Background

TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs was an annual gimmick event produced every December by WWE since 2009. The concept of the show was based on the primary matches of the card each containing a stipulation using tables, ladders, and chairs as legal weapons, with the main event generally being a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.^[2][3] The 2015 event was the seventh TLC and was scheduled to take place on December 13, 2015, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The event aired on pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and was available to livestream on the WWE Network.^[4]

Storylines

The event comprised eight matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show, that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers,^[5][6] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Raw and SmackDown.

At Survivor Series, Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose in a tournament final to win the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but Sheamus then cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated Reigns to win the title.^[7] The following night on Raw, Sheamus was scheduled to defend the championship against Reigns in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at the event.^[8] On the November 30 episode of Raw, Reigns received an early title match, in which he would win the title if he could defeat Sheamus in under 5:15; Reigns won the match by disqualification, but he did not win the title.^[9]

On the November 26 episode of SmackDown, Dean Ambrose defeated Tyler Breeze and Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match to earn an Intercontinental Championship match against Kevin Owens at the event.^[10]

On the November 30 episode of Raw, The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) and The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) faced in a number-one contender's match for The New Day's (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E) WWE Tag Team Championships, where The New Day attacked both teams, causing a double-disqualification. Stephanie McMahon decided that, because neither team lost, both would challenge the champions in a triple threat tag team ladder match at the event.^[9]

At Survivor Series, Charlotte defeated Paige via submission to retain the WWE Divas Championship.^[7] On the following night on Raw, Paige argued that Charlotte had cheated to retain the title, and received a rematch, which ended in a double countout.^[8] Following this, another rematch was scheduled for TLC.^[11]

On the November 23 episode of Raw, Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley).^[8] The Dudley Boyz then defeated Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan on the next episode of SmackDown.^[10] The next week on Raw, Tommy Dreamer returned to WWE and joined The Dudley Boyz, after which, the two groups fought to a no contest. On the December 3 of SmackDown, Wyatt defeated D-Von Dudley.^[12] On the December 7 episode of Raw, Rhyno returned to WWE, joining The Dudleyz, after which an eight-man tag team elimination tables match pitting The Dudleyz, Dreamer, and Rhyno against The Wyatt Family (Wyatt, Rowan, Harper, and Strowman) was scheduled for the event.^[11]

On the November 30 episode of Raw, Ryback interrupted Lana's return and defeated Rusev by countout in an impromptu match.^[9] After a rematch the following week on Raw, which ended in a double countout,^[11] a match was scheduled between the two at the event.

At Hell in a Cell, Alberto Del Rio made his return to WWE to win his first United States Championship, while joining forces with manager Zeb Colter,^[13] leading to confrontations with Colter's former protege, Jack Swagger. After Del Rio ended his association with Colter on the December 7 episode of Raw, a title defense against Swagger in a chairs match was scheduled to take place at the event.^[11]

Pre-show

During the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Kickoff pre-show, Sasha Banks faced Becky Lynch. In the end, Becky applied the Dis-Arm-Her on Sasha but Tamina distracted the referee whilst Naomi kicked Becky. Sasha forced Becky to submit to the Banks Statement to win the match.^[1]

Preliminary matches

The actual pay-per-view event opened with The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston defending the WWE Tag team Championship against The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) and The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) in a triple threat tag team ladder match. During the match, Kingston - with the help of Big E - dropkicked a ladder into Jey Uso, who was seated in the ring corner. Big E then executed an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex into the ladder on Jimmy Uso. Later in the match, Jimmy and Jey dropkicked a ladder into Big E. Jimmy performed a Running Hip Attack into a ladder which Jey held against Kingston, who was hung in the Tree of Woe. Kalisto performed a Salida Del Sol on Jey through a ladder bridged between another ladder and the ring ropes. The match ended when Xavier Woods threw his trombone at Kalisto, who was about to retrieve the title belts. Kingston retrieved the belts to retain the titles.^[1]

