Ranking and grading every match at WWE TLC 2020

#2 Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles [vs. The Miz] (TLC Match for the WWE Championship)

CALF CRUSHER. IN THE LADDER.ouch.#WWETLC @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/tskChmPkmQ

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 21, 2020

This was a fantastic way to start TLC, with two of the best in the business going at it with weapons at play. It may have started methodically, but Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles did pick up the pace when it truly mattered. The tables, ladders, and chairs were all very smartly used throughout the match.

A battle between Styles' technical brilliance and McIntyre's immense strength, both Superstars worked brilliantly together. The story of the TLC match was the Scotsman's injured leg, which was in constant pain thanks to the chair and ladder-assisted Calf Crushers from Styles.

While both men were down, The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to make it a triple threat match. However, it seemed like a bad idea after Omos slammed him through a table. AJ's bodyguard looked great here, chasing John Morrison to the back.

Yes, we now have ourselves a TRIPLE THREAT #TLCMatch!Will it be @DMcIntyreWWE @AJStylesOrg or @mikethemiz who walks out with the #WWEChampionship?! #WWETLC pic.twitter.com/whoeEgqK5H

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2020

The final stretch of the match saw Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, and The Miz all on top of two ladders and fighting it out over who would win the WWE Championship. It was unpredictable and could have gone either way, before McIntyre gutted it out and retained the title.

This match was laid out well, from start to finish. What started as a tactical war ended in a Money in the Bank cash-in and shootout on top of a ladder. All three men did very well to make the ending as unpredictable as possible. This was one of the better TLC matches in the history of this pay-per-view.

Grade: A