Below is a list of the worst WWE matches of 2018. We have used Dave Meltzer’s star ratings as our guideline from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscribe here). All of these matches have received 1.5 stars or lower. We have listed the event, the star rating and a small blurb about what happened.
The Worst WWE Matches Of 2018
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Event – Wrestlemania 34 | Rating: 1.5 stars
The André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was the first match of the kickoff show at Wrestlemania 34. The match saw Bray Wyatt assisting Matt Hardy, who would go on to win.
Hardy last-eliminated Baron Corbin for the victory.
Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal
Event – Wrestlemania 34 | Rating: 1.5 stars
The Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal was the third and final match of the Wrestlemania 34 kickoff show. Naomi ended up winning after last eliminating Bayley.
Bayley vs Ruby Riott
Event – Backlash 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
Ruby Riott faced off against Bayley on the Backlash kickoff show. Riott was able to defeat Bayley after the Riott Squad provided the distraction.
The match went for just over 10 minutes.
Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Event – Backlash 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
Strowman and Lashley teamed up at Backlash to take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Lashley hit a suplex on Owens to pick up the win. After the match, Strowman hit running powerslams on both Owens and Zayn.
Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
Event – Backlash 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
The main event of Backlash was the match between Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns. Reigns would go on to win after hitting a second spear on Joe.
The crowd reaction was a talking point after this one. Some fans left early and others chanted “boring” during the match.
Carmella vs. Asuka – Smackdown Women’s Championship
Event – Money in the Bank 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
Carmella defended her Smackdown Women’s Championship against Asuka at Money in the Bank. The match featured the return of James Ellsworth, who was released back in 2017.
After the distraction from Ellsworth, Carmella was able to take advantage and retain the Championship.
The B Team vs the Revival – RAW Tag Team Championships
Event – Summerslam 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
The B team put their Smackdown Tag Team Championships on the line against the Revival. The B Team retained after Bo Dallas fell onto Curtis Axel, reversing the small package and pinning Scott Dawson.
Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox vs R-Truth and Carmella – Mixed Match Challenge Finals
Event – TLC 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal vs Carmella and R-Truth was the finals of the 2nd season of the Mixed Match Challenge. Truth and Carmella picked up the win after a few minutes.
Rey Mysterio vs Randy Orton
Event – TLC 2018 | Rating: 1.5 stars
Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio faced off in a chairs match at the TLC PPV.
Mysterio ended up picking up the win.
The Undertaker vs. John Cena
Event – Wrestlemania 34 | Rating: 1.25 stars
The Undertaker vs John Cena finally happened at Wrestlemania 34. Unfortunately for fans, it wasn’t the dream match that everyone was hoping for. The match lasted less than 3 minutes.
It wasn’t necessarily bad, just not what fans were hoping for.
Nia Jax vs Alexa Bliss – RAW Women’s Championship
Event – Backlash 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
Nia Jax defended her RAW Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss at Backlash. The finish saw Jax use a Samoan drop on Bliss to retain the title.
After the match, Nia cut a promo about bullying.
Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn
Event – Money in the Bank 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn faced off at Money in the Bank. I think many would agree that this feud was pretty bad and it ended with a lackluster match between them.
It turned out that Sami was dealing with two shoulder injuries and had to get surgery right after the event.
Carmella vs Asuka – Smackdown Women’s Championship
Event – Extreme Rules 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
The match between Asuka and Carmella at Extreme Rules featured James Ellsworth locked inside of a shark cage. Ellsworth escaped the cage but got his foot caught on the door. This allowed Asuka to get a few good shots in on him.
Carmella would use the distraction to her advantage, tossing Asuka head first into the shark cage and pinning her to retain.
Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega vs Rusev and Lana
Event – Summerslam 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
A mixed tag team match happened at Summerslam. Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega took on Rusev and Lana. Zelina Vega picked up the win for her team after barely getting her feet on the ropes.
