WWE TLC Results & Afterthoughts

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

The Shield defeated Team Hell No & Ryback in a TLC Match

The Shield, Ryback, and the Spanish announce table at TLC

Alex: TNA, take note: that was how the debut match for your new invading stable should go. The Shield looked strong, calculated, vicious, and predatory. The way they controlled the match by isolating the different members of the opposition was perfect. The high spots were great, the story was great, the match was great, and Team Hell No and Ryback were both protected in the loss. Brilliant stuff.

Violet: This match was a lot of fun, and it succeeded in solidifying The Shield as a legitimate threat. I just wish that Rollins was able to get in as much offense as his teammates. I don’t think any member of the faction should be made to look like the weak link.

Dolph Ziggler defeated John Cena in a Ladder Match for the MITB Briefcase

Alex: Ziggler and Cena both did a pretty good job at keeping the intensity up throughout this match. The ending was intriguing, but I'm not sure it's intriguing good or intriguing bad. On one hand, I'm interested in why AJ cost Cena the match. On the other hand, I really don't care all that much.

Violet: While I’m relieved that Ziggler won, I wish that he had done so without any interference. I also can’t help but think that AJ’s unpredictable character is just a way for creative to use her however they need to (storylines, matches, etc.) It’s convenient, right?

Unfortunately, not shopped

Big Show defeated Sheamus in a Chairs Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: A giant fucking chair? GTFO.

Violet: Big Show won by hitting Sheamus with a comically oversized chair. What a joke.

Antonio Cesaro defeated R-Truth to retain the United States Championship

Alex: Cesaro won as expected. Hopefully he can leave R-Truth behind him and move onto a more fun feud.

Violet: Luckily the right man won in a quick and painless match. I’m excited to see who will challenge Cesaro next.

Kofi Kingston defeated Wade Barrett to retain the Intercontinental Championship

Alex: A big win for Kofi and a disappointing loss for Barrett. Kofi's been looking for that big win ever since defeating Miz for the IC Title, and he finally got it. Barrett, on the other hand, has been struggling in the win/loss column since his return. It'll be interesting to see if this program continues, or if they go their separate ways.

Violet: I was really surprised to see Kingston retain here. A win against Barrett is a pretty big deal for him. Could Kingston finally be receiving the push that he deserves?


Team Rhodes Scholars defeated Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara in a Tables Match to become the No. 1 Contenders

Alex: If it wasn't for Rollins' fall later on in the night, Sin Cara would've surely been able to claim bump of the night on this finish. Outside the crazy bump, this was a pretty entertaining match that saw the right team go over. Team Rhodes Scholars and Team Hell No already have a built in storyline with Cody suffering an injury at Kane's hands a few weeks back.

Violet: This was a fun match with an exciting spot at the end when Sin Cara was pushed off of the ropes and into the tables outside the ring. He could have easily overshot the tables, but luckily he hit his mark. Sin Cara is the target of a lot of harsh criticism, so I was glad to see him execute something that was truly impressive (even if he was supposed to go through both tables).

3MB vs. The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, and The Brooklyn Brawler

Alex: So we went from a strangely WP promo from 3MB on MizTV to a Del Rio face turn in about 3 minutes time. Very strange. The match itself was good filler, and seeing the Brawler out there to get the W was a nice touch. I fell like I could get into Del Rio as a babyface, but I'm hoping they don't really overdo it like they have with the new annoying babyface Miz.

"So wait, we're all babyfaces now?"

Violet: I experienced a range of emotions during the two segments that featured all of these guys. At first, I was disappointed that not only were we getting a MizTV segment on the PPV, but we were getting a MizTV segment that featured 3MB. Next, I was confused as to how being extremely and unforgivably racist fit into 3MB’s gimmick. Luckily, all of the negative things I was feeling disappeared with Del Rio’s face turn. I think it’ll be a refreshing change for his character, and it left my excited for the 6 man tag match that would follow. That didn’t last long, though. I’m frustrated with how the Del Rio face turn was handled. It could have been showcased in a serious PPV match, but instead he teamed with the Brooklyn Brawler against 3MB. Sure, it was cool for long time fans to see the Brooklyn Brawler, but it made Del Rio’s character change seem less important.

Eve Torres defeated Naomi to retain the Diva's Championship

Alex: Eve taking pictures over her fallen opponents with the Diva's Championship belt is awesome. I love that she keeps adding little bits of flavor to her character. She's easily the most interesting diva on the roster whose gimmick isn't that she makes out with everyone.

Violet: Eve is capable in the ring, and she plays the role of the catty, phony Diva very well. All she needs now is a story line to be involved in.

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WWE TLC Predictions

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Team Hell No & Ryback vs. The Shield in a TLC Match
Alex: Although it might be a little early to have The Shield in there with three of the top babyfaces in the company, this match has the potential to really get them over. I'm not sure how a 6-man TLC match is going to work, but hopefully they can pull it off. I think WWE will have Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins come away with the W. The story is dead in the water if they lose (see: Aces & Eights).

Violet: Hopefully WWE learns from TNA’s mistakes in booking frequent Aces and Eights losses. The Shield needs to win this match in order to continue looking like a threat.

