WWE TLC Results – December 16, 2018

Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE TLC 2018!
Tonight’s show features some huge match-up’s, one of which is the controversial Baron Corbin Vs. Braun Strowman. It’s still unclear if this match is actually going to happen, due to Strowman’s very recent arm surgery. If this match doesn’t actually happen, I’d expect Corbin to come out first and accept the forfeit, if not the match is liable to main event.
The real main event tonight, whether it airs last or not, is Daniel Bryan Vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. Bryan’s surprise heel turn has been a revelation on SmackDown and you’d expect him to defeat Styles tonight and move on to a new feud. That said, the match is sure to be the best of the night.
Another high-profile match tonight is Becky Lynch Vs. Charlotte Flair Vs. Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in a TLC match. There’s a chance this match could main event, and I doubt anyone would be mad about that. This match could steal the show with three of the best workers in the company going hell for leather. If it main events it could be a precursor to WrestleMania!
TLC 2018 will also feature Nia Jax Vs. Ronda Rousey, Randy Orton Vs. Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins Vs. Dean Ambrose, The Bar Vs. The New Day Vs. The Uso’s, Finn Balor Vs. Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley Vs. Elias, and more. The show starts at 6 PM with the Kick-Off Show, and you can find all the results right here!

Kick-Off Show

Coach is hosting the kick-off show with Sam Roberts, David Otunga, and Booker T. The panel run-down the card for tonight’s show.
We see a video package for Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Roberts says Ambrose chose the night that would hurt Rollins most of all to turn on him. Booker talks about how finding true friends in the wrestling business is hard to do. That said, Ambrose felt like the third wheel and he was treated as such by the fans. Booker says he’s getting mad even thinking about being treated like that.

Next up is AJ Styles Vs. Daniel Bryan. Booker says AJ Styles had an incredible year, and he was having great matches. Booker says Bryan wasn’t concerned with having a great match, he was cold and calculating and he won. Roberts says Booker reckons Ambrose turned because he was forgotten by the fans, but Bryan was never forgotten. Booker says that’s true but Bryan stopped playing up to them. Bryan needed them to win but since he turned a new leaf he doesn’t need their help.
Coach asks the panel if they think Braun Strowman will show up tonight. Otunga says he think Strowman will show up but in what condition he doesn’t know. Booker says Braun won’t be in good shape, and he could do long-term damage to himself by showing-up. Especially against a big guy like Baron Corbin. Roberts says he’s not a doctor or a wrestler, he just knows what he sees, but he thinks Corbin shouldn’t be so cocky. He says even if Braun does show up with one arm, he’s more dangerous than most.
We see Corbin, Heath Slater, and Jojo backstage. She reads a sheet of paper, announcing Corbin as the winner tonight. He says it’s good, but he wants her to do it with more gusto. Charly Caruso walks-up and asks for his opinion on the rumours that Braun will show-up tonight. Corbin says he doesn’t respond to rumours, but if Braun did show-up he would shatter his elbow again. He turns back to Jojo and Slater, and asks her to read the announcement again.

Cruiserweight Championship Match

(C) Buddy Murphy Vs. Cedric Alexander

The two exchange some holds and nice reversals to start the match and gain a cheer from the fans. In fact, the fans even begin chanting “205”. Alexander ducks Murphy and hits a handstand headscissors that sends the Champion from the ring. Alexander hits the ropes but Murphy comes back in. They both run the ropes and dodge each other until Cedric lands a dropkick for a one count.
Alexander gets onto the apron, punches Murphy away, then looks to leap back inside with the flatliner but Murphy clocks him with a knee to the mouth. Alexander falls too the floor as we get a split-screen commercial for TLC. Murphy gets Alexander back into the ring and hits a meteora for a two count. Murphy holds Cedric by the arm and leg, and delivers elbows to his neck. Murphy applies a rear chin lock in the middle of the ring.

Alexander fights to his feet and punches Murphy into the corner. Murphy then kicks him in the face and grabs him for a suspended sleeper hold from the middle rope. Murphy jumps from the middle rope but Cedric connects with a superkick to the gut. Both men are down but Alexander his up first. Cedric runs and shoulder tackles Murphy in the corner, then hits an enziguiri from the apron, and finally the flatliner. Murphy rolls from the ring, but Alexander wastes no time in hitting the ropes and dropkicking Murphy through the ropes against the barricade. Cedric gets him back into the ring and hits a clothesline from the top rope.
Murphy lifts Cedric for Muprhy’s Law but it gets reverses. Murphy goes for a pin attempt holding the tights but Alexander kicks out. Murphy argues with the referee but Cedric grabs him and lands a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Murphy and Alexander exchange strikes, leading to a huge powerbomb from Murphy for another two count. Alexander rolls to the apron and Murphy meets him there. Alexander springs to life and hits a Rolling Death Valley Driver on the apron! He quickly gets the Champion back in the ring and hits the Lumbar Check but Murphy gets his foot on the rope!
Alexander needs to leave the ring to bring Murphy back in but it takes him a minute. The Champion then pushes Alexander into the turnbuckles face-first, before hitting Murphy’s Law for the win!

Winner: Buddy Murphy

We’re back with the panel and they start to discuss Ronda Rousey Vs. Nia Jax. They say that this is Ronda’s biggest test yet but they say she has prevailed in all of her tests thus far. They think she stands a good chance of winning against Jax.
Kalya Braxton interviews Becky Lynch backstage, which you should watch below.

The panel discuss Becky’s momentum and overflowing confidence. Sam Roberts says if anyone needs to know why Becky is such a talking point right now, just watch that promo.
Elias is sitting in the ring, with the guitar suspended above him. He says a ladder symbolises climbing to stardom, but he’s already done that. So tonight he has to climb to get his guitar and then he’ll play a tune on Bobby Lashley that he won’t forget. Elias then starts to play a song but he’s interrupted by Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush. Standing on the stage, Rush says Elias is mistaken again, the fans came to see The Almighty Bobby Lashley. Rush instructs Lashley to do some posing before the match gets underway.

Ladder Match

Elias Vs. Bobby Lashley W/Lio Rush

The bell rings and Lashley takes Elias down right away with a slam. He then leaves the ring and gets a ladder but Elias dropkicks him through the ropes. Elias then stomps the ladder against Lashley before sending it back into the ring. Elias sets-up the ladder in the middle of the ring and begins to climb but then Rush comes in and prevents him from climbing.
Elias climbs down and drags Rush back into the ring. He tries to throw Rush into the ladder but the kid slides underneath and out the other side. Bobby comes back in but Elias punches him before catching him with a leaping knee. Elias sets-up a ladder in the corner and tries to throw Lashley into it but gets reversed. Lashley then spears Elias against the ladder in the corner. Lashley hits a big suplex on Elias, before giving a ladder a dominator onto Elias.
Lashley then begins to climb the ladder but Elias throws the ladder into him. Elias then hits Lashley with the ladder several times before connecting with a clothesline. Lashley manages to catch Elias with a belly-to-belly suplex onto a propped ladder in the corner. Lashley then sets the ladder back up in the middle of the ring, while another ladder is between the ropes in the corner, holding Elias in place. Lashley starts to climb but then Elias comes back, grabs Bobby, and powerbombs him onto the propped ladder! Elias starts to climb the ladder but Lio Rush does so on the other side. Rush gets punched by Elias and falls to the floor. Elias then unhooks the guitar for the win!

Winner: Elias

Elias winds-up a shot with the guitar but Rush jumps on his back. Elias gets hit with a one-handed spinebuster by Lashley. Rush then goes to the top rope and lands a frog splash onto Elias. Lashley picks up the guitar and smashes it across Elias’ back.
We return to the pre-show panel for a quick rundown of the card again and that’s it for the kick-off show!