Asuka and Naomi vs. IIconics
Event – Super Show-Down 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
Asuka and Naomi faced off against the IIconics in a tag team match at Super Show-Down. The IIconics would go on to pick up the win in their home country of Australia.
Triple H vs the Undertaker
Event – Super Show-Down 2018 | Rating: 1.25 stars
The main event of Super Show-Down was the clash between Triple H and the Undertaker. Kane and Shawn Michaels were at ringside for the match.
Triple H pinned the Undertaker after about 27 minutes.
Braun Strowman and Nicholas vs. Sheamus and Cesaro – RAW Tag Team Championships
Event – Wrestlemania 34 | Rating: 1 star
This is a match that had some controversy at Wrestlemania 34. Braun Strowman brought a young fan out of the crowd to be his tag team partner. Braun and Nicholas would go on to defeat Sheamus and Cesaro to win the RAW Tag Team Championships without Nicholas ever entering the match.
Some fans thought it was a fun Wrestlemania moment. Others hated it because they feel it devalued the Title, along with making Sheamus and Cesaro look like a joke.
Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns – WWE Universal Championship
Event – Greatest Royal Rumble | Rating: 1 star
Brock Lesnar defended his WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia. This was a steel cage match.
The finish saw Reigns spear Lesnar through the cage. The match was awarded to Brock, even though video replay showed Roman’s feet touching the floor first.
Charlotte Flair vs Carmella – Smackdown Women’s Championship
Event – Backlash 2018 | Rating: 1 star
Carmella and Charlotte Flair faced off at Backlash for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Carmella ended up retaining the Title after about 10 minutes of action.
Finn Balor vs. Constable Baron Corbin
Event – Summerslam 2018 | Rating: 1 star
“The Demon” Finn Balor and Baron Corbin faced off at Summerslam. The match lasted just over a minute, with Balor picking up the win.
Daniel Bryan vs The Miz
Event – Super Show-Down 2018 | Rating: 1 star
Daniel Bryan and the Miz faced off at WWE Super Show-Down. The winner earned a future WWE Championship match. The match ended quickly, with Bryan winning in just over 2 minutes.
Shane McMahon vs Dolph Ziggler
Event – Crown Jewel 2018 | Rating: 1 star
The finals of the WWE World Cup tournament ended up being Shane McMahon vs Dolph Ziggler. This came after Shane replaced the Miz, who suffered an injury prior to the match.
Shane won the match and the WWE World Cup.
Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman
Event – Crown Jewel 2018 | Rating: 1 star
Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman faced off for the vacant WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel. Before the match, Baron Corbin hit Strowman with the Universal Championship belt.
Lesnar proceeded to hit several F5’s to win the Title.
Baron Corbin vs Braun Strowman
Event – TLC 2018 | Rating: 1 star
Baron Corbin vs Braun Strowman sort of happened at the TLC PPV event. Strowman wasn’t cleared but brought out some WWE Superstars who Corbin has wronged in the past.
After a beatdown, Strowman pinned Corbin for the win.
Jeff Hardy vs Jinder Mahal – WWE United States Championship
Event – Greatest Royal Rumble | Rating: 0.5 stars
Tied for the lowest-rated match of 2018 so far is Jinder Mahal vs Jeff Hardy for the WWE United States Championship. This match went for only a couple of minutes but featured a few botches.
Jeff would retain the Title after hitting the Swanton Bomb.
Kevin Owens vs Braun Strowman – Money In The Bank Contract
Event – Summerslam | Rating: 0.5 stars
Kevin Owens and Braun Strowman faced off at Summerslam for the Money in the Bank contract. This was a pretty one-sided match with Strowman picking up the win.
This is tied for the lowest-rated match of 2018.
What do you think of the worst WWE matches of 2018 list? Is there a match that you would add? Do you disagree with any of the ratings? If so, let us know in the comment section or on Twitter. On a related note, you can check out the worst WWE matches in history. None of these ratings on this list even come close!
