|Date: December 14, 2014
|Venue: Quicken Loans Arena |City: Cleveland, Ohio
|Attendance: 14,000 |Buys: 39,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

The Demolition Derby of WWE. That’s the tagline for tonight and with all the stipulations in place tonight you can expect carnage. At Survivor Series, Bray Wyatt defeated Dean Ambrose by disqualification when Ambrose hit Wyatt with a chair. After the match, Ambrose drove Wyatt through a table, threw chairs on him and stood on top of a ladder. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that Ambrose would face Wyatt in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match at TLC. This continues to be a battle of the crazies as both men try to get in the head of the other.

In another big main event tonight John Cena goes one on one with Seth Rollins. On the December 1 edition of Raw, Seth Rollins attempted to persuade John Cena to bring The Authority back into power, but they were interrupted by the Anonymous Raw General Manager, who announced that Cena and Rollins would face off in a Tables match at TLC and added that if Cena loses, he will no longer be the #1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

At Survivor Series, Nikki Bella defeated AJ Lee for the WWE Divas Championship. On the December 8 edition of Raw, it was announced that AJ would invoke her rematch clause to face Nikki for the title at TLC. On the December 1 edition of Raw, The Usos won a Tag Team Turmoil match to face WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz and Damien Mizdow for the titles at TLC. Other teams involved were the likes of The New Day, Tyson Kidd & Cesaro and Goldust and Stardust. Since then, The Miz seems to be targeting Jimmy Uso’s wife Naomi. He’s promised her film roles but it seems to be a way to get inside the head of Jimmy Uso.

On the November 24 edition of Raw, Daniel Bryan returned as a special guest manager and put former Director of Operations Kane in charge of food concessions. Ryback attacked Kane after Kane threw a hot dog at Ryback. On the November 28 edition of Smackdown, Kane attacked Ryback during his match with Seth Rollins and attacked Ryback with a chair after the match. Later in the night, Bryan (who was also the guest manager that night) announced that Ryback would face Kane in a Chairs match at TLC.

At Survivor Series, Big Show turned on Team Cena by knocking out John Cena during their match, prompting Seth Rollins to pin and eliminate Cena. On the November 24 edition of Raw, Team Cena member Erick Rowan confronted Big Show and attacked him. On the December 1 edition of Raw, Rowan defeated Big Show by disqualification after Big Show attacked Rowan with steel steps, but later in the show, Rowan would knock out Big Show with steel steps with the help of Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and Ryback. On the December 2 episode of Main Event, it was announced that Rowan will face Big Show in a Steel Stairs match at TLC. Additionally, the PPV was renamed “TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs…and Stairs” in recognition of the stairs match.

On the November 17 edition of Raw, Luke Harper defeated Dolph Ziggler to win the Intercontinental Championship with the help of Seth Rollins, Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury. After Survivor Series, Harper would be forced to defend the title against Ziggler on the November 28th and December 5 editions of Smackdown, but Harper would lose via countout and disqualification respectively to retain the title. After Harper retained the title for the second time against Ziggler, Harper attempted to attack Ziggler with a ladder, but Ziggler countered and attacked Harper, prompting General Manager for the evening Santino Marella to announce a ladder match between the two for the title at TLC.

On the December 1 edition of Raw, Jack Swagger found his mentor, Zeb Colter, beaten up in a corridor. United States Champion Rusev admitted to have attacked Colter, which resulted in Swagger attacking Rusev. On the December 8 edition of Raw, it was announced that Rusev would defend the championship against Swagger at TLC.

A video package kicks us off in a demolition derby theme. It’s quite a weird package to be honest and has shots of cars edited into it.

Michael Cole welcomes us to Cleveland, Ohio.

