Tuesday, March 19, 2024
EditorialTLC 2016 Review and Match Ratings

TLC 2016 Review and Match Ratings

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Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt def. Heath Slater (C) and Rhyno (C) – Smackdown Tag Team Championships

If there was one title change that was going to take place, it was going to be in this match. While WWE has been teasing tension between Orton and Harper, they haven’t done enough to tease a breakup to have Slater and Rhyno hold onto the titles longer, so I think it was pretty obvious that Orton and Wyatt were going over here. Now, as for the match, it wasn’t really anything special. Crowd was on fire for Orton and the Wyatt’s entrance, but the match was very Smackdown LIVE-ish. I suppose it was enough to at least get the crowd warmed up, but it wasn’t of premium quality. *1/2

Nikki Bella def. Carmella – No Disqualification

The women tried here, but not only did I find the match sloppy all around, the match was just lacking physicality and creativity all around. The feud between the two was built on physicality, and this match really didn’t feature any of it. I tempered my expectations prior to the match, because I wasn’t expecting a full out war between the two, but I didn’t think the match was up to par. In addition, I think Carmella could have used a win here as opposed to Nikki, because Nikki defeated Carmella at No Mercy. And with Carmella telling Nikki after the match that Natayla was the one who ambushed her at Survivor Series (shocking, I know), but it doesn’t do anything for me and it certainly doesn’t do Carmella any favors either. So yeah, very disappointed in the match. Expecting much more. *1/2


The Miz (C) w/Maryse def. Dolph Ziggler – Intercontinental Championship (Ladder Match)

This match was everything Carmella and Nikki was not. It was creative, it was fun and it picked up in a big way after a slow start. I think they are actually teasing Daniel Bryan returning for one more match against The Miz with how much they have been heavily involving Daniel Bryan into The Miz’s feuds. As for the match, I thought it started off slow as The Miz and Ziggler seemed to stay concentrated by the apron on the outside of the ring too long, and I also thought they stayed into the corner for too long in the match, but it got really good once they started incorporating psychology into the match by targeting each other’s knees and legs. There were also really great teases towards the end, as there was really no indication as to who would win the match. I also love the fact they had The Miz go over Ziggler cleanly here, as this win definitely gives him, and the title more credibility. I thought the ending of the match was also perfect as they were both struggling to climb the ladder and The Miz was able to attack Ziggler’s legs at the last minute to pick up the victory. The post-match selling of both men topped off a great effort in what was billed as the final chapter between these two men. It’ll be interesting to see where The Miz goes next, and as for Ziggler, well, there’s always comedy right? ****


Baron Corbin def. Kalisto – Chairs Match

I have to say, coming into this match, I really wasn’t expecting much. As a matter of fact, a big part of me thought this was going to be a squash for Corbin. I suppose in hindsight it was a good thing I was wrong. Both men executed use of the chairs sublimely. Kalisto tried to use his speed and agility with the use of chairs to his advantage while Corbin really used the chairs to torture Kalisto. The ending sequence with Corbin simply shoving the chair right into a flying Kalisto was epic to see as well. I also loved Corbin’s Deep Six to Kalisto on the outside while Kalisto was in mid-air.I think this match was a good reason to not judge a match by its cover. Really didn’t think this match would amount to much, but both men worked hard and worked a very good match that surpassed expectations. It wasn’t anything blowaway or anything, but it was definitely a good watch upon first showing, and I think that I would enjoy seeing the match again. Very solid effort from all parties involved here. ***1/2


Alexa Bliss def. Becky Lynch (C) – Smackdown Women’s Championship (Tables Match)

Surprised, but also not surprised at Bliss winning the title. The law of reverse momentum said that Becky was going to win because she was put through a table on Smackdown LIVE last week, but I thought that it was time to move into a different direction, and I think this was the right move (though I fear that this also may be a ploy to get the title on Nikki Bella at a future date). The bottom line is that Bliss has been one of the top female performers on either brand since the draft, and she’s come into her own. I didn’t think that Bliss could afford to lose to Becky again and further degrade her. I think it was time to pull the trigger on her and see waht she can do as the top female on the Smackdown roster. As for the match, I sort of tuned in and out of it, but from what I saw, it was decent enough. I’m not really a fan of tables matches, but putting my personal preference aside, I think these two did their best, and I can’t fault them for that. So good on them, and congrats to Bliss. I also heard that there was a nip slip? Gotta look for that. ***


AJ Styles (C) def. Dean Ambrose – WWE World Championship (TLC Match)

The face that runs the place. The champ that runs the camp. And according to the comments section, AJ’s also the butt that runs the hut. It may be a shame that we may remember this match more for AJ’s embarassing wardrobe malfunction, as for the majority of the match, a noticeable portion of AJ’s backside, which seemed to be bleeding, was exposed after AJ was suplexed through four chairs. Aside from that, wow, this was an incredible match, and probably Ambrose’s best match of his career. I think we need to give tremendous credit to the once in a generation caliber talent that is AJ Styles. Name me someone else (aside from maybe Seth Rollins) that can successfully execute a 450 splash from that distance through a table. I hopped out of my seat after doing that. Ambrose had his moments too, with that elbow through the announcer’s table off a ladder stacked onto another announcer’s table. These two have built incredible chemistry together, and I thought it showed here immensely. The Ellsworth interference and the cheap finish was something that I could have done without, but it didn’t hurt the match, and it made sense in the context of the story. Perhaps James can claim that because Ambrose was always there to help him and not allow him to beat AJ on his own, this is his chance to get his revenge. Or James could just claim that because he beat AJ three times, he could beat him for the title. I guess we’ll find out this Tuesday, but regardless, this was an incredible spotfest and a great match all around. Both men worked hard, and AJ Styles puts up another phenemonal performance that could definitely get match of the year consideration. You look at his performances at Extreme Rules, Money In The Bank, Summerslam, No Mercy, Backlash and tonight, and there’s just no question that AJ’s been WWE’s best performer this year. AJ’s your Superstar of the Year. Period. ****1/2


Conclusion:

Show had a very slow start with two clunkers back to back, but once we got to the ladder match between The Miz and Ziggler, the show picked up in a very good way. Baron Corbin and Kalisto was a pleasant surprise and of course, the main event was very entertaining (in more ways than one). You’re getting two title changes, a fantastic main event, and a great effort from all involved tonight. I’d probably skip the first two matches and skip to around the 8:45 time frame of the PPV and start watching from there, but overall, TLC from Smackdown was a very good showing. Thumbs up from this viewer. Until next time.

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