At WWE TLC, The Viper reigned supreme over The Fiend in the first-ever Firefly Inferno Match. Plus, Universal Champion Roman Reigns and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre triumphed in their Tables, Ladders & Chairs Matches, Charlotte Flair returned to join forces with Asuka and capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin won the Raw Tag Team Titles.
Big E, daniel Bryan, Otis & Chad Gable defeated Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura. (Kickoff match)
Time could be running out on Sami Zayn’s reign as Intercontinental Champion if the WWE TLC Kickoff Match was any indication. Big E pinned The Great Liberator, securing the win for E, Daniel Bryan, Otis & Chad Gableover Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match.
Corbin and company isolated Bryan in their corner, dishing out punishment with frequent tags, but WWE’s “Yes!” Man fought back and unleashed a missile dropkick on SmackDown’s royal highness. Zayn created chaos by pulling Big E from the apron and luring him into a huge uppercut from Cesaro on the outside, though he later paid his penance.
The Intercontinental Champion had seemingly picked his spot perfectly only to realize his worst nightmare, facing off with Big E, who countered the Helluva Kick and planted Zayn with the Big Ending for the victory. (Via WWE.com)
Corbin and company isolated Bryan in their corner, dishing out punishment with frequent tags, but WWE’s “Yes!” Man fought back and unleashed a missile dropkick on SmackDown’s royal highness. Zayn created chaos by pulling Big E from the apron and luring him into a huge uppercut from Cesaro on the outside, though he later paid his penance.
The Intercontinental Champion had seemingly picked his spot perfectly only to realize his worst nightmare, facing off with Big E, who countered the Helluva Kick and planted Zayn with the Big Ending for the victory. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: WWE CHAMPION, Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles (with Omos) & Mr. Money in the Bank, The Miz (with John Morrison). (Tables, ladders & Chairs match)
In one of his most difficult and unpredictable tests as WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre overcame the odds to defeat AJ Styles, and surprisingly, The Miz, to hold on to his title at WWE TLC.
McIntyre imposed his will early by pummeling Styles and sending him to the floor with a thunderous chop to the chest. The King of Claymore Country tried to end the match quickly, climbing a ladder toward the title only to have The Phenomenal One bash his left leg with a chair.
Styles began dictating the pace, repeatedly chop-blocking McIntyre until the champion found momentary life with a Future Shock DDT. But Styles again seized back upon the left knee, further attacking it with ladder and chair-assisted Calf Crushers.
McIntyre found a way to pluck Styles from his climb up the ladder and launch him through a table, only for The Miz and John Morrison to emerge to stop McIntyre’s ensuing climb.
With Money in the Bank in tow, The Miz finally cashed in on his golden opportunity, officially making the bout a Triple Threat Match. However, Styles’ bodyguard Omos finally made his presence felt, stopping Miz’s ascent and dumping him through a table on the outside of the ring. Morrison smashed a chair over the back of Omos with seemingly no effect on the behemoth, who pursued Miz’s tag team partner backstage.
The three men began to jockey for positioning with two ladders below the dangling WWE Title. Styles leapt off the ropes to meet McIntyre on a ladder in jaw-dropping fashion, knocking the champion down.
But with Styles and Miz battling atop a ladder, McIntyre knocked it over, opening a window to hit Miz with a massive Claymore and seize his championship, remaining at his place atop the mountain. (Via WWE.com)
McIntyre imposed his will early by pummeling Styles and sending him to the floor with a thunderous chop to the chest. The King of Claymore Country tried to end the match quickly, climbing a ladder toward the title only to have The Phenomenal One bash his left leg with a chair.
Styles began dictating the pace, repeatedly chop-blocking McIntyre until the champion found momentary life with a Future Shock DDT. But Styles again seized back upon the left knee, further attacking it with ladder and chair-assisted Calf Crushers.
McIntyre found a way to pluck Styles from his climb up the ladder and launch him through a table, only for The Miz and John Morrison to emerge to stop McIntyre’s ensuing climb.
With Money in the Bank in tow, The Miz finally cashed in on his golden opportunity, officially making the bout a Triple Threat Match. However, Styles’ bodyguard Omos finally made his presence felt, stopping Miz’s ascent and dumping him through a table on the outside of the ring. Morrison smashed a chair over the back of Omos with seemingly no effect on the behemoth, who pursued Miz’s tag team partner backstage.
The three men began to jockey for positioning with two ladders below the dangling WWE Title. Styles leapt off the ropes to meet McIntyre on a ladder in jaw-dropping fashion, knocking the champion down.
