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"WWE Tables, Ladders, and Chairs" is done and dusted now. With a solid main event and an array of brilliantly executed matches, the event earned numerous critical plaudits - something that has been eluding WWE for a long while now.
There were comments from the WWE universe that this PPV was probably WWE's best of this year - or maybe even after the brand split. While that is subjective, there is no denying that the show was a notch above most of the things WWE give us nowadays.
Most of the applause went to the main event - a triple threat TLC match involving Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Asuka for the Smackdown LIVE women's championship. Rather than a traditional RAW men's clash closing out a show, WWE made this bold call, and the payoff was sweet.
From a kayfabe point of view, WWE wants the fans to perceive WWE from their angle. However, TLC was an aberration from all these norms. TLC, in my opinion, has reasserted a lot of facts this Sunday. In this list, we will be taking a look at a few facts reaffirmed by TLC.
#5. Smackdown LIVE is superior to RAW
This statement has been a fact for many months now and needs no introduction. WWE wants us to believe RAW is the "A" show. The creatives even had RAW beat Smackdown 6-0 (6-1 if you count the kickoff show) at this year's Survivor Series. However, RAW has failed to deliver on multiple fronts and is a 3-hour weekly chore rather than an entertaining TV show. With repeating segments, boring promos and lacklustre matches in the card, RAW has been terrible after Wrestlemania.
However, Smackdown LIVE has been brilliant, especially after the Superstar shakeup 2018. With fresh matchups and providing opportunities to the roster, Smackdown LIVE has been better than RAW in almost all aspects from an entertainment point of view.
#4. Women's wrestling is at an all-time high right now
During the attitude era, women were treated horribly in WWE. The Ruthless Aggression Era was not much different. However, the new crop of women wrestlers has begun turning the tables.
In 2016, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks headlined Hell in a Cell - which was the first time that WWE trusted their women to close out a PPV. Even though Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella closed out Evolution, it was an all-women PPV.
However, this time, WWE took a step further in the right direction and had the women close out a dual-branded PPV. Moreover, this was only the second time in WWE a PPV had four separate matches involving women participants.
With the amount of spotlight being given to both RAW and SD women's championship, we can undoubtedly say that women's wrestling is at an all-time high in WWE.
#3. AJ Styles is still WWE's most consistent in-ring performer
Even at 41 years of age, AJ Styles can put out an outstanding match with almost anyone on the roster. Most of WWE's best performers had their best singles match against the phenomenal one - from the likes of Roman Reigns to Jinder Mahal.
Styles has been giving us consistent matches since his debut. This consistency was the reason why he has been given the honor to hold the record of making the most consecutive PPV appearances.
Even his underwhelming matches - for instance, some of the clashes with Shinsuke Nakamura, ended up being one of the best matches of the night.
The year 2018 has been an excellent year for Styles so far. From a brilliant six-pack challenge to this well-narrated clash against Daniel Bryan, Styles had an array of outstanding matches. Even at this age, the phenomenal one can pull out quality matches for fun.
Currently, only Seth Rollins is even close to the former Bullet Club leader regarding consistency.
#2. Becky Lynch is the biggest babyface and Baron Corbin is the perfect heat magnet.
WWE often is adamant in admitting a mistake. However, in the case of Becky Lynch, they inexplicitly admitted they were wrong to turn Lynch heel and made her more of an anti-hero.
Ever since turning on her best friend Charlotte Flair at Summerslam, Becky has been transcending to a new level of popularity - one reminiscent of Daniel Bryan's peak days with his YES movement. Every time the Irish Lass kicker is on screen, the fans erupt in joy.
The polar opposite of Becky Lynch in WWE is RAW's former General Manager elect Baron Corbin. The lone wolf has been one of the most despised characters io the roster ever since he was promoted as the Constable of Monday Night RAW. In modern day wrestling, it is tough to have a heel that gets as much as heat as Corbin does.
#1. WWE does not need part-timers
The talent pool of WWE is at an all-time high. WWE's current roster is stacked with talents that can put outstanding matches at will. Combining this vast amount of resources with proper storytelling will yield an exceptional result for WWE. However, WWE has been reluctant to use these talents properly and has been giving too much spotlight to the part-timers.
Such a regressive step will not only destroy their current crop of talents but also sends a wrong message to the locker room. The current Universal champion Brock Lesnar has not defended his title ever since winning it at WWE Crown Jewel. The absence of their top title has been one of the significant reasons for RAW's downfall recently.
Rather than rewarding the talents that work 300 days for the company, WWE rewards the part-timers who only show up when the time and money is right. However, TLC was a wake-up call for WWE. TLC proved that if given proper build, the current roster can tell a good story.
