The time for rap battles was over. And while we may have lots of jokes about how The Usos, The Bar and The New Day are the only teams who ever compete for the SmackDown Tag titles, there’s no denying they’ve put on some really good matches during their rivalry. So anticipation was high for the Triple Threat for Cesaro & Sheamus’ belts at TLC on Sun., Dec. 16 in San Jose.
While they got involved when things broke down, Jimmy & Jey were kept out of the action for a long time. The champs’ strategy was to turn the threeway into a two team affair and deny the Usos entry into the match. When an Uce finally tagged himself in, the twins almost got a pin after the Swiss Cyborg caught a Kofi Kingston crossbody into a vertical suplex before Jimmy flew and pressed the old head, but Cesaro broke up the pin.
Would you call this... teamwork? #WWETLC #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/LteQV0mb13
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 17, 2018
He almost returned the favor when he blindtagged Jey before a Samoan splash on Kofi, but that cover was interrupted, too.
The action was fast and furious from there, with the kind of suspense you expect when these teams lock up. There was also a veritable Superkick Party in the midst of it...
Superkicks aplenty, courtesy of the #UsoPenitentiary! @WWEUsos @WWECesaro #WWETLC #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/kbic5ujbym
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) December 17, 2018
When the dust cleared, though, The Bar’s strategy worked. With his partner having flattened the Usos on the floor with a Trust Fall, Cesaro was able to grab Xavier Woods foot on his way back through the ropes. That set Sheamy up for a Brogue Kick, and the champs retained.
Ice, ice...
Get complete TLC results and coverage of the entire card here.