WWE TLC Results: Analysing and Grading each match
Once again, the blue brand has delivered another stellar PPV, with a number of feuds climaxing after months of build. Alexa Bliss ended Becky Lynch’s fairytale run in emphatic fashion, hitting Lynch with a Powerbomb through the table.
The Miz and Dolph Ziggler clashed in a ladder match, with the A-lister retaining due to a low blow. Nikki Bella finally put her bad blood with Carmella to bed, although a new rival emerged for the Bella army.
AJ Styles retained his WWE World title in a classic TLC match, with James Ellsworth shockingly saving the match for Styles.
Other matches with shorter builds also impressed. Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton became the new Smackdown Tag Team champions alongside their fellow Wyatt family member Luke Harper, with Heath Slater and Rhyno’s run as tag team champions coming to an end.
Baron Corbin and Kalisto exceeded expectations in a hotly contested Chairs match, with the Lone Wolf ultimately emerging victorious.
So, which bouts stole the show? Let’s find out, as I Analyse and Grade each match from WWE TLC 2016.
#1 AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose (TLC Match, WWE World Championship):
Grade: 9.5/10
This was one of the best matches all year in WWE, and an incredible TLC match. Ambrose and Styles competed in an all-out war, with chaotic action and huge spots sending the Dallas crowd wild. A number of ‘This is Awesome’ chants rang through the arena, and rightly so, as Ambrose and Styles produced a spectacular main event.
The spots integrated throughout the match were insane as well, including a 450 Splash to the outside through a table, an elbow drop from a ladder to the announce table, and a huge fall for Ambrose from the top of a ladder through two tables to end proceedings.
Styles delivered yet another fantastic match in his debut year in WWE, and Ambrose had one of his best matches in WWE so far. Ellsworth turning heel to screw Ambrose was a big shock to close the show, although it was very predictable.
The finish will continue the Ellsworth story for now, sure, but it was arguably the one poor aspect of this otherwise incredible main event. Still, it was a nice swerve that protected Ambrose in loss, as well as setting up a potential brutalisation of Ellsworth by Ambrose in the near future.
Ellsworth’s involvement was kept to a minimum as well, meaning the bout wasn’t tarnished too much by him. AJ retaining here was definitely the right choice as well, and although the Undertaker didn’t appear to challenge him as rumored, expect the potential feud with Styles to begin in the coming weeks.
Overall, a fantastic TLC match to close the show, as Ambrose and Styles tore the house down with one of the best WWE matches of 2016.
Note: Ellsworth’s explanation for the turn on Talking Smack was that he knows he can beat AJ, so he kept him as the champion for his next title shot. Honestly, not a bad way to justify his actions. The match is official for the next SD Live. Ellsworth vs Styles for the title. The reason behind Ellsworth’s heel turn could be a mini program between Ambrose and the Chinless Wonder.