TLC

* Poll results: Grade WWE’s TLC PPV
* Poll results: Best match at WWE’s TLC

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs takes place live tonight from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. There are a dozen matches scheduled for the event, so strap yourself in and follow along with me, as it seems we are in for a long night.

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KICKOFF

The kickoff panel consists of Jonathan Coachman, Booker T, Sam Roberts, and David Otunga. They run down the entire card for TLC, with two of the 12 matches taking place on the kickoff show, which are the Ladder Match between Elias and Bobby Lashley and Buddy Murphy defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Cedric Alexander.

A video package is then aired which shows Dean Ambrose turning on Seth Rollins. The panel discuss the emotional night when Ambrose turned on Rollins and how Ambrose stole the spotlight on the night when Roman Reigns vacated the WWE Universal Championship. These two former partners will go at it tonight for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

The panel then turns their attention to the WWE Championship match between the new Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles. Booker T says Bryan won the championship because he was cold and calculated. Booker thinks Bryan is in the driver’s seat and is now calling the shots.

Footage is aired of the brutal beatdown of Braun Strowman at the hands of Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre. Coach runs down the stipulation where if Corbin is victorious he will become the full time GM of Raw. The panel wonders if Strowman will even show up and what condition he may be in. Roberts thinks a one-armed Strowman is still tougher than most men.

Baron Corbin is backstage coaching JoJo on how to announce him as the winner. Charly comes in and tries to get comment from Corbin about rumors of Braun Strowman showing up. Corbin says if he does, he will shatter his other elbow and refuses to comment on the rumors. We then head into the first match of the night.

Kickoff Match 1: Cedric Alexander vs. Buddy Murphy (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
The bell rings as Murphy and Alexander go back and forth to a stalemate. The crowd begins a “205!” chant as Alexander connects with a dropkick and picks up the first near fall. Murphy then connects with a knee to the face that knocks Alexander to the floor. Murphy tosses Alexander back into the ring and hits a high risk move to pick up a near fall of his own. Murphy continues wearing down the challenger until Murphy takes too much time and allows Alexander to take him down with a kick to the midsection.

Alexander then hits Murphy with a flurry of offense and picks up a near fall after connecting with a clothesline from the top rope. Alexander picks up another near fall after hitting a Michinoku driver. Murphy is able to counter Alexander’s offense and takes Alexander down with a powerbomb for a near fall. Murphy again takes to much time as Alexander hits a DVD on the ring apron and follows with a Lumbar Check and goes for the cover but Murphy is able to put his foot on the rope. Murphy comes back with another knee to the face and then hits Murphy’s Law to pick up the pin fall and retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Winner: Buddy Murphy by pinfall to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

We return to the kickoff panel who discuss the Ronda Rousey/Nia Jax match for the Raw Women’s Championship. Booker thinks Nia Jax has all the tools to get the job done. Sam Roberts thinks Nia Jax can easily knock Ronda Rousey out with her fist. Otunga, however, thinks Rousey is the favorite to win the match.

Becky Lynch is backstage who says she knows the deck is stacked against her, but asks when the last time a women’s match headlined a dual branded pay-per-view, let alone a Smackdown women’s match. She says since both rosters are in the house, she may just walk around the locker room and collect on some debts. The panel discusses what Becky Lynch just said and Booker thinks she has confidence and David Otunga says she has swagger.

A video package on Lars Sullivan is aired that says Lars Sullivan is lurking. We then head into the next match of the night.

Prior to the match, Elias says tonight should be called TLC and Guitars as we see a guitar hanging above the ring. Elias says when he retrieves the guitar, he will play a song for Lashley that he won’t forget. He then begins playing guitar and is immediately cut off by Lashley’s music. Lio Rush says no one came to see Elias and gets Lashley to do his favorite pose.

Kickoff Match 2: Elias vs. Bobby Lashley (Ladder Match)
The first person to retrieve the guitar will be the winner of the match. The match starts and Lashley quickly takes Elias down and heads out for a ladder. Elias kicks the ladder into Lashley’s face and slides a couple ladders into the ring. Elias sets up the ladder and begins climbing, but Lio Rush distracts him. Elias chases Rush out of the ring and then connects with a knee to the face of Lashley.

