Pre-Show:
We’re live from Dallas as the 2016 WWE TLC Kickoff pre-show opens with Renee Young, Booker T, Daniel Bryan and Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg. We see tables, ladders and chairs all over the arena. They welcome Rosenberg and hype tonight’s pay-per-view. Bryan says he’s excited to see who will step up. Renee sends us backstage to Tom Phillips in the Social Media Lounge. He will be joined by Alexa Bliss later tonight. Fans can submit questions with the hashtag #AskAlexa. Renee reveals a 10-man tag team match for tonight with American Alpha, Apollo Crews and The Hype Bros vs. The Ascension, The Vaudevillains and Curt Hawkins.
We get more discussion from the panel on tonight’s show. Bryan leaves after they discuss tonight’s Intercontinental Title match. Bryan and Peter believe Ziggler will take the title. We get discussion on tonight’s Chairs Match next and then the SmackDown Women’s Title match. Natalya joins the panel and talks about being in the Tables Match years ago. She says whoever wins tonight’s match will be on a different plane and it will change both of their careers. Natalya and Booker believe we will see a new champion tonight. We go back to Alexa in the Social Media Lounge with Tom Phillips. Bliss knocks Renee’s outfit. She’s asked her inspiration. She says Trish Stratus, watching her growing up was inspiring. Rey Mysterio was another idol she had growing up. Bliss goes on and talks about why she deserves being champion over Becky Lynch. Bliss ends up walking out and we go back to the panel.
Apollo Crews, The Hype Bros and American Alpha vs. Curt Hawkins, The Vaudevillains and The Ascension
We go to the ring and Mauro Ranallo is on commentary with JBL and David Otunga. Chad Gable and Jason Jordan are out first for their team as Greg Hamilton makes the introduction. Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley are out next, followed by Apollo Crews.
Simon Gotch and Aiden English are out first for their team, followed by Konnor and Viktor. Curt Hawkins is out next as the heels head to the ring. A pre-recorded intro from Hawkins plays and he refers to the city as Houston. Hawkins and Crews start off going at it. Hawkins takes Crews down first and shows off. Crews takes advantage and turns it around. Crews with a dropkick for a 2 count.
Ryder tags in but Hawkins wants none of him. Viktor tags in and takes control of Ryder. Viktor runs into knees in the corner but keeps control after a back elbow. Ryder counters with a neckbreaker and a 2 count. Mojo tags in for some double teaming in the corner. Mojo slams his opponent and does the Hammer Time move. Mojo takes out Konnor’s knee now. English comes in but Mojo turns it around and tags in Jordan. Jordan with a takedown and a tag to Gable for some double teaming. They also clear the apron, then hit a double dropkick on Gotch. Aiden gets sent to the floor. Gotch charges but he also gets thrown out. Both teams take turns tossing each other to the floor. Crews is the last one, tossing Hawkins. He stands tall until both teams come back in and face off. They start brawling. The babyfaces clear the ring and stand tall as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Hawkins is in control of Gable. More tags between the heels as they keep Gable down. Fans rally for Gable now. Gable finally gets the tag and Jordan comes in to unload. Gotch breaks up a 2 count. The Hype Bros take out The Vaudevillains. The Ascension takes out Mojo. Alpha takes out The Ascension with leaping clotheslines from the top. Hawkins nails Crews but Crews suplexes him from the apron onto other guys on the floor. Alpha hits their finisher on Gotch for the pin.
Winners: American Alpha, The Hype Bros and Apollo Crews
– We go back to the pre-show for talk on tonight’s main event. Booker and Peter go with AJ Styles retaining over Dean Ambrose. Renee sends us to a video package and that’s it for the pre-show.
WWE TLC Opener:
The show opens with a video package highlighting the main feuds heading into tonight’s event, as well as highlighting the weapons that will be used in various matches on the card. A good deal of time is given to Styles vs. Ambrose for the WWE World Championship, as well as Ziggler vs. Miz in a ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Becky vs. Alexa gets a quick moment in the video package as well.
