Welcome to the Mastermind Analysis review of WWE TLC 2016. The thoughts and opinions expressed below are those of The Mastermind only, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and opinions of the entire F4R team. Let us know what you think in the comments, or by getting involved on Facebook! But for now, on with the show...
Pre-PPV Thoughts
At the moment I have it as 1 all in the PPV game between Raw and Smackdown. Smackdown easily took September, with Backlash; But they lost to Hell in a Cell in October. I am a big fan of gimmick matches when they are used correctly. They are like spices in cooking – use them all the time and they lose their specialness. Never use them, and your product becomes bland and stale. TLC represents an opportunity, but looking down the card, I can’t help but feel like they’ve done a HIAC and gone OTT. Let me put it plainly… I hate chair matches. Especially on a card that also has a ‘No DQ’ match. I can rant about logic in No DQ matches for hours, but essentially, there is no difference between a chairs match and a No DQ match. There is no difference between a ladder match and a TLC match. (blank) on a pole, extreme rules, monsters ball, full metal mayhem… all pretty much the same thing. Still, I’m willing to give all the matches a chance to impress me. I hope this will be a fun one. Even if they’ve only really had 4 hours of TV to build to this since Survivor Series!
Pre-Show
American Alpha, HypeBros & Apollo Crews vs Curt Hawkins, Vaudevillains & Ascension
Prediction: At the time of writing, there has been no pre-show announcement. Shock horror. I predict it will be a pretty forgettable match, potentially a tag team match involving American Alpha? Maybe them vs The Usos?
Match Analysis: Another standard meaningless multi-man match. It wasn't really memorable, but Alpha got the win so I won't grumble too much!
[**1/2]
Main Show
Heath Slater & Rhyno © vs Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton
Prediction: Slater & Rhyno have far exceeded my expectations in their tag title run. I thought it would be a quick way to get Slater a contract, before switching the titles to the newly turned Usos. Instead, the Usos heel turn has fallen kind of flat, at least on PPV. I’m still not sold on Orton & Wyatt together… I’m hoping they have a long term plan for them, with a decent payoff, because if this is all to keep Randy out of the WHC title picture, then it will be really disappointing. So, I’ll hopefully predict a title change here, especially as Wyatt & Orton won their survivor series match.
Match Analysis: That played out just as I'd expected, except it felt a lot shorter than I was hoping. I really like the dynamic with each Wyatt member saving the other from an incoming attack, it shows solidarity and some simple innovation in the tag team formula. I was never a massive fan of Slater & Rhyno as a team, so it's great to see Bray Wyatt get some gold round his waist!!
[***]
Carmella vs Nikki Bella (No DQ)
Prediction: This has potential to be a fun little match. I like that there is more than 1 womens feud on Smackdown, as more often than not the women fall into the same problems as the cruiserweights in that the only thing going on is the title picture. If you can book the heavyweights into feuds, why can’t you book the women or the cruiserweights?? I have no idea where this one will go. My guess is that whoever wins this match will go on to challenge for the title, so if Carmella wins, I expect Becky to retain; if Nikki wins, I expect Alexa Bliss to be the new champ tonight.
Match Analysis: Well that was a bit underwhelming... Not that I was expecting anything spectacular. Can I ask why the ref was counting out each women when they went outside the ring?? It's a No DQ match so surely that means there's no countouts??? The finish was pretty stupid as well. The fire extinguisher is a fun mid-match spot for catching your opponent off-guard. Emptying the entire thing over Carmella was just stupid, I don't get why that's a strong move for her to make. And then to top off the mediocrity, Carmella makes the shocking announcement that Natalya attacked Nikki at Survivor Series... As if anyone even cares!
[**]
The Miz © vs Dolph Ziggler (Ladder Match)
Prediction: Ugh, how are we STILL getting this match?! The retirement angle should have been the final chapter in this story, but instead it’s still going on and I’m just so bored by it all. No doubt these two have chemistry in the ring, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen everything these two can come up with so there’s nothing new or exciting here. I’m going to go with a troll prediction and say that Ziggler will regain the belt, and the brief Miz run was just so he could beat Zayn at Survivor Series.
