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WWE Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) was scheduled as the final pay-per-view of the year. With WWE looking to end 2020 on a high amidst all the problems going on, it was something wrestling fans were looking forward to.
Charlotte Flair was rumored to make her much-awaited return to WWE during TLC following her six-month-long break. She did just that as she returned to partner with Asuka to defeat Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
During the pre-show of TLC, Otis, Daniel Bryan, Big E, and Chad Gable teamed up to defeat Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and King Corbin.
The Hurt Business was scheduled for a RAW Tag Team Championship shot during TLC, while Carmella got a chance to take away Sasha Banks’ SmackDown Women’s Championship.
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Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre were the other two top Champions who were scheduled to defend their titles in TLC matches, while Randy Orton and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt were booked for a Firefly Inferno Match.
In this article, we will look at the 5 things WWE got right at the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view.
#5 The Hurt Business become the new RAW Tag Team Champions at WWE TLC
The Hurt Business is finally becoming more and more prominent on WWE RAW, and the faction got another shot at The New Day’s RAW Tag Team Championships at WWE TLC. Cedric Alexander had already defeated both Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston in one-on-one matches, while Shelton Benjamin was also looking to prove his mettle.
Alexander started for his team and was isolated by Woods and Kingston early on in the contest. While Benjamin kept searching for a chance to tag in, Alexander could not catch a break and make it to his team’s corner. Benjamin broke up a pin to save his teammate, and Alexander managed to tag him in soon after.
Benjamin exploded into the match and seemed much better in the ring during the contest. The action picked up from there on and The Hurt Business started to dominate the contest. Alexander dodged a Trouble in Paradise attempt late in the match and followed it up with a jumping knee and a brainbuster to Kofi.
Woods broke up the pin but got taken out by The Hurt Business who continued to rally. After some more action, Alexander hit the Lumbar Check to win the RAW Tag Team titles for the first time in his career at TLC.
The match was as good as expected, and The Hurt Business finally got what they were looking for. Benjamin was great in the match, and the limited interference from MVP made the duo look even better and more dominant.
#4 Sasha Banks puts down Carmella to retain her SmackDown Women’s Championship at WWE TLC
Sasha Banks put her SmackDown Women’s title on the line against Carmella at WWE TLC. As soon as the referee called for the bell, Carmella decided to roll out of the ring, playing mind games. She got back in and was taken down by Banks quickly.
The Boss threw Carmella out of the ring, but Reginald Thomas was around to catch her. He helped her get back to hit a hurricanrana to The Boss on the floor.
After sending Banks into the steel steps, Carmella started to dominate her competition. She seemed much better in the ring this time around, and there was no ring rust, even though this was her only her second match after such a long time.
Late in the match, Banks hit the Three Amigos to pay respect to her idol Eddie Guerrero and followed it up with a great frog splash. Mella continued to use some dirty tactics throughout the contest to stay on top late, and came close to victory with The Code of Silence.
After some interference from Reginald, Banks was able to lock in the Bank Statement to make Carmella tap out and retain her title at WWE TLC.
TLC did not have many women’s matches scheduled for the show, but this was a great contest between two top women on SmackDown. Their rivalry seems to be far from over, and we can expect Carmella to look for at least one rematch before heading into another rivalry.
#3 Drew McIntyre defends his WWE Championship against all odds at TLC
The first match of WWE TLC after the preshow saw Drew McIntyre defend his WWE Championship against AJ Styles in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at WWE TLC. With Omos by his side, Styles had a massive advantage walking into this contest.
Both men got down to business from the opening bell, and Styles tried to target the WWE Champion’s leg. Styles targeted The Scottish Psychopath’s leg throughout and hit it with steel chairs. He even locked in the calf crusher with the help of the ladder to dish out a world of pain to the WWE Champion.
The Champion mounted a comeback and started to throw his challenger around to gain back some momentum. Soon after, The Miz and John Morrison arrived to interfere and put the Champion through a table. The A-Lister cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to make it a Triple Threat TLC match.
While The Miz had a clear path to the top of the ladder, Omos entered the ring and took him down before dropping him through a table outside the ring. Morrison tried to take Omos down with a steel chair but was chased to the back by the big man at TLC.
All three men tried their best to take each other down, but it was McIntyre who finally made it to the top and fought off the other two Superstars to retain the WWE Championship.
The Miz cashing in at TLC was the right call as WWE had to make use of the MITB briefcase at some point. Making the match into a Triple Threat contest allows WWE to book a more traditional one-on-one match between Styles and McIntyre in the near future.
#2 Roman Reigns retains his WWE Universal Championship at TLC
The match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens was expected to be extremely physical at WWE TLC, and that’s exactly how things went down during the show. Reigns came out with Heyman by his side and was watching his title being raised above the ring, following which Owens attacked him out of nowhere.
KO took the advantage by hitting a Cannonball in the corner and followed it up with another one outside the ring. The two men then exchanged some explosive blows.
Jey Uso ran down to help his cousin out, but Owens was ready for him and took him out with a steel chair. Nothing could stop KO for some time, before Reigns used the steel steps to gain back some control in the match.
It was carnage from thereon as both men continued to use the weapons around them generously in an attempt to go one-up over Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles’ match earlier on TLC.
Uso made another appearance and constantly tried to stop KO from making it to the top of the ladder. Owens put him through the announce table with a powerbomb and continued to stay strong in the match.
In the final moments, Owens tried to climb the ladder but Reigns pulled him down. KO responded by delivering a pop-up powerbomb to The Tribal Chief and tried to climb the ladder once more. This time Uso stopped him, and Reigns got enough time to climb the ladder, choke The Prizefighter out, and retain his title.
This was a fun match that made KO look incredibly strong against the top guy of SmackDown. TLC had some good matches this year, and this one ranked among the top. Reigns retaining the title was the right call, but it was the way he retained that will help WWE build a new storyline, starting Friday.
#1 Randy Orton burns The Fiend at WWE TLC
Randy Orton and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt were booked to compete in the main event of WWE TLC. While many fans expected this to be a cinematic match, WWE made it closer to a traditional Inferno Match and added the term 'Firefly' seemingly just because Wyatt was involved.
The two men fought all around the ring, and after The Fiend hit the first Sister Abigail, Wyatt beckoned the flames and they errupted around the ringside area.
The Fiend sat Orton down in a rocking chair and set it on fire. However, The Legend Killer managed to move out of the way just in time to save himself. Both men did their best during the match, and while The Fiend shook off most of Orton’s attack in the beginning, he started to slow down a bit later on.
The Viper used the steel steps and an axe handle to take down The Fiend, and almost put his face into the fire before Wyatt managed to break free. The Fiend finally managed to apply the Mandible Claw, but Orton managed to push him into the flames and set him ablaze.
The Viper hit an RKO while The Fiend was on fire, and then doused him with gasoline. He took some matches and set The Fiend fully on fire to end the match at TLC.
This was an interesting match and the ending leaves a world of questions left to be answered. For example: Why does The Fiend keep losing most of the big matches that he picks himself? Anyway, Orton winning the match allows WWE to prolong this rivalry and gives Wyatt a chance to come up with something even crazier to take down The Legend Killer.