But with Styles and Miz battling atop a ladder, McIntyre knocked it over, opening a window to hit Miz with a massive Claymore and seize his championship, remaining at his place atop the mountain. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Sasha Banks defeated Carmella by submission.
Carmella may be back and better than ever, but Sasha Banks is still The Boss — and the SmackDown Women’s Champion — after their first-ever singles matchup at WWE TLC.
Banks was quick to unleash weeks of pent-up aggression stemming from Carmella’s dastardly attacks, though her rage seemed to backfire and allow Mella to take control with an arrogant assault.
The champion rallied with an homage to her hero Eddie Guerrero, executing Three Amigos and a picture-perfect frog splash, though it netted only a near-fall.
Carmella escaped a tilt-a-whirl to plant Banks with a massive facebuster for a near-fall of her own, following with another two-count after hitting a huge superkick to the side of Banks’ head.
Banks answered by rolling through Carmella’s Frankensteiner for a two-count, then the two competitors exchanged pinning combinations before Carmella locked in the Code of Silence and a double chicken wing, but The Boss still had plenty of fight in her and refused to submit.
Carmella’s sommelier, Reginald Thomas, rescued her from the Bank Statement, only to receive a Meteora from Banks for his troubles.
Overcome with frustration after another big superkick earned just a two-count, Carmella was caught by surprise with another Bank Statement, this time with no choice but to tap out, falling short in her bid to dethrone Banks. (Via WWE.com)
Banks was quick to unleash weeks of pent-up aggression stemming from Carmella’s dastardly attacks, though her rage seemed to backfire and allow Mella to take control with an arrogant assault.
The champion rallied with an homage to her hero Eddie Guerrero, executing Three Amigos and a picture-perfect frog splash, though it netted only a near-fall.
Carmella escaped a tilt-a-whirl to plant Banks with a massive facebuster for a near-fall of her own, following with another two-count after hitting a huge superkick to the side of Banks’ head.
Banks answered by rolling through Carmella’s Frankensteiner for a two-count, then the two competitors exchanged pinning combinations before Carmella locked in the Code of Silence and a double chicken wing, but The Boss still had plenty of fight in her and refused to submit.
Carmella’s sommelier, Reginald Thomas, rescued her from the Bank Statement, only to receive a Meteora from Banks for his troubles.
Overcome with frustration after another big superkick earned just a two-count, Carmella was caught by surprise with another Bank Statement, this time with no choice but to tap out, falling short in her bid to dethrone Banks. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Business (with MVP) defeated RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONs, The New Day.
Returns for The Hurt Business are looking even more golden, as Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander took down The New Day to become the new Raw Tag Team Champions at WWE TLC.
The New Day came out of the gate with a break-neck pace, overwhelming Alexander, though Benjamin’s entrance changed the bout’s dynamic as he used his strength advantage to ground Woods with MVP barking orders at ringside.
Woods found a way to tag in Kingston, who lit up the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field with his high-octane arsenal until Benjamin caught a potential Boom Drop, though Kingston avoided a double-team attack with Alexander coming off the top rope.
Kingston hit the SOS for a near-fall, but Alexander dodged Trouble in Paradise moments later. Woods broke up Alexander’s pinfall attempt after Alexander had hit a big jumping knee and brainbuster, but Woods was soon taken out by a Neutralizer from Alexander and Paydirt by Benjamin.
While Kingston fought valiantly, Benjamin left him shaken with a massive underhook superplex. Benjamin was perplexed by Alexander blindly tagging himself in, but it paid off, as he hit the Lumbar Check for the title-clinching victory. (Via WWE.com)
The New Day came out of the gate with a break-neck pace, overwhelming Alexander, though Benjamin’s entrance changed the bout’s dynamic as he used his strength advantage to ground Woods with MVP barking orders at ringside.
Woods found a way to tag in Kingston, who lit up the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field with his high-octane arsenal until Benjamin caught a potential Boom Drop, though Kingston avoided a double-team attack with Alexander coming off the top rope.
Kingston hit the SOS for a near-fall, but Alexander dodged Trouble in Paradise moments later. Woods broke up Alexander’s pinfall attempt after Alexander had hit a big jumping knee and brainbuster, but Woods was soon taken out by a Neutralizer from Alexander and Paydirt by Benjamin.
While Kingston fought valiantly, Benjamin left him shaken with a massive underhook superplex. Benjamin was perplexed by Alexander blindly tagging himself in, but it paid off, as he hit the Lumbar Check for the title-clinching victory. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: RAW Women's Champion, Asuka & Charlotte Flair defeated WWE WOMEN'S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler.