WWE TLC opens with Carmella and R-Truth making their way to the ring.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge FInal

Carmella & R-Truth Vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox W/The Singh Brothers

The match starts with Mahal and R-Truth. Jinder immediately takes Truth down with a headlock. R-Truth fights to his feet but gets knocked to the mat with a shoulder tackle. Truth then fires back with a crossbody, followed by two pin attempts.
Carmella and Alicia Fox are tagged in. Fox is thrown out and Carmella and Truth call for a dance break. The Singh Brothers join the dance routine but get thrown from the ring. Foxy then runs back in and attacks Carmella from behind. Foxy applies a rear chinlock but Carmella fights out before hitting the Mella-Go-Round. Carmella unleashes some ground-and-pound before they hit a double clothesline and both go down.
Mahal and Truth get tagged back in and the latter hits the former with a headscissors takedown. Truth catches Jinder with a spinning heel kick. He gets distracted by a Singh and Alicia makes the tag. Fox and Truth come face-to-face, crazy-to-crazy. He takes her hat and wears it but then Fox kicks him and looks for the axe kick but Carmella returns and hits a superkick to Fox. Jinder prevents the pin but gets knocked from the ring by Truth. Fox looks to roll-up Carmella but gets caught with the Code of Silence and Fox taps.

Winners: R-Truth & Carmella

For winning Truth and Carmella will be entering their Royal Rumble matches at #30. After the win, Kayla Braxton comes in and asks how they feel about entering at number 30. Carmella says it feels fabulous to win, to enter the Rumble at number 30. Apparently they also get a vacation as a prize but Truth says he already chose where they’re going. He teases it before revealing that they’re going to Stamford Connecticut. Carmella isn’t happy.

SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship

Triple Threat Match

(C) The Bar Vs. The Uso’s Vs. The New Day

The match begins with Sheamus and Kofi Kingston – only two men can be in the ring at once. Sheamus backs Kofi to the corner at the offset. The two trade reversals after Kofi dances to a New Day chant. Kofi makes a tag to Xavier Woods, who drops an elbow on Sheamus from the middle rope.
The Usos get frustrated, so jump in and go after Kingston and Cesaro. Jey eats an uppercut from Cesaro. Woods with a baseball slide to Cesaro. Sheamus catches Woods with a backbreaker. Sheamus finally makes a tag to Cesaro, but the Swiss Superman eats right hands from Woods. He retreats and makes the tag to Sheamus, who comes in with a double clothesline on Woods with Cesaro.

Sheamus makes the tag back to Cesaro who drops double elbows over Woods with Sheamus. They start trying to keep Woods near their corner and making quick tags. Sheamus prevents Woods from making the tag but then gets knocked down. Tag to Kingston who connects with a big dropkick to Cesaro followed up with a Boom Drop. Jimmy tags himself in as Cesaro catches Kingston, gets him up in a vertical suplex and Jimmy connects with a cross body from the corner. Jimmy kicks Cesaro in the head. Jey tags himself in and superkicks Kingston, followed by a superkick to Woods, Sheamus and Cesaro. The Usos with a Pop Up Samoan Drop on Kingston but Woods breaks it up.
Jey comes off the top with a splash to Woods. Cesaro tags himself in and tosses Jey to the corner, then gets a close two count on Woods. Cesaro Swing on Kingston that transitions into a Sharpshooter. Woods catches Cesaro with a DDT. Sheamus with a knee to Woods and tags himself in. Kingston rolls up Sheamus for two. Kingston with a step up double stomp to Sheamus and tags in Woods. Trouble in Paradise and Woods with an elbow drop. Jey breaks up the pinfall. Cesaro with uppercuts to both Usos. Kingston with a dropkick launching Cesaro out. Kingston with his dive to the outside taking everybody out. Woods with a shot to Cesaro, but Sheamus catches him with a Brogue Kick and hooks the leg for the pinfall.

Winners: The Bar

We see a commercial hyping the return of Vince McMahon tomorrow night.

Baron Corbin makes his way to the ring for the TLC match with Braun Strowman but grabs the horn before getting things underway. Corbin says he understands there is criticism in regards to his position as GM. He says he hears the crowd’s concerns and he takes it all on board. So, with the in mind, he has one thing to say: “Too bad!” He reminds us that if he wins this match via forfeit he will be the permanent Raw General Manager. Without further ado, he instructs Corbin to get the match underway and start the count.

Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match

Baron Corbin Vs. Braun Strowman

If Strowman Wins He Gets A Title Shot. If Corbin Wins He Becomes Permanent General Manager of Raw.

At around the 8 mark, Braun Strowman’s music hits and out comes the man with his arm wrapped in a sling.
Strowman comes down and grabs a microphone. He stands on the apron and says that Corbin forgot that this is a TLC match, and there will be no disqualifications. He says that means if there’s someone who wants to help him out, that would be perfectly legal. We see Apollo Crews come out with a steel chair. On the other side of the ring is Gable and Roode, also holding chairs. Corbin turns to climb out of the ring on the other side but Finn Balor is there with a chair.
Corbin then begins to yell at Heath Slater, but the referee then removes his black and white shirt and punches Corbin! The GM elect falls and gets surrounded by the babyfaces, while Strowman is still on the apron. Corbin then gets smashed with chairs by every man in the ring until he falls out. Corbin begins to retreat but then Kurt Angle’s music hits and out comes the previous General Manager!

Angle grabs a chair from the ramp and walks toward Corbin. He hits Corbin four times until he rolls back into the ring. Gable and Roode hit their tag team finisher on him, followed by a frog splash from Apollo. Angle then gets in the ring and hits Corbin with an Angle Slam, followed by the Coup De Grace from Balor. Slater puts the official shirt back on and counts the pinfall as Strowman stands with a foot on Corbin’s chest!

Winner: Braun Strowman

Baron Corbin is officially, no longer the General Manager of Raw! Mr. McMahon can appoint a new General Manager tomorrow night! Also, Braun Strowman now has an opportunity to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship.

A very personal, tables match is up next. Natalya is out first, followed y Ruby Riott and her squad. Liv is carrying a table with a picture of Jim Neidhart on it.

Tables Match

Natalya Vs. Ruby Riott W/Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan

The bell rings and Natalya kick-off with some shots to Ruby in the corner as Sarah Logan tries to get involved. Ruby slams Natalya down and follows it up with a kick to the gut. Natalya fires back with a quick back suplex.
On the outside, Natalya slams Ruby face-first off a table repeatedly. Nattie gets back in the ring and Ruby gets on the apron. Natalya tries to spear Ruby off the ring apron, but Liv Morgan jumps up and takes the spear crashing through the table at ringside! The Riott Squad rally around Liv as on official comes down to check on her.
Natalya fights off Logan with a shot, then lands a slap to Ruby at ringside. Nattie yells at her, “You want to mess with my family bitch?” Natalya tries to powerbomb Ruby through a table at ringside, but Ruby counters and lands on her feet. Natalya throws her into the barricade as Sarah Logan comes over to interfere. Natalya responds with a scoop slam on Logan through the table at ringside!

Ruby fights off Natalya and then props the table with The Anvil on it inside the ring in the corner. Back inside the ring, Natalya is able to lock the Sharpshooter on. Ruby pulls the table down and it hits Natalya on the head to break up the submission. Ruby sets the table up again but Natalya lifts Ruby up on her shoulders – she wanted to land en electric chair on the table but if accidentally got knocked over – so she just lands an electric chair on the mat.
Natalya goes out of the ring and pulls a table out from under the ring with a photo of Ruby Riott on it. The fans like that. Natalya puts on The Anvil’s jacket and points up. Natalya kicks Ruby right in the face. Ruby responds with a kick to the face. Natalya is up top and Ruby connects with a kick to the face. Ruby jumps on Natalya in the corner and looks for a hurricanrana through the table. Natalya holds her firm, lifts her up and powerbombs her down through the table to win the match!

Winner: Natalya

Natalya celebrates her important win after the face, even putting on Jim Neidhart’s iconic sunglasses to pose.Job done.