Luke Harper (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler – Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. Luke Harper is 1-0 at TLC events, Dolph Ziggler is 2-1. Ziggler is the hometown boy and he gets a big pop. The bell rings and both men exit the ring and throw ladders in the ring. The two men then go at it on the outside with Harper throwing Ziggler into a ladder. Harper throws Dolph into the timekeepers area and then gets into the ring and sets up a ladder before climbing it. Ziggler pushes the ladder over but Harper lands on his feet and hits his challenger with a big boot. Harper bridges a ladder from the ring to the announce desk and looks to powerbomb Ziggler into it but Dolph manages to counter. Harper hits a side slam on the outside and then goes back into the ring and sets up a ladder and climbs it. Dolph pulls Harper down and the two men slug it out before Harper once again throws Ziggler into the ladder. Harper then throws a ladder at Dolph and then looks for a splash in the corner but dolph shoves a ladder into him.

Dolph climbs up to the top but Harper dropkicks him down to the outside. Harper then throws a ladder down at Ziggler. Harper then looks for suicide dive but Ziggler throws a ladder at him. Dolph gets in the ring and sets up the ladder but Harper pushes it over. Harper sets up for a sit-out powerbomb but Dolph counters and hits a dropkick. Dolph then looks for a fame-asser but Harper counters and powerbombs Ziggler onto a ladder. Ziggler is busted open and some doctors see to him but that allows Harper to climb the ladder. Ziggler breaks away from the doctors and climbs the ladder, slugging it out with Harper until both men fall to the mat. Harper attempts a powerbomb but Ziggler counters with a facebuster on to a ladder. Dolph sets up a ladder and climbs it but Harper gets up and drags Ziggler down just for Dolph to hit the Intercontinental Champion with a DDT on the way down! Harper is the first man up and puts a ladder on his head, swinging it at Ziggler. Ziggler gets hit a couple of times but manages to duck one attempt and hits a superkick.

Harper stands up on the apron and Ziggler hits him with a ladder, sending Luke down onto the ladder he set up earlier. Ziggler climbs a ladder in the ring but again Harper pushes it over. Dolph goes up to the top with a ladder which Harper pulls down but Ziggler manages to bridge that ladder to one set up in the ring. Ziggler climbs but Harper hits him with kidney shots. Harper then sets up another ladder but Dolph kicks him away and then grabs the Intercontinental Championship to become a four time champion! A big win for ziggler in his hometown.

Rating: 7.25/10

There’s an ad next for tribute to the troops.

The Miz & Damien Mizdow (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) – WWE Tag Team Championship match

This is a first time PPV match between these two teams. The Miz is 2-2 at TLC PPV’s, Damien Sandow is 1-1 and The Usos make their TLC debut tonight. The Miz starts the match against Jey Uso. Miz and Mizdow are in white today for a change. Both men hit early roll-ups as Mizdow mimics The Miz from the apron. Jey hits an armdrag and then tags in Jimmy Uso. Miz rolls out of the ring as the crowd chant for Mizdow. Miz gets in the ring and lays in the boots to Jimmy. Jimmy hits a takedown and then some chops. Jimmy tags in Jey and they hit a double suplex on Miz. Mizdow does a handstand in the corner. Jey clotheslines Miz out of the ring and Mizdow follows. Jey then dives out at both tag team champions. Jey rolls Miz back into the ring and looks for a cross body but Miz ducks it and hits a DDT. Miz lays in some left hands and then applies a chinlock. Jey gets out of it and hits an enzeguri before tagging in Jimmy.

Jimmy hits Miz with clotheslines and right hands and then a Samoan drop. Miz rolls into the corner and Mizdow copies, rolling into another corner. Jimmy hits Miz with a running splash and then looks at Mizdow who rolls out of the ring but that’s enough to distract him and Jimmy turns around into a boot from The Miz. Miz then looks for his trademark clothesline but Jimmy counters with a backslide. Jimmy hits a version of whisper in the wind and pins Miz but Mizdow breaks it up. Jey disposes of Mizdow but Miz hits Jey with the skull-crushing finale. Miz then looks for a figure four on Jimmy but Jimmy counters with a half crab. Miz gets to the bottom rope to break the hold. Miz then hits a cheap shot and looks for the skull-crushing finale but Jimmy counters and hits a superkick! Jimmy goes to the top for a splash but before he can dive off, The Miz rolls out of the ring. Miz grabs his tag team title with Mizdow in pursuit. Jimmy dives out and takes out Mizdow but The Miz then clocks Jimmy with his slammy! The referee calls for the bell, it’s a disqualification win for The Usos! But Miz and Mizdow retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Rating: 5/10

Byron Saxton is backstage with Seth Rollins who has J & J security in tow. Rollins says that all he has to do is put John Cena through a table tonight. Rollins does mention Sting who hasn’t been seen since Survivor Series.

