THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING

December 12, 2018

After last week’s forgettable shows, the WWE returned to some form this week on both Raw and Smackdown. Seth Rollins opened Raw with a devastating critique of the show under the leadership of Acting General Manager, Baron Corbin.  The war of words escalated into a tables, ladders and chairs match for the Intercontinental Title to close the show.  Rollins won the match, despite interference from newly installed referee Heath Slater.  Rollins will defend his title against Dean Ambrose at TLC on Monday (Australian time), while Corbin will still be hoping to beat the injured Braun Strowman via forfeit to become the permanent General Manager.

Drew McIntyre gained revenge on former tag team partner Dolph Ziggler, after Ziggler beat McIntyre last week.  McIntyre will take on Finn Balor at TLC, while his new stablemate Bobby Lashley will face Elias in a ladder match.

Ruby Riot will face Natalya in a tables match.  On Raw, Natalya dedicated the match to her recently departed father, Jim Neidhart.  Riot came out with a table furnished with Neidhart’s image, and says she welcomes putting Natalya through that very table.  This match seems to have a better build than the Women’s Championship match between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax.

On Smackdown, Charlotte was disqualified in her match against Asuka after using a kendo stick.  Charlotte turned the kendo stick on Becky Lynch, before Asuka gained the upper hand to close out the show.  The three women will compete for the Smackdown Women’s Championship at TLC in the first ever women’s triple threat tables ladders and chairs match.

Daniel Bryan continued to develop his heel persona during a promo before his match against 205 Live’s Mustafa Ali.  Bryan is reverting to the character he had during his feud with Kane, with elements of his old heel persona from Ring of Honor.  He defeated Ali in the match of the night on Smackdown, and will defend his World Title against AJ Styles at TLC.

A chairs match between Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio was announced for TLC.  Jeff Hardy and Rusev defeated Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe, but none of the four are on the TLC card.  There will be a triple threat match between New Day, the Usos, and Cesaro and Sheamus for the Smackdown Tag Titles.  Sheamus and Cesaro and the Usos had a cringeworthy rap battle, which never goes well in the WWE.

Other matches on the TLC card are the Cruiserweight Championship rematch between Buddy Murphy and Cedric Alexander, and the final of the mixed match challenge between Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fix up against R Truth and Camella.  The winners of the match will gain the all-important number 30 spot at January’s Royal Rumble.

Away from the WWE, James Storm has been announced as a challenger for Nick Aldis’s NWA World Title in January.  Aldis has a title match against Billy Gunn before the end of the year.  Cody Rhodes has hinted at a second All In event, perhaps in Australia or the UK; and Chris Jericho has stated he is embracing his new “Clockwork Orange” inspired character development in Japan, and hopes to put on another wrestling cruise in 2019.

You can read more about all the stars of wrestling here and here.