So at first, TLC 2017 was shaping up to be a one-match show.
The main event (which was supposed to feature the in-ring return of The Shield) was the marquee match. But after a few change up’s due to injury and illness, this PPV just got a whole lot better. Kurt Angle will be making his unexpected return to the squared circle during the Tables, Ladders and Chairs-assisted main event. And thankfully, “Sister Abigail” won’t be competing. In his place will now be “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles competing against “The Demon” Finn Bálor in a dream match scenario that’s WrestleMania worthy. These major matchups (plus the main roster debut of Asuka) are all lining up to make TLC 2017 one of the better WWE events of 2017.
Stay right here and make sure you’re up on all the match results and highlights from TLC 2017.
Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks
WWE.com
Winner: Sasha Banks!
Highlights: A shoving match and trash talking between both ladies resulted in a brawl that forced Alicia to leave the ring. Once she crawled back, Alicia kneed Banks in the gut and attacked her in the corner. Banks tried fighting back, but her brief offense got cut off after Alicia slammed her head into the mat. Alicia maintained control over “The Boss” for a while until Banks used a Lou Thesz Press to gain the advantage. Banks tore into Alicia so much that Alicia tried begging for her forgiveness. Banks would have none of it and chose to crack Alicia with a quick dropkick. Alicia stood outside the ring and complained as the ref began counting her out.
Back in the ring, Banks got her hands on Alicia for a few moments before Alicia countered her offense once again. Banks ended up on the top rope and tried landing something big, but Alicia stopped her by simply shoving her to the floor. On the outside, Alicia used a Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker to keep Banks down. Alicia brought Banks back into the ring for even more punishment soon after. Alicia looked good for a while and even stopped Banks at one point by dropping her to the outside through the middle ropes. Banks threw herself back into the ring to avoid getting counted out and was met with two Northern Light Suplexes for her troubles. Later on, Alicia tried landing another Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker on Bank but failed when Banks spun into a pin. Alicia then got pushed to the outside and almost faced a countout.
Alicia made her slow return to the ring and was given a beatdown courtesy of Banks’ signature offense. Banks’ spirited offense didn’t last too long though as she got caught with a big boot. Alicia lost her focus for a bit while jaw jacking with the ref and eventually got submitted via the Banks Statement.
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Mickie James (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
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Winner: And STILL the Raw Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss!
Highlights: After the big match introductions came to a close, both women got into a rough exchange. Bliss cowered between the ropes at one point, which led to Mickie disrespecting her. Bliss flew into a rage and tried slamming Mickie’s head into the mat, but Bliss kept kipping up and shocking Bliss with her youthful counters. Mickie continued to frustrate the champ until she found herself getting dropped throat first across the top rope by Bliss. Bliss then took the chance to use stiff strikes and submission holds to break down the veteran challenger. Bliss remained in control for a while until Mickie began fighting back with stiff splash. Bliss responded with some slaps of her own, which led into a striking war between the both of them. That mini-brawl came to a close when both women laid each other out with side kicks.
When both women got back to their feet, Mickie got fired up and began laying into the champ with tons of signature moves. At one point, both women looked to land their DDT finishers but big counters were dished out. Bliss then used a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to stop Mickie’s spirited comeback. This didn’t work too well as Mickie used a Flapjack to slam down the champ. Mickie then made her way to the top rope, but Bliss tripped her up and caused her to slam her face right onto the mat below her. Bliss then tried landing her Twisted Bliss, but Mickie rolled out of the way at the very last second. Mickie then returned to the top rope and cracked Bliss with a missile dropkick. The match continued as Bliss kept getting taken to the mat by Mickie. Mickie ended up defeated when Bliss smashed her face into the ring apron, which was then followed up by a Snap DDT. After the match, Mickie showed some love to the crowd with a heartfelt and tearful speech.
Asuka vs. Emma
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Winner: Asuka!
Highlights: Emma was none too pleased with Asuka’s extravagant entrance. They went back and forth with each other as the crowd screamed Asuka’s name in approval. Asuka used her quick lockup work and submission hold attempts to ground Emma, while Emma continued countering her and disrespecting her with slaps. When Emma decided to run the ropes, she was met with a flying butt thump from Asuka. Asuka almost locked in another submission, but Emma kicked her right out of the ring and finally got the better of her much hyped opponent. Once both women got back into the ring, Emma stayed on top of Asuka with a tight submission hold. Asuka wasn’t held too long as she escaped soon after, but Emma weakened her some more by pulling her head into the mat. Emma chose to lay Asuka upside down in the corner and assault her with kicks to the back of her neck and hair pulling. When Asuka laid down in the corner, Emma ran full steam ahead at her and laid across her with a splash.
Asuka found herself locked into another submission hold while the crowd tried to revive her with cheers. It seemed to have worked when Asuka shook off Emma’s offense and responded with a sliding knee strike. Asuka adopted her best strikes against Emma and even came off the top rope to land a Missile Dropkick. Asuka looked like she’d be in control for a good while, but Emma managed to cut her off with a running dropkick. Emma looked to further injure Asuka, but Asuka tortured Emma by locking in an Ankle Lock. Emma crawled all over the ring to escape, but she was instead caught with a German Suplex. Asuka tried retrieving her from the ring apron, but Emma simply threw her over onto the ring mat. Back in the ring, Asuka quickly recovered in time to win the match with a roundhouse kick and her Asuka Lock.
Kalisto (c) vs. Enzo Amore (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
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Winner: And the NEW Cruiserweight Champion, Enzo Amore!
Highlights: Enzo (with a bad throat) still chose to hit the ring with a mic in hand and verbally lay into Kalisto. As soon as the bell rang, Kalisto ran right at Enzo and forced him to cower underneath the rope. When the action kicked in once again, Enzo dropped Kalisto with a shoulder block and chose to taunt him after some back and forth countering. Enzo found himself getting embarrassed soon after when Kalisto used his own taint against him. Enzo ran himself right out of the ring and soon got caught by a Suicide Dive from the champ. Back in the ring, Enzo ended up tripping up Kalisto on the top rope and dropping his jaw onto the top rope. After that, Enzo began pulling out big strikes and slams to break down Kalisto. Enzo almost landed something off the top rope, but he instead jumped off and taunted the audience when he came back down to the mat. Kalisto then caught Enzo off guard with school boy followed up by a slick kick.
This didn’t do much to ground Enzo as he recovered and got the advantage over the champ once again. Enzo kept Kalisto locked into a chinlock hold for several grueling minutes until Kalisto finally freed himself. Kalisto’s high flying comeback offense worked for a good while and even seemed to finish Enzo at some point. But Enzo got his second wind after tripping up Kalisto, slamming his head into the bottom ring apron and then landing a top rope DDT. Afterwards, Enzo used a moment of distraction to mess with Kalisto’s mask. Enzo then became Cruiserweight Champion once more after besting Kalisto with his JawdonZo. After the final bell rang, Enzo congratulated himself and then took the opportunity to diss the live audience.