Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable & Otis defeated Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura
5/10
Nakamura taking a break from his busy surfing schedule to be here! This is basically a house show live event match, but it's harmless fun and I'm all here for it. There are come cool spots like Big E doing a leap frog and Gable hitting a deadlift German suplex. Big E eventually gets the pinfall victory. Again, a harmless match to get a lot of people on the show and get a surging star a big win. This leaked Sami Zayn audio going off on Kayla Braxton is great.
WWE Championship
TLC Match
Drew McIntyre defeated The Miz and AJ Styles
8.5/10
This match is more physical than spot-heavy, and is more reminiscent of an old-school Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon ladder match early on. The Calf Crusher is one of the biggest spots of the match 20 minutes in, as it's focused on grounded attacks with the weapons. Belly-to-Belly and drop toe holds into the ladder leave plenty of things for Reigns and Owens to do. Styles getting press slammed over the top through a table was unreal. Miz has OFFICIALLY cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. The psychology behind that whole spot was dumb. Why did Miz wait to climb the ladder? Why did he take his time climbing? Omos' Rockabye Baby slam through the table was great. Morrison breaks a chair on Omos' back and gets run off.
This match was a great mix of drama, violence and teased spots. I'll just throw this out there again, Drew McIntyre did not need to lose the title when he did. It added nothing, and this match went a long way in fixing that weird decision. A great back and fort that leads to Drew retaining.
WWE Smackdown Women's Championship
Sasha Banks (c) defeated Carmella (w/ Reginald)
7/10
I went into this hoping the two would get an appropriate amount of time. This match has really good Smackdown 2016 vibes of an excellent worker and a good character, and maximizing both of them when the bell rings. The work here is really good, and plays to Carmella's strengths. They're taking simple things and making them more impactful. Sasha Banks took a facebuster flat on her gourd. Carmella throws everything at Sasha Banks, and REGINALD had a great performance. Carmella ends up tapping out.
An outstanding match as expected by those who haven't had their heads up their asses whenever Carmella's role is to have such a match.
WWE Raw Tag Team Championships
Hurt Business (w/ MVP) defeated New Day (c) to become Champions
7.5/10
It was really refreshing to see the babyfaces get an extended period of fast-paced, dominant offense in a WWE tag team match before doing the worked over spot. Xavier Woods doing the old Curtain Call/Saving Grace. I love it. My god, the chemistry of New Day and Hurt Business is off the charts. They have had two hundred and thirty seven matches and they're still pulling out fresh stuff. Hurt Business are new tag team champions! Well deserved. A good short-term story of Hurt Business losing to New Day, but Cedric Alexander gaining confidence and a hot streak. A 50/50 success story.
WWE Women's Tag Team Titles
Charlotte Flair & Asuka defeated Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax (c) to become champions
5/10
Billie Kay giving her resume to Asuka to be the mystery partner was a fantastic touch.
Charlotte Flair has returned to WWE after a six month absence. I gotta say, having Nia Jax feed for the babyface hot tag was a decision by someone. Also, Nia Jax's gear is cool. Charlotte busting out all the hits in her first match back. Nia stopped the Figure Eight from Charlotte, but she wins with Natural Selection. No need to protect Nia at this point. Shayna has a higher upside and Nia got beat by Lana.
WWE Universal Championship
TLC Match
Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Kevin Owens
8.5/10
Roman Reigns has made the Universal Championship. Kevin Owens attacks early and takes out Jey Uso. A great Pillmanizing spot where Owens does a chair shot on Uso's foot. During a comeback, Owens does a fisherman's suplex onto a chair. I do not think they needed 16 camera cuts while Uso and Owens were brawling. Owens keeps taking out Uso, and does a pop up powerbomb through a table before hilariously burying Uso underneath the wreckage. Roman Reigns did a big boy sirloin beef sunsabitch powerbomb on Owens onto a ladder. Samoan Drop through the table is next.
Kevin Owens just won't go away, and Roman Reigns laughs and spears him through a table. Reigns misses Owens and goes through a barricade. Superman punch from Reigns, but a pop up powerbomb from Owens through a table. This show is on fire. Roman Reigns hits a low blow and chokes out Owens and wins. Uso distracted Owens long enough to cost him the match. Owens wouldn't die, and Uso wouldn't either.
People that face Roman Reigns and lose are coming out looking better than they did before. A lost art in WWE. What an amazing run.
Firefly Inferno match
Randy Orton defeated The Fiend
6/10
This is the first WWE Inferno match since 2006. This is mainly just theatrics, but the theatrics are very cool. The action isn't particularly great, but that's not the hook to this match. Fiend has a Mandible Claw on, but his whole back catches on fire. He just keeps running into the ring and gets RKO'd while on fire. That's the way you beat The Fiend. That was cool as hell. Jesus, holy shit.
Orton pours gas all over Wyatt and SETS HIM ON FIRE. AHHAHAHAHAHAH
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