There’s an “anatomy of the stairs” piece which the commentators talk through. I quite like it actually.

Erick Rowan vs. The Big Show – Stairs match

Well this is a first. A stairs match where only the stairs are legal as weapons. It’s a first PPV singles match between these two men. Big Show is 2-3 at TLC events. He won and lost the World Heavyweight Championship at this event back in 2011. The match starts quickly with the two men slugging it out. Rowan hits two splashes in the corner and then knocks Big Show out of the ring. Rowan follows but Big show catches him with a kick and then powerslams him outside. Big Show throws Rowan into the ring steps and then rolls him back into the ring. Big Show grabs some stairs but Rowan baseball slides them into his face. Rowan then picks up the stairs on the outside and rams them into Big show’s face. Rowan stacks up the stairs in the entrance way but Big Show stops him from using them. Big Show throws Rowan into the timekeepers area and then puts some steps on the commentators table. Rowan gets involved again but Big Show throws him into another sets up steps.

Big Show picks up some steps and rams them into the gut of Rowan. Big Show then lifts the massive steps up from the commentators table and slides them into the ring. Big Show rolls Rowan into the ring and then hits him with steps before setting some up in the corner. Erick Rowan hits some forearms but Big Show throws him into the steps in the corner. Big Show throws Rowan into the steps another time and then knocks him down with a clothesline. Big Show looks to chokeslam Rowan onto some steps but Rowan fights him off with right hands and then powerslam Big Show onto some stairs! Rowan goes up to the middle rope with some steps but Big Show rolls out of the way, just not quick enough and Rowan hits Big Show in the side. The stairs bounce back and hit Rowan causing him to roll out of the ring. Big Show exits the ring and spears Rowan through all the steps he had set up previously in the match.

Big Show rolls Rowan back into the ring and picks up some steps but Rowan boots them into his face. Big Show hits as chokeslam on the stairs and then pins Rowan down using the stairs for the three. Big Show beats Erick Rowan tonight in a stairs match. Big Show will be hurting from the shot off the middle rope.

Rating: 5/10

There’s an ad for Total Divas.

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins – Tables match and if John loses then he is no longer number one contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

This is a first time singles PPV match between these two men. John Cena doesn’t have a great record at TLC events, he’s 1-3 whilst Seth Rollins is 1-1. John Cena is the only man to have fought on every PPV in 2014. I actually thought this match would main event the show so I’m surprised to see it at the mid-point. Paul Heyman comes out form the back and takes a seat at ringside. Michael Cole tells us that Brock Lesnar will defend the WWE Worlds Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble but will it be against John Cena or somebody else? Rollins is accompanied by Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury, J & J security. The two men slug it out in the early going and Cena takes the advantage with a bulldog. J & J security distract Cena which allows Rollins to then take the advantage. Seth stomps down Cena and then hits an Irish whip but Cena explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Cena pulls a table out from under the ring and slides it into the ring but Noble and Mercury pull the table back out. Again that distracts Cena long enough for Rollins to take him down and then hit him with a running forearm.

Seth Rollins pulls a table out from under the ring but Cena knocks him down before he can do anything with it. Cena rolls Rollins back into the ring and slides a table in but again J & J grab on to the table. There’s a tug-o-war with the table that Cena wins but again Rollins attacks Cena from behind. Rollins lays the table across the top rope in the corner but Cena hits some right hands and sets up for a powerbomb but Noble and Mercury throw the table out of the ring and attack Cena. Rollins hits a DDT and then pulls another table out from under the ring, sliding it into the ring. Seth stands the table up in the corner and then looks to Irish whip Cena into it but Cena puts the brakes on, hits a couple of shoulder charges and a side slam and then hits the five knuckle shuffle. Cena sets up for an attitude adjustment but Mercury and noble stop that from happening and beat Cena down. The three men look to hit a triple powerbomb on Cena through the table but Cena fights them all off. Cena wipes Noble and Mercury out with a barricade and then suplexes Noble on to the barricade at the top of the entrance ramp.

