The WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line at SummerSlam in a six-way TLC match.
As announced during the closing segment of Friday’s SmackDown, The Wyatt Sicks will defend the WWE Tag titles against five other teams in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at SummerSlam set for August 2 and August 3.
A chaotic brawl broke out between the six teams following a Wyatt Sicks vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix title match in the SmackDown main event, leading to GM Nick Aldis announcing the TLC bout. It was not specified which night of SummerSlam the TLC match will take place on.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against CM Punk
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
Night two (Sunday, August 3):
Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defends against AJ Styles
Street fight: Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Cody Rhodes
Steel cage match: United States Champion Solo Sikoa defends against Jacob Fatu
No DQ match: Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Lyra Valkyria (if Lynch retains, Valkyria cannot challenge for the title again while Lynch is champion)
Women’s World Champion Naomi defends against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match
Night TBA
WWE Tag Team Championship TLC match: Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) defend against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins), DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa), Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin), Andrade & Rey Fenix, Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom)
It’s Saturday and time for Wrestling Observer Live.
Friday saw an awesome TLC match on WWE SmackDown, some awesomely bad punches by Naomi to Jade Cargill, and John Cena going from disgruntled wrestler to the anti-Heath Slater. He’s tired of raising your kids.
TNA World Champion Joe Hendry may have disappointed some of his fans by losing to Randy Orton at WrestleMania, but It probably won’t matter as long as he impressed the right audience.
Plus, thoughts on WrestleMania 41, WWE seemingly leaning into bro culture with The Roast of WrestleMania featuring some of the hackiest, most obvious statements that are supposed to pass for jokes. Don’t be offended by the content. Be offended because they weren’t funny. No wonder WWE is trying to hide it.
A reveal and a TLC match are set for next week’s SmackDown.
DIY, the Motor City Machine Guns, and the Street Profits will meet in the first SmackDown following WrestleMania 41. On Friday, DIY blatantly interfered in the title match between the other two teams, causing a disqualification and walking out with the tag titles. Backstage, an irate Nick Aldis grabbed the titles and announced that the matter would be settled on next week’s show when the three teams meet in a tables, ladders, and chairs match.
The situation around the WWE Tag Team titles have been fluid in recent months, with the three teams trading the championship between one another. Most recently, the Street Profits defeated DIY to win the titles on the March 14 edition of SmackDown.
Additionally, another mystery video aired during SmackDown showing smoke rising as images flashed on the screen. It ended with next Friday’s date being shown, 4.25.25. This could be seen as a teaser for the returning Aleister Black, who left AEW earlier this year.
The lineup for next week’s SmackDown:
TLC match for WWE Tag Team titles: Street Profits defend against DIY and Motor City Machine Guns
WWE’s last PPV show of the year, TLC, was a unique show, great on performance, good on drama, and weird on ending.
It’s funny because the two key matches, Drew McIntyre vs. A.J. Styles for the WWE title and Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens for the Universal title had great individual performances, and the latter from a dramatic standpoint was among the WWE’s best matches of the year.
But it’s funny, because it’s also everything that was bad about New Japan pro wrestling with the same story in two different matches. There was no subtlety with the interference. McIntyre essentially had three opponents, Styles, The Miz and John Morrison with a 7-foot-3 giant at ringside who ended up helping him at one point by going after Miz & Morrison. But he overcame all that at the end.
Owens had a handicap match with Reigns and Jey Uso, and like with McIntyre, for all that time, nobody kicked out Uso and nobody helped Owens.
After six months away, Charlotte Flair returned to WWE programming at tonight’s TLC pay-per-view.
Charlotte & Asuka defeated Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler at tonight’s PPV to win the Women’s Tag Team titles. Charlotte pinned Baszler after hitting Natural Selection.
Lana was originally announced as Asuka’s partner for tonight’s Women’s Tag Team title match, but there was an angle on last week’s Raw where Lana was taken out of the match after being attacked by Baszler & Jax. WWE said that Asuka would still be challenging for Baszler & Jax’s titles at TLC but would instead be teaming with a partner of her choosing.
An attack by Jax this June was the storyline reason for Charlotte being off TV.
