WrestleRant
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
Picture

WWE Tribute to the Troops Review - December 23, 2015

12/23/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureDean Ambrose leads his team to victory.
By Graham "GSM" Matthews

League of Nations Interrupted Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and The Usos

This was a pretty paint-by-numbers segment with everyone making an entrance and setting up the 16-man tag team main event for later on in the show. Only Reigns and the League of Nations got mic time with the League of Nations talking about how much better they are than the United States to elicit heat. It was Wrestling 101 yet effective. On a side note, it was wise for WWE to not have anyone come out with their championships. They would have spoiled the title changes from TLC and Raw if they had the new champions wear their belts and it would have been awkward if the old champions were wearing them. Better to avoid that whole mess by having no one come out with gold.


Jack Swagger def. Rusev in a Boot Camp Match

I likely wouldn't have cared less about this match any other time of the year, but it was fitting to rekindle this rivalry at Tribute to Troops. It also helped that Swagger has meant a little more as of late. Granted, he's still a glorified enhancement talent, but at least his recent feud with Alberto Del Rio has legitimized him to the point where he didn't feel too out of place against Rusev. The annual Boot Camp matches are always a blast and this bout was no exception. Swagger forcing Rusev to tap out truly was a Christmas miracle, but because it's Tribute to the Troops, it's almost as if it never happened.

PictureJack Swagger forces Rusev to tap out.
Mark Henry def. Bo Dallas

Dallas coming out dressed as Uncle Sam got a chuckle out of me, but wasn't he supposed to be the heel? He acted like one before and during the brief bout, but you'd think the casual fans would want to cheer him dressed like that. Nevertheless, this was a standard squash match as it should have been and the first time in many months I can recall Henry actually winning a match. But as I said in the previous paragraph, the win technically never happened because this was Tribute to the Troops.


Ryback def. Kevin Owens by Count-out

While I didn't particularly enjoy their encounter at Hell in a Cell, Ryback and Owens have worked well otherwise and this was a decent match from them. It was a little silly to have Ryback work two matches in the same night, but maybe they were low on talent (then again, the main event did feature 16 men after all). I was at least glad they didn't have him beat Owens like they did with Rusev. If nothing else, Owens talking about how healthcare in Canada is superior to the United States was hilarious.


Paige and Team B.A.D. def. Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Brie Bella and Alicia Fox

For eight-woman tag team matches, WWE usually has them end within mere minutes, so I was happy that wasn't the case with this match. You had plenty of talented women involved and all of them were able to showcase their skills at one point or another. But let's address the elephant in the room here: Why the hell were Brie Bella and Alicia Fox teaming with Charlotte and Becky Lynch? Again, these shows don't affect anything in storyline, but it goes to show how few true babyfaces they have right now if they had to have Team Bella be on the babyface side.


Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, The Usos, The Dudley Boyz, Ryback and Kane def. League of Nations and The Wyatt Family

I love a good old fashioned mutli-man tag team main event. Yes, they're predictable and yes, they're formulaic, but I'd be damned if they weren't fun. It was cool to see The Wyatt Family and League of Nations team up, and while it wouldn't be as big of a money match as Wyatt Family vs. Shield was back in 2014, seeing them clash down the road would surely be interesting. Everyone got their signature spots in down the stretch and the crowd was engaged for the final few minutes of the matchup with the babyfaces going over and sending the crowd home happy.


Overall Show

Perhaps it's because we're so close to Christmas and I'm already in the Christmas spirit, but I really enjoyed this event. As I always say, Tribute to the Troops is about showing gratitude to those who serve our country more than anything, but this was a solid show even from a wrestling standpoint. Don't tune in expecting to see anything must-see, but the two hours are a treat if you have the time (in between wrapping gifts, of course). Merry Christmas, folks!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    #AskGSM
    Battle Of The Belts
    Cruiserweight Classic
    Halftime Heat
    Hidden Gems
    Interviews
    Lists/Rankings
    Mae Young Classic
    Mixed Match Challenge
    News
    NJPW
    NWA Shockwave
    NXT PLEs
    Opinion
    Previews
    Retro Reviews
    Reviews
    RJ's Two Cents
    Satire
    Slammy Awards
    SNME
    SummerSlam Recall
    The Deadly Draw
    The World Is A Vampire
    Tribute To The Troops
    Women's Eliminator
    Worlds Collide
    WrestleMania Recall
    WWE Draft
    WWE Network Specials
    WWE PLEs
    WWE Starrcade


    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

©2025 WrestleRant. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact