WWE TLC 2017: Live results, analysis, grades

Tracking all of the results and highlights from WWE TLC 2017, including instant analysis and grades for every match on the Sunday, Oct. 22 show.

Everything seemed to be going swimmingly for the biggest company in pro wrestling heading into WWE TLC 2017. They had a big multi-man main event centered around the reunion of The Shield, and much more on the docket. However, this business has a way of throwing major curveballs, and that’s what happened coming into the show at Minneapolis, MN.

With viral meningitis making its nasty way through the locker room, big parts of the WWE TLC card were put into jeopardy. As such, the card was turned on its head, especially in two major matches. Because of this, though, the company made sure to pull out all of the stops to make sure that fans would be happy.

First of all, Roman Reigns being off the card seemed like a big blow. However, they replaced him by having Kurt Angle join Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, making his return to in-ring action in the company. Meanwhile, Bray Wyatt was taken out too, putting his match with Finn Balor in jeopardy. As such, they brought AJ Styles over from SmackDown Live to face the leader of Balor Club.

Both the return of Angle and Styles vs. Balor are huge moments in this company. Thus, for them to give us those due to the illness making its way around backstage before WWE TLC 2017 is incredible. And you won’t want to miss any of it when it goes down, and you don’t have to. Keep track of every result, highlight and more below, complete with instant analysis and grades for each match.

Results, Highlights and Grades

Kickoff Match: Sasha Banks def. Alicia Fox

Asuka def. Emma

If you look at the match itself, it was a great match. That’s pretty much to be expected as Asuka is amazing and, though people often forget, so is Emma. However, when you look at what this match was supposed to accomplish, that’s when things are a problem. WWE is god-awful at debut matches for big-time talents. Instead of making someone look good, they put them in a long match with someone who hasn’t been built up as a big deal to this point. That’s incredibly asinine, but they did it again here with Asuka.

Grade: D

Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann def. Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher

Considering that there wasn’t a great deal of storyline coming into this match, it’s hard to go over the moon about it or anything. At the same time, these guys actually put on an entertaining match. They got the crowd into it for a bit, which is more than can be said of numerous Cruiserweight matches regularly aired.

Grade: C+

RAW Women’s Championship Match: Alexa Bliss (c) def. Mickie James

I’ve been quite tired of Alexa Bliss as champion at this point for some time now. I understand why she’s int he position, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Subsequently, my opinion of this is a little skewed. With that said, the in-ring work was good enough and they told a solid story that was at least worthwhile. Thus, this wasn’t a waste of time by any stretch.

Grade: C

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Enzo Amore def. Kalisto (c) – NEW CHAMP

This match was better than I thought it was going to be — I’ll give it at least that. However, it’s not exactly riveting watching Enzo as an in-ring performer. Instead, it was more like watching Kalisto doing good things and Amore being there for them. To put it simply, the Cruiserweight tag match was better than this, even if only marginally.

Grade: C

Finn Balor def. AJ Styles

Grade: A+

Kurt Angle, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose def. The Miz, The Bar, Braun Strowman and Kane

Grade: B

Next: 50 Best Professional Wrestlers Of All-Time

With the return of Angle, this show became can’t-miss wrestling. However, the rest of the show also offered plenty for fans under relatively dire circumstances. Thus, it was interesting from the start to see how everything would turn out in Minneapolis.