The pyro hits and Mauro Ranallo welcomes us to the show. We go straight to the ring for some action as Randy Orton’s music hits, but it’s quickly cut short and replaced by Bray Wyatt’s. Wyatt and Orton make their way out to the ring accompanied by Luke Harper for the first title match of the night.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Match
Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Heath Slater and Rhyno are out next, and the champions get a nice little pop on their way down the aisle.
It looks like Wyatt and Rhyno will kick things off tonight. We get a lockup and Rhyno transitions right into a headlock, but Bray fights right out of it. Rhyno comes off the ropes with a leaping clothesline, but Bray comes right back with a chop to the throat. Orton tags in and kicks Rhyno before hitting a big uppercut. Rhyno fights back with some chops, ducks a clothesline, and hits a shoulderblock, allowing a tag to Slater. Heath comes in with a series of right hands, but he’s dropped quickly by Orton. Slater comes back with a leg lariat, and leaping forearm in the corner. Orton backdrops Slater to the apron, where his legs are taken out by Bray and Heath falls to the floor.
Slater struggles back into the ring where he’s immediately suplexed across the top rope before Orton stomps at Slater’s joints. Wyatt tags in and beats on the back of Heath’s neck, but when he goes for the pin, Slater kicks out. Bray takes Heath into the corner and hits a giant clothesline in the corner, but it’s still not enough for three. Wyatt dumps Heath to the outside and tags in Orton.
Slater works his way up to his feet and Orton pulls him back into the ring, kicking Slater in the chest. Slater fights off the suspension DDT, but when he slingshots into the ring, Orton catches him with a quick powerslam for two. Wyatt tags into the match and buries his knee in Slater’s back, clamping on a rear chin lock. Slater fights up to his knees, but Wyatt puts him right down. Slater kicks Wyatt in the chest and hits Bray with double boots before taking Orton off the apron. Slater makes the tag and Rhyno comes in with a couple of clotheslines to Bray. Rhyno goes up to the second rope and hits a shoulder tackle to wipe out Bray. Orton helps Bray avoid another shot from Rhyno in the corner, but Orton is sent from the apron to the floor. Rhyno heads out to the floor and goes for a gore on Orton, but Harper pushes Orton out of the way and eats the gore instead. Things head back into the ring and Bray distracts Rhyno with the spider walk so Orton quickly hits an RKO on Rhyno for the three count.
Winners and NEW Smackdown Tag Team Champions: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton
After the match, The Wyatt Family stands tall as we go to replays. Harper brings the titles in and hands them to Orton and Wyatt. Harper bows to Wyatt and sells the Gore. Wyatt places his title over Harper’s shoulder and says something to him. Orton comes face to face with Harper. Orton places his title on Harper’s other shoulder. Wyatt drops to his knees as Orton and Harper pose behind him.
Backstage:
Dean Ambrose is backstage with an interviewer I don’t recognize. Ambrose says he’s sure James Ellsworth is fine, keeping his chin… he means spirits, up. He’s at home, out of the danger zone, letting the grown ups do the work. Ambrose says his temper is his game plan, when he gets pissed off, he likes to roll with it. AJ Styles goes for the low road, but there’s no easy way to win a TLC match, or crash through a table, or eat chair shots, or climb a ladder while Ambrose is pounding Styles’ kidneys with forearms. Ambrose says that he lives hard, he does the hard work, and tonight, there’s only one way to win a TLC match. A great fried of Ambrose’s once said it’s gonna be hard times.
Backstage:
Styles is backstage with Renee Young for a quick rebuttal. Styles says he’s been in matches like these before, he knows what they can do, and he knows Dean Ambrose. Keeping him down will be a problem, but after a couple of chair shots, some tables, and some ladders, Ambrose will get up, just in time to see him standing atop with his WWE Championship.
No DQ Match
Carmella vs. Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella is out for the next match, to a nice pop from the fans in attendance.
Carmella is out shortly after, moonwalking around and sporting a couple of black eyes (though they’re heavily made up).