Seth Rollins and Joey Mercury double team Cena, beating him down and throwing him into the ring post. They pull another table out and look to wipe out Cena it but Cena moves and the table breaks around the ringpost. Cena then hits an attitude adjustment on Mercury into the timekeepers area. Seth throws Cena into the barricade and then sets up a table on the outside. Rollins then sets up another table next to the first. Rollins looks to suplex Cena through the tables but Cena counters and Rollins is bought back into the ring. Cena and Rollins slug it out and Cena looks to powerslam Rollins through a table but Rollins counters. Cena back body drops Rollins to the outside and then slides another table into the ring. Rollins nails Cena with the Money In The Bank briefcase and then continues to use the briefcase in the ring. Seth sets up a table in the middle of the ring and then motions fr a five knuckle shuffle but Cena kicks him in the head. Cena then sets up for an attitude adjustment and accidentally knocks out the referee. Rollins manages to jump over the table and then looks to curb stomp Cena but Cena pops Rollins on the top rope and hits a top rope attitude adjustment on Rollins through the table!

The referee is out though. Noble and Mercury get in the ring, clear up the table and beat down Cena. They hide the evidence and then grab another table and set it up. They then look for a triple powerbomb on Cena through the table but cena fights them all off! Cena then hits an attitude adjustment on both Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury at the same time through a table! Rollins and Cena then slug it out on the apron but both men fall through the tables below! The referee sees that both men went through the table at the same time and calls for the bell! Two other referee’s then come out. Chads Patton raises the hand of John Cena and John Cone raises the hand of Seth Rollins. Mike Chioda then announces that the match is restarted!

Seth Rollins knocks down Cena and hits him with a suicide dive. Seth takes apart the announce desk but Cena lifts him up and hits an attitude adjustment on to the announce desk! The table didn’t break so the match continues! Cena pulls another table out from under the ring and slides it into the ring. He sets up the table but The Big Show then emerges from the back! He hits Cena with some big right hands and then motions for a chokeslam but Roman Reigns’ music hits! Reigns walks through the crowd and into the ring, hitting Big Show with a superman punch and then a spear through the table! Rollins sings the briefcase at Reigns who ducks and hits a superman punch. Cena then scoops Rollins up and hits him with an attitude adjustment through the table! Cena wins! This was right out of the attitude era school of booking but I really enjoyed it. Cena goes on to the Royal Rumble.

Rating: 7/10

There’s an ad for the Royal Rumble event next month.

There’s some footage form the kick-off show with The New Day beating Gold and Stardust.

Over to the kick off panel with Renee Young, Alex Riley and Booker T.

Byron Saxton is backstage with Nikki and Brie Bella. Nikki is sick of talking about AJ. Brie is tired of people casting judgment on them. Brie says blood is thicker than water and someone will AJ will never come between that.

Nikki Bella (c) vs. AJ Lee – WWE Divas Championship match

This is a second pay per view match between these two girls. Nikki Bella beat AJ in 30 second at Survivor Series. AJ Lee is 1-0 at TLC events, Nikki makes her TLC debut tonight. Nikki starts the match by shoving AJ away and then sliding out of the ring and doing press-ups. Nikki gets back into the ring and ducks a clothesline but AJ hits her with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors sending Nikki out of the ring. AJ follows, kicks Brie and then rolls Nikki back into the ring. Inside the ring and AJ hits a dropkick but Nikki hits a spinebuster for a two count. Nikki hits a backbreaker for another two count. Nikki hits a suplex and then throws AJ into the corner and stomps her down. Nikki then executes a surfboard around the ringpost and that looked painful. Nikki gets a near fall and applies a surfboard. Nikki hits a powerslam for a near fall and then applies a chinlock as Brie watches on from the outside. AJ fights out of the chinlock and locks on a front facelock. Nikki rams AJ into the corner to break the hold and then looks for a shoulder charge but AJ avoids it and hits a sunset flip for a two count. Both girls then clothesline each other down.

