TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (2013)

Background

The professional wrestling matches at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs featured professional wrestlers performing as characters in scripted events pre-determined by the hosting promotion, WWE. Storylines between the characters played out on WWE's primary television programs, Raw and SmackDown.

Ever since SummerSlam in August, Randy Orton had been engaged in a feud with Daniel Bryan and owing to his alliance with The Authority (Triple H and Stephanie McMahon), finally settled his feud with Bryan at the Hell in a Cell event, defeating him inside Hell in a Cell to win the WWE Championship for the eighth time. However, over time, The Authority began showing doubt over Orton's ability to win matches on his own accord. Proving he still was their chosen "face of the WWE", Orton defeated the anti-Authority Big Show at Survivor Series in November to retain the title, but only after Triple H distracted Big Show. Concurrently, John Cena returned from a torn tricep seemingly before schedule, defeating Alberto Del Rio at Hell in a Cell to win the World Heavyweight Championship, and retained it at Survivor Series against Del Rio. After Orton's victory at Survivor Series, Cena entered the ring with his title, and celebrated with the crowd as The Authority looked on, much to Orton's chagrin. The next night on Raw, after another confrontation between both world champions, John Cena claimed that their should only be one world champion. Triple H announced that Orton will face Cena in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, with both titles at stake, at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, with the winner becoming the "Champion of Champions". At the event, it was announced that the unified titles would be named the "WWE World Heavyweight Championship".

Another championship match at the TLC pay-per-view saw AJ Lee defending the WWE Divas Championship against Natalya. At Survivor Series, Natalya, along with Nikki Bella, were the "Survivors" after making AJ submit in a seven-on-seven Survivor Series elimination match between the "True Divas" and the Total Divas. On the December 2 episode of Raw, Natalya pinned AJ, to secure a victory for her team in a six-Diva tag team match. After this string of non-title wins, Natalya was officially announced to challenge AJ for the Divas Championship at the TLC event.

Since late October, both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan had been assaulted by the Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan), leading to a tag team match at Survivor Series in November with Punk and Bryan facing, and defeating, Harper and Rowan. The next night on Raw, the Wyatt Family (kayfabe) "abducted" Bryan, while The Shield, consisting of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, ambushed Punk. The next week on Raw, Punk tried tracing back the reason for the attack on him to Triple H, believing he called for Punk to be taken out for the latter's rebellious comments against The Authority. After these allegations were rebuked by Triple H's wife, Stephanie McMahon, WWE's (kayfabe) Director of Operations, Kane, also came out to support The Authority, and after being insulted by Punk, announced a three-on-one handicap match at TLC, pitting Punk against all three members of The Shield. Later that night, after defeating Erick Rowan, Kane also put Bryan in a three-on-one handicap, much like Punk, to face all three members of the Wyatt Family at TLC.

Also, on the December 9 edition of Raw, Damien Sandow defeated Santino Marella to earn the right to face Big E Langston for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at the TLC event.

Also, on the December 13 episode of SmackDown, it was announced that Cody Rhodes and Goldust will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro), RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel), and Big Show and Rey Mysterio in a Fatal Four Way tag team match at the pay-per-view.

The TLC Kickoff pre-show featured Fandango squaring off against Dolph Ziggler. This match was announced at the 2013 Slammy Awards edition of Raw on December 9, 2013.

Kofi Kingston and The Miz teamed together to face The Real Americans on the October 21 episode of "Raw", but at the end of the match, Miz turned on Kingston. This led to a match on the Survivor Series pre-show, which Miz won. The feud continued and culminated in a no disqualifications match between Kofi Kingston and the Miz at the TLC event.

In December 2014, CM Punk revealed in his podcast interview with Colt Cabana that he requested the day of the event off to attend C.J. Wilson's wedding; however, the company failed to fulfill his request. As a result, his and his girlfriend at the time (now wife) AJ Lee's matches went first and second so they could leave on time and attend the wedding in California the same day.

Event

The pre-show included the Kickoff panel of Josh Mathews, Mick Foley, Booker T and The Miz previewing the matches. Later on Kickoff show, Kofi Kingston attacked The Miz in the panel, setting a No Disqualification Match later at the event. Before the pay per view started, Fandango defeated Dolph Ziggler.

Miscellaneous

The English commentators were Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and John "Bradshaw" Layfield while there were also Spanish and German commentators ringside. Lilian Garcia and Justin Roberts were ring announcers.

Preliminary matches

In the first match, The Shield faced CM Punk. In the end, Reigns attempted to perform a Spear on Punk but Punk avoided the move, causing Reigns to perform a Spear on Ambrose. Punk pinned Ambrose to win the match.

Next, AJ Lee defended the Divas Championship against Natalya. The match ended when Natalya attempted to apply the Sharpshooter on AJ but AJ pulled Natalya's hair and pinned Natalya with a Roll Up to retain the title.

After that, Big E Langston defended the Intercontinental Championship against Damien Sandow. Langston pinned Sandow after a Big Ending to retain the title.

In the fourth match, Cody Rhodes and Goldust defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against Big Show and Rey Mysterio, Ryback and Curtis Axel, and The Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro). RybAxel were eliminated after Goldust pinned Ryback with a Roll Up. The Real Americans were eliminated after Big Show pinned Cesaro following a KO Punch. Big Show and Mysterio were eliminated after Rhodes pinned Mysterio following Cross Rhodes, resulting in Rhodes and Goldust retaining the title.

Next, R-Truth faced Brodus Clay. R-Truth pinned Clay with a rollup to win the match.

After that, Kofi Kingston faced The Miz in a no-disqualification match. In the end, Miz collided with an exposed turnbuckle and Kingston pinned Miz after Trouble in Paradise to win the match.

In the seventh match, Daniel Bryan faced The Wyatt Family. Wyatt pinned Bryan after Sister Abigail to win the match.

Main event

In the main event, WWE Champion Randy Orton faced World Heavyweight Champion John Cena in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match to crown the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. During the match, Cena hit Orton with a ladder, causing Orton to fall through a table. Cena attempted to retrieve the belts but Orton pulled Cena off the ladder and performed an RKO on Cena. Orton attempted to perform a Punt Kick on Cena but Cena avoided the move and performed an Attitude Adjustment on Orton through a broadcast table. Orton used a pair of handcuffs to tie Cena to the bottom rope. Cena attempted to retrieve the belts but Orton pulled the bottom rope, causing Cena to fall off a ladder into a table. Orton retrieved the belts, thus becoming the first ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Aftermath

The next night on Raw, The Authority celebrated Orton's unification of the championships inside the ring, with entire WWE wrestlers standing on the entrance ramp. John Cena proclaimed that since Orton won, his first title defense should be against Daniel Bryan, insisting that was the right thing to do. Orton refused, but The Authority said that Orton would, in fact, face Bryan in a non-title match later that night. Bryan went on to win that match via disqualification, which was caused by a blatant low-blow from Orton - right in front of the referee. Orton then continued to attack Bryan until Cena came out to aid Bryan. Orton scattered, but when Cena went to check on Bryan's condition, Orton reemerged, striking Cena with an RKO. The show ended with Orton standing triumphantly over his fallen foes with both titles raised overhead. On the December 30 episode of Raw, Stephanie McMahon announced that Cena would get his rematch against Orton at the Royal Rumble with no outside interference or added stipulations, which Orton won.

Big Show and Rey Mysterio would face WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a non-title tag team match with Show and Mysterio emerging victorious.

Fandango would face Dolph Ziggler in a rematch with Ziggler winning due to a Roll-up.