Dave Meltzer had reported earlier today that Charlotte was expected to return at TLC and team with Asuka. “Flair has been out of action since June 22 when they rushed her into a title match with Asuka on Raw and did an injury angle with Jax afterward,” Meltzer wrote. “She had taken time off for surgery and to pursue some acting gigs, which included recently filming an episode of the remake of Punky Brewster alongside fellow WWE star Alexa Bliss.”
Ric Flair also made an appearance at tonight’s PPV and was shown watching the Women’s Tag Team title match and Charlotte & Asuka’s post-match celebration from backstage.
This is the first time Charlotte has been a Women’s Tag Team Champion.
Asuka, who also holds the Raw Women’s Championship, is now a double champion. She previously held the Women’s Tag Team titles with Kairi Sane.
The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at tonight’s TLC pay-per-view — but it didn’t lead to a title change.
In the opening match of tonight’s main card, Drew McIntyre retained his WWE Championship in a tables, ladders, and chairs match. AJ Styles started the match as McIntyre’s only challenger, but it turned into a triple threat match when The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract while the match was going on.
McIntyre gave Styles a press slam from the ring through a table on the outside during tonight’s match. As McIntyre was climbing the ladder, The Miz and John Morrison ran out and Miz powerbombed McIntyre through a table. The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to make it a triple threat match. Miz started to climb the ladder while both McIntyre and Styles were laid out, but Styles’ associate Omos pulled Miz off the ladder and threw him through a table on the outside.
Omos followed Morrison to the back when Morrison tried to bail after hitting him with a steel chair. McIntyre and Styles recovered and then fought at the top of a ladder. The Miz also recovered and set up a ladder next to the one that McIntyre and Styles were on. McIntyre, Styles, and Miz then fought with each other. It ended with McIntyre knocking over a ladder while Styles and Miz were on it. Styles was sent outside of the ring and McIntyre hit a Claymore on Miz. McIntyre then climbed the ladder and unhooked the title belt to retain the WWE Championship.
The Miz had won the Money in the Bank contract by defeating Otis at Hell in a Cell this October. Otis was the original holder of this year’s men’s Money in the Bank briefcase.
Tonight was the first title defense of McIntyre’s second WWE Championship reign. After losing the title to Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell, McIntyre defeated Orton on the November 16 episode of Raw to regain the WWE Championship.
The Universal Championship and WWE Championship will both be on the line in tables, ladders, and chairs matches tonight.
Tonight’s TLC pay-per-view will feature Roman Reigns defending his Universal Championship against Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre defending his WWE Championship against AJ Styles in tables, ladders, and chairs matches. Styles has warned McIntyre that he won’t be facing him alone, with Money in the Bank briefcase holder The Miz, John Morrison, and Styles’ associate Omos also set to get involved in the match.
The first-ever Firefly Inferno match will also take place as Randy Orton faces “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. A game of hide-and-seek between Orton and Wyatt on last week’s Raw ended with Orton putting Wyatt in a box and lighting it on fire. But The Fiend then emerged and put Orton in the Mandible Claw.
Also at TLC, Sasha Banks will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella, The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will defend their Raw Tag Team titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander), and Asuka and a partner of her choosing will challenge for Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax’s Women’s Tag Team titles. Asuka was originally set to team with Lana before Lana was attacked by Baszler and Jax on Raw last week.
Tonight’s pre-show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time and will feature Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable & Otis facing Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura in an eight-man tag match. The main card then starts at 7 p.m. Eastern.
**********
Kick-Off Show
Charley Caruso started the Kick-Off Show by introducing her panel members Jeff Jarrett, Booker T, and Pete Rosenberg. They ran down the line up for tonight. Each panel member mentioned which match they’re most interested in tonight.
They recapped the Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens feud. They also aired a clip from Talking Smack of Owens speaking to Paul Heyman.
The panel then took a closer look at the match. The panel all praised Reigns, with Rosenberg calling him the best wrestler. They all had little faith that Owens can overcome the odds and win the Universal title.
They recapped the Sasha Banks and Carmella feud. The panel then took a closer look at the SmackDown Woman’s Championship match.
The panel then turned their attention to the Raw Tag Team Championship match.
The panel interviewed MVP about the title match tonight. MVP praised The New Day as being one of the best tag teams of all time. He’s confident that Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin would win the titles tonight.
