WWE TLC Match Ratings, Reviews, Notes, Analysis From Sean Ross Sapp

Pre-Show

Jason Jordan is backstage checking on Kurt, and they're interrupted by Elias. He's really great in this spot. He fits so well. Kurt grants him a musical performance. 

Drew Gulak's segment got cut for time. He comes out and says he had 277 slides ready. Another phenomenal segment on the pre-show. We also get a good Emma promo in there too. 

Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox
6/10

• There are some nice spots in this match, and long points of inactivity.
• They lock up and windmill, but there's so much fake hair I can't tell who won that exchange. 
• Sasha had a really nice dropkick off of a fake handshake.
• Alicia Fox is so committed to this role.
• Sasha Banks gets the submission win after a good opener that got some time. 
• That was productive for all involved.

Asuka defeated Emma
6.75/10

• Asuka doesn't wrestle often on TV, so that entrance is synonymous with big matches for me. 
• Wonder if an agent told Asuka not to use the Ankle Lock tonight.
• Still not a fan of Asuka hitting people with a running ass to the face.
• Emma is the right person for this match. She's shining. 
• I don't have a problem with Asuka selling for Emma when the crowd are getting behind her for a comeback.
• Asuka hits a sick leg trap suplex.
• We've seen Asuka dominate competition. She's working a great match with a woman that had no heat, and they're both getting awesome reactions. 
• Asuka wins with the chickenwing. Outstanding match.

Backstage Crappenings

• There's a Miz and Bar promo where Cesaro is still talking with a mouth guard. 
• Not backstage, but Elias goes out for his performance and Jason Jordan THROWS PRODUCE AT HIM! He has a shopping cart! I love it!
• The Shield give Kurt Angle riot gear backstage. Neat!

Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann defeated Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick
6.25/10

• Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann are wearing matching gear.
• Cedric seems keen on destroying his knee on a tope con hilo and an assisted tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
• Gallagher has some mean looking stomps.
• Vic Joseph is good on commentary. He's not completely WWE'd yet.
• Kendricks hits a sick overhead suplex on Swann outside.
• Captains's Hook, Phoenix Splash, Headbutt…..Then the Lumbar Check gets it done.
• That's how you have cruiserweights wrestle on Raw to get them over. Good crowd reaction, too.

Raw Women's Championship
Alexa Bliss (c) defeated Mickie James
6.5/10

• I try to not bring up the flappy pants every time, but Mickie James had some hocker mod a pair of jeans to make flappy worked jeans.
• Mickie hasn't looked this quick and athletic in a long time.
• She smacks Alexa's ass. They're trying to push "biscut butt" chants, I think. This match goes at a slower pace, but a good one.
• Mickiecanrana leads into an awesome series of slaps and counters that ends in a double knockdown. That was really well done. 
• A really good job of keeping me interested in people I know have no chance of winning tonight. 
• Bliss hits a sunset bomb that looked doomed, but ended up all okey dokey. A Mickie James dropkick doesn't though. It looked bad. 
• Why the hell does the crowd want tables? This match is great
• Alexa suckers Mickie in and scores a DDT for the win. 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Enzo Amore defeated Kalisto (c) to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
5.25/10

• Enzo was like "HA! I got kicked out of the locker room but at least they can't get me sic…..aw shit" 
• This is a fine match, ironically much slower than many before.
• Kalisto knocked the hell out of Enzo on a dive outside.
• Enzo's sports themed strikes are a nice touch. His flying DDT should finish people though. 
• Enzo wins with a foreign object shot and his finish. Good. The division needs it.

Demon Finn Balor defeated AJ Styles
7.5/10

• Awesome reaction for these two just looking at each other.
• Styles' selling matches up with Balor's kicks very well. Styles does it unconventionally and really puts the kicks over. 
• Balor got LOST when Styles was face down. Wow
• Balor hits a pretty nice Tope Con Hilo.
• AJ Styles plays a lot of his hits. Calf Crusher, Phenomenal Forearm. Demon manages to make it through.
• Balor does mostly elementary offense, but AJ Styles' selling sets it off.
• How do you not do a Team Balor vs. Team Styles SS match now?
• Another good match, Balor is able to hit 1916 on Styles. More big spots. Super Huracanrana, missed 450.
• Styles flew like 14 hours to get to this match.
• Balor looks like he perforated Styles' colon (JOKE) with the Coup De Grace.
• This is much better than anything WWE was doing with Abigail and Demon.
• They "Too Sweet" each to finish the match. 
• I hope WWE Clash of Champions sees Daniel Bryan make a deal with Raw for a one-off.

Jason Jordan defeated Elias
4.25/10

• Jason Jordan has kale-inpsired wrestling gear by the looks of it.
• This isn't very good, and the commentary isn't taking it too seriously.
• Jason Jordan beat Elias. It went nine minutes. It wasn't good. 

TLC Handicap Match
Kurt Angle, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins defeated The Miz, The Bar, Kane and Braun Strowman
8/10

• C'mon now. You gotta have Angle's theme and pyro.
• Kane was being gentle with Kurt, but Kurt wasn't returning the gentle favor with his chair shots.
• Angle has forgotten how to use ladders and chairs and it's very entertaining.
• Ambrose and Rollins dive off ladders through tables onto Kane and Strowman!
• Kurt Angle doesn't bump until about 6-7 minutes in, and it's a nice, smooth one.
• The heels threaten to Shield Powerbomb Angle, but it's broken up!
• German Suplexes!!!! Stop giving Kurt Angle German suplexes your shitty zoom camera treatment. 
• ANKLE LOCK ON KANE!!! Braun breaks it up. 
• Angle gets powerslammed through a table! Sick!
• Trainers come to get Angle.
• I wonder if the tactical gear really helps take the chair shots. 
• This has been one of the most fun WWE shows of the year. It looked like garbage on paper a few days ago.
• Booker T is beyond Daniel Bryan levels of not giving a shit about being punished. He's roasting Angle. 
• Why isn't Jason Jordan checking on his dad?
• A monumental ass kicking is given to Ambrose and Rollins. 
• When has Kane ever been convincingly punked out like that? Besides some guy banging a mannequin pretending it was Kane's ex.
• Cesaro and Sheamus did not take care of Ambrose at all on that double crucifix bomb. Strowman takes control and heaves Ambrose through the table. 
• Miz brings out a GARBAGE TRUCK. Eric Bischoff and Duke Droese gonna pop out of that garbage truck and kick everyone's ass.
• I was hoping Braun only saved Kane so he could kick his ass himself. Kane turns on Braun himself and chokeslams him through a table!
• "I would appreciate your vote this November, bitch"- Kane, I hope. 
• Kane drops a ton of chairs on Strowman and kills off Ambrose and Rollins.
• STROWMAN LIVES!!! Miz is begging off!
• Okay I lied. He's dead. They put him in a garbage truck. I can't wait until Strowman drives that garbage truck to Raw and throws it at Kane.
• KURT ANGLE IS BACK! TO HIS MUSIC! 
• Oh my god, Angle had Sheamus dead weighted up there for an Olympic Slam!
• Triple Powerbomb! Finish!