Recap and Review of WWE TLC 2020
Tonight, was the final WWE pay-per-view of the year. In a tumultuous year full of twists, turns, and tensions, WWE looked to end the year on a great note. Going into the show, it looked solid on paper. Before I begin with my thoughts, here are results of WWE TLC:
-Kickoff Show: Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable and Otis defeated Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
-Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles and The Miz in a TLC Match to retain the WWE Championship
-The Hurt Business defeated The New Day to win the Raw Tag Team Championships
-Asuka and Charlotte Flair defeated Shayna Bazsler and Nia Jax to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships
-Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens in a TLC Match to retain the WWE Universal Championship
-Randy Orton defeated The Fiend Bray Wyatt in the Firefly Inferno Match
The Kickoff Show Match was an eight-man tag, which showcased so many great talents who should be doing so much more than what they are being given. Big E and Sami Zayn should have been in a match for the Intercontinental Championship. The teams of Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro, along with Gable and Otis could have been added to a Tag Team Title match with Street Profits and the team of Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler. It also feels like there is no direction for Baron Corbin and Daniel Bryan right now. All eight of these men deserve so much more than what they are being given. All eight men made the best out of being on the Kickoff Show. This was a solid match and it showcased why all eight competitors need to be doing something more significant on TV.
In the opening match, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre took on AJ Styles in a TLC Match. This is the first time these two have met one on one and for many it is a dream match. This match was brutal, creative and had some great psychology. As the match progressed and both men were worn out, The Miz showed up with the Money in the Bank Briefcase and cashed in to make it a Triple Threat Match. Omos tried his best to take out The Miz and chase John Morrison to the back. In those last few moments, I had no idea who was going to capture the championship. This match was epic all the way from the beginning until the end. Drew McIntyre’s year long journey has ended with the momentum that it started with. McIntyre has taken on all challengers this year.
Another superstar who has had a ton of momentum this year is Sasha Banks. She has been Raw Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team and even made an appearance in Star Wars: The Mandalorian. She walked into tonight as the Smackdown Women’s Champion and faced off against Carmella. Ever since Carmella has returned to WWE Programming, she has had a new attitude and new determination to be as devious as she has ever been. The buildup between her and Sasha was excellent, but the match was even better. This very well may have been Carmella’s best match that she has had in WWE. Clearly, she has been putting in the work, which makes a very viable threat to the title consistently going forward. I would not be disappointed to see Sasha and Carmella square off again.
At the beginning of the year, Cedric Alexander was nonexistent, and Shelton Benjamin has been used poorly since he came back to the WWE. The Hurt Business has revived the careers of Alexander, Benjamin and MVP. It is also brought success to Bobby Lashley’s career as well. Tonight, they had to face The New Day, which is not an easy task. The New Day provided an onslaught early in the match and they appeared to have the upper hand. Alexander and Benjamin kept clawing back and eventually were victorious. I will say it was weird that Alexander tagged himself in when Benjamin was going for the victory. I would remember that moment for some long-term story telling in the future.
The one match I was not all thrilled about going into tonight was the Women’s Tag Team Match. It was originally going to be Asuka and Lana challenging Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax for the championships. I do not like how Lana was involved in this terrible but intriguing storyline only to be written off from it. Asuka had to find a new tag team partner and it ended up being Charlotte Flair. The Twelve Time Women’s Champion has not been on TV since June and she looked like she has not lost a step. I was not sure how it was all going to play out given Asuka and Charlotte’s history together. They worked very well together, and, in the end, they won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Going forward, I would love to see the two of them appear on all three WWE shows to defend those titles. Those titles were designed to have cross promotion between Raw, Smackdown and NXT. For the last half of the year, the titles have only been on one show. Let us see these two against the Riott Squad or have Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville reunite. Go to NXT and take on some of them women there. The possibilities are endless.
This year has been full of returns, attitude changes and some great storytelling. The best story this year is Roman Reigns returning at Summerslam and having a new attitude. He became the heel that people have wanted to see him be for a long time. With this character, he has paid homage to family and heritage while leaving a path of destruction. Kevin Owens has had an on and off year. He had a hot feud with Seth Rollins then cooled down for a while. Suddenly, he started gaining momentum and end up in a main event feud again. This match started hot and heavy with Owens attacking Reigns from behind. Once Owens gained momentum, Jey Uso interfered multiple times. He was taken out by Owens the first time to even the odds, and the second time it took a little bit longer. The third time was too much for Owens to fight off Roman Reigns had every advantage in the match on top of the brutality he was unleashing. Kevin Owens took so much punishment during this match that it made him almost superhuman. Even though Roman Reigns walked away as champion, you cannot take anything away from Owens. He proved why he still belongs as main eventer and a champion. I hope in 2021, he continues to be in the spotlight.
In the Main Event, Randy Orton took on Bray Wyatt in Firefly Inferno Match. I had no idea what to expect because we have only seen a few Inferno Matches in WWE. This also had a different twist on it because of Bray Wyatt. The match started of slow with no fire, but Bray eventually unleashed the flames, and it was pandemonium from there. I always said that nothing would ever beat the original Inferno Match between Undertaker and Kane, but the way the match and show went off the air was insane. Orton and Wyatt have two of the most eerie personalities and have the same type of psychology that Jake the Snake Roberts had. They have been able to turn everything they have done together into gold, and this was no exception. I had little expectations going into this match because you never know what is going to happen. This blew all my expectations out of the water. Randy Orton stood tall to end the night, but I am curious as to the future of The Fiend. Ending the show wanting answers is what makes for a great show and great storytelling. I will be curious to see what happens next.
Tonight’s TLC event was one of the most solid shows that WWE has put on in quite some time. Every match told a great story, and the in-ring work was solid. This was a great way to end the year for WWE and build some momentum heading into the Royal Rumble. Wrestlemania season is quickly approaching and if WWE can build off tonight’s momentum it could be an epic few months. At the end of the night, WWE TLC gets and 8.5 out of 10. I have not been this invested while watching a WWE pay per view since Wrestlemania. WWE needs to look back on tonight and know that when they put the effort in, they can have an incredible pay per view.