Elias sets up a ladder in the corner, but Lashley is able to use it to his advantage as he sends Elias into it. Lashley then sends Elias into the ladder with an overhead suplex. Lashely continues beating down Elias before setting up a ladder beneath the guitar. Lashley begins climbing the ladder and Elias gets up and powerbombs Lashley into a ladder. Elias and Lio Rush begin climbing the ladder and Elias knocks him down and grabs the guitar to win the match.

Elias comes down and sets up to nail Lashley with the guitar, but Lio Rush grabs the guitar and Lashley takes Elias down. Rush hits Elias with a frog splash and Lashley follows with smashing the guitar over Elias. Lashley then does a couple poses and celebrates over a fallen Elias.

Winner: Elias defeated Bobby Lashley in a ladder match.

The panel discuss the match and Booker says Bobby Lashley didn’t win the match, but he won the war. The panel then hypes the rest of the matches that are scheduled for tonight’s show.

Footage from the women’s brawl that ended Smackdown this past Tuesday is aired. Tonight will be the first ever women’s TLC match and it will be the main event. The panel talks about the women making history and Booker wonders who wants it most. David Otunga thinks people are forgetting about Asuka and how she was undefeated for such a long time. It all goes down live right now in a sold out SAP Center in San Jose, California.

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs

The TLC opening airs that focuses on the main matches of the night. Live shots of the crowd is aired as we are welcomed to the final WWE pay-per-view of the year and head into the first match of the night.

Match 1: R-Truth & Carmella vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox w/ the Singh Brothers (Mixed Match Challenge Finals)
This is also being aired on Facebook Watch, which is the first time a PPV match has been aired on that platform. The winners of this match will enter number 30 for the Royal Rumble and will win an all expenses paid vacation to anywhere in the world. R-Truth and Mahal start the match out and R-Truth picks up a series of quick near falls. Alicia Fox tags herself in as Carmella also enters the match. Truth and Carmella take down Mahal and Fox with hip tosses and begin a dance break. The Singh Brothers come in and join the dance break, but they are tossed out to the floor.

The distraction allows Alicia to take control of the match and picks up a near fall. The two then take each other down with a double clothesline and the men are tagged in. R-Truth takes Mahal down with a series of strikes and kicks. Fox then makes a blind tag to get the women back into the match. The match then breaks down and Carmella locks in the Code of Silence and Alica Fox quickly taps out to give her team the win.

The winners are interviewed in the ring after the match and says they were required to submit their vacation plans prior to the match. Carmella doesn’t seem to know about this as R-Truth makes her guess where they are going. Carmella thinks they are going to Barcelona and France and R-Truth says they are going to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Carmella doesn’t seem to happy about it.

Winner: R-Truth and Carmella defeated Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox by submission to win the Mixed Match Challenge.

Match 2: New Day vs. The Usos vs. The Bar (WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are the two members of the New Day in this match. Kingston and Sheamus begin the match and Sheamus uses his power advantage in the early going. Woods is tagged and the match quickly breaks down as everyone gets involved as bodies are being tossed out to the floor. Sheamus counters Woods’ attempt to dive out to the floor and picks up a near fall.

Cesaro and Sheamus take turns working over and isolating Woods to their side of the ring. Woods is able to make a desperation tag to Kingston, who hits Cesaro with a series of strikes and a New Day Boom Drop. Jimmy Uso tags himself in and takes down both Cesaro and Kingston. Jay Uso then tags in and begins taking everyone out with superkicks. Jay picks up a near fall and tries for a high risk move, but Cesaro tags himself in and gets a near fall over Kingston.

Cesaro does the Cesaro Swing on Kingston and follows with a Sharpshooter in the center of the ring, however, Woods comes in and breaks it up. The match then breaks down as Sheamus and Woods tag into the match. Kingston takes Sheamus down with a Trouble in Paradise and Woods hits a flying elbow, but the pin fall is broken up by Cesaro and Jay Uso. The match again breaks down and Kofi takes out all of non-legal participants out on the floor with a dive from the top rope. Back in the ring, Sheamus connects with a Brogue Kick on Woods to pick up the pin fall and retain the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

Winners: The Bar defeated the New Day and the Usos by pin fall to retain the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

The Raw announce team talk about Vince McMahon coming to Raw tomorrow night and say part of it is because of Baron Corbin’s performance as the acting Raw General Manager. Footage of the attack on Braun Strowman is aired and Heath Slater is in the ring to referee the next match.