Things go right to the outside and then back into the ring right away where Nikki takes Carmella down with a spear and hits her with a couple of clubbing forearms. Nikki brings Carmella out to the apron and goes to the floor, trying for an Owens-styles powerbomb on the apron it looks like. Carmella fights it off and hits a headscissors to take Nikki to the floor, crashing into the ring steps. Carmella follows up by taking Nikki into the barricade hard. Carmella goes for the knee, attacking right away back in the ring before suplexing Nikki into the ropes for a two count. Carmella continues the assault on Nikki’s leg, but can’t keep her on the mat. Carmella hits another suplex into the ropes before getting a one count. Carmella picks up Nikki and takes her into the corner, tying her up in a tree of woe. Carmella heads out to the floor going under the ring for a kendo stick.
Carmella heads back into the ring and does the Cena ‘U can’t see me’ taunt before whacking Nikki with the kendo stick across the stomach and knee. Nikki falls out of the tree of woe and fights back with a kick, but Carmella comes right back with a couple of kendo stick shots to the back. Carmella locks in the code of silence, but Nikki gets her hand on the kendo stick and whacks Carmella to force her to break the hold. Carmella heads to the floor with the kendo stick and Nikki heads to the apron where she kicks Carmella back into the barricade. Carmella responds by shoving Nikki into the barricade and Nikki comes right back to shove Carmella into the ring post. Nikki stands on top of the barricade and hits a beautiful disaster kick on Carmella before bringing things back into the ring. Nikki has the kendo stick and she’s hitting the back of Carmella’s thighs. Carmella is able to clip the leg of Nikki again to stop the assault.
Nikki stands and Carmella grabs her, pulling her down and sending her crashing through the ropes and to the floor. Carmella goes over to the side of the ring and Nikki blasts her with a fire extinguisher. Nikki gets in the ring and continues to spray Carmella with the extinguisher, following her around the ring. Nikki shoulders Carmella and hits the Rack Attack 2.0 for the three count.
Winner: Nikki Bella
Nikki walks up the aisle on her way to the back and Carmella gets on the mic and asks for the music to be cut. She says she hopes Nikki is proud of herself. She thinks she evened the odds for Survivor Series, but it wasn’t Carmella. But she knows who did it. It was Nikki’s friend from Total Divas, Natalya. Carmella’s music hits while Nikki looks confused and walks off toward the back.
– After a weird jewelry commercial featuring Natalya and a WWE fan, we’re back in the arena where the announcers can’t believe Carmella’s accusation. Tom Phillips turns the attention to the Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship transitioning right to a video package that highlights a lot of the history of the Intercontinental title, including a lot of the great champions of the past and the recent history between Miz and Dolph Ziggler.
Backstage:
Daniel Bryan is interviewed backstage and Bryan talks about how he’d like to see Miz lose the title. He thinks Dolph Ziggler is a better representative of Smackdown. despite Miz’s arrogance, he brings star power to the title. But Smackdown is the land of opportunity. Miz comes in and talks about how this is proof that Bryan doesn’t like Miz. Bryan says he’s never liked him. Miz says he wishes it was Bryan in the ring so he could push him off a ten foot ladder, but he tells Bryan to enjoy before walking off.
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title
Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz
Back in the arena, Dolph Ziggler makes his way out from the back to a nice pop from the crowd.
The Championship is shown hanging above the ring before Miz makes his way down the aisle accompanied by his wife Maryse.
The bell rings and both men are slow to start, circling each other before Miz simply points at the title. Miz tries for a clothesline, but Ziggler ducks and takes Miz down for a ground and pound. Ziggler catches Miz with a couple of rights in the corner, but Miz counters a superkick. Ziggler counters an SCF, but Miz ends up slingshotting Ziggler over the top rope. Ziggler lands safely and goes under the ring for a ladder, but Miz is quick to stop him on the floor. Miz tries to slam Ziggler face first into a ladder, but Ziggler blocks it. Ziggler tries to slam Miz into another ladder, but Miz blocks it. Ziggler leaps on top of Miz, but Miz catches him, throws him off, and hits a big boot to wipe out Ziggler. Miz knocks down a ladder and Ziggler launches Miz into another ladder further up the aisle.
Miz is able to recover and send Ziggler into the apron, charging in after with a ladder to the gut. Ziggler responds by taking Miz out on the floor with a nasty clothesline. Ziggler grinds Miz’s face into the foot of the ladder, scraping him back and forth. Ziggler tries to slam Miz’s head in the ladder, but Miz avoids it and hits a drop toe hold that sends Ziggler face first into the ladder.
Miz heads back into the ring and brings a ladder with him, but Ziggler grabs the ladder and slams it into Miz’s face, using the ropes as a slingshot. Miz responds with a dropkick, sending the ladder into Ziggler’s face and knocking him back. Miz heads out to the floor and both men have a tug of war over the ladder in the corner, with either man on both sides of the ring post, and Ziggler yanks back and sends Miz crashing into the ring post. Ziggler grabs a ladder and goes to slide it into the ring but Miz grabs his ankle. Ziggler kicks away at Miz, but Miz catches Ziggler in powerbomb position, Ziggler fights out, and counters into a DDT, driving Miz face first into the ladder.
Ziggler grabs a ladder and slides it into the ring, setting it up under the belt, but he’s dropkicked from behind by the Miz before he can do anything, knocking over the ladder as well. Miz stands and picks up the ladder, squashing Ziggler in the corner by laying the ladder across the middle rope and dropkicking it into Ziggler’s gut. Miz stands on the ladder in the corner and picks up Ziggler, seating him on the top rope. Ziggler fights off the Miz and sends him crashing off the ladder and to the mat. Ziggler stands on the ladder and springs up and down before leaping off with a huge elbow drop to Miz’s heart.
Ziggler picks up Miz and slams him face first into the ladder draped across the ropes in the corner. Ziggler goes outside the ring and brings in another ladder. Ziggler sets up the ladder under the title, climbing up the rungs, but Miz grabs Ziggler’s foot. Ziggler kicks Miz away, but Miz won’t stop, succeeding in pulling down Ziggler. Ziggler responds with an immediate clothesline. Ziggler tosses Miz out of the ring and he goes to climb the ladder again, getting his fingers on the belt, but Miz is in the ring and able to tip over the ladder before Ziggler can get the belt down.
Ziggler pulls himself up in the corner and Miz throws the ladder into Ziggler’s face. Miz makes sure the ladder is in place and mocks Daniel Bryan before hitting a couple of running dropkicks from the corner to the ladder, slamming it into Ziggler’s face. When Miz goes for a third dropkick, Ziggler launches the ladder out of the corner and into Miz’s face, and both men are down.
Ziggler is able to pick up the ladder and set it up under the belt. Ziggler is able to make it up to the top of the ladder, but Miz is up quickly on the other side. Both men slug it out at the top of the ladder, each getting a hand on the title. Dolph is able to knock Miz off the ladder, and he almost gets the title down, but Miz pulls Ziggler down a couple of rungs and wraps his leg around the ladder, wrenching away and causing Ziggler to scream in pain. Miz is able to knock over the ladder. Miz blocks a superkick, but Ziggler avoids having his leg slammed in the ladder. Miz catches Ziggler and drives his knee down into the ladder hard. Miz drapes Ziggler’s knee across the ladder and yanks his ankle up hard, driving his knee down into the ladder. Miz wraps Ziggler’s leg up in between the ladder and slams it down before pulling Ziggler’s leg through the rungs and locking in a figure four through the ladder.
Miz breaks the hold and waits for Ziggler to stand, trying for the SCF. Ziggler fights it off. Ziggler tries for the superkick, but he’s not able to connect on a bad knee and Miz hits the SCF with Ziggler’s head grazing the ladder. Miz sets up the ladder and climbs, but Ziggler is able to tip over the ladder. Miz grabs onto the support holding up the title, but Ziggler smacks Miz with the ladder, sending Miz crashing down to the mat. Miz clutches his knee and falls out to the floor, grabbing at it and consulting with the ref. Dolph sets up the ladder under the belt and Ziggler struggles up on a bum leg of his own. Miz is up and able to stop Ziggler before he gets to the top of the ladder. Miz pulls Ziggler down in powerbomb position and slingshots him on the top rope before putting him down on the ladder draped across the middle rope in the corner.