For months, Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler have bullied foes left and right. But they finally reaped what they sowed at WWE TLC, as Charlotte Flair returned to join forces with Asuka and topple Jax & Baszler for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Ironically, Jax & Baszler may have sealed their own fate when they took out Lana with a savage assault this past Monday on Raw, allowing The Empress of Tomorrow to form a dream team with her former rival.
But the champions were still dangerous from the bell with Baszler dissecting Asuka using precise joint manipulation, targeting the Raw Women’s Champion’s left arm until she escaped to tag in Charlotte.
In her first action since being taken out by Jax six months ago, The Queen ripped off a series of chops on The Irresistible Force. Flair looked as though she hadn’t missed a day, connecting with a picture-perfect moonsault to level both opponents on the outside.
Later, Jax dropped Asuka with a Samoan Drop but missed a blind tag by Charlotte. Baszler tagged in to face off with The Queen, whose determination won out.
Though Jax broke up Charlotte’s Figure Eight, Flair dropped The Queen of Spades with Natural Selection moments later for the pin, becoming a champion in WWE for the 12th time. Meanwhile, Asuka became a two-time tag team champion while improving to 4-0 at TLC. (Via WWE.com)
Ironically, Jax & Baszler may have sealed their own fate when they took out Lana with a savage assault this past Monday on Raw, allowing The Empress of Tomorrow to form a dream team with her former rival.
But the champions were still dangerous from the bell with Baszler dissecting Asuka using precise joint manipulation, targeting the Raw Women’s Champion’s left arm until she escaped to tag in Charlotte.
In her first action since being taken out by Jax six months ago, The Queen ripped off a series of chops on The Irresistible Force. Flair looked as though she hadn’t missed a day, connecting with a picture-perfect moonsault to level both opponents on the outside.
Later, Jax dropped Asuka with a Samoan Drop but missed a blind tag by Charlotte. Baszler tagged in to face off with The Queen, whose determination won out.
Though Jax broke up Charlotte’s Figure Eight, Flair dropped The Queen of Spades with Natural Selection moments later for the pin, becoming a champion in WWE for the 12th time. Meanwhile, Asuka became a two-time tag team champion while improving to 4-0 at TLC. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Universal Championship: WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman & Jey Uso) defeated Kevin Owens. (Tables, ladders & Chairs match)
Whether by hook or by crook, Roman Reigns is still The Head of the Table after defeating Kevin Owens in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WWE TLC to retain the Universal Championship.
Owens’ loss came through no strategic shortcoming nor a lack of will, as he gave Reigns a dose of his own medicine by ambushing The Big Dog during his entrance. Blasting the champion with a cannonball against the barricade and a frog splash from the apron, Owens left Reigns in perhaps his most vulnerable state since returning to WWE this past summer.
KO was more than ready for Jey Uso to insert himself into the equation, too. He met Uso with a superkick as soon as he darted into the ring, and Owens didn’t stop there, wedging Jey’s left foot in a steel chair and stomping on it.
Essentially finding himself in a Handicap Match, Owens planted Reigns with a Stunner before seeking to eliminate Jey, slamming him through the announce table with a Pop-up Powerbomb. From there, Owens came within fingertips of grabbing the Universal Title until Reigns fought him off the ladder and drove him through another with a big-time powerbomb.
Far from satisfied, Reigns poured it on further, smashing Owens through a table with a Samoan drop. But Owens somehow summoned the power to crawl into the ring and stop Reigns’ ascent toward the title.
Seemingly disgusted with Owens’ refusal to quit, Reigns told him he was embarrassing his family, only to be met with a defiant slap before Reigns drove KO through a table with a huge Spear.
The Big Dog looked for another Spear on the outside, but it was evaded by Owens, leaving Reigns to destroy the barricade instead.
Uso was once again a thorn in Owens’ side, stopping his ensuing climb up the ladder two more times. KO seemingly put Jey away for good with a Stunner, only to be caught with a low blow by Reigns after scaling the ladder.
Passing Owens out with the Guillotine, Reigns finally had the space he needed to retrieve the Universal Championship, reaffirming his status as The Head of the Table. (Via WWE.com)
Owens’ loss came through no strategic shortcoming nor a lack of will, as he gave Reigns a dose of his own medicine by ambushing The Big Dog during his entrance. Blasting the champion with a cannonball against the barricade and a frog splash from the apron, Owens left Reigns in perhaps his most vulnerable state since returning to WWE this past summer.
