WWE TLC 2011: 10 Things WWE Got Right

WWE TLC 2011 was an excellent pay-per-view highlighted by 10 good choices by the WWE creative team.  

Too often as fans we are quick to criticize and slow to appreciate.  WWE has always mixed its great decisions with poor ones.

From the title changes, the wrestler pairings and the finishes to the matches, we saw some wise choices resulting in invigorating entertainment. 

Starting with the US Championship bout and ending with the hectic main event, there are at least 10 things to be grateful for from TLC 2011.

1. Having Ziggler vs. Ryder Kick Things off

Fans have been pining for this match for a long time.  Starting the show with it gave the show momentum right away.

Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler didn't disappoint either, going full throttle throughout the match and building on their growing chemistry. 

With the crowd giving off a raucous energy, both men did some fantastic work and set the bar high for the rest of the event. 

2. Putting the US Title on Ryder

Though it would have been more rewarding for fans had they waited just a little longer, watching Long Island Iced Z celebrate after winning the championship was a great moment.

Seeing Ryder's dad (in full Ryder gear) explode with joy was moving.

As a bonus, dropping the title frees Ziggler to move on to the main event and WWE Championship picture. 

The fans have been clamoring for Ryder to get his shot in the spotlight and WWE's given it to him.  It'll be exciting to see how he does holding the gold. 

3. Not Having Air Boom Lose the Titles

Having Primo and Epico come out of nowhere to win the tag titles was unlikely for sure, but fans have seen WWE make worse choices.

Bourne and Kingston can be the pillars of a revitalized tag division if WWE decides to go that way. 

Too often promoters opt for the quick and easy excitement of a cheap title change.  It’s far better in this case to continue to build Bourne and Kingston up.

Now that his suspension is over Bourne has to be reintroduced into the fold and WWE needs to find some worthy rivals for Air Boom. 

4. The Finish to Orton vs. Barrett

A good match turned great with the stunning visual of Barrett getting RKOed through the table. 

Catching Barrett mid-air amplified the excitement of Orton's patented move.

Both guys did a superb job of creating drama as there were a number of near falls.  The often disappointing stipulation of the tables match was used here to elevate the match not dilute it.

Few moves are more desired by fans now than the RKO and few versions of it have been more satisfying. 

5. The Brutality of Nash vs. Triple H

The brilliant booking of this match made it far better than many of us expected. 

The thought of an aging Kevin Nash and a sledgehammer stipulation together had fans envisioning a total disaster. 

Having Triple H destroy Nash's knee allowed for the match to be slower.  The ladders and assorted furniture were used well.    

The sledgehammer, always an awkward weapon because you can't really hit someone with it, added to the intensity and drama. 

6. Making the World Heavyweight Championship a Chair Match

Few times does it make sense to book a chair match. 

The Big Show and Mark Henry feud couldn’t have culminated more poetically with all the history of chair violence between them. 

The gimmick helped camouflage the limitations of the two big men.  We've seen them clothesline and shoulder block each other plenty already. 

Throwing some chairs into the mix added some needed variety. 

7. Daniel Bryan!

Though WWE fans would have benefitted from seeing Mark Henry hold on to the World Heavyweight Championship for a few months, having Daniel Bryan cash in made for a memorable moment.

Big Show winning was shocking and unsettling. 

That would have been such an satisfying title change had they not had the American Dragon swoop in.

Putting the belt on Bryan is a bold, daring move that may or may not work out.  WWE taking a chance on him is certainly a worthy gamble. 

8. Involving Booker T

After the second attack by Cody Rhodes, I wondered if Booker T was legitimately injured and they were going to use the attack to cover up the cancellation of the match.

Judging by the crowd's enthusiastic response to his entrance, I wasn’t the only one glad to see Booker T lace his boots up once more. 

Not only do they benefit from stirring up nostalgia, but they aid Rhodes' career by having him pin a legend cleanly. 

9. Use of the Handcuffs

The first spot where Punk had to tear apart the ladder to free himself would have been thrilling enough on its own. 

Had they not addressed the handcuffs again, we would have all been plenty satisfied.

When Miz handcuffed the champ in the corner, you had to wonder just how Punk was going to get out of this.  The action suddenly went from exciting to heart-quickening. 

A risky move to depend on a prop and the timing needed to unscrew the turnbuckle paid off big time.  WWE added an iconic moment to their collection. 

10. No Cena in Sight

Though he certainly has a lot to offer, Cena's act can easily grow tiresome. 

Not having him headline or even appear at all in a pay-per-view was refreshing.  Other guys got a chance to shine with Cena on the sidelines. 

WWE could have easily had Cena run in during the main event and do his Super Cena thing, saving Punk.  Letting the rest of the roster do their thing was a far better choice.