WWE TLC 2010 Review

Match 1: Intercontinental Championship - Ladder - Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger

The misuse of these three guys in the next following years became pretty alarming considering how much they were hyping these guys back in 2010. It's definitely cool to see the guys bringing something different to a Ladder match when taking into consideration how repetitive these matches tend to get. Loved the action here and loved the cool spots they did including Kofi Kingston launching himself and kneeing Jack Swagger through a ladder. Let's not forget Vickie Guerrero, always does a fantastic job in her role and seeing her climb up the ladder before Kingston threatened to dump her was a hilarious spot. However, the finish of the match was the most questionable part of the match. Ziggler and Swagger fight atop the ladder before the belt falls down to the canvas as Ziggler quickly grabs the belt and wins the match. Crowd disliked the finish and it just came off as a confusing and odd way to finish the match. Felt like I was watching something from TNA. Even with that, I definitely enjoyed the match and this was a great opener for the night. Also, should be noted that  Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler did a good job of keeping their feud at a minimum.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Rating: ***1/2

Match 2: Tables - LayCool vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya

This is the first time the Divas are competing in a Tables match and while the story behind any of LayCool's matches are pretty odd, they always seem to get the job done in the ring. Let me just add that the pink table they are using for this match is just so cringe-worthy. Some good action here that even had the crowd actually vesting their time into it with Beth Phoenix taking a couple nasty bumps including one that saw her straight up fall on her head to the outside. LayCool had the match in their hands when they were double teaming Natalya on the top rope before Natalya was able to push them off as LayCool landed atop the table that didn't break. But Natalya made sure to end the match right then and there with a sweet dive through LayCool and the table. Fun Divas match here that didn't go too long and didn't feel rushed.

Winners: Beth Phoenix & Natalya

Rating: **

Match 3: WWE Tag Team Championships - Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov (c) vs. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel

Hard to believe that Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov were the champs this late in 2010. Also hard to believe that Heath Slater would become Tag Team Champions with Rhyno six years later. What a world. Anyway, the match was nothing special as Nexus interference called for a disqualification. Wade Barrett would later come out and lay down the law with a steel chair. More of an angle than anything. Plus, Nexus was really starting to fade at this point. Just strange that they didn't bother to give them the titles here and keep them on a comedy team, even if they were about to disband.

Winners: Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov

Rating: 3/4*

Match 4: Ladder - Sheamus vs. John Morrison

This is a #1 contender's match with the winner scoring a shot at the WWE Championship against either The Miz or Randy Orton. Anyone remember King Sheamus? Can we put down Sheamus as one of the most accomplished superstars of all time? He's won nearly every title, the Money in the Bank, King of the Ring and even the Royal Rumble. Hard to believe how his credentials somewhat go unnoticed. Also crazy how hyped John Morrison was around this time before falling off the face of the planet a year or so later. Always felt like these two had great chemistry from their King of the Ring match to this one here. They did a great job of selling Morrison's knee injury throughout the match and definitely bringing something different to the table from the earlier Ladder match. Loved the spot where they spot fell off the ladder as Sheamus crashed through a ladder outside the ring. A sick spot before Morrison landed one final kick to Sheamus before grabbing the contract and securing the win. Great match here that managed to squeeze out a **** score.

Winner: John Morrison

Rating: ****

Match 5: WWE Championship - Tables - The Miz (c) vs. Randy Orton

The Miz truly had a storybook year in 2010 and he closes it out here against the man he dethroned as champion, Randy Orton. Never felt like their styles meshed well together as the action was fairly dull in the beginning and the crowd wasn't feeling it too much. This definitely did not feel like a match with high stakes involved. Things really picked up for the closing sequences as Orton drove Alex Riley through a table before Miz nails a Skull-Crushing Finale on Orton. Miz noticed the referee was down so he moved Riley's unconscious body out of the way and placed Orton over the broken table as the referee called for the bell. Upon noticing what had happened, the referee restarted the match but only for Miz to score the definitive win after shoving Riley into Orton and through a table. Loved how they restarted the match after the false finish and again having another fishy finish. Lets Miz score the win and protects Orton while not making things seem completely like a TNA match. Aside from a pretty dull first half, things definitely got going in the second half and the crowd really got into it from there.

Winner: The Miz

Rating: **1/2

Match 6: World Heavyweight Championship - TLC - Kane (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Edge

This match right here may go down in history as one of the more overlooked TLC matches. It's likely so forgotten about since Edge would end up retiring a few months later and the show itself was overshadowed with all that Nexus jazz. This is also the very beginning of Alberto Del Rio's quick rise to glory in the WWE. He definitely held his own in there and really proved why he belonged in the main event scene. So much action stuffed into this match and they did a great job of keeping Kane as a monster while putting an emphasis on Rey Mysterio's beef with Del Rio. Lots of cool spots like the one that saw Mysterio dive off a prop table from the stage and Del Rio's huge fall from a ladder through a table to the outside. Crowd was definitely alive after the pretty quiet WWE Championship match. Edge was able to escape the match with the gold and for the tenth time in his career, is a world champion as this would go on to be his final reign before retiring. Shame this match just doesn't get the respect it deserves because it more than deserves to be talked about with some of the best. What a way for Edge to go out in his last TLC match.

Winner: Edge

Rating: ****1/4

Match 7: Chairs - Wade Barrett vs. John Cena
The huge Nexus against John Cena angle was about to conclude as its leader takes on the face of the WWE in a Chairs match. The entire Nexus was taken out by Cena before the match so no outside interference would come into effect here. Before the match starts, CM Punk comes out to do commentary. His commentary in late 2010 was brilliant but for this match, his constant rants against Cena were distracting and at times, annoying. I get that they were trying to plant the seeds for a future feud but this was ridiculous. The match itself fell flat, nothing to me that screamed like a main event, let alone the end to a long feud. While the crowd was certainly vocal for Cena, it just wasn't enough for me to really get into the action. The match ended when Cena hit Wade Barrett with an Attitude Adjustment through chairs. Afterwards, Cena takes Barrett to the front of the stage and drops the chairs hanging from the top of the titantron as they all fell down on Barrett who was covered under a wooden pallet. Just a cherry on top to send the fans home happy.
Winner: John Cena
Rating: **

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
With a few good matches here and a couple **** ones, I still didn't think it was enough for me to really warrant this show another view. The main event was just lacking something and felt like a cheap ending to the long feud. If there was a saving grace, it was certainly the TLC match.
Rating: 6.25/10