Miz uses a ladder to help himself stand, and he sets up a couple of ladders side-by-side. Miz climbs one ladder, and Ziggler climbs the other ladder, on the other side. Both men fight at the top, with Miz beating Ziggler down. Ziggler comes back and Miz works over to Ziggler’s ladder. Ziggler connects with a couple of big head butts that send Miz crashing down to the mat. Ziggler gets a hand on the title, but Miz climbs and scores with a couple of low blows to incapacitate Ziggler. Miz kicks Ziggler down off the ladder and he pulls the title down to win the match.
Winner and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
After the match Maryse hands a mic to Miz who dedicates this win to Daniel Bryan. Miz says without Bryan’s motivation of hating him, and giving Ziggler chance after chance, it motivated him into being the greatest Intercontinental Champion ever. It’s day 19 of the Reunion tour, and give Ziggler a participation award. Miz calls the crowd and Ziggler all losers, and himself and Maryse winners, saying he wins before simply dropping the mic and heading to the back with his wife.
– We get a video package that highlights the history between Baron Corbin and Kalisto leading up to tonight’s chairs match, including Corbin costing Smackdown Live the Cruiserweight division, and his absolute disrespect for Kalisto over the past few weeks, along with Kalisto’s attempts to retaliate.
Chairs Match
Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin
Kalisto is the first man to make his way down the aisle for the next match, going around the ring immediately and throwing chair after chair into the middle of the ring.
Baron Corbin is out next, and the Lone Wolf doesn’t get much of a reaction out of the crowd on his way to the ring.
Kalisto is already standing with chair in hand, Corbin avoids it though, and he’s able to stop Kalisto with a knee to the gut. Corbin sets up a chair in the middle of the ring and he tries for a powerbomb, but Kalisto counters into a roll up. Kalisto kicks Corbin and seats him on the chair, then he hits a dropkick that sends Corbin crashing out to the floor. Kalisto leaps off the chair and off the top rope to wipe off Corbin on the floor. Kalisto tries to bring things back into the ring but he’s knocked off the apron by Corbin. Corbin hits Kalisto with repeated forearms against the barricade to the side of his head. Corbin wraps his shirt around Kalisto’s neck and drives him between the barricade and the apron before tossing Kalisto into a pile of chairs set up around the ring.
Corbin takes things back into the ring for a cover but he’s only able to get two. Corbin whips Kalisto into the corner extremely hard, then he wedges a chair into the corner between the top and middle rope. Kalisto is able to fight back with strikes and kicks, but Corbin catches Kalisto around the throat and hits him with a sit out bomb, pinning Kalisto for another two count. Corbin heads outside to grab another chair, and he sets up six chairs across from each other (3 sets of two). Corbin avoids double boots in the corner, but Kalisto connects with a drop toe hold that sends Corbin head first into the chair wedged in the corner. Kalisto hits Corbin with a chair and heads to the top rope, connecting with a senton that sends Corbin crashing backwards through the six chairs set up earlier, but Corbin won’t stay down for three.
Corbin heads to the outside and Kalisto attempts to dive through the ropes to take out Corbin, but Corbin catches Kalisto and counters into the Deep Six. Corbin picks up Kalisto and rolls him into the ring but Kalisto still won’t stay down for a three count. Corbin punches Kalisto repeatedly in the face before picking up and stacking a pile of chairs in the middle of the ring. Corbin grabs another chair and heads to the floor after Kalisto, but Kalisto avoids a chair shot, then a second, and third. Corbin finally drops the chair after connecting with the ring steps. Kalisto scores with a couple of kicks to the thigh before walking the barricade and jumping off with a hurricanrana. Kalisto hits a running dropkick on the outside that drives Corbin into the barricade.
Both men head back into the ring where Kalisto hits a springboard dropkick to the back of Corbin’s head. Kalisto lays a chair across Corbin’s chest before dragging him to the corner. Kalisto goes to the top rope and leaps off with a moonsault, driving the chair into Corbin’s chest with double knees, but it’s still not enough for three.
