On December 4, 2016, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment had their 7th installment of their paper view TLC, which stands for Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. Those are common weapons wrestlers will use in their matches to weaken their opponent rather than just relying on only their own body strength. The show itself had 6 matches in total that showcased the use of these weapons along with titleholders changing hands. Here is my review of the matches from last night.
1) Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt w Luke Harper (The Wyatt Family) vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno for the SmackDown Tag Team Champions
For the opener of the show, this match is kept short, sweet, and to the point for a viewer’s engagement. Both teams’ members are going back and forth punching, hitting, kicking, and pummeling their opponents to the ground to get the win needed. The high point of the match comes when Bray Wyatt uses his signature move the Sister Abigail distracting Rhyno allowing Randy Orton to deliver his finisher the RKO on Rhyno and get the win for the Wyatt Family. This marks Bray Wyatt winning his first title in on WWE’s main roster since his career started in 2013 along with Randy Orton earning his second tag team title from his whole WWE tenure.
2) Nikki Bella vs. Carmella- No Disqualification Match
A rivalry that had started a mere four months ago when Nikki Bella made her return from a career-threatening neck injury followed by Carmella attacking her. The Fearless Leader of the Bella Army and Princess of Staten Island duel each other using weapons in their arsenals such as kendo sticks and fire extinguishers. It is more so a cat fight between two women that do not like each other evidently shown in the match itself. They go back and forth hitting each other until Nikki Bella uses a fire extinguisher to catch Carmella off guard giving her the win.
3) The Miz w Maryze vs Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Title in a Ladder Match
These two men have been constantly feuding with each other since September with the intercontinental championship being the prize on the line. The Miz and Dolph Ziggler both want to outsmart each other in hopes of winning the title in a quick fashion but that is not what happens with both men using every ladder available to damage their opponent and grab the title to win. While attempts are made from time to time by both men it turns out to be a failed effort because the other man will come from behind and push them off the ladder or either remove the ladder causing whoever is trying to take the belt to dangle from where the belt has to be grabbed. With this happening from time to time hoping for a win The Miz manages to throw Dolph Ziggler off the ladder and retain the intercontinental title that was his.
4) Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto in a Chairs Match
Corbin started feuding with Kalisto one month prior when he distracted him from winning the Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick at WWE’s previous paper view Survivor Series. This leads to both men having a brawl with each other because Corbin wants to prove he has a place in the company. Using chairs to constantly hit the opponents’ upper and lower body and get a pin they continuously fight to be victorious. Victory goes to Corbin who manages to break out of Kalisto managing to pin him and be victorious himself.
5) Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss in for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in a Tables Match
It is these two ladies that obviously do not like each other and want to show who is capable of being the top woman in the company. Lynch already becoming the first and current SmackDown Women’s Champion is out to prove to everyone that her being champions means something from all the work she put towards her training herself to make something out of herself. On the other hand, Bliss wants to prove that she has something to offer besides her looks and fierce personality. The use of tables and both ladies own brute strength is the highlight of this match’s interest for viewers who see both ladies go above and beyond to beat the other women. Positioning tables where they feel it is convenient to get the win and have the other female go through is the main goal that Bliss succeeds putting Lynch through a table positioned outside the ring making her the new SmackDown women’s champion.
6) AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
Both men have been at loggerheads with one another since AJ Styles beat Dean Ambrose for the World Title back in September at Backlash. Since then Ambrose has only had one goal to win back the title that was once his. They engage in using tables, ladders, and chairs throughout the entirety of the match so they could get the win. Fighting one another for quite some time and managing to weaken their opponent Styles and Ambrose have only one goal in mind to win the title. Things take a turn when James Ellsworth makes an appearance and putting Ambrose through the announcement table giving Styles the advantage to keep the World Title in his possession.
From using weapons to hitting, kicking, and punching their opponents, TLC 7th show in years from 2009 till present was one to enjoy because of each competitor showing their spot in WWE and wanting to obviously show they belong there. They fight just to make a statement about their place in the company done right and all do a wonderful job in showing so.
