By Chris Shore

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WWE TLC
Aired live on pay-per-view
Houston, Texas at Toyota Center

Kickoff Pre-Show

Josh Matthews, hometown boy Booker T, Mick Foley in a Santa hat, and The Miz checked in on the pre-show panel. They opened by hyping the main event and the kickoff match and then sent it to Renee Young in the social media lounge. The poll question asked which was worse, getting hit with a chair, falling off the ladder, or crashing through a table.

Back with the panel, a video recapped how we got to Daniel Bray vs. The Wyatts and gave their thoughts on that match. They then transitioned to the CM Punk vs. Shield match. They hyped the match and the Shield cut them off with a backstage promo. Dean Ambrose said Punk knew exactly what they were going to do to him tonight, they ere going to beat the hell out of him. Reigns said he thought Punk was confused after the spear he gave him but there was another one coming. Ambrose after tonight Punk would believe in the Shield.

The panel started to talk more about the match when Kofi Kingston walked up. He got in Miz's face and slapped him. They started to brawl and the panel pulled them apart so the camera cut to Michael Cole, JBL, and Jerry "The King" Lawler on commentary. Fandango made his ring entrances and cut a promo that immediately caused a chant for Ziggler. He trashed line dancing and said his name. Ziggler was out next...

Fandango (w/Summer Rae) vs. Dolph Ziggler. Cole said Ziggler said earlier today that he realized he hadn't been producing but tonight he was going to prove he should be the man in WWE. Ziggler charged at Fandango who tossed him over the top rope and we got a commercial break at the 30 second mark...[C]

Back from commercial, Ziggler hit a corner splash and seemed fully in control. He put Fandango on the top rope and went for a superplex. Summer Rae jumped on the apron and Fandango pushed Ziggler to the mat. He hit the top rope leg drop from there for the win...

Fandango defeated Dolph Ziggler at 4:39.

Shore's Slant: I should have known this would happen when Cole opened the match with Ziggler's words. Bleh. I wanted a good match. This wasn't it.

Renee Young had the poll results with ladder winning with 78 percent of the vote... Back to the panel, Miz had taken off so Foley and Boker T broke down Ziggler's loss... A video package put over the two world titles and hyped the main event. The panel started to pick their favorites when the shot cut backstage and a limo pulled up. Triple H, Stephanie, and Vince McMahon all got out to end the pre-show...

Shore's Slant: The video at the end tried to make this seem epic but the build has been so weak that it rings tinny in my ear. I did like the Kofi vs. Miz moment on the pre-show, but otherwise this didn't do a lot to sell the PPV.

TLC

Triple H's music hit and he and Stephanie walked on the stage. They hyped the main vent as historical. Hunter started with the Lou Thesz vs. Buddy Rodgers match that lead to the WWWF splitting from the NWA and the establishment of the two championships. Stephanie said tonight they would crown the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Shore's Slant: The "WWE World Heavyweight Champion?" OK, I like that. I still don't understand why they feel the need to start PPVs with these two though. It's totally unnecessary and nothing more than an ego stroke at this point.

A video hyped the unification and then the official open of the PPV happened, complete with pyro. CM Punk made his ring entrance. A video recapped the Shield beat down of Punk that lead to this match. JBL denied the Authority had anything to do with this match and then Cole immediately said Kane made the match. Wow, that was bad. The Shield made their entrance...

1. CM Punk vs. The Shield. Ambrose started as the Shield has to tag. Ambrose started by trying to get Punk back into their corner. He failed three times so Rollins tagged in. Punk went to the floor and played cat and mouse with Rollins before hitting a neck breaker on Rollins. He hit two more as the fans chanted for it and covered for one. Reigns tagged in and finally powered Punk into their corner to start the beat down.

The Shield worked in and out on Punk. Reigns tossed Punk to the floor and setup for the spear. Punk dodged and Reigns went flying over the announce table in a crazy looking spot. The ref started to count out Reigns but he made it back at seven. JBL said Reigns had a damaged eye and Punk went after it. Reigns recovered and tossed Punk to the floor again before tagging out. He rolled to the floor to nurse his eye.

The doctor checked on Reigns as Punk shoved Rollins into Ambrose, spilling Ambrose to the floor. They showed the doc with Reigns again and he was not actually checking him out, just sitting there with him so it is a work. Punk hit the high knee and bulldog, followed by a high cross body for two. He locked in the Anaconda Vice but Ambrose made the save.