Kalisto grabs a chair and whacks Corbin across the back, before winding up and striking again, and a third time. Kalisto piles the chairs in the middle of the ring again before turning his attention to Corbin. Kalisto tries for the Salida del Sol, but Corbin fights it off. Kalisto connects with a couple of kicks, but when he goes to the corner and leaps off the ropes, Corbin has a chair that he drives directly into Kalisto’s face. Corbin hits the End of Days into the pile of chairs in the ring and this one is over with a three count.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Following the match, Corbin rips off the top of the Smackdown announcers table and says that’s what’ll happen to anyone that gets in his way before he storms off.
Backstage:
Natalya was asked if she cared to comment on Carmella accusing her of attacking Nikki Bella at Survivor Series. “Yeah, right,” she started. She spoke about the women’s championship match and then called the accusations absurd. She was asked why Carmella would lie. “I don’t know, because she’s a liar,” she said…
– The broadcast team hyped the WWE Roadblock event and the Royal Rumble. They hyped Goldberg and Brock Lesnar for the Rumble match…
– A video package set up the women’s championship match.
Tables Match for the SmackDown Women’s Title
Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch
Alexa Bliss is the first woman to make her way to the ring for the next match, and Bliss doesn’t get much of a reaction from the fans, although there do seem to be some in the crowd booing her.
Becky Lynch is out next, and Lynch gets a much more positive reaction than Alexa on her way down the aisle.
The bell rings and Becky backs Bliss into the corner immediately, kicking away at her stomach. Becky hits a short-arm clothesline and goes right out to the floor, going under the ring for a table. Alexa hits a baseball slide to send Becky crashing back, then she tosses Becky into the barricade. Becky recovers and hits a clothesline on Bliss before sending her crashing into the barricade. Becky picks up Alexa and tries for a powerbomb on the floor, but Alexa fights it off and lands on the apron, kicking Becky in the side of the head. Back in the ring, Becky is able to take Alexa down to the mat with a snap suplex before she goes back to the outside for a table.
Becky sets up the table out of the floor before heading up to the apron. Becky teases a suplex from the ring through the table on the floor, but Alexa fights it off and snaps Becky’s throat across the top rope. Becky avoids being put through the table and makes it into the ring where Alexa stomps away at her in the corner. Becky is able to come back with a big kick that sends Alexa to the apron. Becky goes to the top rope and Alexa bites Becky’s finger before sending her crashing into the ring. Bliss chokes Becky against the middle rope before slamming her face into the mat and stomping on the back of Becky’s head repeatedly.
Alexa goes under the ring for a table, and when Becky leaps off the apron, Bliss avoids it and slams Becky face first into the ring post. Alexa sends a table into the ring and slams Becky’s face into the apron before sending her into the ring as well. Alexa sets up the table in the corner before turning back to Becky and taking her into the corner. Alexa kicks at Becky’s chest, but the runs into a back elbow. Alexa comes back with clubbing blows to the back of Becky Lynch. Alexa lies Becky on the table, but when she goes to the top rope, Becky stops her and seats Bliss on the top rope. Becky heads up after Alexa, going for a superplex, but Alexa is able to fight it off. Becky turns over the table, but Bliss kicks Becky in the face. Becky picks up Alexa and tries to slam her down, but Alexa fights out of it and slams Becky to the mat by her hair.
Alexa sets up the table in the corner, propping it up. Becky responds with three uppercuts and three clotheslines. Alexa ducks a clothesline, but she eats a kick to the gut. Alexa blocks a Bex-plex through the table, driving Becky to the mat instead. Becky tries to sunset flip Alexa through the table, but can’t. Alexa connects with double knees across the stomach of Becky, but when she tries to flip the table on top of Becky, Becky simply rolls out of the way. Alexa sets up the table again, but she turns around into shots to the stomach from Becky. Becky shoulders Alexa, but Alexa flips the table over, then DDT’s Becky face-first on the upside-down table.
