TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2020

TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on December 20, 2020 at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was the twelfth event under the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs chronology.
== Production ==
=== Background ===
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, generally produced every December by WWE since 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. The 2020 event will be the twelfth event under the TLC chronology and feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.
====Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic====
As a result of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, WWE presented the majority of its programming from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida since mid-March with no fans in attendance, although in late May, the promotion began using Performance Center trainees to serve as the live audience, which was further expanded to friends and family members of the wrestlers in mid-June. On August 17, WWE announced that all future shows and pay-per-views would be held at the Amway Center, a larger venue also located in Orlando, for the "foreseeable future", beginning with the August 21 episode of SmackDown. Furthermore, the shows now feature a new fan viewing experience called the "ThunderDome", which utilizes drones, lasers, pyro, smoke, and projections. Approximately 1,000 LED boards were installed in the Amway Center to allow fans to virtually attend the events for free and be seen on the rows and rows of LED boards. Arena audio is also mixed with that of the virtual fans so that chants from the fans can be heard. WWE's initial agreement with the Amway Center expired on October 31, but with the option to extend the contract with a two weeks notice. On October 12, PWInsider reported that the contract had been extended, with Fightful revealing the amended contract's expiration date as November 24. On November 19, WWE announced that they would relocate the ThunderDome to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, beginning with the December 11 episode of SmackDown. The relocation was done due to the start of the 2020–21 NBA season as the Amway Center is the home of the Orlando Magic.
=== Storylines ===
The show comprised of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
At Survivor Series, Team Raw (AJ Styles, Keith Lee, Sheamus, Braun Strowman, and Riddle) defeated Team SmackDown in the men's 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match without any member of their team being eliminated. The following night on Raw, WWE official Adam Pearce said that one of Team Raw's members would get a WWE Championship match against Drew McIntyre at TLC and allowed each to state their case. The last to go was Strowman, who became angered over Pearce's use of the phrase "last but not least" and attacked Pearce; Strowman was suspended indefinitely. Former WWE Champion Randy Orton, who wanted a rematch after losing the title to McIntyre on Raw the previous week, and United States Champion Bobby Lashley, who was the only Raw champion to win their Champion vs. Champion match at Survivor Series, each individually confronted Pearce backstage and also stated their cases. Pearce scheduled three singles matches for that night, with the winners of each facing off in a triple threat match the following week to determine the number one contender. Riddle, Lee, and Styles advanced to the triple threat match by defeating Sheamus, Lashley, and Orton, respectively. Styles subsequently won the triple threat match to face McIntyre for the WWE Championship at TLC.
On the September 14 epsiode of Raw, after the team of Lana and Natalya lost a tag team match, WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler appeared and Jax performed a Samoan drop on Lana through an announce table. Over the next nine weeks, Jax repeatedly put Lana through an announce table. Also during this time, Natalya ceased teaming with Lana. On the October 12 episode, Lana won a battle royal by last eliminating Natalya to earn a Raw Women's Championship match against Asuka. The title match took place the following week, which Lana lost. Following the match, Jax put Lana through an announce table once more. On the October 26 episode, Lana won a [four-way match to win a spot on the women's team for Team Raw at Survivor Series, where Lana emerged as the sole survivor after being ordered to not take part in the match. The following night on Raw, Lana was granted another Raw Women's Championship match against Asuka, but the match ended with Asuka winning via disqualification after Jax and Baszler interfered. This resulted in an impromptu non-title tag team match where Lana and Asuka defeated Jax and Baszler. The following week, Lana and Asuka defeated the champions once more in another non-title match. Jax and Baszler were subsequently scheduled to defend the Women's Tag Team Championship against Lana and Asuka at TLC.
After winning the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre at Hell in a Cell on October 25, Randy Orton appeared on Alexa Bliss' talk show "A Moment of Bliss" on the following night's Raw—several weeks beforehand, Bliss aligned herself with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. During the segment, Bliss referenced Orton's past rivalry with Wyatt at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. McIntyre then came out and attacked Orton until the lights went out. When the lights illuminated, Wyatt's alter ego The Fiend was standing behind Orton on the entrance ramp while McIntyre stood in the ring. McIntyre continued to brawl with Orton while The Fiend departed. Wyatt would continue to threaten and attack Orton over the next few weeks; Orton also lost the WWE Championship back to McIntyre on the November 16 episode of Raw. The following week, Orton lost his match to determine the next challenger for the title due to The Fiend's interference. Orton then appeared once again on "A Moment of Bliss", claiming to know The Fiend's weakness, which was Bliss herself. Orton was subsequently scheduled to face The Fiend at TLC. Before the event, however, Orton challenged Wyatt's cheery Firefly Fun House persona to a match on the December 7 episode of Raw, which ended in a no-contest after the lights went out. When they illuminated, The Fiend appeared and applied the Mandible Claw on Orton.