Back from the break, they recapped the Drew McIntrye and AJ Styles feud. Caruso mentioned that Omos, Sheamus, and The Miz could all get involved. The Miz and John Morrison interrupted and joined the panel.
Miz teased cashing in tonight. Booker pointed out Miz and Morrison are working together, but only Miz is Mr. Money In The Bank. Miz noted everyone keeps asking when he is going to cash in. He pointed out that McIntrye is difficult to pin.
Caruso changed the subject to tonight’s WWE Women’s Tag Team title match. They recapped the Nia Jax and Lana feud, including the Lana injury on Raw this past Monday. They briefly discussed the mystery partner when 24/7 Champion R-Truth interrupted. He offered to be Asuka’s partner tonight.
Daniel Bryan, Otis, Chad Gable & Big E defeated Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & King Corbin (w/Knights Of The Lone Wolf)
This was a good pre-show eight-man tag match.
They recapped the Sami Awards and Big E’s attack before the match. Michael Cole laughed that Zayn couldn’t win a rigged award cermoney. They did a parody of the Tom Cruise incident. They then aired leaked audio of Zayn yelling at a stagehand for Big E winning Superstar of the Year. Cole compared the incident to Tom Cruise yelling at a crew member.
Zayn teased starting the match with Big E but tagged in Corbin. Corbin had the brief advantage, but Big E hit a belly-to-belly suplex. The faces took over and worked over Cesaro’s arm. Bryan attempted the Yes kicks, but Cesaro grabbed the leg. Bryan countered into a near fall.
Cesaro and Nakamura worked together against Bryan. The heels took over and cut Bryan off from his corner. Zayn tagged in and beat down Bryan in the corner. Corbin attempted a superplex, but Bryan shoved him off. He followed up with a missile dropkick.
Zayn pulled Big E off the apron. Big E chased Zayn on the floor, but Cesaro rocked him with an uppercut.
Otis got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit the caterpillar, but Gable demanded a tag. The heels then regained control, so Zayn tagged into the match. Gable rolled out of the way and tagged in Big E.
Zayn had nobody to tag anymore. Zayn attempted the helluva kick, but Big E countered with the uranage. Big E then hit the Big Ending on Zayn for the win. Cole pointed out that Big E pinned the I.C. champion.
They recapped the Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton feud.
Main Show
TLC match: WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles (w/Omos) and The Miz (w/John Morrison) to regain the title
This was a great TLC match with some great spots and lots of action. It started with McIntrye and Styles. Midway through the match, Miz cashed in his MITB, which turned the match into a triple threat match. McIntrye and Styles had a great match, and Miz was only in for the end.
As Styles made his entrance, Tom Philips pointed out that Styles has been in this type of match before, but McIntyre hasn’t.
Styles attacked McIntyre’s knee at the bell. He had the early advantage as he continued to attack the leg. McIntrye fired back and slammed down Styles with a suplex. Styles tried to fight back, but McIntrye caught Styles with a high back body drop.
McIntrye rocked Styles with a hard chop knocking him off the turnbuckle to the floor. He slammed Styles head-first on the announce table. McIntrye attempted to suplex Styles through a table, but Styles escaped the hold.
McIntrye and Omos had a brief staredown. He dropped Styles on the barricade and then sent him through the chairs set up on a table. McIntrye then set up a ladder in the ring. He climbed up, but Styles hit him in the injured knee with a chair.
Styles wedged a chair in the corner. Styles tried to send McIntrye into the chair, but he blocked it. McIntrye gave Styles a slingshot into the ladder, but Styles landed on the ladder and climbed up. McIntrye cut him off and gave him a slingshot into the chair.
McIntrye attempted to climb up again, but Styles attacked the injured leg. Styles then dropped a ladder on McIntrye. He tried to set up for the Styles Clash, but McIntrye reversed into the Future Shock DDT. McIntrye lifted the ladder and dropped it on Styles.
Styles recovered and went back to McIntrye’s knee. Styles used the ladder to apply the Calf Crusher. Styles then attacked McIntrye’s leg with a chair. He then reapplied the Calf Crush, but this time with a chair.
McIntyre fought back and dropped Styles on the ladder to break the hold. Styles took back over and slammed McIntyre’s leg against the post. They fought around ringside, and Styles rocked McIntrye with a ladder shot to the face.