Both girls get to their feet and AJ hits a Lou Thesz press and then a splash in the corner. AJ hits a neckbreaker for a two count and then a tornado DDT for another near fall. Nikki hits an elbow and then a springboard kick for a two count. AJ hits a bulldog for a near fall and then a shining wizard but this time Brie puts Nikki’s foot on the ropes. The referee sees it ands sends Brie to the back. That distracts AJ and the referee and allows Nikki to spray something in AJ’s face! Nikki hits a big forearm and then the rack attack and that’s enough for the three! Nikki Bella retains the Divas Championship tonight!

Rating: 4.75/10

Tom Phillips is backstage with Roman Reigns. Reigns says that he told the world a month ago that he’d be back an he came back with an impact. Reigns then announces that he is the first man to declare himself into the Royal Rumble match.

Ryback vs. Kane – chairs match

This is a first time PPV match between these two men. Ryback is 0-2 at TLC PPV’s, Kane is 0-1. Both men grab chairs as the bell rings and there’s a duel. Both men drop their chairs and it’s Ryback with the first offence as he hits a shoulder charge. Ryback picks up a chair but Kane fights him off and uses the chair himself. Kane sets up a chair in the corner and looks to Irish whip Ryback who reverses it and sends Kane into the chair. Ryback hits a Lou Thesz press and a splash. Ryback then hits a powerslam and goes up to the middle rope and hits a splash before doing that another two times. Ryback swings a chair into Kane a few times and then goes up top for a splash but Kane gets a chair up and Ryback eats it. Kane grabs another chair and swings it into the back of Ryback and then puts the chair on the top rope. Kane hits snake eyes on to the chair for a two count. Kane grabs another chair and jabs it into the middle section of The Big Guy.

Ryback looks for a suplex but Kane blocks it and DDT’s him on to the chair for a near fall. Kane picks up a chair and jabs it into Ryback against but ryback manages to kick the chair into Kane’s face. Ryback goes up the middle rope and looks for a double axe handle but Kane hits him with an uppercut. There are a couple of “boring” chants at this stage. Kane sets up a chair in the middle of the ring and looks for a chokeslam but Ryback fights him off. Kane hits a big boot and pins Ryback for a near fall. Kane hits a splash in the corner and looks for a second but Ryback counters and hits a belly to belly suplex. Ryback picks up a chair but Kane kicks it into his face. Kane then uses the chair and hits Ryback with it a few times. Kane leaves the ring and throws a few more chairs into the ring. He sets up two in the middle of the ring and then sets up for a chokeslam but Ryback counters and hits a spinebuster on Kane into the chairs.

Ryback beats down Kane with a chair and then motions for the meathook clothesline but Kane throws a chair at him! Kane then hits a chokeslam in the middle of the ring but Ryback kicks out of the pinfall! Kane puts a chair down and motions for a tombstone but Ryback counters and hits a meathook clothesline. Ryback then hits shellshock! He hooks the leg and gets the three. Ryback beats Kane tonight.

Rating: 4/10

Rusev (c) vs. Jack Swagger

This is the third pay per view match between these two men. Rusev has won the first two. Jack Swagger is 0-3 at TLC PPV’s, Rusev makes his TLC PPV debut tonight. Rusev has Lana with him tonight but there is no Zeb Colter in the corner of Jack Swagger. Swagger gets the first few shots in and then a powerslam, slamming Rusev on to the top rope. Rusev sells a foot injury and Swagger goes right for it. Rusev retreats out of the ring and Swagger follows. Rusev rolls back into the ring and looks to hit a clothesline but Swagger ducks and hits a clothesline of his own. Jack hits a big boot and then looks for a Swagger bomb but Rusev avoids it. Rusev then looks for a big superkick but Swagger catches him and lock on the Patriot lock! Rusev manages to counter and tries to lock on the accolade but Swagger gets to the bottom rope. Rusev then drags Swagger to the middle of the ring and locks on the accolade. Swagger looks to have passed out but then comes back to life and gets up to his feet with Rusev on his back. Swagger then locks on the Patriot lock!

