You know, over the years, I've heard plenty of people try to describe what they want out of the WWE product. Most of it I don't agree with, some of it I do. That's simply the nature of opinions. For me, the biggest thing I look for, especially when watching pay-per-views, is entertainment. I want to care about what I'm watching, and I want to feel like something major is occurring when I'm watching. And I felt that way tonight.
TLC 2015 Score: 6/10
TLC 2016 Score: 7/10
- Before we get going, though, I do have something to get off my chest. Commentary tonight was absolutely atrocious, and I think most of the blame for that is on Booker. I do generally like his style, but he was terrible tonight.
- Let's move on to the good, which was Asuka's debut. I've seen a lot of negativity about her opening contest, and I just don't get it. If you want to get someone over, as I'll discuss later on, the best way to do it is by making the fans care about their character. A 30 second squash helped neither woman, and wouldn't get either any more over than they already are. Also, major props to Emma, who really made this thing work.
- Cedric Alexander is a national treasure. That is all.
- I've had a lot of the same problems with the Alexa-Mickie feud that I had with Natalya and Nikki Bella earlier in the year. I don't need promos about old ladies and Alexa's butt. The match was okay, though.
- For all the internet hates Enzo Amore, I'd honestly be willing to say that Kalisto is far worse. The man only held the cruiserweight belt for about three weeks, but did basically nothing to help it or get himself over. Enzo should have never lost the damn thing in the first place.
- Over the years of reviewing matches for this blog, I've often wondered what the perfect match would look like. What if everyone involved, wrestlers, fans, officials, were all working together in unison to provide the best experience possible? What would it look like? I've still yet to see a perfect match, but I have to say that AJ Styles vs Finn Balor is the closest I've seen yet.
- That's not an exaggeration. This match was very near perfect, made even more impressive by the circumstances surrounding how it came about. Just a few days ago, the idea of these two men facing off was nothing more than a pipe dream. Tonight, we saw two of the absolute best in the world duke it out, with nothing but pride and honor on the line. Everything was just so crisp, executed so expertly, in a way that very few matches are. If I had a minor nitpick, and it's very minor, I would've liked just a few more minutes, just to really build to the finish. A bigger stage, higher stakes and bit more time to work, and maybe I will see my perfect match.
- Jason Jordan and Elias Samson had a match. I believe there was cabbage involved?
- Kurt Angle(especially in a Shield vest) is a national treasure. That is all.
- When I think of what an entertaining car wreck would look like, I'm first horrified by that mental image. But secondly, I would picture this main event. None of this made any sense, the stories were either non-existent or poorly executed, and the actual in-ring action was sub-par. And I loved the hell out of it. If you wanted a five star technical classic, watch Styles-Balor. Dammit, I showed up to watch half an hour of unadulterated Shield chaos and Kurt Angle tossing fools around, and that's exactly what I got. Sometimes, that's all you need.
- Rest in Peace, Braun Strowman. Executed via garbage truck. It's the way he would've wanted to go.
7.5/10
Ultimately, this card was always going to be hampered by it's status as a minor show, and everything that took place over the last few days. If anything, though, that makes tonight even more spectacular. This entire show was built around the return of the Shield, and WWE couldn't offer that. Somehow, what they gave us was even better. If I had two words to describe this show, I think they would be this:
Too.......Sweet.
Ultimately, this card was always going to be hampered by it's status as a minor show, and everything that took place over the last few days. If anything, though, that makes tonight even more spectacular. This entire show was built around the return of the Shield, and WWE couldn't offer that. Somehow, what they gave us was even better. If I had two words to describe this show, I think they would be this:
Too.......Sweet.
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