Match 3: Baron Corbin vs. Braun Strowman (TLC Match)
If Braun Strowman wins he will get a shot at the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble and Baron Corbin will lose his position as the Raw GM. If Baron Corbin wins, he will become the permanent Raw GM. Corbin grabs a microphone and says people better get used to him as he will be the permanent GM as soon as Braun Strowman is counted out of the match. The bell rings and Heath Slater begins his 10 count but is interrupted by Strowman’s music as he gets to seven. Strowman comes out wearing a sling for his right arm and grabs a microphone.

Strowman says Corbin forgot that TLC matches are no-DQ matches. Strowman says someone can help him out and it would be perfectly legal. Apollo Crews, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, and Finn Balor all come out with steel chairs and surround the ring. Slater then removes his referee shirt and tosses it at Corbin. Slater takes Corbin down as the others enter the ring. Everyone gets in a chair shot on Corbin as he falls out to the floor. Corbin begins walking up the ramp as Kurt Angle’s music hits. Angle comes out and grabs a chair and nails Corbin with it until he runs back to the ring. Corbin is nailed with a series of finishing moves from all involved until Strowman enters the ring. Slater puts the referee shirt back on and makes the count for the pin fall to award Strowman the match.

Winner: Braun Strowman defeated Baron Corbin by pin fall in a TLC match.

Baron Corbin has been removed from the General Manager position on Raw and Braun Strowman will face Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble next month.

The Raw announce team recap what has been going on between Natalya and Ruby Riott in recent weeks. The tables match between the two will be coming up next.

Match 4: Natalya vs. Ruby Riott w/ the Riott Squad (Tables Match)
The Riott Squad brings a table to the ring that has Jim Neidhart on it, which the announce team believes is in bad taste. The match starts and the two go back and forth before the match heads out to the floor. Natalya sends Ruby headfirst into a table a few times before trying to give Ruby a back suplex of the apron and onto a table. Ruby blocks it and Natalya charges at Ruby, but she gets out of the way and hits Liv Morgan, which sends her off the apron and through a table on the floor.

Natalya continues on the attack and sets up another table on the floor. Natalya tries for a powerbomb, but Ruby blocks it. Sarah Logan gets involved and Natalya sends her through a table with a body slam. The distraction, though, allows Ruby to gain control of the match and she forces Natalya to look at the table with her father on it. Ruby then sends Natalya into the steps and slides the Neidhart table into the ring. Ruby sets the table up in the corner and she tries to send Natalya into it but she is able to stop herself. Natalya then puts Ruby in a Sharpshooter, but is able to get to the corner and send the table crashing into Natalya.

Ruby tries to set up the table in the ring but has issues. Natalya is able to recover and takes Ruby down with an electric chair drop. Natalya then grabs a table from under the ring that has a cutout of Ruby Riott on it. Natalya slides it into the ring before grabbing Jim Neidhart’s jacket and putting it on. Natalya sets the table up in the ring but Ruby is able to take Natalya down with a kick to the face. Ruby puts Natalya on the table and begins to climb the ropes, but Natalya pulls her down and puts her on the table. Natalya climbs to the ropes, but Ruby connects with a kick and joins her on the top rope. Ruby tries for a hurricanrana but Natalya blocks it and powerbombs Ruby through the table to win the match.

Winner: Natalya defeated Ruby Riott in a tables match.

Another Lars Sullivan video package is aired as the Raw announce team talks about Sullivan being the top free agent who has both Raw and Smackdown vying for his services.

Match 5: Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor
The bell rings as McIntyre and Balor go back and forth in the opening minutes. Balor begins working over McIntyre’s leg but McIntyre is able to send Balor across the ring with an impressive overhead suplex. McIntyre continues to wear down Balor and powers him around the ring to pick up a near fall. Balor fights his way back into the match and connects with a tornado DDT. Balor then sends McIntyre out to the floor and follows with a dive out to the floor. Back in the ring, Balor connects with a Slingblade but McIntyre counters Balor’s next move with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall.