Rusev manages to kick Swagger away to break the hold and then rolls out of the ring. Swagger follows and Rusev kicks him in the face. Rusev gets back into the ring and Swagger just beats the count. Rusev hits him with another kick as he gets back into the ring and then locks on the accolade. Swagger taps out. Rusev retains his United States Championship tonight.

Rating: 3.75/10

There’s a VT next showing the history between Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt.

Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt – TLC Match

This is a second PPV match between these two men. Bray Wyatt beat Dean Ambrose by disqualification last month at Survivor Series. Dean Ambrose is 1-1 at TLC PPV’s, Bray Wyatt is 1-0. Before the bell can even ring Dean Ambrose throws a ladder out at Bray Wyatt. The two men then slug it out in the entrance way until Ambrose rolls Wyatt into the ring. Bray goes right out of the ring on the other side and Ambrose hits him with a suicide dive. Ambrose then throws Wyatt into the barricade and climbs on top of the announce table before diving down at Wyatt, sending him over the barricade. The two men battle through the crowd and exchange headbutts until Wyatt throws Ambrose into the barricade. They are over by the kick-off set which Dean Ambrose climbs on to and then launches off the table onto Wyatt. They battle back to ringside and I don’t actually think the bell has rung yet. Ambrose throws Bray into the barricade again and then beats him down with chairs.

Dean Ambrose throws chairs into the ring and then hits Wyatt with headbutts. Bray rolls into the ring and Ambrose pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up on the outside. Ambrose then grabs a couple of kendo sticks and Wyatt just stares into his eyes. Wyatt reaches for a chair but Ambrose beats him down with the kendo sticks. Ambrose hits a side Russian leg sweep and then goes up to the middle rope and hits an elbow drop using a chair. Ambrose sits Wyatt down on a chair and then goes up to the top rope but Wyatt hits him with an uppercut which sends Ambrose out of the ring and through the table he had set up earlier.Wyatt shoves Ambrose into the barricade and then rolls him back into the ring and pins him for a two count. Wyatt swings a kendo stick into Ambrose’s back a couple of times Wyatt sets up a kendo stick in the corner and throws Ambrose head-first into it. Wyatt hits a schoolboy and Ambrose kicks out. Bray Wyatt picks up a short ladder and rams that into Ambrose. Ambrose hits an uppercut sending Dean back on to a ladder and then hits a senton for a two count.

Wyatt continues to use the kendo stick on Dean Ambrose and then throws him into a ladder set up in the corner. Wyatt then looks for a splash but Ambrose gets out of the way. The two men slug it out and Ambrose throws Wyatt into a ladder. Ambrose then hits a running forearm and a bulldog before laying a ladder on the top rope and climbing up and on top of it. Ambrose dives off with a double axe handle for a two count. Bray rolls out to the apron where Ambrose ties him up in the ropes and hits him with a running dropkick. Ambrose hits a legdrop off the second rope for a two count and then looks for dirty deeds but Wyatt counters and looks for Sister Abigail just for Ambrose to counter. Wyatt hits a big clothesline and the fight goes to the outside. Ambrose knocks down Wyatt with a clothesline and the two men then slug it out in the entrance-way. Ambrose hammers Wyatt down on to a table and then climbs a ladder and hits an elbow drop! Ambrose then beats Wyatt down on to another table and climbs an even higher ladder before diving off with another elbow drop.

Dean Ambrose rolls Bray Wyatt back into the ring but sells an injury to his ribs. Wyatt then hits Sister Abigail out of nowhere but Ambrose kicks out of the pinfall. Wyatt attempts a second Sister Abigail but Ambrose counters with a roll up for a two count. Ambrose then sends Wyatt into a ladder and hits dirty deeds for a near fall. Wyatt crawls out of the ring and Ambrose follows laughing. Dean pulls a monitor out from under the ring and looks at himself on it. Ambrose puts down the monitor and walks up the entrance way and grabs a big ladder. Lawler says it’s 25 foot but it doesn’t even look 15. He sets it up at ringside and asks for Spanish announcers to get out of the way. Wyatt hits Ambrose with a chair and then tries to ram a chair into Ambrose’s throat which Ambrose counters. Dean lays Wyatt down on the Spanish announce desk and climbs up the ladder before diving off and hitting an elbow drop. Ambrose rolls Wyatt into the ring and then picks up the live monitor he had earlier. The monitor sparks and shorts in Ambrose’s face. Wyatt hits Ambrose with Sister Abigail and hooks the leg for the three! Bray Wyatt beats Dean Ambrose tonight. What a strange finish.