Big Show (c) vs. Sheamus in a Chairs Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Alex: I don't know if I can handle another boring Sheamus run. I think this would be a great night for Ziggler to defeat John Cena to retain his MITB briefcase, and then cost Sheamus the match, cash in, and become the new WHC. I can dream, right?

Violet: My prediction for this match is the same as it was for the last PPV. Big Show will win. His title reign has the potential to be slightly more interesting than another Sheamus reign would be.

John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Ladder Match for the MITB Briefcase
Alex: I don't see them taking the briefcase away from Ziggler. I think we'll see AJ, Vicki, and hopefully Brad Maddox get involved in this one.

Violet: If the briefcase were not specifically for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship match, I would worry that Cena might walk away with Dolph’s Money in the Bank briefcase(which he has already defended). However, I really don’t see Cena stepping away from the WWE title scene, especially with the Rock challenging for the belt at the Royal Rumble.

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship
Alex: Kofi has done a good job as Intercontinental Champion, but Wade Barrett has looked really strong the last few weeks. I could see this feud continuing until at least Elimination Chamber, but I think Barrett goes into WrestleMania as the IC Champ.

Violet: Kingston’s had a strong run as Intercontinental champ, but I think it’s Barrett’s turn to hold the belt.

Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. R-Truth for the United States Championship
Alex: Cesaro is money and the WWE sees that. If Truth somehow comes away with the win at TLC, expect to see Cesaro make the move to a main event caliber feud very soon.

Violet: Cesaro has to win. He has to. There’s no way he’ll lose to Truth…right?

Sin Cara & Rey Mysterio vs. Team Rhodes Scholars
Alex: Team Rhodes Scholars is the more fresh and interesting team, so I think they'll get the win. Rey and Sin Cara are fun to watch, but I don't see them beating Cody and Sandow and then chasing the tag belts.

Violet: I think that Team Rhodes Scholars will win and go onto face Team Hell No in a future title match simply because I suspect that WWE would book a heel team to go up against the popular champions.

"Santa's Helper" Number One Contender's Diva Battle Royal
Alex: Oh, what a waste. WWE has a great Diva's champion and a few good ladies on the roster to challenge her, so what do they do? They dress them up in pseudo-slutty Santa outfits and give them a minute or two for a themed battle royal. Hopefully at least one Diva goes the Gail Kim route and eliminates them self in protest.

Violet: Eve is good at what she does, so why not give her an actual feud? Besides, these Diva battle royals are unbearable.

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Who is The Shield?

by Alex Archer
Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, collectively known as The Shield, made their WWE debut on November 18th at Survivor Series.  Their interference in the main event led to CM Punk retaining his WWE Championship in a triple threat match against John Cena and Ryback.  Since Survivor Series, this group of NXT standouts has taken out the likes of Kane, Daniel Bryan, The Miz, and Randy Orton.  Before their first sanctioned match coming up at the TLC pay-per-view, let's get to know these protectors of justice a little better.

Dean Ambrose, formerly Jon Moxley

Dean Ambrose debuted for the Heartland Wrestling Association in June of 2004 as Jon Moxley.  He won his first title, the HWA Tag Team Championship, in May of 2005.  Ambrose won his first singles title one year later in May of 2006, when he defeated Pepper Parks for the HWA Heavyweight Championship.  Throughout his time with HWA (2004-2010), Ambrose was a 3-time Heavyweight Champion and a 5-time Tag Team Champion.

Ambrose (still using the Jon Moxley moniker) would then work with Insanity Pro Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling, Evolve, and Dragon Gate USA from mid-2009 to mid-2011.  During this time he would have memorable matches with Jimmy Jacobs for the IPW World Heavyweight Championship, as well as B-Boy and Drake Younger for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship.

In April of 2011, it was announced that he had signed a developmental deal with the WWE.  A month later, in May of 2011, he would make is FCW debut under the name Dean Ambrose.  While in FCW, Ambrose continued to show off his incredible promo skills during an internet feud with Mick Foley.  Ambrose verbally attacked Foley for leading a whole generation of wrestling down the wrong path, essentially shortening and ruining many promising careers.

Seth Rollins AKA Tyler Black, former ROH Champ

Seth Rollins made his professional wrestling debut in 2005 with Scott County Wrestling under the ring name Gixx, and eventually won the SCW Heavyweight Championship.  Shortly after his debut with SCW, he joined NWA Midwest and won the Tag Team Championship with his partner, Marek Brave.  Around the same time, he also won the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship.  Rollins then went on to have a short stint with TNA, teaming with Jeff Luxon, before making his way to Ring of Honor.

He made his debut for Ring of Honor, using the name Tyler Black, at the Man Up pay-per-view in September of 2007, when he teamed up with Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher to attack the Briscoe Brothers.  The threesome would become known as Age of the Fall.  At Final Battle 2007, Rollins would capture the ROH World Tag Team Championship alongside Jimmy Jacobs by defeating the Briscoes.

