5 Ups And Downs From WWE TLC 2014

How did TLC fare up against last week's awesome NXT (R) Evolution?

By Scott Carlson /

When NXT blew the roof off the joint Thursday night with its latest special event (R)Evolution, it threw the gauntlet at WWE€™s feet. The developmental promotion had top to bottom one of the best PPVs of 2014 just three days before WWE€™s final event of the year, Tables, Ladders & Chairs€ and Stairs. NXT wrestlers were firing on all cylinders and even led Triple H to send a tweet mocking Vince McMahon€™s €œbrass ring€ comment from a couple weeks back. The question going into Sunday night was whether WWE was going to collectively step up and put on a blockbuster show, not letting NXT outdo them, or whether the company would just limp through the last PPV of 2014. The answer we got at TLC(S) was a sad and disappointing one. While most of the wrestlers did come to Cleveland with their working boots on, they found themselves handcuffed and handicapped by several factors: A lackluster buildup likely due to TLC taking place three weeks after Survivor Series, gimmick matches that were stapled onto feuds, and horrendous overall booking. Thus, it makes it tough to find the silver linings in this pay-per-view without also noting some of the accompanying negatives. So even though there€™s an equal number of ups and downs, this PPV is easily a €œdown€ overall. Let€™s get to it.