Drew McIntyre Vs. Finn Balor

The bell rings and they lock up. Drew backs Finn to the corner and looks to land a cheap shot but Balor ducks and hits a chop that McIntyre doesn’t sell at all. The Scotsman chops Finn to the mat. He then stomps on Finn’s hand and mocks his Too Sweet catchphrase. McIntyre continues to control the match with stiff strikes until Finn dropkicks him in the knee. McIntyre gets tripped in the corner and Balor stomps on him repeatedly. The Scottish Psychopath grabs him by the neck and throws him across the ring with a huge biel.
Balor tries to fight back but McIntyre counters a sunset flip and hits a huge belly to belly throw across the ring. He grabs Finn from the ground and lifts him straight up for a vertical suplex and a near fall. Balor starts to build some momentum as he fires some strikes to McIntyre, but the big man has yet to fall. Finn finally gets him down with a dropkick, and follows-up with a double stomp. Balor hits a sling blade, and readies himself in the corner, but McIntyre counters the running dropkick with a backbreaker for two. Finn counters the reverse Alabama Slam with a victory roll for another near fall.
McIntyre grabs Finn and hits White Noise from the middle rope for a close two count. Both men get to their feet and McIntyre knocks Finn from the ring. He runs to baseball slide finn, but Balor traps him in the apron and hits a few kicks before McIntyre trips him on the apron. He absolutely levels Finn with a nasty headbutt.

Dolph Ziggler comes out of nowhere and hits a superkick to McIntyre while the ref has his back turned. Ziggler grabs a chair but Drew kicks it into his face. He throws Dolph into the ring and brings the chair with him. Finn dropkicks the chair into Drew before hitting the Coup de Grace for the pin and the shock win!

Winner: Finn Balor

Chairs Match

Rey Mysterio Vs. Randy Orton

The bell rings and the two men circle each other for a moment before Orton kicks Rey and tosses the lucha legend from the ring. Randy follows him out but Mysterio grabs a chair and gets in the first few shots. He continues to unload on Orton as he slides back into the ring. Mysterio sets up a chair and jumps off of it but Randy avoids him and Rey crashes. Randy follows up by hitting him in the back with the same chair.
Mysterio dropkicks The Viper off the apron, then slides with the chair on his stomach, out of the ring, and onto Orton! Like a snow sled! Rey sits Orton on a chair at ringside and goes for a seated senton but Orton moves and Rey crashes onto the chair and the ground. The Legend Killer clears off a table and puts a chair on top of it. He drags Rey to the table and slams him onto the chair face first! He scoops up Mysterio to drive him into a chair, but Mysterio counters with a headscissor.

Back inside the ring now, Mysterio hits the ropes but Orton catches him with a snap powerslam for a near-fall. Mysterio rolls to the apron, then springboards off right into a chair shot to give Orton another near fall. Mysterio gets Randy in position and hits the 619. He climbs to the top turnbuckle and Orton trips him. Randy slams him like a pendulum into a chair he had wedged in the turnbuckles. He brings a few more chairs into the ring. He sets up four chairs next to each other. Orton looks to RKO Rey onto the chairs but Mysterio pushes him off and slams his head into one of the chairs. Randy is sitting on one of the chairs and Mysterio runs up them and hits a hurricanrana into a pin for the win!

Winner: Randy Orton

As soon as the 3-count hit Rey got the hell out of dodge. Ranyd is not happy. An odd finish but that was a good match, those two have good chemistry.

We see an interview with Finn Balor backstage. Before he can say much Dolph Ziggler walks-up. They have a short exchange in which Ziggler says he didn’t help Finn for fun, and it was a one time thing. He then punches Finn and throws him over some roadie boxes.

Raw Women’s Championship Match

(C) Ronda Rousey Vs. Nia Jax W/Tamina Snuka

The bell rings, Ronda and Nia lock-up, but Jax lifts Rousey high into the air and throws her down. Ronda looks annoyed and Jax smiles. Ronda skips around Nia and avoids some punches. Ronda ducks and weaves, landing some strikes of her own. Nia grabs Ronda’s arm and whips her to the corner. Ronda fires back with some kicks but Nia catches the leg and swings for a punch. Again she misses and this time Ronda leaps up, wraps her legs around Jax, and takes her down for an armbar attempt. Jax manages to lift Ronda into the air and slam her down with a powerbomb for a two count.
Jax throws Ronda to the corner and splashes her. She then lands an elbow drop for a one count. Jax throws Ronda shoulder first into the ring post. She then gets onto the apron and rams Ronda’s hanging arm into the post with her leg. Jax goes to work on the injured arm but Ronda tries to apply a sleeper hold. Jax lifts her up for a suplex but Ronda manages to somehow reverse it into a sleeper again. Nia rolls from the ring but Rousey holds on. Jax flings Ronda off and into the barricade.

