WWE TLC 2016: 10 Awesome Moments

The Miz and Dolph Ziggler concluded their epic feud with a 25-minute ladder match last night, and it delivered. Though not quite as emotional as their No Mercy showdown, it was another fantastic match between two workers with excellent chemistry, but the pacing caught many fans off-guard.

This wasn’t the typical high-octane spotfest you’d expect from such a match, but a slower, more psychological affair. Instead of focusing on flips and dives, Miz and Ziggler based the match around hard-hitting weapon spots and focused limb-work, with Miz logically targeting Ziggler’s legs to prevent him from climbing the ladder and/or nailing his trademark Superkick.

If you were expecting a fast pace, you were likely disappointed. This was as restrained a ladder match as you’ll find, and it worked perfectly. You were made to wonder how Ziggler was even able to walk, let alone climb the ladder, as Miz gradually pulled his knee apart, and as the match progressed, it felt more like a gruelling war of attrition than a disposable spotfest.

Hats off to both competitors for doing the opposite of what was expected of them. There were a couple of big spots, sure, but this was far from your average WWE ladder match. The company’s gimmick matches fall into the same lazy tropes far too often, and this nastier approach made for a refreshing change.