Becky is able to clamp on the Disarmer through the table leg, causing Alexa to scream in pain. Becky breaks the hold, then hits a pump-handle suplex into a slam to the mat. Becky lays the table across the bottom rope in the corner before laying Alexa across the table. Becky heads to the outside and climbs up to the top rope, but Alexa is able to stop her with a kick to the head. Alexa snap mares Becky down to the mat over the table, then she dropkicks her to send her crashing across the mat.
Becky is able to connect with a drop-toe hold into the table, but she misses with a baseball slide. Alexa and Becky fight on the apron, trading forearms. Alexa drops off the apron and to the floor, grabbing Becky in a powerbomb and putting her through the table on the floor to win the match.
Winner and NEW Smackdown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Becky is interviewed immediately after the match. She says she doesn’t appreciate the mic in her face. She’s mad at herself, and this doesn’t feel good, then she walks off.
– After a couple of quick commercials, and a spot hyping John Cena’s upcoming appearance on SNL, it’s time for the main event of AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose in a TLC match, as we get a recap of the events leading up to this match, which was booked even before these two men had to co-exist at Survivor Series. The video package makes sure to highlight James Ellsworth and the prominent role he’s also had in this feud.
TLC Match for the WWE World Title
Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles
Dean Ambrose is the first man to make his way to the ring, and the challenger gets a really great reaction on his way down the aisle.
AJ Styles is out next, and the Champion also gets a nice pop on his way to the ring, but there’s a smattering of boos mixed in.
After formal ring introductions, we’re ready for the main event.
The bell rings and Ambrose jumps Styles right away, beating on him, then taking him to the corner and stomping repeatedly. Ambrose sends Styles into the corner and meets him with a back elbow. Ambrose fights Styles around the right with chops before launching him with a back body drop. Ambrose tosses a chair into the ring, and he goes to put a ladder into the ring, but Styles swings the chair like a golf club and whacks the ladder into Ambrose’s chest. Styles sets up the ladder under the belt, but Ambrose is in the ring and both try to make it up the ladder. Styles hits the ropes and Ambrose shoves the ladder into Styles’ face before clotheslining him over the top rope. Ambrose fights Styles up the entryway, slamming him against all the tables and ladders lining the aisle.
Ambrose takes a seat on a chair and chats with AJ for a moment before slamming his face into the same chair. Ambrose hits a suplex on the ring apron and Styles writhes in pain. Ambrose lays Styles on a table to the side of the entrance ramp and he climbs a gigantic ladder, but Styles bails off the table. Ambrose drops down and hits a running clothesline to the back of Styles’ head as he tries to walk away. Ambrose grabs a trash can and dumps it on AJ’s head before knocking him to the floor with a big forearm. Ambrose drags Styles through the crowd and tosses him over the barricade and back into the ringside area.
Ambrose leaps off the barricade back into the ringside area, right into a dropkick from Styles. Styles charges in with a leaping clothesline into the barricade. Styles hits Ambrose with a big right hand to the face, but when he leaps in for another flying clothesline, Ambrose moves and Styles connects with the barricade. Ambrose follows up by crotching Styles on top of the barricade, then charging into him with a chair shot. Ambrose charges back into the ring and sets up the ladder, but Styles tips over the ladder and Ambrose crashes into the ropes.
Styles picks up the ladder and slams it into Ambrose’s ribs. Styles picks up Ambrose and slams him down on top of the ladder, causing him to scream in pain. Styles drops a knee across Ambrose’s face before propping a ladder against the ropes. Ambrose counters a suplex into the ladder and slingshots AJ into the ladder instead, causing him to crash out to the floor. Ambrose grabs the ladder and throws it at AJ, sending it crashing down to the floor.
Ambrose brings a table back into the ring and is in the process of setting it up when he’s cracked in the back from behind by AJ. Styles continues the assault with another shot to the back and Ambrose screams in pain. Styles sets up a chair and then drops Ambrose across it with a sidewalk slam. Styles blasts Ambrose with a huge right hand before hitting him with another chair shot. Styles goes under the ring for more chairs, tossing three more into the ring. Styles sets up four chairs facing each other, then he grabs Ambrose for a suplex. Ambrose blocks the suplex, and takes out AJ with a crazy front suplex that flips Styles around and sends him crashing back first through the chairs.
