10 WWE TLC 2017 Impulse Reactions
Two Sweet
Going into Sunday's supercard, a mumbling criticism of WWE's annual plunder-fest could be heard in between the rapturous cheers for The Shield that had permeated since Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins ferociously fisted a fortnight ago. Some suggested that by going all-in on the blockbuster five-on-three main event, the lack of stipulations would hurt the remainder of the card struggling to emerge from the topliner's lofty looming shadow.
And then, absolutely none of that even mattered.
Late on Friday, the company revealed that 'The Big Dog' would miss the event altogether, along with Bray Wyatt. It wasn't just the story going viral. As it turned out, Wyatt's recent absence from television was down to a rather nasty infection that was later picked up by the unfortunate Samoan headliner.
Rather than espousing too much concern the plight of the sick though, fans were too busy suffering their own palpitations following WWE's confirmation that Kurt Angle and AJ Styles would replace Roman and Bray respectively. There was no way to overstate it - audiences were absolutely thrilled with the news.
What this says for two of the supposed home grown success stories is analysis for another day, but in the meantime, speculation was rampant as to how the pair would inject the show with new life, and what, exactly the two mathches would look like after the 'Eater Of Worlds' and head 'Hound Of Justice' were forced out at the very last minute. Unsurprisingly, everything is just fine.
10. Hot Start
In a predictions piece for this very show, it was noted that this match would benefit best from going on first. WWE have so often been presented with a best case scenario from NXT and rapidly flushed away the good will and sentiment, but it was at least an example of 'so far, so good' for the 'Empress Of Tomorrow' as she laid it on thick in the closing moments of her show-opener with Emma.
The pair presented an abbreviated version of their minor classic at December 2015's NXT TakeOver: London card, in which Emma proffered herself as the first significant threat to an undefeated streak then still in its embryonic stages.
The roles were slightly different this time, but the match followed several similar beats and rhythms. Dazzling with early offence, Asuka sat back and drew her Australian opponent in, absorbing some of her hardest hits before firing back with lethal blows of her own to seal the deal with a match-winning Asuka Lock.
Neither squash nor bore, the contest didn't over-deliver on measured expectations, but didn't underwhelm either. 'The Empress Of Tomorrow' was both a grower and a show-er on NXT, and it's this the company need to work hardest to mimic if her main roster trajectory is to be as smooth.