Styles placed McIntrye on the table on the floor. Styles then walked up a ladder on an angle in the corner.
McIntyre recovered and smashed a chair in Styles’s face.
McIntrye brought in a table and set it up in the corner. Styles fought back and dropped McIntrye face-first on the bottom rung of a ladder.
McIntrye threw Styles into the table, but he slid under and pushed the table into McIntrye’s injured knee. Styles charged at McIntrye, but he caught him and gave Styles an overhead belly to belly suplex onto the ladder in the corner.
Styles hit a Phenomenal forearm and climbed up the ladder. McIntyre cut him off, and press slammed Styles through a table at ringside.
McIntrye started climbing up the ladder when Miz ran out. Miz gave McIntrye a powerbomb through the table. Miz then cashed in his Money In The Bank contract, and the match became a triple threat TLC match.
Miz climbed up the ladder, but Omos pulled Miz down and held him in his arms like a baby. He then dropped Miz through a table at ringside. John Morrison jumped in and smashed a chair over Omos’ back. The chair broke into pieces. Omos just looked at Morrison and stalked him to the back.
McIntrye struggled to get to his feet. Styles got back in and climbed up the ladder. They fought on the top, and Miz got back in and set up a second ladder. McIntrye knocked Styles and Miz off. Styles recovered and springboarded onto the ladder and knocked off McIntrye.
Miz and Styles fought on the top of the ladders. McIntyre recovered and pushed over the ladders. Styles took a nasty bump to the floor and seemed to be bleeding from the face.
Miz landed on the ropes. McIntrye then hit the Claymore kick on Miz and climbed up the ladder to pull down the title for the win.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Paul Heyman. He gave a spoiler that Owens is going to get hurt. He promised that Roman Reigns is going to hold onto the title.
SmackDown Woman’s Champion Sasha Banks defeated Carmella (w/Reginald) to retain the title.
Banks and Carmella had a good match. They both worked hard.
Carmella stalled at ringside but Banks dragged her in the ring. Carmella fought back and gained control of the match.
Banks knocked Carmella off the apron, but Reginald caught her. Banks then knocked him out, but Carmella hit a superkick on Banks.
Carmella slowed the pace down, but Banks fought back.
Banks hit the running knees in the corner and followed up with the Three Amigos suplexes. Banks then hit the frog splash for a close near fall.
Banks attempted the Meteora, but Carmella avoided it. Banks went for the tilt-a-whirl head scissors, but Carmella dropped her on the top of her head.
Carmella nailed Banks with a superkick as she hung over the apron. Carmella attempted a hurricanrana off the top, but Banks rolled through for a near fall.
They went back and forth with pin attempts. Carmella rolled through into the Code of Silence, but Banks countered into the Bank Statment.
Carmella locked on a submission, but Banks rolled through for another near fall. Carmella became frustrated and charged at Banks but she locked on the Bank statement. Carmella briefly fought back. The finish came when Banks locked on the Bank Statement for the win.
In the back, Billie Kay approached Asuka about being her partner. Asuka turned her down and told her she’s not ready for Asuka.
The Hurt Business defeated The New Day to win the Raw Tag Team Titles
This was a really good tag team match with lots of fast-paced action.
Charley Caruso interviewed The New Day in the back before the match. Xavier Woods noted they fought The Hurt Business before, but they never fought big match New Day.
Kofi Kingston rocked Cedric Alexander with a superkick to start the match. The New Day was firmly in control as they isolated Alexander.
Shelton Benjamin slammed Woods down with a spinebuster to gain control of the match.
MVP gave Alexander a bottle of water at ringside. Kingston hit a double stomp on Benjamin for a near fall.
Kingston hit a dive onto Alexander at ringside. Woods hit a tornado DDT on Benjamin for a near fall.
Benjamin rocked Woods with a knee and sent him into the bottom turnbuckle. Alexander kicked Woods in the back for a near fall.
Alexander slowed the pace down. The heels isolated Woods and cut him off from his corner.
Woods fought back, and Kingston got the hot tag. In a cool spot, Kingston attempted the boom drop, but Benjamin picked him up for a powerbomb.