Jax gets Ronda back in the ring for a near-fall. Jax applies a submission but Ronda escapes and creates some distance between them. Jax runs at Ronda and shoulders the ring post. Ronda takes to the top rope and hits Jax with a huge crossbody on the floor! Rousey gets Nia back in the ring for a two count.
Ronda fires up and punches Nia before hitting a beautiful step-up knee and a step-up punch to floor her for another two count. Ronda takes to the top rope again and hits the crossbody but this time Jax rolls through, stands up with Ronda, and hits the Samoan drop for a near-fall!

Nia headbutts Ronda as she gets frustrated. Nia then splashes Ronda in the corner. She lifts Ronda onto her shoulders and climbs the ropes. She wants a Samoan drop but Rousey elbows her way out, then flips down and powerbombs Nia from the middle rope! Both women are down. Ronda grabs the arm and looks to apply the armbar but Tamina slides into the ring to cause the distraction. Jax attacks Ronda from behind, then kisses her fist and swings for the Facebreaker but Ronda grabs it. Rousey then climbs up Nia and takes her down with the armbar. Before she fully applies it, she kisses the first, then applies it and Nia taps!

Winner: Ronda Rousey

That was a great match. It’s clear Ronda Rousey is just very good, there’s no two doubts about it.

We see Nia Jax walking backstage, holding her arm. Charly Caruso approaches her for an interview but Jax refuses. Becky Lynch walks up to Nia and they stare at each other. Becky rhetorically asks “remember when you broke my face?” She then kicks Nia and punches her hard. Jax falls to the floor and Lynch yells “keep my name out of your mouth!”

We see AJ Styles backstage with Kayla Braxton. She asks if he is mentally prepared to win back the WWE Championship. Styles says he sees no difference between the old Daniel Bryan and the new Daniel Bryan, they’re both beatable. He says he has a Phenomenal Forearm with Bryan’s name on it. He’s played Bryan’s game long enough, tonight, he plays his.

WWE Championship Match

(C) Daniel Bryan Vs. AJ Styles

The bell rings and Bryan leaves the ring. He walks around the ring before getting back in. However Bryan rolls right back out and poses as AJ gets frustrated.
Bryan and Styles finally come face-to-face and Styles tees-off on Bryan in all foour corners of the ring. AJ chops Bryan before whipping him to the opposite corner. Bryan attempted to jump over Styles by AJ outsmarted him and hit a hurricanrana. Styles kicks Daniel in the chest before putting him back in the corner and unloading some shoulder thrusts. Styles with a snapmare and a kick to the back.
Styles ducks and leapfrogs Bryan, looks for a dropkick but Bryan holds the ropes to avoid it. Bryan then hits the ropes but Styles catches him with a dropkick this time and sends him from the ring. Styles jumps for a Phenomenal Forearm to the floor but Bryan kicked him in mid-air! Bryan then tosses AJ into the barricade before getting back into the ring.
Bryan kicks AJ in the corner. Bryan knee’s Styles in the back before applying a surfboard stretch. AJ breaks the hold by grabbing the rope. Bryan continues the assault by chopping AJ in the corner. Bryan continues to pinpoint the midsection of Styles, as he hangs him in the tree of woe and pulls his head under the ropes. Bryan keeps Styles isolated in the corner with kicks to the gut. AJ rolls from the ring to get away.

Bryan waits until he comes back in but now AJ is firing right hands to Bryan in the corner. Bryan gets a roll-up but Styles reverses it into one of his own. Bryan then catches Styles with a drop toe hold into the turnbuckles, before unloading more kicks. Bryan hits the running dropkick in the corner, then a second, and he looks for a third but AJ clotheslines him inside out!
Styles starts to gain momentum with some kicks, elbows, and another big clothesline. Styles stomps on Bryan the way the Champion has been doing to people. Styles looks for the Styles Clash but Bryan rolls out. Styles chases after and throws Bryan into the ring post. Styles throws Bryan back inside and the Champion puts a hand up, asking Styles to wait. Bryan gets to his feet and runs but Styles hits him with a neckbreaker for a two count. Styles springboards off of the ropes for a reverse DDT but Bryan doesn’t drop, instead he grabs Styles and unleashes stiff knees to the head, followed by a cravat suplex.
Byran kicks Styles in the chest as the fans chant “No!”. Styles reverses a back suplex and kicks Bryan in the head. Both men are down. Styles gets to the apron and looks for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan swings a kick….but Styles grabs the leg and hits a dragon screw. AJ slides from the ring and smashes the Champion’s leg against the ring post. Styles gets back inside and Bryan fires off some more kicks, albeit now less powerful. Bryan takes AJ to the top rope and looks for a hurricanrana but Styles holds on and lifts him for the Styles Clash but he can’t get the arms hooked. AJ transitions into a single leg Boston crab and the Champion’s leg is in agony! Bryan manages to reverse the Boston crab into the Lebell Lock!

Styles escapes the Lock and gets him into a pin attempt. They exchange pin attempts until they get to their feet and Bryan clocks AJ with a head kick and Styles responds with a Pele Kick and both men are down again! They get to their feet and exchange hands to the cheers and boos of the fans. Bryan kicks AJ in the gut again, before running for the knee but Styles dropkicks him! Styles goes to the apron and hits a springboard 450 for a very close fall!
Styles grabs Bryan for the Styles Clash again but Bryan rams him into the corner. Styles grabs Bryan and applies the Calf Crusher! Bryan is in agony as Styles yanks the pressure. Bryan rolls over and grabs the ropes, before falling through to the floor below. Styles comes out and throws Bryan back inside but the Champion immediately slides back out. This time Bryan throws Styles into the timekeepers area but Styles lands on his feet and hits Bryan with a Phenomenal Forearm from the barricade!
Styles gets Bryan back in the ring and looks for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan ducks it. Bryan looks for the running knee but Styles dodges it. Styles goes for a small package but Bryan reverses it and scores the pinfall!

Winner: Daniel Bryan

We see Ronda Rousey and Natalya backstage. Caruso approached them and congratulates them on their wins. Nattie leaves. Charly asks about Ronda looking to exact revenge on Charlotte Flair, to which the Champion says “payback is a bitch, and I’m the baddest one on the planet”.
Braun Strowman will face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble on January 27th! Tomorrow night on Raw, Finn Balor will face Dolph Ziggler. And, of course, Mr. McMahon will be on Raw tomorrow night!

Intercontinental Championship Match

(C) Seth Rollins Vs. Dean Ambrose

After ring introductions, the bell rings and they stare each other down for a moment. Dean taunts Seth until he gets clocked. Rollins yells at him and they finally lock up. Seth whips him off and hits a back elbow, then uncorks a right hand to the face. Rollins hits a springboard clothesline and Ambrose rolls out of the ring.
Rollings gets out an chases but Dean backdrops him on the announce table. Ambrose brings his former partner back in the ring for a near fall. Ambrose applies a rear chin lock to wear Seth down. Seth fights to his feet and hits the ropes but Ambrose hits a clothesline for a quick two count. Dean climbs to the top turnbuckle and jumps right into a kick from Seth. He recovers and hits a swinging neckbreaker for a trio of near falls. He berates the ref for a seemingly slow count.

Ambrose hyperextends Rollins’ knee and locks him in a cloverleaf. Seth gets to the bottom rope to force a break. Rollins hit a guillotine leg drop on the apron to create some space. Rollins runs for a suicide dive but Dean punches him in the face! Ambrose gets him back in the ring for a two count. Rollins kicks Ambrose away and makes his way to the top rope, hobbling on his sore leg.