McIntyre then hits a slam from the middle rope to pick up another near fall. McIntyre then tosses Balor out to the floor but Balor traps McIntyre in the apron and hits a series of kicks. McIntyre is able to come back and sends Balor hard into the apron. McIntyre follows with the Glasgow Kiss headbutt and tosses Balor back into the ring, however, Dolph Ziggler comes out and nails McIntyre with a superkick. Ziggler then grabs a chair but McIntyre kicks it into his face. McIntyre rolls Ziggler into the ring and comes into the ring with a chair that Balor dropkicks into McIntryre’s face. Balor then hits the Coup de Grace to pick up the pin fall.

Winner: Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre by pin fall.

The Smackdown announce team recap the recent events that have gone on between Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio. Their chairs match is coming up next.

Match 6: Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton (Chairs Match)
The ring is surrounded with chairs for this grudge match. The match starts and Orton quickly tosses Mysterio out to the floor and grabs a chair. Mysterio is quick to counter and is able to nail Orton with a few chair shots. The fight heads back into the ring and Mysterio sets up a chair but Orton is able to move out of the way and Mysterio ends up hanging up in the corner. Orton then nails Mysterio in the back with the chair. Mysterio is able to counter Orton’s attack and sends him out to the floor. Mysterio then uses a chair to slide under the bottom rope and onto Orton on the floor.

The two continue the fight around the sea of chairs around the ring and Mysterio puts Orton in a chair. Mysterio then tries for a seated senton, but Orton moves and Mysterio falls hard onto a chair. Orton then clears off the main announce table and carefully places a steel chair on it. Orton sends Mysterion face first into the chair and then begins filling the ring with chairs. Mysterio is rolled back into the ring and Orton places a chair in the corner but Mysterio is able to counter it and sends Orton into the chair. The two go back and forth until Orton is able to nail Mysterio with a chair while attempting a move from the top rope.

Orton secures another chair in the corner but Orton takes too much time and Mysterio is able to hit a 619. Orton quickly comes back and sends Mysterio face first a couple times into the chair in the corner. Orton then sets up four chairs in a row and sets up Mysterio for an RKO, but Mysterio counters and sends Orton into the chairs and rolls him up to pick up the pin fall victory. Mysterio quickly leaves the ring and celebrates his victory.

Winner: Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton by pin fall in a chairs match.

Charly is backstage with Finn Balor as Dolph Ziggler comes up and says he should be thanked for helping him out. Balor tells Ziggler to stay out of his business as Ziggler superkicks Balor and sends him into some crates.

We head back to the Raw announce team who hype the upcoming match between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax. That match is coming up next.

Match 7: Nia Jax w/ Tamina vs. Ronda Rousey (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
The match starts and Rousey uses her speed advantage over Jax and quickly goes for an armbar, but Jax is able to counter with a sitout powerbomb for a near fall. Jax continues to power Rousey around the ring and crushes her shoulder on the ring post. Rousey is able to counter Nia’s attack and tries for another armbar, but Nia is able to slide out to the floor before sending Rousey hard into the guard railing.

Rousey is able to counter and regain control of the match. She then dives off the top rope and takes Nia down with a cross body block on the floor. The match returns to the ring where Rousey connects with a knee to the face and sends her down to the mat with a hard right for a near fall. Rousey tries for another cross body block, but Nia counters and hits a Samoan drop for a near fall. Jax sets up for a Samoan drop from the middle rope, but Rousey counters and takes Jax down with a powerbomb for a close near fall.

Rousey looks to go for a armbar but Tamina causes a distraction. Nia then sets up to connect with a right fist, but Rousey counters with an armbar and Nia quickly taps out. Rousey retains the WWE Raw Women’s Championship by submission.

Winner: Ronda Rousey defeated Nia Jax by submission to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.

Nia Jax is seen walking backstage and she runs into Becky Lynch. Lynch asks her if she remembers breaking her face and punches her sending her crashing to the floor. The announce team discuss what just happened between Becky Lynch and Nia Jax before hyping the match between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, which is up next.

