RISING STARS & FADING STARS – WWE Smackdown: Jinder Mahal, Gable & Benjamin, Sin Cara, Sami Zayn