Review for WWE TLC 2020

Tables, Ladders and Chairs… and this year FLAMES! Oh My!?!?

This PPV was insane to watch and an amazing way for WWE to end 2020 which I’m sure everyone was glad to see the back off. This show had a number of great matches, but once again I will have to note that the lack of a Kickoff match is something I feel cannot be excused. I can almost understand them not wanting to create new content, but this was something already there and personally, something I expect them to include as a bare minimum.

Starting with a fantastic TLC match between Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. I will not spoil the surprise of the match, but this was certainly interesting and Drew and AJ work really well together. I would not be surprised if I don’t see them in more matches in the future. Sasha Banks against Carmella for the Smackdown Women’s Championship was a little weak, though it was nice to see Carmella again and if there was ever anyone born to play a Heel, it is her.

Oddly, they had two tag matches back to back with The New Day against The Hurt Business for the Raw Tag Team Championships followed by Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax defending their Women’s Tag Team Championship against Asuka and a returning Charlotte Flair. Both matches are fine. I would have preferred maybe a stipulation (such as Table or Ladder) to make it more interesting, but both matches are enjoyable and it was nice to see The Queen again, even if she did look like she had spent her time off getting surgery done to her face.

The Universal Championship was put on the line in a TLC match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens. This match was a little odd. Maybe it is because it has been so long since Owens has been anywhere near the main event that I am unsure how to take it. If there was ever anyone I would want to upset Reigns on the top it would be KO. A great match and definitely a good sign of things to come.

Finally, we have The Fiend against Randy Orton in a Firefly Inferno Match. Insane. That is all I can say. This match feels like a reaction to everyone saying that being PG neuters the product. It does, but it seems as though all gloves are off when we get to PPV and I am shocked by how this match ended. Now, I am going to guess that there was some slick editing to achieve what they did, but I still can’t believe that WWE did what they did and if you have PG –aged children you may want to avoid showing them this match.

TLC 2020 was a great way to end such a horrible year. The WWE have leaned heavily into the use of the Thunderdome and it is working and so the lack of fans is not so much an issue as it was mid-year. I am hoping that WWE find some way to safely allow fans back in, but while that may be a long way away this is the best we can hope for. A great PPV with very few in regards to lows and certainly one that people should check out.