AJ Styles is backstage and says there is no difference between the new Daniel Bryan and the old Daniel Bryan as they are both beatable. Styles continues to say that tonight, Bryan will play his game and that he has a flying forearm with his name on it.

Match 8: AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship)
The bell rings and Bryan refuses to lock up with Styles and heads out to the floor a couple of times. They finally lock up and Styles go on the early attack and sends Bryan corner to corner with a series of strikes. Styles then connects with a dropkick and clotheslines Bryan out to the floor. Styles then tries to dive out on Bryan, but Bryan is able to counter with a kick. Bryan then sends Styles into the barricade before rolling him back into the ring.Bryan slows the match down and methodically picks Styles apart by focusing on his ribs. Bryan continues working over Styles with a series of kicks that sends him out to the floor.

Styles rolls back into the ring and Bryan continues to work him over until Styles finally counters with a clothesline that sends them both down to the mat. Styles recovers and he comes at Bryan with a series of strikes and kicks for a near fall. The match heads out to the floor where Styles sends Bryan into the ring post before rolling him back into the ring. Bryan begins to beg off Styles before charging at him but Styles takes him down with a backbreaker for a near fall. Bryan then counters an attempt at a reverse DDT with a series of knee strikes and a suplex for a near fall. Bryan then hits a series of Yes kicks for another near fall.

Styles counters and takes Bryan down with an enziguri before heading out for a flying forearm, but Bryan counters the move only to be taken down with a dragon screw. Styles then trips up Bryan and begins working over his left leg on the ring post. Styles then targets that leg and takes Bryan down with a chop block. Bryan is able to come back and begins targeting the ribs once more before setting Styles on the turnbuckle. Styles is able to counter Bryan’s attack and tries for a Styles Clash but turns it into a single leg crab. Bryan tries to get to the ropes but instead counters the move into the LeBell Lock. Styles breaks free and then takes Bryan down with a Pele kick.

The crowd begins a “This is awesome!” chant as the two trade off with punches in the middle of the ring. Bryan connects with a kick that sends Styles into the corner but catches a dropkick from Styles to take him down. Styles follows with a spinning 450 to pick up a near fall over the champion. Styles then rolls up Bryan with the calf crusher but Bryan is able to roll over to the ropes and then falls out to the floor. Styles rolls Bryan back into the ring, but Bryan rolls right back out. Styles then hits the Phenomenal forearm off the barricade and rolls Bryan back into the ring. Styles then tries for another forearm, but Bryan is able to duck out of the way. Styles then tries to roll up Bryan with an inside cradle, but Bryan reverses it and picks up the pin fall to retain the WWE Championship.

Winner: Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles by pin fall to retain the WWE Championship.

Charly is backstage with Ronda Rousey and Natalya and congratulates them on their victories. Charley then asked Rousey about Charlotte Flair and Rousey said that payback’s a bitch and she’s the biggest one on the planet.

The Raw announce team brings up that Raw no longer has a GM and hype tomorrow night’s show that will feature the return of Vince McMahon and Finn Balor taking on Dolph Ziggler. A video package on the recent feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins is aired.

Match 9: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
The match starts and Rollins goes on the attack until Ambrose slides out to the floor. Rollins runs out after him and Ambrose sends Rollins into the announce table. The match returns to the ring and Ambrose continues on the attack and picks up a near fall over the champion. Ambrose follows with an elbow to the head from the middle rope for another near fall. Ambrose then takes Rollins down with a neckbreaker and goes for a trio of pin falls and shows signs of frustration.

Ambrose begins to toy with Rollins until Rollins counters and sends Ambrose face first into the turnbuckle. Rollins is unable to capitalize, though, as Ambrose begins working over Rollins’ leg and locks him in a cloverleaf. Rollins is able to crawl to the ropes to break the hold and then rolls out to the floor. Rollins is then able to hang Ambrose up on the rope. Rollins follows with a Slingblade and a Blockbuster before clotheslining Ambrose out to the floor. Rollins follows with a pair of suicide dives and rolls Ambrose back into the ring.

