WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2010 DVD Review

Tables! Ladders! Chairs! OH, MY!

That phrase is a very familiar one to long-term fans across the world and, whenever it was used to signify that at the next big show, a championship (it was always for a championship) was going to be decided in a TLC Match, the fans knew they were in for something special.

Unofficially, this match began with the Three-Way Tag-Team Ladder Match at WrestleMania XVI. The Dudleys, The Hardys and Edge & Christian stole the show with a blistering display of stunt-wrestling that the fans ate up. The word “innovation” is thrown around too easily at times, but those three teams genuinely were innovating what could be done with the ladders. Summerslam 2000 saw the first actual TLC Match, which was a tailor-made gimmick as each team were known for using one aspect of the TLC in their matches/beatdowns (chairs for E&C, ladders for Matt & Jeff and tables for “those damn Dudleys”). At WrestleMania X-Seven, they topped themselves with TLC II and since then, on PPV and RAW, we’ve had numerous Tables, Ladders and Chairs Matches over the years and they have yet to provide a disappointing contest.

In recent years, the stipulation has moved away from the team dynamic and been the domain of the singles wrestler, although Edge has remained the person most associated with the bout. In 2009, WWE made the decision to rebrand most of their PPV events and name them after particular gimmicks; a decision derided by most people, although the TLC Match itself actually suits the structure of a themed PPV and, in 2010, WWE did it all over again.

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 173mins (including extras)

Discs: 1

Chapters

Triple Threat Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler v Kofi Kingston v Jack Swagger
Wade Barrett and The Nexus in the locker room
Divas Tag Team Tables Match: Natalya & Beth Phoenix v Lay-Cool
TLC is Kane’s Christmas
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov v Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel
Ladder Match: John Morrison v Sheamus
Josh Mathews interviews The Miz
Todd Grisham tries to interview Wade Barrett
Tables Match for the WWE Championship: The Miz v Randy Orton
Rosa Mendes admires Alberto Del Rio’s car
Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Kane v Edge v Rey Mysterio v Alberto Del Rio
“Dashing” Cody Rhodes addresses the WWE Universe
Wade Barrett and Husky Harris get a surprise
Chairs Match: John Cena v Wade Barrett

Extras

Home Video Exclusive: Josh Mathews interviews John Cena after his match

After having an awesome match at the previous month’s Survivor Series, Daniel Bryan, Ted DiBiase and the United States Championship were relegated to dark-match status for the last event of the year. However, with that in mind, WWE still had the good sense to open the show with a fantastically high-octane opener featuring Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston in a three-way for the IC belt in a Ladder Match. The only danger with this is that the match in question was the first of three ladder matches on the card, with the possibility of the fans being burned out in regards to watching wrestlers slowly climb rungs being a real threat come the World Heavyweight Championship TLC Match.

Swagger, Kingston and Ziggler had been on fire on Smackdown in the weeks leading up to this, with all three men working their tails off against each other, so the anticipation that this would be a good match was high… and it didn’t disappoint. The action is frantic, some of the spots are unique and all three leave it all inside the ring. The only issue is that they should’ve had 3-5mins more and the finish (unique as it was) just didn’t work as well as it probably sounded on paper. On a side note, Vickie Guerrero is priceless at ringside.

Following on from the three-way, history was made in match #2 as the first ever Diva’s Table Match (replete with pink table, natch) took place between Lay-Cool (who have grown to be an amazingly effective heel duo) taking on the powerful pairing of Natalya and Beth Phoenix. A total mismatch, at least physically, this was a fun match, but the fact it went longer than the previous ladder match means it does drag at times. Also, Jerry Lawler saying he can’t remember a time when a woman has gone through a table straight after Matt Striker mentions Beulah and Francine from ECW AND the fact Lawler was commentating when The Dudley Boys were putting women through tables on RAW, really makes him look stupid.

Some interesting offence, including the always stunning double-Sharpshooter, lifts this above what it could’ve been, while the finish is superb and, for a Divas Match (no offence, ladies), the fans are mega-excited as they can tell what’s coming next. A job well done by all concerned.

The same can’t be said for the next match, which is a shame because I genuinely love the team of Santino and Koslov and the pre-match promo by Marella is funny for what it is. Nexus, to get the group over, should be steamrolling everyone in their path, so the fact that this match wastes just under seven-minutes of your time before coming to a very unsatisfactory end is a shame. Not something you really need to watch again, unfortunately. The post-match, however, does a decent job of redeeming Nexus and sets up the Chair Match for later in the evening.

I mentioned earlier, that I was concerned that the opener would burn the fans out for more Ladder Match action. In the end, there was no need for concern as John Morrison and King Sheamus put on what was easily the Match of the Night. Both men had been feuding for a wee while by this point and had traded meaningful victories (Morrison pinned Sheamus in a hard-hitting brawl at Survivor Series and Sheamus defeated his rival in the final of the 2010 King of the Ring tournament), so this was the rubber match and a shot at the WWE Championship was at stake.

