WWE TLC 2017 Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades

Photo Source: WWE.com

Raw Women’s Championship Match

Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Mickie James

Result: Alexa Bliss defeated Mickie James via pinfall to retain the Raw Women’s Championship

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Before the match, Bliss once again ridicules Mickie for her age in a backstage segment. It’s probably not a great strategy, since we already know how Mickie feels about that.

The match got off to a great start from a psychological standpoint. Michael Cole was killing me saying, “MICKIE DOESN’T PLAY GAMES, GUYS” when she got her start in WWE as a literal stalker. But Mickie spent the early part of the match just toying with Alexa – constant kip ups leading into hitting Alexa with her own move, doing whatever she could to rock Alexa.

But Bliss didn’t win the Raw Women’s Championship by getting easily rattled. She came back strong, and began tearing Mickie apart piece by piece. A series of arm wrenches and attacks to the arm seriously weakened the challenger, who could be seen favoring her arm through much of the contest.

Things broke down into a slap fest, and each superstar went for a big blow that the other avoided. As Mickie finally landed a big kick, Alexa hit her with a big forearm smash, sending both competitors to the mat. They narrowly avoided a double countout, and Mickie took over after that.

Mickie hit a series of kicks, but wasn’t able to put Bliss away. Alexa caught Mickie with a sunset flip bomb, but Mickie kicked out. Alexa missed Twisted Bliss, and Mickie countered with a flying dropkick. But it was just a glancing blow, and Bliss was able to kick out.

Amid crowd chants of “WE WANT SABLE,” (which, really?) Bliss managed to use the referee as a distraction and pull Mickie into the turnbuckle. A DDT later, and Bliss had retained. Strange decision in my opinion, but it was a really good match.