Ambrose put Punk on the top rope, but Punk knocked him down and hit the top rope elbow for two. Punk lifted Ambrose for GTS. Rollins ran in so Punk dropped Ambrose and hit GTS on Rollins. He lifted Ambrose again but Ambrose wiggled out. Reigns jumped in the ring and went to spear Punk, but he hit Ambrose instead. Punk dumped Reigns and covered for the win...

CM Punk defeated The Shield at 13:41.

Shore's Slant: Well thought out match that played into the stipulation well and set a good pace for the rest of the show. I don't like that they are still obviously splitting up the Shield, but if they are going to do it, this was a good way to do so.

Backstage, Renee Young asked AJ if the three losses to Natalya meant she would lose the title tonight. AJ called Young crazy and said she was the only Diva that mattered. She said she always win when it counts and she will again tonight...

2. Natalya vs. AJ Lee (w/Tamina) for the Divas Championship. The announce team made a big deal about how many days AJ has been champion. Uh oh. Natty started fast, but Tamina distracted her, allowing AJ to kick Natty from the apron and take control. Natty tried to recover and hit a slam but AJ reversed into a front choke. Natalya finally powered out and hit several duplexes. She hit her slam and locked on the Sharpshooter.

AJ reversed out and rolled away. Tamina distracted Natty and AJ hooked on the Black Widow. Natty slammed her off and hit a clothesline. Natty went for the Sharpshooter again, but AJ grabbed a handful of hair and rolled her up in a small package for the win...

AJ Lee retained the Divas Championship at 6:35.

Shore's Slant: With the reports of AJ verbally assaulting Michelle Beadle this past week I thought they might pull the trigger here, especially during that first Sharpshooter, but no. This wasn't a great match, but it wasn't bad either.

The main event hype video aired... Damien Sandow made his entrance while cutting a promo. He trashed the Southern words "y'all," "reckon," and "ye, followed by haw." He said Big E Langston followed by Intercontinental Champion was also stupid and wouldn't be true after tonight. Langston was out next...

3. Damien Sandow vs. Big E Langston for the Intercontinental Championship. Langston went right after Sandow and tossed him to the floor. Sandow pulled Langston into the post to take control. Sandow hit his elbow in the ring for two. Sandow went for Your Welcome but Big E powered out into a Big Ending lift. Sandow escaped, but Langston hit his shoulder tackle and dropped the straps. He hit the Big Ending for the win...

Big E Langston retained the Intercontinental Championship at 6:27.

Shore's Slant: TV match. Disappointed.

Backstage, Vince McMahon walked up to Randy Orton and appeared to wish him luck... The panel recapped Kofi's attack on Miz and Booker T announced a match between the two tonight. Foley said it was a no-DQ match...

4. The Real Americans vs. Rey Mysterio and Big Show vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel vs. Cody Rhodes and Goldust in an elimination match for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Ryback and Cody started. All six men not in the Real Americans made early appearances with Rey taking the heat from Rybaxel first. Ray got the tag to Goldust who ran in and worked over Ryback. He rolled Ryback up to eliminate them. Ryback and Curtis Axel were eliminated at 6:08.

Swagger ran in to replace Ryback as we saw a Real American for the first time. He tossed Goldy to the floor and hit a clothesline. He rolled him back in the ring and tagged Cesaro who dead-lifted Goldust for a gut wrench slam for two. Cesaro did the giant swing, though a very short version of it, and tagged in Swagger. Swagger covered and Cody made the save. Swagger hit the Swagger bomb and Cesaro tagged in to hit the double stomp for two.

Goldust hit a ranna out of nowhere. Swagger dropped Cody to prevent the tag. Show took out Swagger and Cesaro took out Rey. Goldust slammed Cesaro and tagged Show. Show was a house of fire and went to chokeslam Cesaro. Swagger ran in and got knocked out. Cesaro dove off the top rope and he got knocked out and pinned. The Real Americans were eliminated at 14:37.

Big Show helped Goldust to his feet so they could face off. Show drove Goldy to the floor, buy Goldy came right back with a cross body for two. He reversed a chokeslam into a DDT for two. Cody tagged in and they hit a double suplex on Show for two. Cody went for the Disaster kick and Show swatted him out of the air and got the hot tag to Rey. Rey ran his comeback, but Cody hit the Disaster kick for two.

