WWE TLC

from Boston

THE LUCHA DRAGONS vs. THE NEW DAY vs. THE USO'S "LADDER MATCH": The last few ladder matches in the WWE have been pretty tame. Gone were those Jeff Hardy suicide Swanton Bombs from the tops of ladders, etc. Then all of a sudden, out-of-the-blue, came this match (and, eventually, the main event). This match was awesome and insane, a literal spot-fest of crazy, sick, death-defying moves. Thank the luchadors mostly, as they delivered the majority of epic moments. The Lucha Dragons did a double moonsault out of the ring onto a ladder that was on top of The New Day. Kalisto did a dragon rana onto a ladder...and then...what I think was the wildest move in WWE since Foley's HIAC toss, Kalisto delivered his Salina del Sol on Kingston from the top of the ladder down onto a ladder bridge. The Salina Del Sol is sort of a sunset flip into a power-bomb (from the top of the ladder through a ladder!) Really, though, descriptions can't even begin to reveal how exciting and ridiculously over-the-top this match was. It was, honestly, the best match the WWE's had this year. Breathtaking in it's sheer madness. ****

RYBACK vs. RUSEV: Weak. Crowd was mostly quiet. A typical, dull, 80's style strong-man match. 1/2*

ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. JACK SWAGGER "CHAIRS MATCH": Ugh. How much are they paying Del Rio again? And where was Swagger exactly for the last year? 1/2*

THE DUDLEY BOYZ & TOMMY DREAMER & RHYNO vs. THE WYATT FAMILY "TABLES MATCH": They had a re-match on RAW that was better (a better Philly crowd helped). Bubba poured lighter fluid on a table and was about to light it on fire when he was put through a table. Really...don't even tease it. The elimination stip helped because multiple tables were broken but I just kept thinking these ECW guys are too old for this shit. **

KEVIN OWENS vs. DEAN AMBROSE: Good match. Ambrose won the IC title. It was fast-paced. **1/2

CHARLOTTE vs. PAIGE: Charlotte cheated to win. Flair was ringside. This is at least a feud with more substance than usual in a Diva's match. Not very thrilling, though. Just okay. *1/2

SHEAMUS vs. ROMAN REIGNS "TLC MATCH": Excellent match. After the first ladder match, these two had a lot to live up to. Also add the fact that the internet and hardcore fans hate both Sheamus and Reigns and are sick of Reign's push and failures and angry that Sheamus, who was doing literally nothing a few month's ago, became champ. These two knew all of this and knew they had to overcome everything. Even the fans in the building chanted, "We want Cena" and "Cena sucks" early on. But from the beginning these two beat the hell of out of each other. They broke a ton of tables, destroyed each other with ladders and chairs. Reigns picked up Sheamus and slammed him down onto a ladder bridge at ringside that looked like it broke Sheamus' arm. It was hard to watch it was so brutal. Then the League of Nations hit the ring and eventually Sheamus Brogue Kicked Reigns and climbed up and grabbed the title to win. But then Reigns went nuts, destroyed the League with chairs. HHH and Stephanie came out to stop Reigns. Reigns hit HHH with chairs and put him through the Spanish announce table then speared him when HHH got up. The crowd loved Reigns more at the end...and perhaps this was the night Reigns finally became a star. On RAW, Reigns pinned Sheamus to become champ after Reigns super-man punched Vince McMahon. So they're pulling out the old Austin vs. The Boss gimmick. They've tried everything to get Reigns over. He was mercilessly booed in Philly at the Royal Rumble and on RAW in Philly he was mostly cheered...so perhaps it all finally worked. Took you long enough, guys. ***1/2