WWE Championship
Steel Cage
Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Kevin Owens
8.5/10
I'm usually not down for immediate rematches, especially after decisive decisions, but this is a unique situation. Christmas night, fresh off of an NFL game, with their biggest star in Roman Reigns being the first person seen. Kevin Owens has done every single move on Fire Pro Wrestling Returns in this match, he throws everything at Roman Reigns, and this carries through two commercial breaks. This is an unreal level of "do everything," and they have fantastic chemistry in the cage setting. Reigns is throwing all of his offense at Owens, too, but fewer and more far between. The drama and execution is off the charts. Jey Uso gets taken out trying to help Reigns, too.
Reigns misses a Spear and hits the cage, and eats a Stunner. Jey Uso handcuffs Owens inside the cage, and he can't get out. Fantastic finish. I hope the numbers for this come back great, and WWE and Fox make a WWE PPV level show on Network TV a normal thing on some Holiday nights. After that opener? Jeez, man. That was awesome. You have to go out of your way to watch this.
WWE Womens' Tag Team Titles
Triple Threat Elimination Match
Charlotte & Asuka (c) defeated Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks and Baymella
6.5/10
I do think it would have made sense to have the tag team that has won tag team matches the last two weeks in a tag team championship match. We got a bunch of interrupting promos instead.
The Charlotte/Bianca double kip up was a great visual. I'm also really happy to see Baymella back together. Belair makes things as simple as a suplex look impressive. The action is really fast paced, and everyone is keeping up and pushing one another well. Sasha Banks pins Bayley with a frog splash. Sasha is at her best in the ring right now, and the tilt-a-whirl into the Banks Statement is a good indicator.
Belair drags Sasha over to the corner mid Figure Four to make the tag. Sasha breaks up another with a Meteora. Asuka's head cracked the mat on that powerbomb from Belair. It was filthy. Bayley takes out Sasha Banks, and Bianca gets pinned. If you're gonna pin Bianca Belair, I could find worse ways to do it than her getting double teamed by Asuka and Charlotte, two of the most decorated and protected wrestlers in the company
Daniel Bryan defeated Jey Uso
6/10
Jey Uso attacks Daniel Bryan before the match, but Bryan fights through it. They actually had to re-shoot one of the pieces of the match to get Bryan to sell more. Uso even hits a splash, but can't win. Bryan wins a good one with the flying knee.
We're starting to hit the point where something probably needs to happen more with Uso. He's lost six matches in a row, and that doesn't seem like something Reigns or Heyman would like. They all seem like foregone conclusions now, even though they're good matches.
Daniel Bryan announces himself for the Royal Rumble, and Sami Zayn yells at him.
Intercontinental Title
Lumberjack Match
Big E defeated Sami Zayn (c) to win the title
5.5/10
Backstage, Street Profits troll Sami Zayn. Why did they drag a bunch of Raw wrestlers to be lumberjacks? Where you at Mysterio Family?
The lumberjacks, Big E and Sami Zayn set up a great spot for a sensible dive from Zayn. Really great stuff and I love seeing spots like that when there's a good reason and set up. The lumberjacks get Zayn back in the ring. Zayn hits a great sunset flip powerbomb, but has to fight off lumberjacks. Then the lumberjacks fight each other. Apollo Crews TACKLES Zayn and they throw him back in the ring. That's an easy set up for Zayn vs. Apollo Crews on TV soon.
Big E wins with the Big Ending. This wasn't a great match, but it was a fun moment.
WWE knocked it out of the park with TLC Sunday and Smackdown tonight.
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!
