[2009-12-13-WWE-Tables, Ladders & Chairs] John Cena vs Sheamus (Tables)

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWE Champion John Cena vs Sheamus - TLC 2009 Tables Match

 

I think until the Jinder Mahal victory this has to be the biggest upset in WWE history. I was thinking this was just a placeholder challenger in a dead month (December) until Cena would go on to bigger and better things ala Batista, but the WWE had other things in mind.

 

I am a huge Sheamus fan, by far my favorite WWE wrestler of this decade (2010s). He combines the stiff, hard-nosed stylings of Greg The Hammer Valentine with the deepest offensive arsenal in WWE since Bret The Hitman Hart and the raw bone power of a Dr. Death Steve Williams. Until AJ Styles arrived on the scene in 2016, Sheamus, in my opinion, was the best offensive wrestler in the WWE. I have never seen this match. You don't really get a feel for Sheamus' wide array of power moves in this particular match. You do get that he hits hard and he is relentless. Cena blitzes him early but a reverse elbow and clothesline (Cena loves that as his transition to heat, but it is so bland) put Sheamus in the driver's seat. Sheamus has such great punches. I thought Cena showed a lot of good intensity in this. Really bringing the fight to Sheamus sometimes he puts too much stock into selling and forgets to kick some ass. Stuff like Cena's punches and suplexing him on the steel entrance way looked great. I thought the table teases were dramatic, but the table setting up was dragging the match down. There was one point where Sheamus Brogue Kicks Cena but nothing happens for 1-2 minutes because Sheamus is fiddle-fucking with a table. Cena comeback time. Sheamus has the wherewithal to remove a table that has been set up in the corner in the midst of all this so that Cena cant FU him. Cena hits the FU. Cena takes forever to get the table set up. Superplex struggle. It is really lame. It is not like Sheamus shoved him off. It is more like Cena lost his balance and went crashing through the table.

 

Ending was weak, but they needed to protect Cena. The brawling was pretty mediocre. Sheamus looked damn good on top but I know he can be even better. Not an auspicious start to the Sheamus push, but not totally horrible. Table matches are tough and a limiting gimmick. Besides Dudleyz/Hardyz from Royal Rumble 2000 don't know if I have ever seen a great one. ***