The match was given almost twenty minutes, so both wrestlers had the time to tell a compelling story and put out some truly unique offence (Jo-Mo’s stunning acrobatics were put to good use) that also included a fantastically executed finish that the fans lapped up completely. This is the perfect example of how to put over both wrestlers in a match despite there being a clearly defined winner and loser. It’s just a pity WWE decided not to follow through on the potential and both men are in a worse position today than they were only four months ago.

Match #5 was another wasted opportunity and a match that ran too long. I’m a huge fan of Miz and want to see him pushed to the moon, but the was he’s been treated as champion (with a couple of exceptions) has been deplorable. A fantastic and “real”-sounding promo, not to mention a PR dream, The Miz has worked his ass off to reach the level he’s at, coming from a green Tough Enough runner-up, through a period of being thought of as garbage backstage, Miz has earned his spot at the top table, no pun intended.

Unfortunately, Orton and he just don’t seem to click and this Tables Match drags for the most part, with the champion booked to be totally inferior to his challenger. The finish was the right side of “dickish heel” though and that put Miz over awesomely (pun totally intended) as a chicken-shit heel who wins through dastardly deeds. Ric Flair made a career out of it, so for Miz to follow in those footsteps can only be a good thing. I was also impressed that, for once, the referee can actually see the Titantron.

Up next is the third Ladder Match of the evening and it’s another great encounter. TLC always has an inherent excitement going back to the tag-team efforts from ten years ago. Four wrestlers with four different styles in Rey, Edge, Kane and Del Rio could’ve been a clusterfunk, but they meshed amazingly well and the early highlights are Chimel’s botched introduction and Mysterio’s KISS attire.

In-ring, the action is hard, heavy and brutal for all concerned, with each man getting a chance to shine and moments where they all had a legit chance of walking out with the title. Del Rio’s first big PPV outing could also have seen the newcomer swallowed up by the reputations of his three opponents, but the Mexican more than held his own, while Rey’s flying offence and Kane just uppercutting people to Hell will never get old. Kane also deserves credit for improvising after he accidentally ripped one set of legs off a table he was setting up at ringside.

Other stunning spots include Edge diving from a ladder, over the top rope, to splash Kane through a table, Rey’s missed 619 attempt on Alberto being turned into a Spear by Edge, Rey using the (extremely wobbly) set for a leap on Kane, chokeslam to Ricardo leading to a chokeslam frenzy, Kane catching Mysterio mid-moonsault then hitting a Tombstone and Del Rio’s brutal splat through a table to take him out of the contest.

Cena v Barrett had been a rivalry ever since Nexus debuted as a group in June of 2010. Going through various battles, including a period where Cena had to join his hated rivals, this match was designed to bring an end to the feud and allow both parties to move on to other things. The stipulation is much more limiting than the use of tables or chairs, so both men had their work cut out. Having CM Punk on guest commentary is a good addition though.

Every single Chair Match that had come before this one had, to be frank, sucked a big one. That this match didn’t is probably the most surprising aspect. I’ve used the word innovative and its derivatives throughout this review (and with good reason), but I’m going to use it again here as the chair was used in a variety of ways, with both the finish and the post-match closing image of the PPV being top-notch examples of innovation in WWE. Cena’s chair-assisted top-rope legdrop-bulldog was also perfectly executed and, as a feud-ending match, this did its job very, very well.

Extras

As per the norm, a single extra is all you get and this one is the usual post-show 1min+ interview with a winner from earlier in the night. On this occasion, John Cena tells us what his victory meant to him and, as sincere as it sounds, it’s also rather dull.

Overview

Logically, the last four matches should’ve been the Tables Match, the Ladder Match, the Chairs Match and then, to close the show, the TLC Match itself. Of course, that didn’t happen and a non-title match closed the show, which is stupid on WWE’s behalf. The pay-per-view is called TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, so the eponymous gimmick should naturally be the event closing bout. That aspect annoyed me at the time and still annoys me today, but, to be fair, it isn’t a major thing.

The non-match segments are decent enough, with the interruption by Cody Rhodes being the pick of the bunch. From awkward beginnings, the “Dashing” persona grew to become a revelation, with Cody showing a talent on the mic obviously inherited from his celebrated father. It’s interest to look back at this character when watching the current-day incarnation and how well Rhodes play that as well. The Bella Twins dressed in Santa outfits was the Christmas gift that kept on giving. Big Show’s pretty funny as well.

Cena taking out Nexus backstage with chairs is well done also, particularly the amazingly worked chair shot to the head of Husky Harris. It looks and sounds like he gets smashed in the skull, but watching it back a couple of times, you can see that the weapon never comes into contact with Harris at all. Live, however, it comes across as Husky taking it right between the eyes. Full credit to WWE (and Cena/Harris) for getting the effect of a chairshot to the head over without any chance of harm to the receiving wrestler.

Match-wise, you get seven bouts and only one of them is below par, so that’s got to be great value in anyone’s book. Three of the matches are great and the Morrison/Sheamus Ladder Match is fantastic from start to finish.

TLC was easily one of the better shows from 2010 and a great way for WWE to close out the year and indeed the decade. Of all the named-after-gimmicks PPV events, this (along with Elimination Chamber and, obviously, the Royal Rumble) is the one with the most legs.

