WWE TLC 2020 Review

The final WWE Pay-Per-View of 2020, TLC, took place on Sunday 20th December at the Thunderdome. The card looks pretty decent so, let's take a look.

The match on the Kick Off Show was a eight man tag team match with the team of Daniel Bryan, Otis, Chad Gable and Big E taking on the team of King Corbin, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn. Big E hits the Big Ending on Sami Zayn to get his team the win. The match was quite good.

Winners: Daniel Bryan, Otis, Chad Gable and Big E (N/A)

The first match is a TLC Match for the WWE Championship with AJ Styles challenging Drew McIntyre. Highlights of the match include: Styles being sent into a chair set up in the corner; and Styles using a ladder and then a chair to help him apply the calf killer. After McIntyre sends Styles through a table on the outside, The Miz and John Morrison run in to take out McIntyre and cash in Miz's Money in the Bank briefcase, making it a triple threat. When Miz climbs up, Styles' henchman Omos, grabs him and sends him through another table on the outside. Omos then runs off Morrison. The end comes when all 3 of them are on ladders. McIntyre gets taken off the ladder but he recovers to push Styles and Miz off the ladder then kills Miz with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre then climbs up the ladder to grab the belt and get the win.

I thought this was a really good match and I really liked the twist of Miz cashing in to make it a triple threat. I was surprised Miz wasn't successful but it turns out that, due to Morrison handing in the briefcase, it technically didn't count; so I guess that's ok.

Winner; Drew McIntyre (1 for 1)

The next match is for the Smackdown Women's Championship as Carmella challenges Sasha Banks. After a few pinning attempts, both women try to get the other to submit. Sasha applies the Banks Statement but Carmella's sommelier Reginald pulled her out of the ring. In the end, Sasha goes on to again apply the Banks Statement, getting Carmella to submit and get the win. I thought this was a good match to watch.

Winner: Sasha Banks (1 for 2)

We now get the RAW Tag Team Championship match as The Hurt Business challenges The New Day. The New Day almost win it in the first couple of minutes, but Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander recover and focus their attacks on Xavier Woods. Woods manages to tag in Kofi Kingston; however, Alexander hits Kingston with the Lumber Check to get the win. This was another good match and, even though I predicted the opposite, I'm happy that Benjamin and Alexander got the win.

Winners: The Hurt Business (1 for 3)

The next match is for the Women's Tag Team Championship as Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler face the challenge of Asuka and...Charlotte Flair. Jax and Baszler focus their attack on Asuka's right arm. Asuka recovers to get the hot tag to Flair, who goes on hit Natural Selection on Baszler to get the win. This was a good match but I feel like they ccould have gone a bit longer.

Winners: Asuka and Charlotte Flair (1 for 4)

The penultimate match is a TLC Match for the Universal Champion as Kevin Owens challenges Roman Reigns. Owens surprises Reigns by attacking him while the belt was being hung up. Jey Uso comes in to help but that turned out to be a bad idea as Owens destroys him. Eventually, Reigns recovers and hits Owens with a drive-by to get the advantage. They go on to destroy each other with everything they can get their hands on. Owens comes close but Uso slows him down and, after making Owens pass out from a Guillotine Choke, Reigns manages to climb up and grab the belt to get the win. I thought this was a good match and I liked it being a handicap match for some of it. 

Winner: Roman Reigns (2 for 5)

The main event is a Firefly Inferno Match between "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Wyatt hits Orton with Sister Abigail then proceeds to set The Thunderdome on fire. Later on, Wyatt tries to use the Mandible Claw to push Orton into the fire but Orton pushes him into the fire instead. They go into the ring and Orton hits Wyatt with the RKO. Orton, despite winning the match a few minutes earlier, decides to confirm it by setting Wyatt on fire in the middle of the ring. So, Orton wins by murder...?

I wasn't a fan of this match. Having the fire effects surrounding the ring looked pretty good but that was it. I just wasn't invested in it.

Winner: Randy Orton 

I have mixed feelings about this event. I thought the vast majority of the matches were good, especially the 2 TLC matches. However, I thought the main event ruined it for me. I thought that would the end of the rivalry between the two. However, I know this feud will continue til Wrestlemania so...yay?

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.

WWE TLC 2016 Review

WWE TLC took place on Sunday 4th December at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas. The last couple of PPVs have been a mixed bag so will Smackdown end the year on a high? Let's take a look.