The Hurt Business attempted the Doomsday Device, but Kingston rolled through. Kingston hit the SOS of a near fall. Alexander then hit the brainbuster for a very close near fall.
Benjamin and Kingston fought on the top rope. Benjamin ran up the top and hit a superplex.
Benjamin had the match won, but Alexander tagged himself in and hit the lumbar check for the win.
Benjamin was shocked that Alexander tagged himself in, but The Hurt Business celebrated after the match.
They recapped the Sami Awards and the leaked audio of Sami Zayn yelling at a crew member.
In the back, Zayn approached Kayla Braxton to find out who gave her the audio. He’s sure that it’s Big E. Braxton noted she’s a journalist and won’t reveal her sources.
Zayn was furious as she walked away.
Asuka & Charlotte Flair defeated Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
Tom Philips gave an injury update on Lana. He noted she has an injured elbow and knee. Lana didn’t make an appearance, so she’s not putting Jax through a table tonight.
As was reported earlier today, Charlotte Flair ended up being Asuka’s partner for tonight. The commentators noted Jax injured Flair, but Flair and Asuka were feuding.
This was a fine match that started at a slow pace but picked up towards the end.
Baszler and Asuka traded hard kicks to start the match. Baszler attempted to stomp on Asuka’s arm, but she escaped. Flair got the tag and demanded Jax get in the ring. The faces were briefly in control until Jax sent Asuka into the ring post.
The heels isolated Asuka and cut her off from her corner. Baszler stomped on Asuka’s elbow and worked over her arm. Asuka fought back and attempted to make the tag, but Baszler pulled Flair off the apron.
Flair knocked Baszler down with a right hand. Flair got the hot tag and ran wild on the heels. They showed Ric Flair watching in the back.
Flair attacked Jax’s leg and sent her to the floor. Asuka rocked Baszler with a sliding knee on the apron. Flair then hit the moonsault to the floor, taking out both heels.
Asuka made the blind tag as Jax hit the Samoan drop on Flair. Baszler attempted the Kirifuda Clutch, but Flair tagged into the match.
The finish came when Asuka took out Jax with the hip attack. Baszler locked on the Kirifuda Clutch on Flair, but she rolled through. Flair then hit Natural Selection for the win.
In the back, Sami Zayn approached Big E and R-Truth. He accused Big E of leaking the audio. Zayn made the mistake of getting in Big E’s face.
TLC Match: Universal Champion Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) defeated Kevin Owens to retain the title
This was a good TLC match, and they tried to make it different from the earlier match. They worked at a slower pace with less high-risk dangerous spots but still very brutal and unsafe in their own way.
Roman Reigns made his entrance first and watched as the referee hung the Universal title in the air. Suddenly, Kevin Owens jumped Reigns to start the match. Owens beat Reigns around ringside and hit a cannonball against the barricade.
Owens then hit a frog splash off the apron onto Reigns. Owens brought in a ladder, but Jey Uso ran in to stop him. Owens was ready and rocked Uso with a superkick. He continued to beat down Reigns.
Uso attempted a superkick, but Owens blocked it with a chair. Owens then attacked Uso’s leg and pillmanized his leg. Referees and officials took Uso to the back. Suddenly, Reigns hit the drive-by on Owens.
Reigns picked up the steps and hit Owens several times. He then hit Owens in the face with a ladder. Reigns destroyed Owens with chair shots and then set up two chairs in the ring.
Owens fought back and attempted to powerbomb Reigns through the chairs. Reigns countered and gave Owens a backdrop onto the chairs.
Reigns climbed up the ladder, but Owens cut him off with several chair shots. He followed up with a fisherman suplex onto an upright chair. Owens climbed up to the top of the ladder when Uso ran back out and pulled him down.
Owens and Uso were brawling when Reigns hit the Superman Punch. Uso brought two tables into the ring, but Owens fought back. He hit a superkick on Uso and the stunner on Reigns.
Owens set the ladder up, but Uso pulled him out of the ring. They fought around ringside until Owens gave Uso and pop-up powerbomb through the announce table. Owens then buried Uso under the announce table and climbed to the top of the ladder.
Reigns jumped back in, and they fought on the ladder. Reigns pulled Owens down and countered a superkick into a powerbomb on a ladder. He then gave Owens a back suplex on a ladder on its side.
