WWE: WWE TLC 2017: The Return of a Legend

In the Main Event of Tables, Ladders and Chairs at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Kurt Angle celebrated his in-ring comeback eleven years after leaving. In a 5-on-3 handicap match, he represented the short term novel Reigns and played alongside Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose on The Miz, The Bar, Braun Strowman and Kane. Also in the second Main Event, replacements had to be found at short notice: AJ Styles represented Bray Wyatt against The Demon Finn Balor in the match of the evening.

Winner: Sasha Banks per Banks Statement. Banks’ actual opponent Nia Jax was eliminated, and so they decided to engage in a transitional feud. Giving the Bo$$ the victory here was the only right choice, because a defeat against the longtime jobber Fox would have scratched her momentum noticeably. Banks will now, in doubt, continue to play transition matches until Jax returns from her time-out.

Winner: Asuka per Asuka Lock. It was not the expected ten-second squash, but instead the Main Roster audience was given the opportunity to get to know The Empress of Tomorrow better. Emma provoked her with slaps and trash talking, thereby further heating up the Japanese girl before she took control.

An absolutely meaningful booking, with which Asuka was strongly represented, without completely humiliating Emma. The “feud” should be over by now, unless you involve the Australian in the next matches of Asuka and head for handicap matches in order to present her even more strongly, for example at the side of Fox.

Winner: Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann by Lumbar Check from Alexander against Kendrick. An important victory for the face side of the cruiserweights, who had barely been able to score any points lately. Especially Cedric, who has been sold below value since the division’s inception, needed this success to finally orientate himself towards titles.

The long-time Ring of Honor-Star has the talent for this. At Gallagher & Kendrick you have to ask yourself at the same time, what sense should the gentleman’s turn actually have. The duo has not been very successful so far and the effect is already completely lost. Either the two of them will soon turn against each other again, or they will trample in front of them as sediment of the division.

Winner: Alexa Bliss via Snap DDT. The same applies here as for the other two women’s matches: It was the only meaningful result in a transitional feud. James was presented properly, but in the end he did exactly what it was called back to do: jobbing for one of the stars of the division.

Bliss repeatedly resorted to unfair actions in the match, so that the feud could be continued theoretically, as there is no clear top challenge for Bliss at the moment – unless you want Bliss vs. Asuka rushes to start early. Alternatively, she could defend her title against Banks or Bayley.

Winner: Enzo Amore per JawdonZo after a thumb in the eye of his opponent. This result had to be expected, because Enzo is without question the new face of the division since Neville’s inglorious departure. He seems to be absolutely dominant with his farce, which didn’t have to intervene here, without being represented in his matches.

At the same time, Kalisto’s debut hype has disappeared again and he has arrived at the standing of the other faces of the division. This is also where the cruiserweights’ main problem can be seen: Whereas in the first few months after the start, the faces (TJP, Swann), which clearly dominated and made all the heels look weak, the standing has completely reversed since Neville’s title win at the time. Now you have to build up at least one face credibly in the future to get some tension. This feud is logically continued and Enzo will be sure to win the re-match.

Page 1: Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox, Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James and Kalisto vs. Enzo Amore

Page 2: The Demon vs. AJ Styles, Kurt-Angle Return and the Result