The match on the Kick Off Show was the team of American Alpha, The Hype Bros and Apollo Crews taking on The Asecension, The Vaudevillians and Curt Hawkins. The match goes back and forth before Chad Gable gets worn down. Eventually he gets the hot tag to Jason Jordan and in the end, they go on to hit Simon Gotch with Grand Amplitude to get the win. It was a bit short for me but I enjoyed it.
Winners: American Alpha, The Hype Bros and Apollo Crews (N/A)

The first match of the PPV was for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship as Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt with Luke Harper challenge Heath Slater and Rhyno. Wyatt, thanks to Harper distracting the referee, pulls Slater off the ring apron to get his team the advantage. Slater does manage to get the hot tag but it was not enough. Rhyno goes to spear Orton on the outside but Harper moves him out of the way and takes the hit. Rhyno slides back in and is distracted by Wyatt's upside down walk and Orton slides in and hits the RKO to get the win. I was quite surprised that Orton and Wyatt but it's probably the  right decision as they both need this.
Winners: Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt (0 for 1)

Next is a no disqualification match between Carmella and  Nikki Bella. Carmella does a head scissors sending Nikki into the steel steps. She then focuses on Nikki's left leg, hitting it with a kendo stick. Carmella does go on to do the Code of Silence but Nikki hits her with the kendo stick. Nikki does get back into it, hitting a brutal roundhouse kick from the barricade. She then goes on to use a fire extinguisher for what seems like a year before hitting the Rack Attack 2.0 to get the win. Afterwards, Carmella tells Nikki that it was Natalya that attacked her at Survivor Series. The match was ok but I'm interested to see how they play with what happened after the match. Hopefully, it was Carmella who attacked Nikki and she's just fucking with her. Knowing WWE tho, it would turn out that Carmella was telling the truth.
Winner: Nikki Bella (1 for 2)

 Now a match that I was really looking forward to: Dolph Ziggler challenging Hollywood Miz (with Maryse) in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. Highlights of the match include: Ziggler doing a tornado DDT sending Miz onto a ladder; Miz dropkicking a ladder into Ziggler; and Miz focusing on Ziggler's legs. Miz hits the skull crushing finale onto a ladder then climbs up. However, Ziggler takes the ladder, leaving The Miz hanging before he falls down, injuring his knee. In the end, Miz and Ziggler climb up on different ladders and Ziggler punches Miz off. The Miz, however, recovers and kickes Ziggler in the balls then grabs the belt to win the match. Afterwards, Miz decidates the match to Daniel Bryan and calls the Dallas crowd losers.

This match was really good and a great way to end the feud. Hopefully, The Miz can continue with someone else in the new year.
Winner: Hollywood Miz (2 for 3)

 Next is Kalisto facing Baron Corbin in a chairs match. Kalisto immediately goes at Corbin with but it's dealt with it quite quickly. Corbin goes on to be dominant for a lot of the match. Kalisto does a seated senton onto a row of chairs but Corbin responds by reversing a suicide dive into a deep six on the outside. Corbin then wins the match after hitting The End of Days onto a pile of chairs. Quite a good match between the two.
Winner: Baron Corbin (3 for 4)

The penultimate match is Alexa Bliss challenging Becky Lynch in a tables match for the Smackdown Women's Championship. The match goes at a fast pace before Alexa starts to be dominant. Becky tries to suplex Alexa through a table a few times, In the end, they end up fighting on the apron and Alexa manages to powerbomb Becky through a table on the outside to win the match. Although the finish seemed to come out of nowhere, this was quite a good match. I've become a big fan of Alexa over the last year but I didn't think that she was ready to be Champion just yet. Hopefully she can prove me wrong.
Winner: Alexa Bliss (3 for 5)

The main event is a TLC match for the WWE World Championship as Dean Ambrose challenges AJ Styles. Highlights of the match include: Ambrose running a chair into Styles while he was on the barricade; and Styles side suplexing Ambrose onto a row of chairs. There was a great spot where Ambrose put up a ladder on the German announce table and elbowed Styles from there through the English announce table. Later on, Styles hit a springboard 450 splash, sending Ambrose through a table. Styles goes on to climb up the ladder but stops when he sees James Ellsworth walk down the aisle. Styles attacks him but Ambrose stops him and hits dirty deeds onto the stairs. Ambrose looks like he's going to win it but Ellsworth tips the ladder sending Ambrose through 2 tables on the outside. Styles then climbs the ladder to grab the belt and win the match.

I enjoyed the match even though it was a bit of a weird ending. Ellsworth's reasoning for his decision, which he said on Talking Smack, does kinda make sense. He beat Styles twice so he wants him to be Champion. Sure, he had Ambrose's help in those victories but he has a point. I suspect that Ambrose will get his revenge in the near future.
Winner: AJ Styles

I thought that TLC was a good event and I was happy to see 2 new Champions. However, RAW will follow suit with Roadblock: End of the Line.