Reigns dragged Owens to the floor and choke slammed him through a table. He then gave Owens a Samoan Drop through another table.
Reigns got back in the ring and climbed up the ladder, but Owens dragged himself back in the ring. Owens grabbed at Reign’s leg. He climbed back down and mocked Owens.
Owens slapped Reigns in the face. Reigns snapped and speared Owens through a table in the corner. Owens dragged himself back to his feet and taunted Reigns at ringside. Reigns went for the spear, but Owens moved, and Reigns crashed through the barricade.
Owens climbed up the ladder but Reigns cut him off. Owens fought back and gave Reigns the pop-up powerbomb through a table.
Owens climbed to the top and touched the title, but Uso cut him off again. Owens dropped down and gave Uso the stunner.
He climbed back up, but Reigns hit a low blow. Reigns then applied the guillotine submission, and Owens fell to the mat. Reigns then pulled down the title for the win.
After the match, a dejected Owens watched as Reigns celebrated in the ring.
They announced Intercontinteal Champions Sami Zayn defends against Big E on SmackDown this Friday night.
Firefly Inferno match: Randy Orton defeated The Fiend
This was just a basic brawl with the special effects of fire. There wasn’t much to the match, and it bordered on silly at times. It was like the fifth sequel of a bad horror movie. The psychology didn’t make sense either since it was unclear who was the face and heel.
There are no pinfalls, submissions, count-outs, or disqualifications in the match. The only way to win is to set a body part on fire. There’s no referee either.
Randy Orton came out wearing long black pants and a black hoodie. The Fiend kept his black jacket on as well.
Unlike past inferno matches, there was no fire around the ring or any fire at all. The match started with no fire. It appeared during the match after several minutes. Also, unlike previous inferno matches, the fire was not around the ring itself.
Instead, the fire was on the other side of the barricade with the fans and near the commentators. It was a cool visual to see the fire throughout the ThunderDome. Anytime there was a big move on the floor, the flames became bigger.
Orton and The Fiend had a brief staredown. Orton tried attacking The Friend, but it did not affect him.
The Fiend took over and rocked Orton with a cross-body block. The Fiend attempted Sister Abigail, but Orton countered with a backbreaker. The move didn’t hurt him and The Fiend jumped up to his feet. He then hit Sister Abigail.
The Fiend lifted his arms, and the fire finally appeared. They fought around ringside and teased Orton getting set on fire. The Fiend attempted to hit Orton with an ax, but Orton avoided it.
The Fiend then set up the rocking chair and covered it in gasoline. He placed Orton on the chair and set it on fire, but Orton moved in time. Orton briefly took over with an ax handle and a chain.
The Fiend fought back and set the ax handle on fire, but Orton cut him off. Orton then gave The Fiend the draping DDT off the apron.
Orton attempted the RKO on the floor, but The Fiend applied the mandible claw. He backed Orton into the flames, but Orton turned around and set The Fiend on fire.
Orton and The Fined jumped back in the ring. Orton then hit the RKO on The Fiend, who was still on fire. At first, Orton seemed afraid and checked on The Fiend. By this point, The Fiend wasn’t on fire anymore or moving.
Orton grabbed the gasoline and covered The Fiend in gas. He slowly lit a matchstick and tossed it on The Fiend. The Fiend’s body was set on fire and burned in the middle of the ring. The commenters were disgusted with Orton’s actions.
Clearly, they replaced The Fiend with a dummy when the camera was off of him. Orton celebrated as The Fiend’s body continued to burn in the ring.
Eight-man tag team action is set for tonight’s TLC pre-show.
WWE has announced that Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable & Otis vs. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura will be the pre-show match for tonight’s TLC pay-per-view. The one-hour pre-show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time and will air on the WWE Network and WWE’s social platforms.
Big E and Bryan have both lost to Zayn by countout in non-title matches on SmackDown in recent weeks. On this past Friday’s SmackDown, there was a segment where Big E got back at Zayn by ruining his “first annual Sami Awards.”
After Gable & Otis lost to Cesaro & Nakamura the previous week, Otis defeated Nakamura in a singles match on this past Friday’s SmackDown.
Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler returned to WWE television earlier this month as Corbin’s Knights of The Lone Wolf.