Rating: 7.75/10

And that was TLC 2014. It wasn’t a great pay per view. There have been much betters shows in recent months. There were a few highlights though which included the opening match between Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper. These two guys have a lot of chemistry and it really gave Luke Harper chance to showcase his skills. Dolph Ziggler won the match and wins the Intercontinental Championship for a fourth time. Dolph is really over at the moment. His win at Survivor Series went a long way for that and with this show being in his hometown he got a huge pop again. I have no problem with Ziggler as Intercontinental Champion but I would like to see him have a long reign and bring a bit of prestige back to the title. It’s been passed around a lot over the last few months between The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper. A great way to kick off the show though.

Next up were The Usos against The Miz and Damien Sandow. This match was ok, not as good as some of The Usos recent matches. Damien Mizdow continues to be one of the most entertaining guys in the company and he’ll be over as hell when he eventually splits away from The Miz. Miz and Mizdow retained their titles by disqualification but did lose the match. To me that says that this feud will continue and we’ll probably see another match at The Royal Rumble next month. Big Show then beat Erick Rowan in a stiff match. Rowan looked like he hurt Big Show at one point when Big Show was too slow rolling out of the way. The stairs were used a lot in this match which was fine, it was the point of the match. Again, a nice rub for Rowan, much like Harper. Big Show wins though which maybe says how far they’re willing to go with Erick Rowan.

John Cena and Seth Rollins had a good match next which was right out of the attitude era in terms of booking. Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury played a big role in the match and then Big Show came out but it was Roman Reigns that made the big difference at the end. I enjoyed this match and it wouldn’t have been out of place as the final match of the evening. I’m actually surprised it wasn’t. John Cena wins although I was routing for Seth Rollins. I’ not really interested in seeing Cena vs. Lesnar again. I enjoyed the chaos in this match though. Nikki Bella then beat AJ Lee to retain the WWE Divas Championship match. Nikki cheated, spraying something in AJ’s eyes which solidifies her as the heel champion. I like this angle with Nikki as the heel champion and her sister Brie helping her out. Nikki has really come along leaps and bounds and makes for a good champion at the moment.

Ryback and Kane battled in a forgettable chairs match. It was nothing special but did the job in getting Ryback over. Kane takes the fall and I can only think that this feud will end here. This seemed like pay per view filler. It wasn’t a terrible match it just wasn’t too interesting. It’s hard to keep the interest when there are so many gimmick matches on one show. Rusev then beat Jack Swagger for a third time on pay per view this year. I don’t think there’s much more they can do with this feud, Rusev keeps on winning. I like Rusev as United States Champion and whoever beats him will get a huge rub. I’m not sure where this leaves Jack Swagger, I don’t really buy him as a babyface but I do like the pro-US gimmick for him. I think he’ll end up turning heel again at some point.

Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt then had their TLC match and this was everything I hoped it would be. Dean Ambrose suits a gimmick match and he’s not afraid to dive off ladders (or Hell In A Cell structures as we saw a couple of months ago). I wasn’t a huge fan of the finish, it was really strange. A TV monitor blew up in his face. Really strange finish. But there were some good spots in this match and I’m guessing it was these plans spots that decided that this match would go on last.

Overall Rating: 55.62/100 (ranked 208th out of 309)

Match Of The Night: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt
Worst Match Of The Night: Rusev vs. Jack Swagger
Surprise Of The Night: The return of Roman Reigns
Worst Booking Of The Night: John Cena beats Seth Rollins
Superstar Of The Night: Bray Wyatt
TLC 2014 Will Be Remembered For: A monitor blowing up and costing Dean Ambrose his match