WWE TLC 2011 Results: Match-by-Match Breakdown

Last night's TLC certainly had it's highs and lows. This is a PPV I can see being heavily debated among wrestling fans as to whether or not it was good.

The night ended up seeing three matches added to the card to make a total of nine matches. Here I will take a look at each match and what the outcomes mean for those involved.

Zack Ryder vs Dolph Ziggler

Zack Ryder finally achieved his goal of becoming the United States Champion by defeating Dolph Ziggler in the opening match of TLC.

The match was not the best we have seen from these two, but by no means a bad outing. They had a good back-and-forth going throughout the encounter.

At points it looked as if Ziggler would retain his title, but Ryder eventually overcame the showoff and put him down for the three-count.

The most impressive thing out of Ryder was his top rope hurricanrana towards the end of the match. This showed me he is willing to take risks to become better.

For Ryder, this is a big step, as he is now holding his first singles title in WWE. Hopefully he can have a decent reign to to solidify himself as a real star.

Ziggler, on the other hand, could actually benefit from the loss, as now he has the chance to focus solely on the WWE title, if that is how management decides to use him.

I would love to see Punk vs Ziggler for the title at the Royal Rumble. Even if he does not win, just having him in the title hunt will make things more interesting.

Air Boom vs Primo and Epico

A match that was a last-minute addition was the tag title match between cousins Primo and Epico and Air Boom.

Air Boom got the win, which I guess means Evan Bourne is not being punished for his suspension the way many speculated he would be.

The WWE's decision to keep the title on the champs may lead to a bigger program between these two high-flying teams.

The action in the match was very good from both teams as each had their fair share of double-team moves and close pinfalls.

Rosa once again joined Primo and Epico for their match. She seems to have gone from being never used to being a dancing valet for the two Colons.

I would look for these two teams, and possibly the Usos, to start having more matches for the title in the coming months. WWE has the foundation to start rebuilding their tag team division if they ever decide to.

Randy Orton vs Wade Barrett

The two bitter rivals from SmackDown finally got their chance to face off in a tables match. Randy Orton ended up besting Wade Barrett after a great match.

These two really put on what I thought was a great match, but the result was the opposite of what I had originally predicted.

I wanted to see Barrett go over Orton in another clean win to cement his status as a top heel on SmackDown.

This could just be one more match in what will be a continuing series which could eventually see Barrett get another win over The Viper.

The end of the match came after an impressive spot where Orton gave Barrett an RKO after Barrett launched himself from the middle rope.

We will have to see this Friday if this feud continues through to 2012 or if this was the end of the road.

Kelly Kelly vs Beth Phoenix

In another match with little notice, we saw Beth Phoenix retain her Divas title against Kelly Kelly.

The match was a typically short Divas match with nothing noteworthy to really point out. Natalya was absent from ringside for her partner's match, which was a bit surprising.

Kelly is still on the edge of the push she received after being on the cover of Maxim.

Triple H vs Kevin Nash

Triple H got his revenge on his former friend last night after climbing a ladder, taking down the sledgehammer and delivering a blow right to Nash's head.

The match was nothing special, but better than expected from these two. I had no faith in Nash going into this, but he performed better than anticipated.

This match has Little consequence, as neither man is a contender for a title or in any real position to benefit in any other way.

With this match being more of an attraction than anything else, I am not surprised it did not last all that long. Triple H still looks like he could have one more good run in him if he chose to come back full time for a little while.

Sheamus vs Jack Swagger

In another match that was added on the fly, Jack Swagger took on the Great White Sheamus. These two young wrestlers put on a good show in a match which really had no story behind it.

Teddy Long made the match after Swagger complained about being hit with a chair by Big Show last week on SmackDown.

I do not know if these two will have any kind of feud going forward, but if they do I think they can put on a good show.

Sheamus is really coming into his own as a babyface and Swagger has been getting back to being a more believable heel over the past several weeks.

I am looking for Swagger to break away from Dolph and Vickie some time soon and go on his own to try and take the title that Daniel Bryan won last night.

Mark Henry vs Big Show, Big Show vs Daniel Bryan

Big Show ended his nine-year drought last night by beating Mark Henry to become the World Champion. His hopes of a long reign were soon dashed by Money in the Bank winner Daniel Bryan as he cashed in his case following a DDT to Show from Henry onto a pile of chairs.

Bryan has been looking like he would cash in recently, and unfortunately for Big Show, he chose TLC to make his claim to the World Title.

Bryan celebrated at ringside while a confused Big Show watched the man who he called friend run around the ring with the title he had just won.

Big Show decided to take the high road and leave the ring, rather than attack the man who took a shortcut to the title.

Bryan received a huge ovation after winning the belt and he capped it off by screaming in the face of Michael Cole, the man who has trashed him since day one.

Daniel Bryan now has two men who lost a title at TLC looking for rematches as well as every other man on the SmackDown roster. It will be interesting to see how Bryan's title reign is booked.

He could lose the title within a week of winning it or he could be champion for many months to come, only time will tell.

Cody Rhodes vs Booker T

After weeks of attacks and two more at TLC, Booker T finally got a chance to get his hands on Cody Rhodes.

The legend and the up-and-comer had a great match which saw each man get in a great amount of offense. Rhodes looked better in this match than I have seen him look in awhile.

Booker T did not really seem to have any ring rust in this match, which ended up seeing Rhodes defeat Booker after two Beautiful Disasters.

This feud may go into next year, as I doubt Booker will take this loss after two attacks from behind very well. It will be interesting to see how this plays out this week on SmackDown.

I am glad Rhodes got the clean win despite the numerous attacks, but I think that until he gets into a serious feud for his IC title we will have to wait a little longer to see him make a run at the World Title.

I would rate this as one of the top three matches of the night with the TLC main event and the Tables match between Orton and Barrett.

CM Punk vs Alberto Del Rio vs the Miz

In the main event of the night, CM Punk defended his title against former champions Alberto Del Rio and The Miz. The match was great and probably the match of the night.

Each man had some great spots, but the most impressive came from Del Rio's personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez, who was dropped from the top of a ladder trough a table at ringside.

At one point, CM Punk was handcuffed to the ring ropes, but like Cena did when he was cuffed to a rope, Punk twisted the support holding the rope until it came lose and freed him.

In the end it was Punk who claimed the title from atop a ladder to remain WWE champion. Miz and Del Rio both had great showings, but last night was Punk's chance to shine.

With a completely John Cena-free PPV, Punk took center stage and carried the show the way WWE hoped he would.

This is not over between these three men, but now I would expect Ziggler to get into the hunt for the title as well.

What did you think of TLC last night?