By Jason Powell
WWE TLC 2016
Aired live on WWE Network and pay-per-view
Dallas, Texas at American Airlines Center
-Renee Young, Peter Rosenberg, Daniel Bryan, and Booker T hosted the show from the usual spot on the arena floor.
-Tom Phillips checked in from the mobile kill room known as the Social Media Lounge. His guest will be Alexa Bliss.
-Young announced American Alpha, Apollo Crews, The Hype Bros vs. Curt Hawkins, The Vaudevillains, and The Ascension in a worthless 10-man tag match for the Kickoff Show.
Powell’s POV: As noted on the main page, the Raw and Smackdown Pre Shows are no longer listed on the WWE Network schedule. It’s also worth noting that Lita and Jerry Lawler, who typically serve on the pre-show and Kickoff Show panels, are not on the TLC Kickoff Show.
-A WWE Network commercial aired. It listed Elimination Chamber among the live specials. The event will be held in Phoenix, but they have not announced the date.
-The panel discussed the Nikki Bella vs. Carmella match. Rosenberg showed off his Bella Twins socks. “I thought your name was Peter, not Mark,” Booker T said. Rosenberg was also wearing an American Alpha t-shirt.
-A video package aired on the Intercontinental Title feud between The Miz and Dolph Ziggler. Rosenberg called it an “iconic” Intercontinental Title feud and said it takes him back to Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat. Daniel Bryan checked out with Young saying he had some important things to take care of.
-A Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto video package aired.
-A video package aired on the Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss feud over the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
-Natalya joined the panel and was introduced as one of the cornerstones of the women’s division. She spoke about her tables match experience and said tonight’s match would change both careers. Booker T asked if she should be the No. 1 contender. Natalya said Lynch is a whiner, but an excellent women’s champion. Natalya said she believed Bliss would win the championship.
-Backstage, Tom Phillips interviewed Alexa Bliss and asked her bad questions submitted by fans via Twitter. She was asked to name her inspiration. Bliss named Trish Stratus. Phillips asked if Trish would be happy with the way she’s conducted herself. Bliss said she should be and added that she is happy with herself. She was asked if she has any doubts after losing to Lynch once before. Bliss pointed out that she had her foot on the ropes and should not have lost.
Mauro Ranallo, JBL, and David Otunga checked in as the commentary team for the opening match…
1. Apollo Crews, Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Mojo Rawley, and Zack Ryder vs. Curt Hawkins, Simon Gotch, Aiden English, Viktor, and Konnor in a 10-man tag match. Hawkins received his own introduction from a man who did not appear on camera. There was a spot with the wrestlers taking turns throwing one another from the ring. Crews was the last man standing. The babyfaces and heels squared off, then four of the babyfaces dumped four heels to the floor heading into a break. [C]
The heels worked over Gable coming out of the break. Gable came close to tagging out, but who were not legal ran over and pulled the four babyfaces off the apron so that he couldn’t tag anyone. Viktor got a near fall that Jordan broke up. Gable finally made the hot tag to Jordan, who cleaned house on the heels. Crews caught Hawkins with a kick and then suplexed him onto a group of wrestlers on the floor. Jordan and Gable hit Grand Amplitude on English for the win…
Apollo Crews, Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Mojo Rawley, and Zack Ryder beat Curt Hawkins, Simon Gotch, Aiden English, Viktor, and Konnor in 11:55.
Powell’s POV: Good action and the crowd was engaged because it was the opener. American Alpha and The Hype Bros are on their way to setting a record for most 10-man tag match wins in history based on the Kickoff Shows alone.
-Young and the panel spoke about the match and then hyped John Cena hosting Saturday Night Live. Rosenberg and Booker both predicted that AJ Styles would defeat Dean Ambrose in the TLC main event. A video package on the TLC main event closed the show.
Join me for live coverage of WWE TLC on the main page.
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