Rollins then climbs the ropes, but Ambrose hits him and joins him on the ropes. Rollins then connects with a headbutt and goes for a sunset flip, but Rollins’ knee gives out. He is able to get back up and send Ambrose into the turnbuckle for a buckle bomb. Rollins and Ambrose then exchange kicks and strikes in the middle of the ring until they collide with cross body blocks in the middle of the ring. The two begin brawling once more and Ambrose is able to connect with a facebuster to pick up another near fall. Ambrose begins to climb the ropes and Rollins springs up and tries for a superplex, but Ambrose is able to crotch Rollins on the top rope and picks up a near fall.

The crowd begins a “This is boring!” chant as Rollins is able to connect with a knee to the face for a near fall. Rollins then heads to the top rope and goes for a frog splash, but Ambrose gets his knees up to block it for another near fall. Ambrose then goes to the top rope and Rollins springs up and takes Ambrose down with a superplex followed by a falcon arrow for a near fall. Rollins then begins nailing Ambrose with right hands and sets up for a superkick as Ambrose gets up and puts out his fist in a Shield pose. Rollins isn’t going for it and kicks Ambrose before they begin brawling around the ringside area. Rollins then takes Ambrose out with a barricade bomb. Ambrose won’t get up so Rollins rolls him back into the ring and sets up for the curb stomp, but Ambrose counters into the Dirty Deeds and picks up the pin fall to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Winner: Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins by pin fall to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.

The Smackdown announce team hypes the TLC main event for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. A video package is then aired that focuses on the match as we head into the main event of the evening.

Match 10: Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch (TLC Match for WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship)
The Women’s Championship is hung high above the ring for this match. The match starts and each lady gets a chance to get in some quick offense. Charlotte slides a ladder into the ring and blocks Asuka from doing so as Becky tries to slide a table into the ring. Charlotte stomps on the table causing it to nail Becky in the face and then sets it up in the corner. Becky then brings a ladder into the ring and Charlotte kicks that into her. Charlotte then charges at Asuka, but it is countered and Charlotte rolls out to the floor.

Asuka turns her attention to Becky and sends her from the top rope onto a ladder placed in the ring. Asuka takes her time setting up the ladder and Charlotte takes her down and tries tossing her to the floor, but Asuka comes back and powerbombs Flair through the table that was set up in the corner. Asuka starts to climb again but Lynch comes in with a dropkick from the top rope to knock her off the ladder. Lynch begins climbing the ladder but Asuka pulls her off, but Charlotte comes in and nails Asuka with a chair to the back. With both Lynch and Asuka on the floor, Flair climbs to the top rope and takes them both out with a moonsault.

Charlotte sets up a table outside of the ring but Lynch gets up and nails her with a chair. Lynch then alternates chair shots to the back on Asuka and Flair until Charlotte counters and sends Lynch into the barricade. Flair begins clearing of the German announce table and puts Asuka on it, but Lynch comes in and nails her in the midsection with a chair. Lynch then sets up a ladder outside the ring and places Flair on the announce table next to Asuka. She then climbs to nearly the top and leaps down as Asuka rolls off but Charlotte gets the full brunt of that move.

A “This is awesome!” chant starts as we see that move replayed a few times from different angles. Asuka then slides into the ring and begins climbing the ladder. Becky goes up the other side and the two exchange blows at the top of the ladder until Flair comes in and begins hitting them both with a kendo stick. Charlotte clears the ring and begins to focus on Asuka with the kendo stick on the floor. Becky then comes from behind and nails Charlotte with an overhead suplex into a table placed along side of the barricade. Asuka then begins to strike Becky with the kendo stick until Charlotte spears Asuka through the barricade.

Back in the ring, Becky begins climbing the ladder until Flair slides in and pulls her down. The two begin to trade punches and chops around the ladder until Becky sends Charlotte face first into it. The two continue to fight around the ringside area where Charlotte puts Becky onto a table and climbs to the top rope. Flair then dives off the rope and drives Lynch through the table. Charlotte is the first one to get up and goes back into the ring.

Flair starts climbing the ladder where Asuka comes back and begins striking her. Flair gets her hand on the belt as they continue to trade blows. Meanwhile, Lynch sets up another ladder next to them as Asuka drops down to the floor. Flair then goes over to Becky’s ladder and exchange blows as we see Ronda Rousey come out to the ring and knocks over the ladder sending them both crashing down to the floor. Ronda Rousey leaves the ring as Asuka climbs the ladder and grabs the title to become the new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion.