There are now seven matches in total announced for tonight’s TLC event. Here’s the updated card for the show:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
Randy Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka and a partner of her choosing
Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defend their titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable & Otis vs. Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura (pre-show)
The first-ever “Firefly Inferno match” will take place at Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view.
Following the angle where Randy Orton lit Bray Wyatt on fire on Monday’s episode of Raw, WWE has announced that Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt at TLC will now be a Firefly Inferno match.
There was a segment on this week’s Raw where Wyatt brought his Firefly Fun House characters on a field trip to the WWE ThunderDome. Orton appeared on the video screen and challenged Wyatt to a game of hide-and-seek. It ended with Orton attacking Wyatt and putting him inside of a box. Orton lit the box on fire, but The Fiend emerged from it and put Orton in the Mandible Claw.
Randy Orton and The Fiend are set to turn up the heat at WWE TLC in the first-ever Firefly Inferno Match.
Orton and Wyatt are no stranger to the destructive flames, as The Viper once sadistically burned down The Wyatt Family Compound. Last week, The Viper trapped Wyatt inside a burning box, but The Fiend emerged unscathed to punish Orton for his brutality. Now Orton will have to step inside The Fiend’s twisted inferno, and HE never forgets.
After The Fiend’s mind games cost Randy Orton an opportunity to once again compete for the WWE Championship, The Viper fired right back by taking hold of Alexa Bliss in attempt to coax The Fiend during a tense installment of “A Moment of Bliss.”
The Fiend has changed every man to step into the ring with him, but Orton has proven time and again to be a different breed of Superstar. Can The Legend Killer walk through the fire or will The Fiend burn Orton for his past transgressions?
Don’t miss WWE TLC on Sunday, Dec. 20, streaming at 7 ET/4 PT on the award-winning WWE Network.
Here’s the updated card for TLC:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
Randy Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka and a partner of her choosing
Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defend their titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
WWE has announced that Lana is out of TLC following an angle that took place on Monday’s go-home episode of Raw.
It was said on Monday’s Raw that — due to being attacked by Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax earlier in the show — Lana won’t be able to wrestle at TLC. Raw Women’s Champion Asuka and a partner of her choosing will now challenge Baszler & Jax for their Women’s Tag Team titles at the pay-per-view.
Who Asuka will be teaming with at TLC hasn’t been revealed.
Lana defeated Jax on this week’s Raw, pinning her after fighting out of a Samoan drop attempt from the second rope. As Asuka celebrated Lana’s win backstage, she was ambushed by Baszler. Jax then attacked Lana in the ring. Baszler and Jax beat Lana down and ended the attack with Baszler bending Lana’s leg back and Jax giving it multiple leg drops. Asuka then recovered and ran out to make the save.
WWE said that Lana had been taken to a local medical facility and had “devastating injuries to her elbow and leg.” Later on Raw, Baszler vs. Dana Brooke ended in a disqualification when Jax interfered and pushed Brooke off the top rope. Mandy Rose ran out with a kendo stick to make the save for Brooke after the match. She attacked Baszler and Jax with the kendo stick, but Baszler was able to get it away from her. Asuka then attacked Baszler and helped Brooke and Rose clear the ring.
TLC is taking place on Sunday (December 20). Here’s the updated card for the show:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Randy Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka and a partner of her choosing
Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defend their titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
A new title match has been added to the card for this month’s TLC pay-per-view.
WWE has announced that Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will defend their titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) at TLC. While Benjamin & Alexander have unsuccessfully challenged for The New Day’s titles twice recently, Alexander has defeated Woods and Kingston in singles action on Raw over the past two weeks.
Alexander defeated Woods on Raw last week. On this Monday’s show, Kingston defeated Benjamin but suffered a storyline knee injury in the process. Alexander then got on the microphone and challenged Kingston to face him. Kingston agreed and then lost to Alexander.
The New Day will look to keep The Hurt Business in the red and once again retain their Raw Tag Team Titles at WWE TLC.
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have gotten the better of Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander in two epic championship battles on the red brand. Alexander has found success on his own in recent matchups against Kingston & Woods, but his solo swagger has definitely caught the attention of his Hurt Business associates.
It will be another clash of styles when The Power of Positivity takes on the no-nonsense culture that MVP has put in place.
