WWE Unleashes Festive Excitement in Orlando!

ORLANDO, Florida — Santa Claus graced the event dressed in shimmering green and red basketball shorts. They were the loose-fitting style that all the kids sported when I was a young teenager. He held a questionable Solo cup in his grasp, I would dread to imagine Santa had partaken in drinks before his significant Fatal Four Way Tag Team Encounter. After all, the championships were in play.

The nefarious Grayson Waller displayed a lack of festive spirit early as he snatched Santa’s hat and then landed an elbow drop on it. It was at this moment that Santa’s second beard appeared and took its position…upon his head.

The audience grew restless, “Santa! Santa!” they chanted, rallying behind Santa’s partner Montez Ford. If only he could tag in, Santa could unleash all his cheer upon the grinch villains. Eventually, Ford made the tag, and the crowd erupted as Santa took control.

Unfortunately, the merriment was short-lived. Santa fell victim to the grinch known as Gargano, who rolled him up and pinned him. However, not all was lost. Montez and B-Fab returned Santa’s hat, restoring normalcy in the world.

“Santa” with a front headlock

This kind of nonsense permeated the Kia Center in Orlando as WWE held a live house show. Santa Claus, or rather Angelo Dawkins, donned a makeshift Santa hat and beard, or two beards, to be precise. But he deserves recognition for his impressive ring attire that sparkled.

The roster was enjoying themselves just as much as the spectators. In addition to Santa Claus, Rhea Ripley, Naomi, and Bianca engaged in some headbanging. Ripley then requested Bianca to smack her with Bianca’s signature long hair.

On various occasions, the heels pilfered hats, destroyed signs, or referred to fans in derogatory terms. It initiated early when Grayson Waller, performing at his most irritating tonight, seized a cowboy hat from a gentleman in the front row. He even pretended to return it to the guy, only to toss it on the floor in front of him.

Tommaso Ciampa ripped a fan’s sign in two on his way to the ring and generally appeared to be in a rotten mood. He was sweating and furious. His attitude towards Santa might have hinted at why he was so irritable.

The venue was packed, not completely sold out, but at least 12,000 people filled the arena. A significant number of them were children, and it was delightful to witness kids back at wrestling events. They were genuinely engaged in the matches in a way that differs from adults, especially the adult smart marks in attendance.

A young girl next to me was adorned in Jey Uso gear. Her father had purchased her a shirt and a winter cap, both featuring “Yeet” stitched on them. When Jey made his entrance, the crowd went wild. The young lady was so thrilled she stood on her chair, waving her arms and Yeeting along with the fans.

After Bayley triumphed over Tiffany Stratton, she lingered around ringside signing autographs for the children. An adult pushed his way in front of one kid, and WWE security promptly intervened, ensuring the child could receive the autograph. It happened swiftly and seamlessly, which could describe much about the professionalism of the event.

WWE operates like a well-oiled machine. The start time was 7:30, and the show commenced precisely at 7:30. Then it concluded at exactly 10:30. I glanced at my phone as Cody took the mic, and it read 10:30, which is remarkable that they ran precisely three hours.

Cody remained afterwards to autograph items. He informed the crowd he would continue until Charles Robinson instructed him it was time to leave. As we departed, he was encircled by fans, mostly children.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the event. There was only minor traffic to and from the Kia Center, which is astonishing if you’re familiar with Orlando traffic conditions. It was refreshing to see the wrestlers having a low-pressure opportunity to gain experience in the ring and have fun. Other than the main event, each match incorporated some comedic element.

Aside from Dawkins appearing as Santa, we also witnessed Charles Robinson’s endeavor to carry Nia Jax to the back. If you are unfamiliar with one or both of these individuals, let’s say Nia Jax is a sizable woman while Charles is not exactly a large individual. The two ultimately crumbled into the mats with Charles painfully serving as a crash pad. Ouch!

Rhea Ripley, Naomi, and Bianca vs. Pure Fusion Collective

The crowd erupted when Rhea’s music played. I don’t believe anyone anticipated her presence. They engaged in a straightforward match with Rhea scoring the pin. Fun match.

Winners: Rhea, Naomi, and Bianca

Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade

Hayes performed some heel mic work prior to the match. He declared that the Orlando Magic are awful, which is certainly not the case, I assure you. Melo also joked about tossing Andrade into the audience but redirected him back into the ring. The crowd groaned. It was a decent match, albeit with too many kickouts. Andrade emerged victorious.

Winner: Andrade

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Ciampa and Gargano vs. A-Town Down Under vs. The Santa Profits

In a chaotic match like this, it’s challenging to stand out. Angelo Dawkins achieved this by donning a Santa costume. Grayson Waller did so the difficult way. He was exceptionally annoying throughout the match, and the audience was poised to witness someone give him a good slap. Gargano secured the cheap victory by rolling up Santa.

Winners: Gargano and Ciampa

Afterward, The Street Profits theatrically placed the Santa Hat back onto Angelo’s head. The audience loved it.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Bayley

It took some time to engage the crowd in this match. They were cheering by the end, but it was eerily quiet for much of it. Bayley secured the victory.

Winner: Bayley

The Usos vs. The Bloodline

The Usos reunited to confront their despised adversaries. It was an entertaining match, but Solo’s antics at ringside stole the spotlight. He continually bantered with a fan in the crowd, pointing at him and making motions about the guy’s large belly. The crowd found it hilarious. They were even more amused watching Solo go through a table. Nevertheless, Solo did assist his team in attaining victory.

Winners: The Bloodline

The Bloodline arrives in Orlando

Intermission

As I approached the merchandise stalls, I assumed it would be a lengthy queue. However, similar to other aspects of the event, the line progressed rapidly and seamlessly. I managed to acquire the event program along with an autographed picture of Cody Rhodes. The program is more akin to an art book, serving as an extraordinary piece of work.

The sleek program for the Orlando show

Unholy Union v. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter

I’m simply theorizing here, but it appeared that this contest was scheduled after intermission to prevent people from feeling hurried to return to their seats. Unfortunately, it was not an entertaining match. A spectator behind me, who had been enjoying the remainder of the event, abruptly yelled “That just looked foolish” during this matchup. Not a good sign. Chance and Carter emerged victorious.

Winners: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter

Nia Jax v. Michin

A disappointing match. At one juncture, the action halted because Michin was unable to locate a table under the ring. A similar situation occurred later when she was unable to find a kendo stick. Near the end of the match, Tiffany Stratton hinted at cashing in her briefcase, which has become rather stale. Every event she does the same and never actually follows through.

Winner: Nia Jax

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

This encounter had a markedly more serious atmosphere. There were no ridiculous stunts, aligning with the intensity of their televised rivalry. They were enclosed in a cage, but neither attempted anything overly dangerous. The audience was engaged in the match. Cody secured victory by scaling the cage while Owens tried to escape through the door. It made for a sufficiently controversial finish.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

TOP PHOTO: WWE Live Holiday Tour at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Photo by Thomas Starr