Next, Rusev faced Ryback. In the end, Ryback attempted Shell Shocked on Rusev but Rusev countered the move and performed a Roundhouse Kick on Ryback. Rusev applied the Accolade on Ryback, who passed out, giving Rusev the win.^[1]

After that, Alberto Del Rio defended the United States Championship against Jack Swagger in a Chairs match. During the match, Swagger attempted a Swagger Bomb on Del Rio but Del Rio countered with a chair shot to Swagger's midsection. Swagger applied a Patriot Lock whilst Del Rio's ankle was trapped inside a chair but Del Rio escaped the hold. The match ended when Del Rio executed a Diving Double Foot Stomp on Swagger, who was hung in the Tree of Woe, onto a pile of chairs and pinned Swagger to retain the championship.^[1]

In the fourth match, The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman) faced The ECW Originals (Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Tommy Dreamer, and Rhyno) in an eight-man tag team elimination tables match. Erick Rowan was eliminated after Bubba Ray and D-Von put him through a table with a 3D. Rhyno was eliminated by Harper after getting hit by a Big Boot causing Rhyno to fall through a table. D-Von was eliminated by Wyatt after a Uranage Slam through a table. Dreamer was eliminated after Harper performed a Suicide Dive on Dreamer, pushing him through a table. Bubba Ray poured lighter fluid on a table but Strowman put him through a table with a Chokeslam to win the match for The Wyatt Family.^[1]

Next, Kevin Owens defended the Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose. During the match, Ambrose performed a Suicide Dive on Owens and attempted a Rebound Lariat but Owens countered with a Fallaway Slam into the barricade on Ambrose, which he followed by a Running Senton. Owens performed a Super Rolling Fireman's Carry Slam on Ambrose for a near-fall. Owens attempted a Pop Up Powerbomb but Ambrose countered the move and executed Dirty Deeds. Ambrose pinned Owens but Owens placed a finger on the bottom rope to void the pinfall. In the end, Owens attempted a Pop Up Powerbomb but Ambrose countered with a Hurricanrana and pinned Owens with a roll-up to win the title.^[1]

In the sixth match, Charlotte (with Ric Flair) defended the WWE Divas Championship against Paige. During the match, Paige performed a Ram-Paige on Charlotte but Ric Flair placed Charlotte's foot on the bottom rope to void the pinfall. The match ended when Charlotte removed the cover from a turnbuckle and tripped Paige into the exposed turnbuckle, pinning Paige to retain the title.^[1]

Main event

In the main event, Sheamus defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. During the match, Reigns threw Sheamus into chairs set up on tables near the entrance way. Reigns attempted a Powerbomb on Sheamus but Sheamus countered with a Back Body Drop through a table, followed by a Drop Suplex through another table and White Noise off the steel steps through another table. Sheamus attempted a Rolling Fireman's Carry Slam but Reigns countered the move and executed a Deadlift Powerbomb onto a ladder on Sheamus, followed by a Samoan Drop through a ladder bridged between the ring and a broadcast table. Reigns knocked Sheamus off a ladder with a Superman Punch, causing Sheamus to fall through a table. In the climax, Reigns attempted to retrieve the title belt but Rusev and Alberto Del Rio pulled him off the ladder; Del Rio performed a Superkick on Reigns. Reigns executed Superman Punches on Rusev and Del Rio and pulled Sheamus off the ladder but Sheamus executed a Brogue Kick on Reigns. Sheamus retrieved the belt to retain the title.^[1]

After the match, Sheamus, Rusev, and Del Rio were celebrating until Reigns performed a double Spear on Rusev and Del Rio and attacked Sheamus with a chair. Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and WWE officials attempted to calm down Reigns, who, however, attacked Triple H with a Superman Punch, several chair shots, and a Powerbomb on a broadcast table, ending the attack with an Elbow Drop through the broadcast table. As medical personnel attempted to help Triple H out, Reigns delivered a Spear to Triple H.^[1]