Match Analysis: Not a bad match, but I'm far too over-exposed to these two. There was some really fun spots, like the powerbomb onto the ladder, but largely it was a collection of spots often seen on every modern ladder match. I just hope and pray that this is the final chapter in the rivalry. I am so done with these two.
[***1/2]
Baron Corbin vs Kalisto (Chairs Match)
Prediction: I really didn’t like the finish to the Kalisto/Kendrick match at Survivor Series. Firstly, it meant zero changes to the title belt situation between the brands, but secondly it kinda shat all over the match, which up until that point was actually really good. There’s always talk of WWE building Kalisto up to be the next Rey Mysterio, so if there’s any credibility to that, then Kalisto needs to beat Corbin. I’m expecting a fun match, I like both guys in their roles, so hopefully I don’t focus on the stupid stipulation of a chairs match…
Match Analysis: That was better than I was expecting!! We saw some innovative chair spots, as well as some classics. The big man/litle man dynamic was really good in this one. I LOVED the suicide dive counter into the deep six on the outside. The finish didn't feel as strong as it could have, but this can be looked at as one of the best matches in either mens career.
[****]
Becky Lynch © vs Alexa Bliss (Tables Match)
Prediction: I read somewhere that the tables match was a big foreshadowing to Becky losing the title. Something about it being the best way to get the title off someone while also avoiding them being pinned or tapping out. I can certainly see the credibility in that logic, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel the separate tables, ladders, and chair matches have just been dished out at random because, well, it’s TLC so why not have individual matches as well as the main TLC match!? I hate WWE logic sometimes… Again, like Carmella/Nikki Bella, it all depends on the plans for the future. I am a big fan of both Lynch and Bliss so I’ll happily take either of them as the champ if it means more screen time for them…!
Match Analysis: Technically I called that right... Nikki won, and given that fact, I called that Alexa would win. The match itself never really felt like it flowed. There were often sections that felt clunky, and I'm guessing they botched the end a little because I'm not quite sure what happened. It's unfortunate that the match never really clicked, but Alexa is still quite green to the main roster. I'm interested to see what happens in her title run though... Will it be a flash in the pan? Or will it be an impressive end to the year for her??
[**1/4]
AJ Styles © vs Dean Ambrose (TLC Match)
Prediction: I’ll just get this out of the way now… I really don’t like Dean Ambrose. The character is fine (sorta), but after seeing him on the Stone Cold podcast, I just can’t stand the guy. He’s so laid back, he’s horizontal! He came across like he didn’t give two shits if he stays or goes. There are so many people in the wrestling world who are as good, if not better, and will give 110% to be the top guy in a company. AJ Styles is one of those guys, and regardless of his stance as babyface or heel, he deserves everything he gets because this means something to him. I’ve got a bad feeling that Ellsworth is going to get involved somehow, but I hope that AJ retains because I can’t stand Ambrose.
Match Analysis: A nice match with an odd finish. Not being a Smackdown viewer, I'm not entirely sure on why James Ellsworth is as envolved in the main event scene as he has been the past few months, but I'm glad he turned on Dean Ambrose. That match was a good one, a few new spots (ladder on the table; 450 to the outside, through the table), but I don't think it will go down as a match of the year contender. When the fans chanted for the Undertaker, I started to get excited to think he may show up... but turns out the promise of "being back" was a bit of a fib...!!! I just hope that Ambrose can move out of the main event picture and fade away now.
[***3/4]
Overall Show
This years TLC was fun, but nothing too memorable. I think the match of the night was actually Kalisto & Corbin, as that had the most flow to it. The TLC has a nice amount of big, impressive spots, but I just can't get over how lazy Dean Ambrose comes across. The guy clearly has talent but he lacks the drive to stand out, or to "grab the brass ring". Moving forward, we have 2 new championship reigns in the Wyatts, and in Alexa Bliss, so TLC feels like it could be an important show moving forward as big changes have been made.
