Cincinnati’s US Bank Arena has revealed that WWE are set to exhume Starrcade once more, having revived the defunct NWA/WCW brand for a one off house show last November.
A video posted by the venue confirmed a host of matches for the show, scheduled for 24 November, including WWE Champion AJ Styles going another round with Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura taking on Rusev, and Becky Lynch defending her SmackDown Women’s title in a steel cage match opposite Charlotte Flair.
Perhaps most exciting – or ominous – is an advertised special performance featuring Elias and hip-hop legend Ric Flair. A ‘Cincinatti Street Fight’ is also on the cards, with The Shield taking on Braun Strowman and his attack dogs Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. We’re guessing it’ll be like any other street fight, albeit in Cincinnati.
There was a lot of fervour when WWE announced the decision to bring Starrcade back last year, which soon dissipated when it became clear the show would be nothing more than a souped-up house show. Given the card for 2018’s do-again looks like the standard post Hell in a Cell loop, it’s probably safe to assume November’s show in Cincinnati will be much the same – although the video advertising it as the “first ever WWE Starrcade” raises the possibility of a big promotional push. It’s more likely mere bluster though.
Starrcade 2018’s card in full:
Cincinnati Street Fight
The Shield vs Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
WWE Championship
AJ Styles (c) vs Samoa Joe
Smackdown Women’s Championship (Steel Cage Match)
Becky Lynch (c) vs Charlotte Flair
United States Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs Rusev w/ Lana
Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The New Day (c) vs The Bar
Special Performance
Elias with Ric Flair
Smirfitts Speech 