Will The New Day head into the holidays feeling golden? Or will The Hurt Business be stacking titles and profits entering the new year?
TLC is taking place on Sunday, December 20. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Randy Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defend against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
A stipulation has been added to Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles’ WWE Championship match at TLC.
WWE.com now lists that McIntyre vs. Styles at TLC will be a tables, ladders, and chairs match. This is the second stipulation match that’s been announced for the pay-per-view. The Universal Championship will also be on the line in a tables, ladders, and chairs match as Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens.
Styles became the number one contender to McIntyre’s title by defeating Riddle and Keith Lee in a triple threat match on Raw last Monday.
After winning the number one contender’s match, Styles agreed to help The Miz cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase because it would be easier to defeat Miz instead of McIntyre. Styles was on commentary for last week’s McIntyre & Sheamus vs. Miz & Morrison main event. He caused the match to end in a disqualification by hitting the Phenomenal Forearm on McIntyre. Miz was going to cash in his briefcase, but McIntyre fought back, sent Morrison out of the ring, and laid out Miz with a Claymore. McIntyre was then about to go face-to-face with Styles, but Styles’ associate Omos carried Styles away.
Styles, Miz & Morrison will face McIntyre & Sheamus in a three-on-two handicap match on this Monday’s episode of Raw.
TLC is taking place on Sunday, December 20. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
This year’s TLC pay-per-view has its first official stipulation match.
The Universal Championship will be on the line as Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at TLC. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, December 20.
On tonight’s episode of SmackDown, Owens interrupted an interview with Reigns and challenged Reigns to put the Universal title on the line against him in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at TLC. Reigns said Owens being on his island of relevancy is the best thing that will ever happen to Owens. Reigns said he doesn’t back down from any man or fear anyone. He then accepted Owens’ challenge.
As Reigns was leaving, Owens called Reigns a bitch for not fighting him right now. Jey Uso had accepted a challenge on behalf of Reigns for Reigns to fight Owens then and there.
Reigns told Uso last week that Owens doesn’t look at him with fear and ordered Uso to change that. Owens faced Uso in last week’s main event. The match ended in a disqualification when Uso attacked Owens with a steel chair, but Owens turned the tables by hitting a stunner. He sent a message to Reigns by beating down Uso to close the show. As Reigns watched on the monitor backstage, Owens asked where Reigns was and said he would be waiting for him.
Reigns has been Universal Champion since defeating Braun Strowman and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a no holds barred triple threat match at Payback this August.
Here’s the updated card for TLC:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
Randy Orton and The Fiend know each other very well, and they are set to collide at WWE TLC.
After The Fiend’s mind games cost Randy Orton an opportunity to once again compete for the WWE Championship, The Viper fired right back by taking hold of Alexa Bliss in attempt to coax The Fiend during a tense installment of ‘A Moment of Bliss.’
Orton has upstaged Wyatt in the past by burning down The Wyatt Family Compound and defeating him for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33, but this time, The Legend Killer will be face to face with a whole different animal in the form of The Fiend. And he… doesn’t forget.
The build to Orton vs. Wyatt will continue with a segment that’s been announced for Monday’s episode of Raw. WWE is hyping for Monday’s show that Orton has invited himself to Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House.
TLC is taking place on Sunday, December 20. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
After getting two non-title wins against the champions, Raw Women’s Champion Asuka & Lana are set to challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.
WWE has announced that Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will defend their titles against Asuka & Lana at TLC on Sunday, December 20. A stipulation for the match hasn’t been announced as of now.
Asuka & Lana have defeated Baszler & Jax in non-title matches on Raw each of the past two weeks. In their first win, Lana avoided a charging Jax and Jax went over the announce table. Asuka then rolled up Baszler as Baszler was focused on Lana. Baszler had Lana in the Kirifuda Clutch at the end of this week’s tag match, but Asuka broke it up with a kick. Lana then pinned Baszler to get the win.
Lana was the sole survivor for Team Raw in the women’s elimination match at Survivor Series last month. After Baszler and Jax ordered her not to tag in, Lana was the only person left standing after Jax and SmackDown’s Bianca Belair were counted out at the end of the match.
Baszler & Jax have been Women’s Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Sasha Banks & Bayley this August.
Here’s the updated card for TLC:
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