KO was more than ready for Jey Uso to insert himself into the equation, too. He met Uso with a superkick as soon as he darted into the ring, and Owens didn’t stop there, wedging Jey’s left foot in a steel chair and stomping on it.
Essentially finding himself in a Handicap Match, Owens planted Reigns with a Stunner before seeking to eliminate Jey, slamming him through the announce table with a Pop-up Powerbomb. From there, Owens came within fingertips of grabbing the Universal Title until Reigns fought him off the ladder and drove him through another with a big-time powerbomb.
Far from satisfied, Reigns poured it on further, smashing Owens through a table with a Samoan drop. But Owens somehow summoned the power to crawl into the ring and stop Reigns’ ascent toward the title.
Seemingly disgusted with Owens’ refusal to quit, Reigns told him he was embarrassing his family, only to be met with a defiant slap before Reigns drove KO through a table with a huge Spear.
The Big Dog looked for another Spear on the outside, but it was evaded by Owens, leaving Reigns to destroy the barricade instead.
Uso was once again a thorn in Owens’ side, stopping his ensuing climb up the ladder two more times. KO seemingly put Jey away for good with a Stunner, only to be caught with a low blow by Reigns after scaling the ladder.
Passing Owens out with the Guillotine, Reigns finally had the space he needed to retrieve the Universal Championship, reaffirming his status as The Head of the Table. (Via WWE.com)
Randy Orton defeated "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. (Firefly Inferno match)
Randy Orton is responsible for some of the most heinous acts in WWE history, but he may have out done himself at WWE TLC. The Apex Predator not only defeated The Fiend in the first-ever Firefly Inferno Match, he also set Bray Wyatt’s entire body ablaze in a spectacle of sadism.
Orton’s eyes never left The Fiend from the moment Wyatt entered the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field. But as aptly prepared as Orton was, his fierce strikes from the bell were only answered with laughter. Countering an RKO attempt, The Fiend quickly made it clear he chose “Hurt” on this night, beating down The Viper with evil precision while setting the ThunderDome ablaze.
Orton was on the defensive for nearly all of the encounter, avoiding repeated attempts by Wyatt to set him ablaze — including with a flaming strap, a flaming axe handle, and, synonymous with Wyatt’s former “Eater of Worlds” self, a rocking chair covered in gasoline. The Fiend even attempted an onslaught worthy of Jack Torrance, errantly trying to strike The Legend Killer with a pickaxe.
Finally on offense after wielding steel steps and uncorking chain-assisted punches, Orton held Wyatt’s face inches away from the flames behind the barricade. Still unable to fully incapacitate The Fiend, Orton planted him with a draping DDT on the outside and beckoned his nemesis up for an RKO, then instead found himself locked in the Mandible Claw.
Orton responded by deftly backing The Fiend into the flames, setting him on fire. But even ablaze, Wyatt pursued The Viper into the ring, only to be met with an RKO.
Though the match was won, Orton was far from satisfied. After looking concerned for a brief moment, a sick grin spread across his lips, and he dumped gasoline on The Fiend before setting him ablaze.
Fleeing the ring, Orton posed proudly, admiring one of the most diabolical deeds ever seen in WWE. (Via WWE.com)
Orton’s eyes never left The Fiend from the moment Wyatt entered the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field. But as aptly prepared as Orton was, his fierce strikes from the bell were only answered with laughter. Countering an RKO attempt, The Fiend quickly made it clear he chose “Hurt” on this night, beating down The Viper with evil precision while setting the ThunderDome ablaze.
Orton was on the defensive for nearly all of the encounter, avoiding repeated attempts by Wyatt to set him ablaze — including with a flaming strap, a flaming axe handle, and, synonymous with Wyatt’s former “Eater of Worlds” self, a rocking chair covered in gasoline. The Fiend even attempted an onslaught worthy of Jack Torrance, errantly trying to strike The Legend Killer with a pickaxe.
Finally on offense after wielding steel steps and uncorking chain-assisted punches, Orton held Wyatt’s face inches away from the flames behind the barricade. Still unable to fully incapacitate The Fiend, Orton planted him with a draping DDT on the outside and beckoned his nemesis up for an RKO, then instead found himself locked in the Mandible Claw.
Orton responded by deftly backing The Fiend into the flames, setting him on fire. But even ablaze, Wyatt pursued The Viper into the ring, only to be met with an RKO.
Though the match was won, Orton was far from satisfied. After looking concerned for a brief moment, a sick grin spread across his lips, and he dumped gasoline on The Fiend before setting him ablaze.
Fleeing the ring, Orton posed proudly, admiring one of the most diabolical deeds ever seen in WWE. (Via WWE.com)