Ever since making his return to WWE and winning the Universal Championship at Payback, Roman Reigns began referring to himself as the "Tribal Chief" and the "Head of The Table" of the Anoa'i family. Reigns' cousin Jey Uso joined Reigns after Reigns defeated him at Hell in a Cell. Differences then grew between Jey and Kevin Owens, who had both earned a spot on the men's team for Team SmackDown at Survivor Series; Team SmackDown ultimately lost. On the following SmackDown, Reigns lambasted Jey for the loss, stating that the other members of Team SmackDown did not respect Jey, and in turn, they did not respect Reigns or their family. This enraged Jey and during that episode's main event match between himself and Owens, Jey got himself intentionally disqualified by attacking Owens with a steel chair. Owens retaliated and performed multiple stunners on Jey and then called out Reigns. The following week, Owens challenged Reigns to a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the Universal Championship at TLC, which Reigns accepted.
For several weeks, vignettes of a mystery woman claiming to be "untouchable" were shown on episodes of SmackDown. Following a five-month hiatus, Carmella was revealed as the mystery woman on the October 2 episode and reverted back to being a heel. She did not have any physical confrontations until the November 6 episode when she appeared and attacked SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks after Banks had successfully defended her title. Over the next two weeks, Carmella continued her attacks on Banks, but Banks returned the favor on the November 27 episode, attacking Carmella during her backstage vignette. The following week, a title match between the two was scheduled for TLC. Before the event, the two faced each in an impromptu championship match on the December 11 episode of SmackDown where Banks was disqualified after continuously attacking Carmella in the corner past the referee's five-count; although Carmella won, Banks retained as titles do not change hands by disqualification unless stipulated.
== Event ==
=== Pre-show ===
During the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Kickoff pre-show, an eight-man tag team match occurred, which saw the team of Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable, and Otis facing the team of King Corbin, Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura. In the end, Big E avoided Zayn's Helluva Kick attempt and performed the Big Ending on him to win the match.
=== Preliminary matches ===
The actual pay-per-view opened with Drew McIntyre defending the WWE Championship against AJ Styles (accompanied by his bodyguard Omos) in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. Both McIntyre and Styles took advantage of the stipulation and used the trio of weapons in attacking each other. In the closing moments, as McIntyre ascended the ladder, The Miz and John Morrison came out and prevented McIntyre from winning. The Miz then performed a Powerbomb on McIntyre through a table while John Morrison handed the referee Miz's Money in the Bank contract, converting the match into a triple threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, thus Miz became the second person to cash-in during a match in progress (after Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 31 in 2015). As Miz attempted to climb the ladder to retrieve the title, Omos pulled him off the ladder and put him through a table. Morrison then attacked Omos with a chair, however, the unfazed Omos went after Morrison, who retreated backstage. After a battle atop the ladders, McIntyre performed a Claymore Kick on Miz and ascended the ladder to unhook the title and retain. As a result, Miz became the fifth person to fail his Money in the Bank cash in.
Next, Sasha Banks defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Carmella (accompanied by her sommelier, Reginald Thomas). During the match, Banks paid homage to Eddie Guerrero by performing the Three Amigos and Frog Splash on Carmella for a nearfall. Banks applied the Bank Statement on Carmella only for Reginald to pull her out of the ring. Carmella performed two Superkicks on Banks for a nearfall. In the climax, Banks applied the Bank Statement on Carmella, forcing her to tap to retain the title.
After that, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) defended the Raw Tag Team Championship against The Hurt Business Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin (accompanied by MVP). In the closing moments, as Benjamin was preparing his next move on Kingston, Alexander blind tagged himself in to Benjamin's surprise. Alexander then performed the Lumbar Check on Kingston to win the title. Despite Alexander's questionable actions, Benjamin was still pleased with the result. After the match, United States Champion Bobby Lashley came out and celebrated with his Hurt Business stablemates, with the stable now holding two-thirds of the men's titles on Raw, excluding the open-branded 24/7 Championship.
In the fourth match, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defended the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against Raw Women's Champion Asuka and her mystery partner, revealed as the returning Charlotte Flair, who had been absent since June thanks to an injury (kayfabe) by Jax. In the end, Flair applied the Figure-Eight Leg Lock on Baszler only for Jax to intervene and break up the submission. Baszler then locked in the Kirifuda Clutch on Flair, however, Flair escaped and performed Natural Selection on Baszler to win the title for the first time. Subsequently, this would be Asuka's second reign with the title while Flair became WWE's fifth Women's Triple Crown Champion and fourth Women's Grand Slam Champion.
In the penultimate match, Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. Mere moments before the match began, Owens attacked Reigns. After the bell sounded, Owens would dominate Reigns. Shortly thereafter, Jey Uso interjected himself while Owens had the upper hand on Reigns. As Jey attempted a Superkick on Owens outside the ring, Owens blocked the maneuver with a chair. Owens then placed Jey's leg in a chair and stomped on Jey's leg. Despite medical personnel arriving and taking Jey backstage, he returned later to assist Reigns further. Owens performed a Stunner on Reigns and then put Jey through the announce table with a Pop-up Powerbomb. Reigns performed a Chokeslam on Owens through a table and then through a second table with a Samoan Drop. Reigns then ascended the ladder, however, he noticed Owens rise to his feet and get in the ring. Reigns then performed a Spear on Owens through a table in the corner. As Reigns attempted a second Spear on Owens outside the ring, Owens moved out of the way and Reigns crashed through the barricade. In the closing moments, as Owens ascended the ladder, Reigns intercepted Owens. Owens performed two Superkicks on Reigns. Owens attempted a Pop-up Powerbomb on Reigns, however, Reigns countered with a Superman Punch. As Reigns attempted a Spear on Owens, Owens countered with a Pop-up Powerbomb through a table. In the end, Owens ascended the ladder again, however, he was intercepted by Jey once more. Reigns then attacked Owens (who was atop a ladder) with a low blow, applied the guillotine choke on Owens, who then fell off the ladder, allowing Reigns to unhook the title to retain.
=== Main event ===
In the main event, Randy Orton faced "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno match. This was the 6th inferno match in the WWE, the first to not feature Kane, and the 2nd to feature Bray Wyatt. At the start of the match, Orton attacked The Fiend, however, he was unaffected by Orton's attacks and laughed hysterically to taunt Orton. The Fiend performed Sister Abigail on Orton and then posed, which ignited several poles and braziers around the arena on fire. The Fiend attacked Orton with a leather strap, after which, he ignited one end of the strap and attempted to attack Orton, however, Orton intercepted. After using a pick axe and an axe handle on Orton, The Fiend brought out a rocking chair at ringside (the same rocking chair that Wyatt utilized during his Eater of Worlds gimmick). He doused the chair with gasoline with a trail of gasoline leading to it. He then sat Orton in the rocking chair and attempted to set Orton on fire, however, Orton was able to escape before the trailing flames reached him, which engulfed the chair. Orton wrapped a steel chain around his fist and punched The Fiend a few times, then performed a DDT from the apron to the floor. As Orton attempted an RKO, The Fiend applied The Mandible Claw on Orton. The Fiend attempted to set Orton ablaze by pushing him against a brazier, however, Orton countered and The Fiend's back caught on fire, thus Orton won the match. Afterward, The Fiend, who was still on fire, chased Orton into the ring where Orton performed an RKO on him. A conflicted Orton then doused The Fiend's lifeless body with gasoline and set it ablaze, after which, he posed on the stage to end the show as The Fiend's body continued to burn.
==Match Preview==
Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles 	Preview
Sasha Banks vs. Carmella 	Preview
The New Day vs. The Hurt Business 	Preview
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka & TBA	Preview
Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens 	Preview
"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton 	Preview
==Results==
;
;
*Pre-Show: Chad Gable, Otis, Daniel Bryan & Big E defeated Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (8:35)
*Drew McIntyre (c) defeated AJ Styles (w/ Omos) and The Miz (w/ John Morrison) in a Triple threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to retain the WWE Championship (27:05)
:*
*Sasha Banks (c) defeated Carmella (w/ Reginald Thomas) to retain the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (12:10)
*The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) (w/ MVP) defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (c) to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship (10:00)
*Asuka & Charlotte Flair defeated Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship (10:05)
*Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman & Jey Uso) defeated Kevin Owens in a Tables, ladders, and chairs match to retain the WWE Universal Championship (24:45)
*Randy Orton defeated "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno match (12:00)
==Other on-screen talent==
;Commentators
*Michael Cole 
*Corey Graves 
*Tom Phillips 
*Samoa Joe 
*Byron Saxton 
*Marcelo Rodriguez 
*Carlos Cabrera 
;Pre-show Panel
*Charly Caruso
*Booker T
*Peter Rosenberg
*Jeff Jarrett	
;Interviewers
*Charly Caruso
*Kayla Braxton
;Ring announcer
*Greg Hamilton 
*Mike Rome 
;Referees
*Danilo Anfibio
*Jason Ayers
*Chad Patton
*Rod Zapata
*Shawn Bennett
*Darrick Moore
*Dan Engler
==See also==
*List of WWE pay-per-view events
*WWE Event History
*Event gallery
*TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
==DVD release==
* [ on DVD]
==External links==
* Official Website
* Kickoff on WWE Network
* on WWE Network
* Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2020 Kickoff at CAGEMATCH.net
* Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2020 at CAGEMATCH.net
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view events
Category:2020 pay-per-view events
Category:TLC PPV
Category:Events with Inferno matches
Category:Events with Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches