WWE TLC 2017: Review

One frequent complaint from grumbling followers of WWE is that the product has remained largely stagnant since the initial shift to PG. Presentation-wise, it's a fair observation, but TLC offered a running order that would have made every eyebrow raise circa 2008. Two women's matches were followed by a cruiserweight tag, another women's encounter, and a final cruiser competition. It's not a bad thing. The less the company compartmentalises their divisions into implicit ranks, the more their purported vision of equality will clarify. Could we see a show with majority female competition by the end of next year? Momentum suggests yes, though the Stamford weathercock is likely to swivel at even the slightest change of wind.

With JoJo wrapped up in a protective quarantine bubble, Giant González was on hand to introduce the competitors for the women's title match. Mike Rome absolutely towered over champ Bliss, though the contest itself hit heights few anticipated. It may have started with a smacked bottom spot more befitting Carry On World of Sport than wrestling in 2017, but it slowly evolved into an entertaining affair, carried along by the nous of the experienced James. Despite the action on show, one portion of the crowd made a mockery of apparently shifting attitudes with a moronic "we want tables" chant. These are the same who bleat about respect women's wrestling when it's convenient to do so. Still, idiotic crown contumacy couldn't ruin a terrific little tussle, which saw Bliss emerge the victor. In the aftermath, James cut a promo curiously valedictory in nature. Coincidentally, she was only the 6th oldest wrestler on Sunday's card.