Winner: Asuka defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a TLC Match to become the new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion.

Asuka celebrated her championship victory as WWE TLC went off the air.

Starman’s Thoughts

TLC ended on a high note. The main event was hands down the best match of the night, and one that I was surprised they put on last. It deserved to be the main event, but that’s not always what the WWE has in mind. It delivered on all counts and will probably be considered as one of the top TLC matches, even up there with the Dudley Boys/Hardy Boys/Edge & Christian matches of the past.

Asuka winning the championship was a surprise and has me wondering if both Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch will be making their way over to Raw tomorrow night. Having Charlotte move over there would be an easy choice due to the feud with Ronda Rousey after their match at Survivor Series, but I can also see Becky Lynch being moved over due to how the main event ended. If that does happen, the Smackdown Women’s Division would be dealt a huge blow, but it would be hard not to move Becky over seeing as how white hot she is right now.

Aside from the main event, the match between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles also ranked up there as one of the best of the night. These two put on a entertaining match and I actually bought into the fact that Styles could possibly win the WWE Championship back. I also applaud the clean finish and the cradle reversal finish didn’t make Styles look weak with the loss. I am also glad to see that this match didn’t end with a nut shot of some sort as has happened way too often as of late with AJ Styles matches. This was a great straight up singles match on a card with too many gimmick matches.

One match that could have benefited with the use of a gimmick (and one that would have made sense) was the match between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship. The was a methodically slow match and the crowd turned on it about 15 minutes in. I couldn’t blame them as I was pretty much thinking the same thing. I know I was expecting something else out of this match due to the build up that it had. I don’t think it was due to the wrestlers, it was just poorly paced.

While I’m on the topic of Dean Ambrose, that air raid siren during his theme music has to go.

I can’t say that I’m surprised with how the Baron Corbin/Braun Strowman match went. I enjoyed that Strowman used logic in the fact that he couldn’t be disqualified due to outside interference, the one issue is that not all the wrestlers use that same logic for similar matches (like the Riott Squad). Corbin being ousted as the Raw GM is a good move as I don’t think he was the right fight for that role. The less I have to see Corbin on television is a good thing.

The Mixed Match Challenge was also predictable, but not in a bad way. I always thought that the original prize of an all expenses paid vacation was an odd one, but it made sense seeing who was in the finals. R-Truth and Carmella could make the prize worthwhile and I had to chuckle a bit when R-Truth said they were going to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. This should at least make for an interesting video package of their “trip.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I felt that Nia Jax tapped out way too quickly after Ronda Rousey locked in the arm bar. For being a big powerhouse, you would think that she would at least try to escape the hold before tapping out, especially with the title on the line. Little details like that bother me.

As for the rest of the card, there seemed to be too many matches and way too many gimmick matches. Yes, it is called TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, but some of the gimmick matches seemed to serve little to no purpose. For example, the kickoff show had a ladder match between Elias and Bobby Lashley for no reason. There wasn’t a title or contract hanging above the ring. It was just a guitar. One that Elias was able to retrieve but had it smashed over him.

The chairs match between Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio had point either. The chairs didn’t really add to the match, and by that point in the card, I about had enough of gimmick matches. If they must insist on having one tables match, one ladder match and one chairs match, I wish they would put more effort into making those meaningful. Not just gimmick matches tossed onto a card just to fill a quota.

Quick Results

– Buddy Murphy defeated Cedric Alexander by pin fall to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
– Elias defeated Bobby Lashley in a ladder match.

– R-Truth and Carmella defeated Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox by submission to win the Mixed Match Challenge.
– The Bar defeated the New Day and the Usos by pin fall to retain the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships.
– Braun Strowman defeated Baron Corbin by pin fall in a TLC match.
– Natalya defeated Ruby Riott in a tables match.
– Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre by pin fall.
– Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton by pin fall in a chairs match.
– Ronda Rousey defeated Nia Jax by submission to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
– Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles by pin fall to retain the WWE Championship.
– Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins by pin fall to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
– Asuka defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a TLC Match to become the new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion.