Quick Links
Following WWE’s 2022 Survivor Series event, the WWE fans will experience a gap between then and the Royal Rumble without any other PPV in between. This has not happened since 1994 and 1995. The gaping hole in the PPV calendar comes with the decision to not run the Day 1 PPV again, and the recent retirement of what was WWE’s annual December PPV, TLC. The show was hosted in the final month of the year (aside from 2017) between 2009 and 2020, making it quite a long-standing PPV event. However, when looking at its overall history as a show, it must be considered as a failure, especially since WWE have now deemed it surplus to their schedule.
TLC Was One Of Many Gimmick PPVs Introduced By WWE
The Tables, Ladders, and Chairs PPV was brought into existence back in 2009 when WWE decided to introduce several “gimmick” PPVs, trying to draw from the popularity of several stipulations. The first event was quite fun, as it saw a collection of different matches involving huge spots, back and forth action, and exciting bouts up and down the card. It wasn’t perfect though, and the overuse of certain stipulations did make things feel forced at times.
RELATED: Every WWE PPV Of 2009, Ranked Worst To Bes
For instance, the “Chairs Match” is among the most boring and pointless stipulations in wrestling history, and is in contention for the worst ever. It has barely offered up even a good match since it was created. Matches such as TLC and ladder matches were supposed to feel special whenever they happened, but this steadily decreased as each event wore on. In 2010, three matches had a prize hanging above the ring. This was overkill, with fans having to sit through similar spots and tropes multiple times in one night.
The TLC Stipulation Has Decreased In Value Since The PPV Began
Due to the TLC stipulation having its very own PPV, it meant that WWE seldom held these stipulations anywhere else throughout the year. Since the PPV began 13 years ago, there have been just three TLC matches which have taken place outside of the event. It could be argued that this makes them feel special, but when you consider that those matches were The Miz vs Jerry Lawler, CM Punk vs Ryback, and Seth Rollins vs Baron Corbin, they feel incredibly less significant. Unfortunately, this has led to the matches feeling forced at the event, as stipulations like this should come at the end of a feud, not just because it's December.
RELATED: Every WWE PPV Of 2022, Ranked Worst To Bes
The Hell in a Cell structure has experienced the same exact problem, with its importance depleting in a major way due to it hosting feuds which haven’t been worthy of taking place inside the cage. The same can be said for TLC. Matches such as Sheamus vs Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman vs Baron Corbin, and Roman Reigns vs Baron Corbin have all been given the distinction of being a TLC match, even though they haven’t lived up to the billing. Those latter two matches offered up another huge problem with the PPV.
Conventionally, TLC matches have a title belt, briefcase, or a contract hanging above the ring, but due to WWE sometimes not having a title match worthy of this stipulation, they changed up the rules, with 2012 being the first year which allowed pinfalls or submissions to end a TLC match, when The Shield took on Team Hell No and Ryback. From there, other matches like Bray Wyatt vs Dean Ambrose and more have had nothing on the line. This has made them feel like generic hardcore matches, with it not being necessary to have them branded as “TLC”. This too has caused damage to the gimmick.
TLC Wasn’t All Bad, But It Failed Overall
By the time 2020 rolled around, WWE held its last TLC, and whilst the event was good, it had well and truly run its course. Fan interest in the event was low, and the special nature of the PPV had plummeted substantially. WWE didn’t do enough to make the event different or unique from year to year, and this led to stagnation and bland cards. At times, WWE even held the event with just one stipulation match, with the rest being standard singles or tag bouts, which made the PPV concept feel even more pointless.
RELATED: 10 Forgotten WWE PPVs Of The 2010s That Deserve A Rewatch
It must be said that the show did offer up some very entertaining matches, such as The New Day vs The Usos vs Lucha Dragons, Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens, Asuka vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair, AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose, and Christian vs Shelton Benjamin, but even with the relatively good cagematch.net ratings, the show was never a classic, and it didn’t manage to truly establish itself as a fan-favorite event due to all the issues mentioned. It wasn’t all bad, but overall it must be considered a failure.