At the moment I have it as 1 all in the PPV game between Raw and Smackdown. Smackdown easily took September, with Backlash; But they lost to Hell in a Cell in October. I am a big fan of gimmick matches when they are used correctly. They are like spices in cooking – use them all the time and they lose their specialness. Never use them, and your product becomes bland and stale. TLC represents an opportunity, but looking down the card, I can’t help but feel like they’ve done a HIAC and gone OTT. Let me put it plainly… I hate chair matches. Especially on a card that also has a ‘No DQ’ match. I can rant about logic in No DQ matches for hours, but essentially, there is no difference between a chairs match and a No DQ match. There is no difference between a ladder match and a TLC match. (blank) on a pole, extreme rules, monsters ball, full metal mayhem… all pretty much the same thing. Still, I’m willing to give all the matches a chance to impress me. I hope this will be a fun one. Even if they’ve only really had 4 hours of TV to build to this since Survivor Series!
Pre-Show
American Alpha, HypeBros & Apollo Crews vs Curt Hawkins, Vaudevillains & Ascension
Prediction: At the time of writing, there has been no pre-show announcement. Shock horror. I predict it will be a pretty forgettable match, potentially a tag team match involving American Alpha? Maybe them vs The Usos?
Match Analysis: Another standard meaningless multi-man match. It wasn't really memorable, but Alpha got the win so I won't grumble too much!
[**1/2]
Main Show
Heath Slater & Rhyno © vs Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton
Prediction: Slater & Rhyno have far exceeded my expectations in their tag title run. I thought it would be a quick way to get Slater a contract, before switching the titles to the newly turned Usos. Instead, the Usos heel turn has fallen kind of flat, at least on PPV. I’m still not sold on Orton & Wyatt together… I’m hoping they have a long term plan for them, with a decent payoff, because if this is all to keep Randy out of the WHC title picture, then it will be really disappointing. So, I’ll hopefully predict a title change here, especially as Wyatt & Orton won their survivor series match.
Match Analysis: That played out just as I'd expected, except it felt a lot shorter than I was hoping. I really like the dynamic with each Wyatt member saving the other from an incoming attack, it shows solidarity and some simple innovation in the tag team formula. I was never a massive fan of Slater & Rhyno as a team, so it's great to see Bray Wyatt get some gold round his waist!!
[***]
Carmella vs Nikki Bella (No DQ)
Prediction: This has potential to be a fun little match. I like that there is more than 1 womens feud on Smackdown, as more often than not the women fall into the same problems as the cruiserweights in that the only thing going on is the title picture. If you can book the heavyweights into feuds, why can’t you book the women or the cruiserweights?? I have no idea where this one will go. My guess is that whoever wins this match will go on to challenge for the title, so if Carmella wins, I expect Becky to retain; if Nikki wins, I expect Alexa Bliss to be the new champ tonight.
Match Analysis: Well that was a bit underwhelming... Not that I was expecting anything spectacular. Can I ask why the ref was counting out each women when they went outside the ring?? It's a No DQ match so surely that means there's no countouts??? The finish was pretty stupid as well. The fire extinguisher is a fun mid-match spot for catching your opponent off-guard. Emptying the entire thing over Carmella was just stupid, I don't get why that's a strong move for her to make. And then to top off the mediocrity, Carmella makes the shocking announcement that Natalya attacked Nikki at Survivor Series... As if anyone even cares!
[**]
The Miz © vs Dolph Ziggler (Ladder Match)
Prediction: Ugh, how are we STILL getting this match?! The retirement angle should have been the final chapter in this story, but instead it’s still going on and I’m just so bored by it all. No doubt these two have chemistry in the ring, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen everything these two can come up with so there’s nothing new or exciting here. I’m going to go with a troll prediction and say that Ziggler will regain the belt, and the brief Miz run was just so he could beat Zayn at Survivor Series.
