Wrestle Review: TLC 2018

#11 A Christmas Anomaly

Ambrose and Rollins no chemistry? It can't be!

For the Intercontinental Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose

Maybe it's the fact that it is the Christmas season, making me a bit generous. Or the fact that these two are the best storytellers in the roster, regardless of how their story goes.

Or maybe I'm just biased for the love of the SHIELD saga. But unlike many in attendance and at home, I didn't find as much wrong with what is a downer between the former SHIELD brothers.

Sure you don't start such a heated match with a grapple, sure the feed went out causing me to only see the fiery final sequence and sure these two have had better face-offs.

Yet this one, all things considered, had quality if unsubtle callbacks to their shared and individual pasts.

The commentary too felt on point with Renne forced to take a stand for Ambrose, as Cole smartly played mediator between her and a needling Corey Graves reminding him of his own bias towards Seth Rollins.

Yet they just as much distracted from the in-ring proceedings that had an awkward stop-start feel to it undoubtedly, still, it was good for the given material that has disappointed between the two.

WWE's clever insight sees Dean acting against type ever so slightly and heeling it up in a way unexpected for fans if he were to tap into the crazy Jon Moxley of old; fans might cheer and that's not what the company needs.

At the same time, Rollins really needs to put the brakes on emulating mentor Triple H's grand but dragging epic match style.

Same way Corey Graves should also know when to pull his punches on the heel schtick as it easily goes from riveting to irritating.

The fans deserve and expect better from these two no matter how decent this was.

Result: Dean Ambrose hits the Dirty Deeds on an emotional Seth Rollins to win and become the NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion!

Rating:

3 stars out of 5!