Cody setup for Cross Rhodes, but Rey reversed into a 619 setup. Goldy ran in and took the 619 instead. Show pulled Goldust from the ring and slammed him into the barricade. Cody dove on Show, who caught him, but reversed and slammed Show into the post. Cody went for a missile dropkick, but Rey reversed into a power bomb bridge for two. Rey went for 619, but Cody caught his legs and almost hit an Alabama Slam. Rey escaped for another rollup near fal, but Cody finally hit Cross Rhodes for the win...

Cody Rhodes and Goldust retained the WWE Tag Team Championship at 21:04.

Shore's Slant: A long but entertaining match. I thought they might change the titles here to start the expected Goldust vs. Cody feud, but I also thought they might not change anything to protect the main event as the big moment. There's plenty of time to start the burn between the brothers so no harm here. The last few minutes were very good so be sure to check them out if you can.

Post-match, Cody and Goldust helped Rey up and they all shook hands... Backstage, The Prime Time Players, Great Khali, Los Matadores, Vickie Guerrero, Brad Maddox, and Kane all tried to sell Brawling Buddies... Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls made their entrance while a video showed the problems between Brodus Clay and Xavier Woods. Truth and Woods were out next...

5. Brodus Clay (w/Sweet Tea and The Funkadactyls) vs. R-Truth (w/Xavier Woods). Clay beat the hell out of Truth and Albert admonished him. He tied Truth in the tree of woe and Albert told Brodus to just cover him. Clay said he was better than Albert so Albert left. The Funkadactyls left too. Truth hit a drop kick from behind and rolled up Clay for the win...

R-Truth defeated Brodus Clay at 6:02.

Shore's Slant: I'm all for the return of monster Clay but this shit is dreadful.

6. Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz in a no disqualification match. The match started fast with both guys going right at each other. Kofi went to dive on Miz on the floor and Miz hit him with what looked like a stiff forearm. Kofi recovered and went for Trouble in Paradise on the floor but Miz ducked and Kofi kicked the post. Miz hit a DDT on the leg and rolled Kofi in the ring for two.

Miz worked on the leg and exposed a turnbuckle as the crowd died. Miz tried to hit his finisher on the exposed buckle, but Kofi escaped only to eat the corner clothesline from Miz. Miz jumped off the top and ate a foot as a "boring" chant broke out. Miz tried to hook the figure four, but Miz kicked him into the exposed buckle and hit the trouble in paradise for the win...

Kofi Kingston defeated Miz at 8:00.

Shore's Slant: Dreadfully boring match. I have to agree with the fans. Miz is awful right now and Kofi is as meaningless as ever. WWE has no one to blame for this but themselves.

A video hyped the Wyatts vs. Bryan. Daniel Bryan made his ring entrance, followed by the Wyatts...

7. Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family. Bray sat in the chair while Rowan started. Harper took the mask off at the bell but Bryan was already running to attack. The heels fought back and took control and Bray finally came to the ring and tagged in. He yelled at Bryan that he could have helped him and they could have been friends before hitting his corner splash. Bray hit a suplex throw and did the spider walk over to him. the crowd chanted "That was creepy." Ha!

Bray continued to yell at Bryan and again asked him to join them. he told Bryan to grab his hand and he would make it all go away. Bryan kicked the hand away and Bray hit a sick back elbow and called him a foolish boy. He tagged in Harper and told him to finish it. Harper hit a power bomb for two. Bray whispered something in Harper's ear and Harper went for a big boot. Bryan moved and Harper got tied up on the top rope.

Bryan hit a dropkick on Wyatt and Rowan and then another on Harper. He hit a super back suplex and then the Yes kicks. He went to the top rope and hit the headbutt. He covered, but Rowan broke it up. He hit roundhouse on Rowan, who fell into the ropes and tied his arms up. Bryan kicked him while Harper tagged Bray. Bryan dumped Rowan and Harper to the floor. Bray whipped Bryan, who ducked the elbow and dove on Harper on the floor sending him over the announce table. He hit a drop toe hold on Rowan on the stairs and then a missile drop-kick on Wyatt. He tried for the Yes Lock, but Bray punched out and hit Sister Abigail for the win...