Ambrose picks Styles up with a chair and slams him down to the mat. Ambrose grabs a chair and goes to the middle rope, leaping off with an elbow/chair drop. Ambrose sends Styles crashing through the leg of a table before he takes that table and sets it up in the corner. Ambrose grabs Styles and Styles fights back with a series of strikes before suplexing Ambrose through the table in the corner.
Styles and Ambrose stand, Ambrose gets in a couple of shots and Styles scores with a dropkick, but Ambrose responds with a rebound lariat out of nowhere. Ambrose picks up Styles and sends him to the apron. There are some pretty interesting camera shots as AJ has a hole in his trunks. Ambrose and Styles fight in the corner and Styles sends Ambrose into the ring. Ambrose avoids the Phenomenal forearm, but Styles avoids Dirty Deeds in turn. Ambrose is able to hit a back body drop that sends Styles over the top rope and to the floor. Ambrose hits a tope suicida that sends AJ crashing face first into the announcer’s table. Ambrose begins taking apart all the announcers tables on the outside.
Ambrose puts Styles across the announcer’s table, then sets up a ladder on top of the German announcer’s table. Styles fights back, but Ambrose rains down with right hands to stop Styles from getting back up. Ambrose climbs up on the German announcer’s table, then on the ladder, and launches himself off with an elbow drop through Styles and through the announcer’s table.
Ambrose goes under the ring and pulls out another ladder, taking that one right into the ring. Ambrose climbs into the ring and sets it up under the belt. Ambrose slowly climbs the ladder, but Styles is up somehow and he leaps off the ropes with a Phenomenal forearm to take Ambrose out, and both men are down.
Both men climb either side of the ladder and both men make it to the top. The crowd is solidly behind AJ and both men end up falling after right hands and head butts. Styles fights off Dirty Deeds, and Ambrose fights off the Styles Clash, spinning Styles around by his legs and slamming his torso into the ladder. Ambrose climbs the ladder again, but Styles grabs at his foot, stopping him.
Both men climb either side of the ladder and both men make it to the top. The crowd is solidly behind AJ and both men end up falling after right hands and head butts. Styles fights off Dirty Deeds, and Ambrose fights off the Styles Clash, spinning Styles around by his legs and slamming his torso into the ladder. Ambrose climbs the ladder again, but Styles grabs at his foot, stopping him. Styles pulls Ambrose down with a powerbomb, but Ambrose counters it into a hurricanrana over the top rope and to the outside, and both men are slow to recover. Styles makes it up to the apron and does a moonsault off the apron into a reverse DDT on the floor.
Styles sets up a table next to the ring and he lays Ambrose across the table, blasting Ambrose with a right hand to the side of the head. Styles climbs into the ring and launches himself to the floor with an absolutely beautiful springboard 450 through Ambrose and the table.
Styles rolls back into the ring and makes his way up the ladder, but he stops when he notices James Ellsworth making his way down the aisle. Ellsworth is grabbing his neck and Styles bails from the ring to attack Ellsworth immediately. Styles takes apart the ring steps and he looks like he’s setting up for another Styles Clash off the steps, but Ambrose stops him and hits the Dirty Deeds on the ring steps. Ambrose makes his way back into the ring and he sets up the ladder under the belt. Ambrose begins to climb the ladder, making his way to the top, but Styles manages to get back into the ring and he makes it to the top to stop Ambrose. Ambrose hits Dean and knocks him off the apron, but James Ellsworth tips over the ladder and sends Dean crashing to the outside through a couple of tables.
Styles makes his way back into the ring and Ellsworth is cheering Styles on. Styles sets up the ladder under the title and he begins the climb. Styles is able to pull down the title, and this one is over.
Winner and STILL WWE World Champion: AJ Styles
James Ellsworth is shown celebrating in the aisle and pointing to his head while Styles celebrates with his title on the top of the ladder, and Ambrose is shown recovering on the floor. The show ends with Styles sitting on top of the ladder and holding his title high while JBL says the happiest man in Dallas is James Ellsworth.
