With SmackDown Live’s next brand-exclusive PPV, TLC, airing this Sunday on December 4th, the blue brand focused all of their energy on finalising the build for each match on the card. Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch made their intentions known, for Sunday, with a contract signing to open the show.
Carmella and Nikki Bella’s bad blood continued, heading into their No DQ bout. Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton overcame American Alpha for a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, with Randy Orton and Luke Harper’s tensions evident as a sub-plot.
AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose vowed to decimate each other, with Styles gaining the upper hand by taking out Ambrose and then brutalising James Ellsworth. Ambrose looked for revenge later in the night, and they brawled backstage to close the show.
So, which segments increased anticipation for TLC, and which had fans doubting the blue brand? Let’s find out, as I Analyse and Grade Each Segment from the November 29th edition of Smackdown Live.
Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch’s Contract Signing:
Grade: 8.5/10
This was a splendid segment to open the show as Bliss and Lynch both did a tremendous job of increasing anticipation for their bout on Sunday. Bliss is especially great, with her heel work on the mic being top notch.
From facial expressions to voice changes (mocking Becky’s ‘dream world’), Bliss has already mastered the art of the heel promo, despite being a newcomer on the main roster. Lynch showed her babyface fire as well, expressing her rise to the top with emotion when Bliss put it into question.
The brawl that ensued after only added to the bad blood that was accentuated by the dialogue that preceded it and the use of the table was a nice way to introduce the tables stipulation into their match on Sunday.
Expect their matchup to be one of the best at TLC, and this segment did a great job of adding more hype to the women’s match on Sunday. Overall, stellar work from both women to open the show, as they increased the anticipation for their bout on Sunday.
The Miz and Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto:
Grade: 7/10
This was a solid tag team match that gave the Heels some momentum heading into Sunday, even if they lost by DQ. Baron Corbin showcased his ability with a steel chair by mauling Kalisto, while the Miz and Maryse, gained the upper hand over Dolph Ziggler.
Still, the Corbin-Kalisto feud shouldn’t have been centre stage, and Miz vs. Ziggler has been an afterthought for weeks, rather than the main focus, as it was heading into No Mercy. Sure, Ziggler’s career isn’t on the line at TLC, but the anticipation is remarkably low for their ladder match, and that is entirely WWE’s fault.
A promo segment between Miz and Ziggler would’ve been much more effective than this tag match, as the personal element of their feud has been somewhat lost, after their match at No Mercy. Still, this was a nice way of mixing two rivalries into one, and Corbin vs. Kalisto benefited from this segment.
Although Miz vs. Ziggler hasn’t had the best build, their ladder match will definitely be a show-stealer, given the two men’s previous bouts. Overall, a solid tag match that benefited the Corbin/Kalisto feud heading into TLC, while giving Miz and Ziggler something to do, on the go-home show.
Carmella Promo, Brawl with Nikki Bella:
Grade: 7.5/10
Carmella’s promo here was strong, but not as good as Bliss earlier in the night, although that is to be expected. The involvement of John Cena, Bella’s boyfriend, into the storyline adds another layer to an already bitter feud, and the No DQ stipulation for their bout on Sunday will play off the personal element of the story perfectly.
Bella is incredibly over too, meaning the crowd was hot for the brawl that ensued between the two women. Although it may not have the title on the line like Lynch vs. Bliss, Carmella vs. Bella will be a very good matchup in its own right at TLC.
Carmella is improving as a heel every week, and a win on Sunday could catapult her to the position of top women’s heel on SD Live. Overall, a solid promo from Carmella and a fun brawl to hype the No DQ match between the two on Sunday.
Ambrose Asylum with James Ellsworth:
Grade: 9/10
Finally, after a few weeks of clowning around, the AJ-Ambrose feud amped up in its intensity. Styles and Ambrose showcased their hatred for each other in their promos, rather than focusing on Ellsworth, and Styles exacted his revenge perfectly on Ellsworth with a brutal attack.
After a significant loss of momentum in recent weeks through numerous losses to Ellsworth, Styles gained it all back with his attack, and he is riding a wave of momentum now heading into TLC.
Ambrose finally showcased his serious side as well, vowing to decimate Styles and win back his championship, and then later attacking him backstage, like the wrathful lunatic he is supposed to be.
Sure, Ellsworth is bound to get involved on Sunday, but for now, Styles gained some serious heel heat with his attack on the newest superstar of SD Live, and Ambrose finally ditched the comedy for determination. Overall, a splendid segment that finally saw the intensity of Ambrose/Styles grow tremendously, as both men gained significant momentum with their words and actions.
Finally, their TLC bout has some momentum heading into Sunday.
Kane vs. Luke Harper:
Grade: 7.5/10
This was better than it had any right to be, as Kane and Harper put on a solid match that had the crowd relatively hot (somehow). While some may criticise Kane beating Harper, as a veteran should not be beating the talented younger superstars, WWE seems to have a long-term story in mind.
There continues to be tension between Randy Orton and Harper, despite being together in the new Wyatt family, and Bray will continue to trust Orton more, while Harper flounders. Eventually, Harper’s losses will pay off, as he will be exiled by Wyatt who will place all his trust in Orton as his new partner.
Whatever this is leading to, it is very intriguing, and a few losses for Harper won’t affect him in the long-term if it leads to a significant story between the three current Wyatt family members. Overall, a solid match and an interesting result, as Bray Wyatt may start to lose trust in his long-term member as the losses pile up.
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton vs. American Alpha:
Grade: 8.5/10
This was a great match to close the show, with the high stakes of the victor emerging as contenders for the tag titles, only adding to the bout’s quality. This was American Alpha’s best match to date on the main roster, and they didn’t look out of place at all against the established Orton and Wyatt.
The four men’s chemistry was strong, and this would be a welcome match to have on PPV in the coming months. Orton and Wyatt wisely emerged the victors, and they will be the perfect heel tandem to counter Slater and Rhyno’s goofy babyface characters.
American Alpha proved here why they are SD Live’s top tag team, and they should be elevated to the top of the division in 2017. Luke Harper helping Wyatt win continues the tension between Orton and Harper, and American Alpha were protected in the loss.
Overall, a stellar tag match to close the show, with Orton and Wyatt set to challenge Heath Slater and Rhyno at TLC.
Overall Grade for SD Live November 29th: 8.5/10
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