They Wyatt Family defeated Daniel Bryan at 12:25.

Post-match, Bray cradled Bryan's head in his lap for a while before finally posing on his knees with the two big men behind him...

Shore's Slant: Very entertaining match, especially with Bray yelling at Bryan, but I don't get the finish. They just beat him and that's it? Nothing else? That's lame as hell. The Wyatts are becoming the blue ball act in WWE. They have a great setup, but then the delivery is ultimately weak.

The panel made their predictions with Foley and Booker split on who would win. The hype video aired followed by entrances for Orton and Cena. Justin Roberts held ring introductions and said the first person to climb the ladder and collect both titles wins. Keep that in mind going forward...

8. Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a TLC match to unify the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championships. Cena hit a shoulder tackle and immediately went for a table. That was stupid. Orton knocked him down and grabbed a ladder and took it into the ring to get the titles That was equally stupid. Cena hit Orton with the ladder and went back for the table. He set it in the corner and tried to AA Orton through it. Orton escaped and got a chair from the floor. They fought over the chair and Orton hit Cena with it at 2:53 to get the weapons really going early.

Cena rolled to the floor and then they botched a chair shot near the steps. It looked really weird. Orton went to hit Cena with a chair near the post but Cena moved and Orton sold his hand hurting. Cena grabbed another chair and hit Orton with it several times. Cena set a table up on the floor. Cena lifted for a power bomb, but Orton popped out and slammed Cena into the stairs. Back in the ring, Orton hit his power slam. He slid a ladder in the ring and Cena grabbed it and used it as a weapon.

Cena climbed the ladder but Orton pulled him down and hit a back suplex. Orton dumped the ladder and went back to the chair shots. He shoved a chair in the corner but Cena came back with the start of the five moves of doom. When Cena did his hand gesture Orton kicked him and slammed him into that chair in the corner. He setup a ladder and climbed until he had a hold of one of the titles, but Cena cut him off and knocked him off. Cena hit the five knuckle shuffle from the ladder.

Orton rolled to the apron and Cena hit him with the ladder. Orton fell from the apron through the table on the floor. Cena climbed to the top and stalled for a moment. Orton ran in and shoved him off the ladder and hit a RKO. Cena powered back and clotheslined Orton over the top rope. He followed and hot him with the top part of the stairs twice. Cena set another table in the corner opposite of the first and went back for Orton. Orton hit Cena with a microphone, curb stomped him on the stairs, and then hit the Brad Maddox mic shots to the head.

Orton cleared the Spanish announce table but then backed up for the punt kick. Cena dodged the kick and hit the AA through the announce table. Cena climbed the ladder and grabbed the World title. Orton ran in and dumped the ladder, leaving Cena hanging in the air. Orton grabbed a chair and knocked Cena down, but Cena recovered and speared Orton through the second corner table.

Orton rolled to the floor and started looking under the pads. he found a pair of handcuffs and handcuffed Cena to the ropes. Orton showed the key to Cena and then threw it into the crowd. Orton got a big ladder and hit Cena with it. Cena basically no sold it. Cena pounded on the handcuffs with a chair while Orotn setup the ladder. Cena took the bottom rope off and climbed the other side of the ladder and knocked Orton down.

Orton ran over and grabbed the ropes handcuffed to Cena and pulled him off near the table. I think Cena was supposed to go through it. Orton climbed the ladder again and pulled the brace holding both title belts off the hook to win the match...

Randy Orton became the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at 24:35.

Post-match, Orton posed with both titles as the refs helped Cena. Vince McMahon's music hit. He, Stephanie, and Hunter all came to the ring. Stephanie clapped and then hugged Orton in the ring. Hunter and Vince shook his hand while Cena watched from the floor to end the show...

Shore's Slant: Well that was anti-climactic. The match was pretty good. They took advantage of the stipulations well. The botch at the end worked out OK because it looked like Cena hit his head so they were able to cover. But still, that spot was enough time to allow Orton to get the titles and then we just get a pose with the Authority to end the show at 14 till the top of the hour? I expected more I guess.

All in all this was a middling PPV with some odd finishes in that I expected more than what I was given. Perhaps that's my fault for thinking WWE would do something exciting. Silly me. Jason Powell and I will have more in just a little while on the Member's Exclusive audio review. thanks for watching along tonight.

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