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Boston — You wanted a fight? Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose gave you one at WWE TLC 2015.
Two of WWE’s most unpredictable brawlers went all out in a battle over the Intercontinental Title, but it was The Lunatic Fringe who proved to be the cagier one. Countering Owens’ Pop-Up Powerbomb with a breathtaking hurricanrana into a pin, Ambrose proved that precision beats power, and timing beats speed.
Check out photos from this Intercontinental Title war
Strategy was exactly what Ambrose needed going into this fight with Owens. Had the Intercontinental Champion had his way, The Lunatic Fringe would have been too mentally rattled to beat him before the match even began. The cerebral warfare started the moment Owens walked through the curtain with a microphone in his hands and disparaged the Boston faithful before vowing to stomp out the cockroach that is Dean Ambrose.
Those were fighting words, but The Lunatic Fringe didn’t immediately rush into a scuffle with the champion. Instead, he waited for the bell to ring and began unloading on his target. Both of these competitors have serious wrestling chops, but the opening minutes of this match looked less like a sports-entertainment contest and more like something you might see in the parking lot of a bar in the bad part of town.
Despite a frenzy from Ambrose, the early advantage belonged to Owens. The Canadian brawler dictated the pace by slowing his manic opponent down with chinlocks and cutting him off whenever Ambrose tried to work his way back into the bout. He may claim to be a prizefighter, but this was about more than just a paycheck for the Intercontinental Champion. Owens clearly enjoyed beating on his opponent.
Of course, Ambrose is the type of competitor you’d have to hit with a Buick if you wanted to stop him by sheer force alone. It wasn’t long before he knocked Owens to the outside of the ring, and then nailed him with a reckless dive through the ropes.
The Lunatic Fringe attempted to keep the pressure on Owens, but he was quickly blasted with a fallaway slam into the barricade followed by a running senton on the floor. It was a wildly effective offensive onslaught, which the champion capitalized on by rolling into the ring and waiting for Ambrose to be counted out.
It looked like Owens’ plan was going to pay off, but Ambrose managed to toss himself back in the ring a millisecond before he lost the bout. He was reeling, but Ambrose avoided a second running senton and then nearly knocked Owens out of his sleeveless shirt with his signature rebound clothesline.
Ambrose came close to winning the title with a flying elbow from the top rope, but Owens somehow kicked out. The Intercontinental Champion took control with a rolling fireman’s carry slam from the top rope that obliterated Ambrose’s insides.
Most Superstars would have been out for the count after that, but The Lunatic Fringe avoided the Pop-Up Powerbomb and scored with Dirty Deeds. It looked like Owens’ reign was over, but he hung on by reaching the bottom rope with two fingertips. Say what you want about the smug Superstar, but his ring presence is something to admire.
He ran out of good ideas after that, though. Owens should have taken a moment to gather himself. Instead, he went right back into battle and attempted to hit Ambrose with the Pop-Up Powerbomb for a second time. The Lunatic Fringe was ready, and he countered with a hurricanrana right into a pin attempt. Three seconds later and Dean Ambrose was the new Intercontinental Champion.
The Boston fans — true admirers of a scrappy fighter — erupted as Ambrose grabbed the immaculate white prize and hoisted his title in celebration. Expect that championship to look a lot less pristine in the weeks to come.
Boston — You wanted a fight? Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose gave you one at WWE TLC 2015.
Two of WWE’s most unpredictable brawlers went all out in a battle over the Intercontinental Title, but it was The Lunatic Fringe who proved to be the cagier one. Countering Owens’ Pop-Up Powerbomb with a breathtaking hurricanrana into a pin, Ambrose proved that precision beats power, and timing beats speed.
Watch video highlights from WWE TLC 2015, courtesy of WWE Network
Strategy was exactly what Ambrose needed going into this fight with Owens. Had the Intercontinental Champion had his way, The Lunatic Fringe would have been too mentally rattled to beat him before the match even began. The cerebral warfare started the moment Owens walked through the curtain with a microphone in his hands and disparaged the Boston faithful before vowing to stomp out the cockroach that is Dean Ambrose.
Check out photos from this Intercontinental Title war
Those were fighting words, but The Lunatic Fringe didn’t immediately rush into a scuffle with the champion. Instead, he waited for the bell to ring and began unloading on his target. Both of these competitors have serious wrestling chops, but the opening minutes of this match looked less like a sports-entertainment contest and more like something you might see in the parking lot of a bar in the bad part of town.
Watch exclusive videos from WWE TLC 2015
Despite a frenzy from Ambrose, the early advantage belonged to Owens. The Canadian brawler dictated the pace by slowing his manic opponent down with chinlocks and cutting him off whenever Ambrose tried to work his way back into the bout. He may claim to be a prizefighter, but this was about more than just a paycheck for the Intercontinental Champion. Owens clearly enjoyed beating on his opponent.
Of course, Ambrose is the type of competitor you’d have to hit with a Buick if you wanted to stop him by sheer force alone. It wasn’t long before he knocked Owens to the outside of the ring, and then nailed him with a reckless dive through the ropes.
The Lunatic Fringe attempted to keep the pressure on Owens, but he was quickly blasted with a fallaway slam into the barricade followed by a running senton on the floor. It was a wildly effective offensive onslaught, which the champion capitalized on by rolling into the ring and waiting for Ambrose to be counted out.
Relive WWE TLC 2015 on WWE Network
It looked like Owens’ plan was going to pay off, but Ambrose managed to toss himself back in the ring a millisecond before he lost the bout. He was reeling, but Ambrose avoided a second running senton and then nearly knocked Owens out of his sleeveless shirt with his signature rebound clothesline.
Ambrose came close to winning the title with a flying elbow from the top rope, but Owens somehow kicked out. The Intercontinental Champion took control with a rolling fireman’s carry slam from the top rope that obliterated Ambrose’s insides.
Watch insanely hard-hitting brawls
Most Superstars would have been out for the count after that, but The Lunatic Fringe avoided the Pop-Up Powerbomb and scored with Dirty Deeds. It looked like Owens’ reign was over, but he hung on by reaching the bottom rope with two fingertips. Say what you want about the smug Superstar, but his ring presence is something to admire.
He ran out of good ideas after that, though. Owens should have taken a moment to gather himself. Instead, he went right back into battle and attempted to hit Ambrose with the Pop-Up Powerbomb for a second time. The Lunatic Fringe was ready, and he countered with a hurricanrana right into a pin attempt. Three seconds later and Dean Ambrose was the new Intercontinental Champion.
The Boston fans — true admirers of a scrappy fighter — erupted as Ambrose grabbed the immaculate white prize and hoisted his title in celebration. Expect that championship to look a lot less pristine in the weeks to come.