WWE TLC 2016 [Ringside Apostle Review]: #Heelsworth!

AMBROSE v. STYLES
TLC Match: STYLES v. AMBROSE
JaDarrell "The Belser" @TheBelser
JaDarrell “The Belser”
@TheBelser

Man, what can I say about this pay-per-view? #WWETLC was probably one of the best overall wrestling Pay-Per-View’s of the year. Not only that, it finished off with arguably one of the could-be matches of the year: the “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose vs. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles. I watched this match with Monsignor Moody — yeah, poor me — and we counted at least eight great spots of the night, just in this match alone. The Powerbomb from 4 tables. The elbow from one of the foreign announce tables to the other. The backwards flip into the Scorpion Death Drop. There were so many to count! Also, in an unexpected pleasure, James Ellsworth turning heel on Ambrose (start #heelsworth). Other than Styles’ buttcheek exposed for a good majority of the match, I have nothing but praise for this particular event. 5/5 Bibles.


LYNCH v. BLISS
Tables Match: LYNCH v. BLISS
"Reverend" Lauro Rojas @Cheeky_Basterds
“Reverend” Lauro Rojas
@Cheeky_Basterds

The first ever Women’s Tables match between the “Irish Lass-Kicker” and the “5 Feet of Fury” for the Smackdown Women’s strap was hard-hitting and as gritty as can get. Given that Alexa Bliss is the smaller of the competitors she was the scrappy and dirty fighter, in true heel fashion, Becky on the other hand was the overpowering face. There were some good back and forth as well as painful looking spots, such as a DDT delivered to Lynch on a table and, the coup de grâce, Bliss delivering a power bomb to Becky on to a table for the win and the strap. 4/5 Bibles.


Chairs match: KALISTO v. CORBIN
Chairs Match: KALISTO v. CORBIN
Destiny "Evangelical" Edwards
Destiny “Evangelical” Edwards

Fitting that the most boring feud on Smackdown Live received the second most boring type of weapons match (hell, at least it wasn’t a stairs match). Baron Corbin doesn’t like Kalisto because he hates short dudes–or whatever the hell started this rivalry. There were a couple of interesting spots that come to mind: Corbin catching Kalisto mid-suicide dive and Kal’s hurricarana off the barricade; oh, and the “End of Days” on every chair around. Otherwise, it was fairly standard and definitely didn’t live up to the other matches on the card. 3/5 Bibles.


Ladder match: MIZ v. ZIGGLER
Ladder Match: MIZ v. ZIGGLER
"Father" Sean Farrell @IAMSCF
“Father” Sean Farrell
@IAMSCF

The “final showdown” between Miz and Dolph Ziggler ended up being a backdrop to the “will he/ won’t he” future match between Miz and Daniel Bryan. Which–if it never happens–will be yet again a wasted title run by a once coveted belt. Zigz and Miz wrestled as smart as you can with a handful of ladders around. Miz worked over Dolph’s leg, hindering his ability to climb or superkick, while Ziggler did what he always does: worked harder than anyone else on the card. No outside interference, no shenanigans — just a low blow and Miz retained. 2.75/5 Ladder Rungs.


No DQ Match: NIKKI v. CARMELLA
No DQ Match: NIKKI v. CARMELLA
"The Man Called" Moody @travmoody
“The Man Called” Moody
@travmoody

“I don’t wanna say I told you so… but! I told you so.” Those very words from the “Brain” Bobby Heenan came to fruition tonight when yours truly “Monsignor” Moody went 6-for-6 in his picks in the all-too excellency that was #WWETLC. While not exactly the most epic of “No DQ” matches, both Nikki Bella and Carmella (hey, they’d make a good tag team with that name) laid it all on the line. “Fearless” Nikki looks thinner and better than ever before, and who could ever get mad at that crossfit leg scissors Mella had Bella in? As one of the faces of the WWE, I went with Cena’s lady-friend. She’s the more seasoned athlete, wasn’t gonna let Carm get completely over on her (after being attacked several weeks in a row), and, heck, one “face” had to win a woman’s match tonight and I had Alexa in the other. 3.75/5 Bibles.


Tag Title Match: SLATER & RHYNO v. WYATT FAMILY
Tag Title Match: SLATER & RHYNO v. WYATT FAMILY
Anthony "PriestMode" Holloway IG @Grumpykore
Anthony “PriestMode” Holloway
IG @Grumpykore

The entrance song was awesome and I really like the new Randy Orton heel; Bray Wyatt sure has a way to bring out the craziness in The Family. The center rope DDT(!!) and, then, the distractive “Sister Abigail” Bray for the RKO to Rhyno from outta nowhere…was expected. Point blank: SDL needed a strong team to run with the titles. Bray’s long-awaited first strap offered a bone-chilling pose at the end. 2.5/5 Bibles.