Rollins' singles career really kicked off in October of 2009 when he won the ROH Survival of the Fittest Tournament, earning him a World Title match.  His title shot came at Final Battle 2009 where he wrestled Austin Aries to a 60 minute time limit draw.  Rollins would get a rematch two months later and defeated Austin Aries to become the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion on February 13, 2010.

Glory By Honor IX, on September 11, 2011 would mark the last day of Rollins' title reign, and would also be the last ROH event of his career, signing a developmental deal with WWE the month prior.  In his short time in FCW, Rollins would capture the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship, the FCW 15 Championship, and the Florida Tag Team Championship.  He then made his NXT debut as Seth Rollins in June of 2012.  He would go on to win the Gold Rush Tournament and become the very first NXT Champion on August 29.

Roman Reigns - Member of the Anoa'i Family

Unlike his two stablemates, Roman Reigns doesn't have a distinguished indie background.  Instead, Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa'i, is a former All-ACC football star from Georgia Tech.  After playing for the Yellow Jackets in college, Anoa'i was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, and later by the Jacksonville Jaguars.  After his brief stint with the NFL, he was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League in 2008.

Anoa'i would then go on to sign a developmental deal with the WWE in July of 2010. He then took on the name Roman Leakee and debuted for FCW on September 9.  While he never won the FCW Championship, he was the number one contender after defeating none other than Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins in a triple threat number one contenders match.  Anoa'i would make his NXT debut under the name Roman Reigns on Halloween night, 2012.

Reigns comes from a great lineage of professional wrestlers.  The Anoa'i family is well known as one of the great wrestling families.  Reigns is the son of Sika of the Wild Samoans and is also related to The Rock, Rikishi, Yokozuna, and Umaga.

With impressive indie careers and professional football careers under their belts, it's time for them to shine in the spotlight on the WWE's main roster.  All three of these wrestlers have future WWE and future World Heavyweight Champion written all over them.  It's only a matter of time.

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WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 25

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: April 5, 2009

Venue: Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX)

Attendance: 72,744

On Commentary: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Jim Ross

Main Event:  Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: I really enjoyed the Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy Extreme Rules contest.  Both guys showed off their best work and they really did a good job of utilizing the weapons in a way that didn't seem overdone.  I also liked that they didn't go the obvious route of having the babyface Jeff Hardy get the win.  The Extreme Rules stipulation worked well in this super-personal match, as opposed to named a pay-per-view after it and just throwing that stipulation on the main event.

Worst: Santina Marella.  You've got to be kidding me.  You think the Diva's get little air time and no respect now?  Well, Santino Marella dressed up like a woman and won a Diva's Battle Royal.  To be honest, I'm surprised that they gave a Diva's match nearly 6 minutes.  Unfortunately, I can't say I'm surprised that they wasted that time in putting over a guy in a Diva's match.  Just awful.

Violet's Opinion

Best: Initially, I was a little worried that Kane’s and Mark Henry’s participation in this match wouldn’t add anything special to the action. But, I was wrong. This Money in the Bank match exemplifies the best way to use bigger guys in a ladder match. Kane and Henry were involved in some cool spots on the mat while they left the high flying and quicker movements to their more able competitors. This match also saw the exciting second consecutive Money in the Bank win for CM Punk.

Worst: Any WrestleMania segment that ends with a celebrity getting the upper hand in a physical altercation with a wrestler is always a miss for me. Any WrestleMania time taken away from the young, hungry guys on the roster to spotlight legends is always a miss for me. So, watching Jericho defeat Piper, Steamboat, and Snuka only to be knocked to the canvas by Mickey Rourke was not something that I enjoyed.

Full Results

CM Punk defeated Mark Henry, Kane, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Christian, Finlay, and Kofi Kingston in a MITB Ladder Match (14:24)

Santino Marella won a 25-Diva Battle Royal to be crowned Miss WrestleMania (yes, seriously) (5:57)

Chris Jericho defeated "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "Superfly" Jimmy Snucka, and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (w/ Ric Flair) in an Elimination Handicap Match (8:53)

Matt Hardy defeated Jeff Hardy in an Extreme Rules Match (13:13)

Rey Mysterio defeated JBL for the Intercontinental Championship (:21)

The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels (30:41)

John Cena defeated Edge and The Big Show in a Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship (14:42)

Triple H defeated Randy Orton to retain the WWE Championship (23:35)

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Versus: Brotherly Tag Teams

by Violet Buttle

The Usos vs. The Young Bucks

The Usos: The Usos have been with the WWE since 2009 and are former FCW Tag Team Champions. Unfortunately, after leaving the developmental system, the Usos have achieved only moderate success in the WWE and are given limited TV time. The most unique characteristic of this team, aside from being the twin sons of former WWE star Rikishi, is their ring entrance. Before their music kicks in and they walk down the ramp, the brothers perform a traditional Samoan war dance.

The Young Bucks: The Young Bucks are currently working in Chikara, PWG, ROH, and various other independent wrestling promotions. Additionally, from 2009-2011, they worked in TNA as Generation Me. Over the course of their young career, the brothers have held tag titles in six different promotions. The Young Bucks are currently known for their fast paced and creative style, as well as their arrogant, air-guitar-playing heel personas.

The Better Tag Team Comprised of Brothers: The Young Bucks

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