TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2019) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brands. It took place on December 15, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1] It was the eleventh event under the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs chronology.
Eight matches were contested at the event, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. In the main event, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a tag team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, which was also the first time the title was contested in the main event match of a pay-per-view, as well as being the first women's tag team TLC match. In other prominent matches, Bray Wyatt defeated The Miz, The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a Ladder match to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, and King Corbin defeated Roman Reigns in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
Production
Background
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, first produced by WWE in 2009. The concept of the show is based on the primary matches of the card each containing a stipulation using tables, ladders, and chairs as legal weapons, with the main event generally being a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. 2019 was the eleventh event under the TLC chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands. It also featured the first-ever women's tag team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.[2]
Storylines
The show comprised eight matches, including one on the pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[3][4] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[5]
Prior to Survivor Series, a feud began between Roman Reigns and King Corbin. During the men's Survivor Series elimination match, after Corbin had essentially caused the elimination of their Team SmackDown partner Mustafa Ali, team captain Reigns performed a spear on Corbin, which resulted in Corbin's elimination, while Reigns went on to win the match for his team.[6] On the following SmackDown, Reigns called out Corbin, who claimed Team SmackDown won because of him, and stated that Reigns had betrayed his team by attacking him. Reigns challenged Corbin to a match, however, Corbin instead introduced Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode and Roode challenged Reigns instead, in which Reigns won. Following the match, a brawl ensued.[7] The following week, a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match between Reigns and Corbin was scheduled for TLC.[8]
On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.[9] A rematch occurred the following week, but NXT's The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) interfered, causing a no-contest ruling.[10] On the December 6 episode, The Revival defeated Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker), Lucha House Party's Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik, and Mustafa Ali & Shorty G in a fatal four-way elimination match to earn another rematch for the title at TLC,[8] which was made a ladder match.[11]
At Survivor Series, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship.[6] On the following SmackDown, Wyatt (as his Firefly Fun House character) challenged Bryan, who was now embracing the "Yes Movement" again, to another match for the title, which Bryan accepted. The Fiend then appeared and attacked Bryan, ripping out his hair.[7] The following week, The Miz, who had been intertwined in the feud, said that Bryan had not been seen since The Fiend's attack and stated that although he and Bryan did not like each other, they were both part of the WWE family, and he would find Bryan. Wyatt interrupted and wanted to "play" with Miz since Bryan had disappeared and wanted to become a part of Miz's family, which enticed Miz to search for Wyatt. Later backstage, Miz found a photo-shopped picture of Miz's family with Wyatt in place of Miz, after which, Wyatt attacked Miz. A non-title match between Miz and Wyatt was then scheduled for TLC, marking Wyatt's first match since his return in April to wrestle as his Firefly Fun House character instead of as The Fiend (as Miz and Wyatt had never feuded before).[8]
On the November 18 episode of Raw, Buddy Murphy went to Aleister Black's locker room to challenge him, but Black was absent and Murphy claimed that Black was all talk and no fight.[12] The following week, Black appeared and attacked Murphy after the latter's match.[13] On the December 2 episode, after watching Black's match from backstage, Murphy was interviewed where he challenged Black once more.[14] The following week, a match between Black and Murphy was scheduled for TLC.[15]
During the women's Survivor Series elimination match, Team Raw captain Charlotte Flair and partner Asuka had an altercation, resulting in Asuka spitting green mist in Flair's face; Asuka walked out of the match while Flair was eliminated.[6] A match between the two occurred on the following night's Raw where Asuka, with some assistance from her tag team partner Kairi Sane, defeated Flair after again spitting green mist in Flair's face.[13] The following week, Flair lost to The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Sane) in a handicap match.[14] On the December 9 episode, Flair approached former rival and Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch and stated that although she did not like Lynch, she disliked The Kabuki Warriors even more. Lynch initially rejected Flair and then won a handicap match against The Kabuki Warriors by disqualification, after which, they put Lynch through a table. Later, they attacked Flair backstage and issued a challenge to Lynch and Flair with their WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on the line at TLC. Lynch and Flair accepted the challenge as a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, marking the first women's tag team match contested under the stipulation.[15]
Prior to the 2019 WWE Draft, Rusev, his wife Lana, and Bobby Lashley returned from their hiatus; during the September 30 episode of Raw, Rusev's Universal Championship match ended in a no-contest when Lashley appeared, called out Lana, and proceeded to make out with her.[16] All three were drafted to Raw, and Lashley and Lana continued to torment Rusev with their love affair over the next several weeks. Lana explained that she cheated on Rusev because he had cheated on her first and that he was a sex addict.[17] Divorce papers and a restraining order were eventually issued against Rusev.[12] On the November 25 episode, Rusev violated the restraining order and brutally attacked Lashley, after which, security escorted Rusev out of the building.[13] The following week, Rusev once again violated the restraining order and attacked Lashley, though the security did not attempt to stop him. The security in turn arrested Lashley and Lana, after Lashley shoved a cop and Lana slapped another.[14] On the December 9 episode, Rusev and Lana signed their divorce papers under the agreement that Rusev received a match against Lashley at TLC, which was made a tables match.[15]
On the December 9 episode of Raw, The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) issued an open challenge for their Raw Tag Team Championship that was answered by The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), who were defeated.[15] The following day on WWE Backstage, it was revealed that The Viking Raiders would have another open challenge at TLC
Eight matches were contested at the event, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. In the main event, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a tag team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, which was also the first time the title was contested in the main event match of a pay-per-view, as well as being the first women's tag team TLC match. In other prominent matches, Bray Wyatt defeated The Miz, The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a Ladder match to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, and King Corbin defeated Roman Reigns in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
Production
Background
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, first produced by WWE in 2009. The concept of the show is based on the primary matches of the card each containing a stipulation using tables, ladders, and chairs as legal weapons, with the main event generally being a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. 2019 was the eleventh event under the TLC chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands. It also featured the first-ever women's tag team Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.[2]
Storylines
The show comprised eight matches, including one on the pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[3][4] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[5]
Prior to Survivor Series, a feud began between Roman Reigns and King Corbin. During the men's Survivor Series elimination match, after Corbin had essentially caused the elimination of their Team SmackDown partner Mustafa Ali, team captain Reigns performed a spear on Corbin, which resulted in Corbin's elimination, while Reigns went on to win the match for his team.[6] On the following SmackDown, Reigns called out Corbin, who claimed Team SmackDown won because of him, and stated that Reigns had betrayed his team by attacking him. Reigns challenged Corbin to a match, however, Corbin instead introduced Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode and Roode challenged Reigns instead, in which Reigns won. Following the match, a brawl ensued.[7] The following week, a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match between Reigns and Corbin was scheduled for TLC.[8]
On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.[9] A rematch occurred the following week, but NXT's The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) interfered, causing a no-contest ruling.[10] On the December 6 episode, The Revival defeated Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker), Lucha House Party's Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik, and Mustafa Ali & Shorty G in a fatal four-way elimination match to earn another rematch for the title at TLC,[8] which was made a ladder match.[11]
At Survivor Series, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship.[6] On the following SmackDown, Wyatt (as his Firefly Fun House character) challenged Bryan, who was now embracing the "Yes Movement" again, to another match for the title, which Bryan accepted. The Fiend then appeared and attacked Bryan, ripping out his hair.[7] The following week, The Miz, who had been intertwined in the feud, said that Bryan had not been seen since The Fiend's attack and stated that although he and Bryan did not like each other, they were both part of the WWE family, and he would find Bryan. Wyatt interrupted and wanted to "play" with Miz since Bryan had disappeared and wanted to become a part of Miz's family, which enticed Miz to search for Wyatt. Later backstage, Miz found a photo-shopped picture of Miz's family with Wyatt in place of Miz, after which, Wyatt attacked Miz. A non-title match between Miz and Wyatt was then scheduled for TLC, marking Wyatt's first match since his return in April to wrestle as his Firefly Fun House character instead of as The Fiend (as Miz and Wyatt had never feuded before).[8]
On the November 18 episode of Raw, Buddy Murphy went to Aleister Black's locker room to challenge him, but Black was absent and Murphy claimed that Black was all talk and no fight.[12] The following week, Black appeared and attacked Murphy after the latter's match.[13] On the December 2 episode, after watching Black's match from backstage, Murphy was interviewed where he challenged Black once more.[14] The following week, a match between Black and Murphy was scheduled for TLC.[15]
During the women's Survivor Series elimination match, Team Raw captain Charlotte Flair and partner Asuka had an altercation, resulting in Asuka spitting green mist in Flair's face; Asuka walked out of the match while Flair was eliminated.[6] A match between the two occurred on the following night's Raw where Asuka, with some assistance from her tag team partner Kairi Sane, defeated Flair after again spitting green mist in Flair's face.[13] The following week, Flair lost to The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Sane) in a handicap match.[14] On the December 9 episode, Flair approached former rival and Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch and stated that although she did not like Lynch, she disliked The Kabuki Warriors even more. Lynch initially rejected Flair and then won a handicap match against The Kabuki Warriors by disqualification, after which, they put Lynch through a table. Later, they attacked Flair backstage and issued a challenge to Lynch and Flair with their WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on the line at TLC. Lynch and Flair accepted the challenge as a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, marking the first women's tag team match contested under the stipulation.[15]
Prior to the 2019 WWE Draft, Rusev, his wife Lana, and Bobby Lashley returned from their hiatus; during the September 30 episode of Raw, Rusev's Universal Championship match ended in a no-contest when Lashley appeared, called out Lana, and proceeded to make out with her.[16] All three were drafted to Raw, and Lashley and Lana continued to torment Rusev with their love affair over the next several weeks. Lana explained that she cheated on Rusev because he had cheated on her first and that he was a sex addict.[17] Divorce papers and a restraining order were eventually issued against Rusev.[12] On the November 25 episode, Rusev violated the restraining order and brutally attacked Lashley, after which, security escorted Rusev out of the building.[13] The following week, Rusev once again violated the restraining order and attacked Lashley, though the security did not attempt to stop him. The security in turn arrested Lashley and Lana, after Lashley shoved a cop and Lana slapped another.[14] On the December 9 episode, Rusev and Lana signed their divorce papers under the agreement that Rusev received a match against Lashley at TLC, which was made a tables match.[15]
On the December 9 episode of Raw, The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) issued an open challenge for their Raw Tag Team Championship that was answered by The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), who were defeated.[15] The following day on WWE Backstage, it was revealed that The Viking Raiders would have another open challenge at TLC
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