WWE TLC 2017 Review

WWE TLC 2017 took place last Sunday at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Recent medical issues has resulted in not only AJ Styles making a guest appearance; but Kurt Angle is taking part in his first WWE match in over 11 years. So, will the event live up to the recent hype? Let's take a look.

The match on the Kick Off Show was Sasha Banks taking on Alicia Foxx. Alicia tries to offer a handshake but Sasha responds with a dropkick. Even though Alicia gets the advantage for a little while, Sasha gets her to submit to the Banks Statement to get the win. The match was ok, I guess. Just nothing really special stood out for me.
Winner: Sasha Banks (1 for 1)

The first match of the event Emma taking on Asuka, making her main roster debut. Emma gains the momentum after sending Asuka to the outside and following up with a baseball slide. Asuka gets back into it and eventually gets Emma to submit to the Asuka Lock to get the win. This was an ok match and I was surprised that Emma got as much offence as she did.
Winner: Asuka (2 for 2)

The next match is The Brian Kendrick and Gentleman Jack Gallagher taking on Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander. Kendrick pulls Swann off the turnbuckle to the mat to give his team the advantage. Eventually Swann manages to tag in Alexander and they get the win after he hits Kendrick with a Lumbar Check. A fun match to watch.
Winners: Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann (2 for 3)

We now get our first Championship as Mickie James challenges Alexa Bliss for the RAW Women's Championship. Alexa focuses her attack on Mickie's left arm, but Mickie gets back into it with a hurracarrana. Alexa tries to win it with a Twisted Bliss but she misses. In the end, Alexa pulls Mickie head first into the turnbuckle then hits her with the DDT to get the win. This was a really good match and I hope we get a rematch between the two before we get the inevitable reign of Asuka.
Winner: Alexa Bliss (3 for 4)

Next is Enzo Amore challenging Kalisto for the Cruiserweight Championship. Enzo struggles at the beginning but he gets the momentum when he pulls Kalisto off the turnbuckle and his head bounces off the pad. Kalisto does get back into it. However, the end comes when Enzo tries to flee and he takes the ring apron with him when Kalisto drags him back. While the referee is putting that back, Enzo pokes Kalisto in the eye then hits the JawdonZo to get the win. This match was ok but the way that Enzo has been winning has been annoying. The Cruiserweight Division is built on fast pace and exciting moves. However, Enzo has won his last 2 Championships with a low blow and a poke in the eye. It feels like a big fuck you from WWE to me.
Winner: Enzo Amore (3 for 5)

We now get a match that everyone has been wanting to see for years: Demon Finn Balor taking on AJ Styles. The match goes back and forth with both guys exchanging kicks and punches. Balor kicks Styles out of the ring and follows that with an over the top suicide dive. Styles manages to apply the calf crusher but Balor gets out of it by continually bashing Styles' head against the mat. Balor comes close with the 1916 and Styles hits a beautiful springboard hurracarrana for 2. In the end, Balor hits the Coup de Grace to get the win. Afterwards, the two shake hands and do the Too Sweet sign.

This was a really good match and it's a leading contender for my match of the year. However, as soon as Bray Wyatt has recovered from his illness, we're back to the Demon vs Sister Abigail match. Honestly, who the fuck wants to see that?
Winner: Finn Balor (4 for 6)

The penultimate match is between Elias and Jason Jordan. This all started at the Kick Off Show when Elias interrupted a moment between Jordan and Kurt Angle to ask to perform a concert. Jordan didn't take too kindly to that and distrupted Elias' attempts at a concert by throwing food at him..? Don't forget, Jordan is technically a face. My main question beforehand was, who set this match up? Stephanie McMahon hasn't been seen in ages and Kurt's been too busy preparing for his match. Anyway, Jordan gets a questionable win after reversing a suplex into a small package and it looks like Elias got his shoulder up before the referee does the 3 count. I wasn't really a fan of this match mainly because I couldn't get myself into it.
Winner: Jason Jordan (N/A)

We now get our main event: the team of Hollywood Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, Demon Kane and Bruan Strowman taking on Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Kurt Angle.  First of all, I get that Angle was made a temporary member of the Shield but I would have preferred it if he came out to his music and the singlet. Highlights of the match include: Kane and Strowman being put through the announce tables; Angle doing a fuck load of German suplexes; Strowman sending Angle through a table with a running powerslam and Angle has to go to the back; Kane chokeslamming Strowman through the stage and dropping a row of chairs on top of him; and Strowman then getting murdered by getting put in the back of a bin lorry. It looks like The Shield are going to lose when Angle's music hit and he comes out, giving Cesaro and Sheamus Olympic Slams. After Rollins and Ambrose spear Kane into the timekeeper's area, Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Angle for 2. In the end, Miz did hit by all of his opponents' finishers followed by a triple power bomb and The Shield and Angle win.

This match was a mixed bag for me. The middle part of it got pretty boring and I feel that it was too long. Despite that, there were some fun spots and it was nice to see Angle wrestle in a WWE ring again.

I thought that TLC was quite a fun event, despite my criticisms. We got 2 really good matches and the return of a WWE Hall of Famer. Next is Survivor Series and it's something that I'm quite looking forward to seeing.