If you haven’t seen it, you really should be heading to your local stockist to buy it and, if you have seen it, you should be heading to local stockist to buy it anyway.

Points: 8.5/10

Buy It:

UK: DVD

USA: DVD

Canada: DVD

Cookie	Description
_pxvid	This cookie is used for detection of the browser and distinguishing whether it is a real user or malicious bot.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	This cookies is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin. The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	This cookie is used to keep track of which cookies the user have approved for this site.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-preferences	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Preferences".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-uncategorized	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Uncategorized".
CraftSessionId	This cookie name is associated with the Craft web content management system, where is functions as an anonymous session identifier.
csrftoken	This cookie is associated with Django web development platform for python. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks
DSID	To note specific user identity. Contains hashed/encrypted unique ID.
JSESSIONID	Used by sites written in JSP. General purpose platform session cookies that are used to maintain users' state across page requests.
PHPSESSID	This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Description
b30msc
btc
CMST
cref
d
gpl
i
icts
ig_did
mdata
na_rn
na_sc_e
na_sr
na_srp
session_depth
visitor-id

Cookie	Description
__gads	This cookie is set by Google and stored under the name dounleclick.com. This cookie is used to track how many times users see a particular advert which helps in measuring the success of the campaign and calculate the revenue generated by the campaign. These cookies can only be read from the domain that it is set on so it will not track any data while browsing through another sites.
__stid	The cookie is set by ShareThis. The cookie is used for site analytics to determine the pages visited, the amount of time spent, etc.
_ga	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_60765351_1	Google uses this cookie to distinguish users.
_gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
demdex	This cookie is set under the domain demdex.net and is used by Adobe Audience Manager to help identify a unique visitor across domains.
DigiTrust.v1.identity	Registers data on visitors’ website-behaviour. This is used for internal analysis and website optimization.
dmvk	This cookie is set by DailyMotion who display videos, it registers statistical data of visitors' behaviour on the website.
gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
GPS	This cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
is_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
sc_is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
v1st	This is set by DailyMotion to display videos.

Cookie	Description
__asc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__auc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__qca	This cookie is associated with Quantcast and is used for collecting anonymized data to analyze log data from different websites to create reports that enables the website owners and advertisers provide ads for the appropriate audience segments.
_cc_aud	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_cc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_dc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_id	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_kuid_	The cookie is set by Krux Digital under the domain krxd.net. The cookie stores a unique ID to identify a returning user for the purpose of targeted advertising.
_px2	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxff_tm	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxhd	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
ab	This cookie is generally provided by agkn.com and is used for advertising purposes.
ad-privacy	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content to the users.
ayl_visitor	This cookie registers data on the visitor. The information is used to optimize advertisement relevance.
bafp	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bafp_t	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_pl	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rf_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rt_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_t_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_td_2d31c94105a0aa6d1ceaea0c86c6b656	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bito	This cookie is generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bitoIsSecure	This cookies are generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bsc	The cookies is set by ownerIQ for the purpose of providing relevant advertisement
CMID	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPRO	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPS	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
dc_id	This cookie is used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator's permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers.
did	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
didts	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
dpm	The cookie is set by demdex.net. This cookie assigns a unique ID to each visiting user that allows third-party advertisers target that users with relevant ads.
eud	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
euds	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
everest_g_v2	The cookie is set under eversttech.net domain. The purpose of the cookie is to map clicks to other events on the client's website.
evo5_popin_instance	Prevents an interaction from reoccurring for visitors not accepting 3rd party cookies.
id	This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites.
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
io.narrative.guid.v2	This cookie is generally provided by io.narrative.io and is used for advertising purposes.
KADUSERCOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
KTPCACOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
matchliveramp	This cookie is provided by w55c.net and is used for advertising purposes.
mc	This cookie is associated with Quantserve to track anonymously how a user interact with the website.
mxpim	This cookie is generally provided by mxptint.net for advertising purposes.
na_tc	This is a Social Media sharing tracking cookie.
NID	This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users.
nnls	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxrc	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxvid	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
rlas3	The cookie is set by rlcdn.com. The cookie is used to serve relevant ads to the visitor as well as limit the time the visitor sees an and also measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Cookie	Description
__jid	Cookies set on the website by the third-party commenting platform Disqus.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
disqus_unique	These cookies are set by Disqus so that users can comment on website/platform.
G_ENABLED_IDPS	The cookie is used by Google and is used for Google Single Sign On.
mid	The cookie is set by Instagram. The cookie is used to distinguish users and to show relevant content, for better user experience and security.
na_id	This cookie is set by Addthis.com to enable sharing of links on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
ouid	The cookie is set by Addthis which enables the content of the website to be shared across different networking and social sharing websites.
ov	This is a generic functional cookie that provides enhanced functionality and personalisation.
ts	This cookie is generally provided by PayPal and supports payment services in the website.
vuid	These cookies are used by the Vimeo video player on websites.

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2010 DVD Review

Chapters

Extras

Overview

You might also like

FIND THE TOPICS YOU WANT...

Recommended for you