Match Analysis: Not a bad match, but I'm far too over-exposed to these two. There was some really fun spots, like the powerbomb onto the ladder, but largely it was a collection of spots often seen on every modern ladder match. I just hope and pray that this is the final chapter in the rivalry. I am so done with these two.
[***1/2]
Baron Corbin vs Kalisto (Chairs Match)
Prediction: I really didn’t like the finish to the Kalisto/Kendrick match at Survivor Series. Firstly, it meant zero changes to the title belt situation between the brands, but secondly it kinda shat all over the match, which up until that point was actually really good. There’s always talk of WWE building Kalisto up to be the next Rey Mysterio, so if there’s any credibility to that, then Kalisto needs to beat Corbin. I’m expecting a fun match, I like both guys in their roles, so hopefully I don’t focus on the stupid stipulation of a chairs match…
Match Analysis: That was better than I was expecting!! We saw some innovative chair spots, as well as some classics. The big man/litle man dynamic was really good in this one. I LOVED the suicide dive counter into the deep six on the outside. The finish didn't feel as strong as it could have, but this can be looked at as one of the best matches in either mens career.
[****]
Becky Lynch © vs Alexa Bliss (Tables Match)
Prediction: I read somewhere that the tables match was a big foreshadowing to Becky losing the title. Something about it being the best way to get the title off someone while also avoiding them being pinned or tapping out. I can certainly see the credibility in that logic, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel the separate tables, ladders, and chair matches have just been dished out at random because, well, it’s TLC so why not have individual matches as well as the main TLC match!? I hate WWE logic sometimes… Again, like Carmella/Nikki Bella, it all depends on the plans for the future. I am a big fan of both Lynch and Bliss so I’ll happily take either of them as the champ if it means more screen time for them…!
Match Analysis: Technically I called that right... Nikki won, and given that fact, I called that Alexa would win. The match itself never really felt like it flowed. There were often sections that felt clunky, and I'm guessing they botched the end a little because I'm not quite sure what happened. It's unfortunate that the match never really clicked, but Alexa is still quite green to the main roster. I'm interested to see what happens in her title run though... Will it be a flash in the pan? Or will it be an impressive end to the year for her??
[**1/4]
AJ Styles © vs Dean Ambrose (TLC Match)
Prediction: I’ll just get this out of the way now… I really don’t like Dean Ambrose. The character is fine (sorta), but after seeing him on the Stone Cold podcast, I just can’t stand the guy. He’s so laid back, he’s horizontal! He came across like he didn’t give two shits if he stays or goes. There are so many people in the wrestling world who are as good, if not better, and will give 110% to be the top guy in a company. AJ Styles is one of those guys, and regardless of his stance as babyface or heel, he deserves everything he gets because this means something to him. I’ve got a bad feeling that Ellsworth is going to get involved somehow, but I hope that AJ retains because I can’t stand Ambrose.
Match Analysis: A nice match with an odd finish. Not being a Smackdown viewer, I'm not entirely sure on why James Ellsworth is as envolved in the main event scene as he has been the past few months, but I'm glad he turned on Dean Ambrose. That match was a good one, a few new spots (ladder on the table; 450 to the outside, through the table), but I don't think it will go down as a match of the year contender. When the fans chanted for the Undertaker, I started to get excited to think he may show up... but turns out the promise of "being back" was a bit of a fib...!!! I just hope that Ambrose can move out of the main event picture and fade away now.
[***3/4]
Overall Show
This years TLC was fun, but nothing too memorable. I think the match of the night was actually Kalisto & Corbin, as that had the most flow to it. The TLC has a nice amount of big, impressive spots, but I just can't get over how lazy Dean Ambrose comes across. The guy clearly has talent but he lacks the drive to stand out, or to "grab the brass ring". Moving forward, we have 2 new championship reigns in the Wyatts, and in Alexa Bliss, so TLC feels like it could be an important show moving forward as big changes have been made.