WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus def. Roman Reigns (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match)

BOSTON — Sheamus retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match against Roman Reigns at WWE TLC after The League of Nations intervened. But Reigns unleashed a rampage after the match, denting chairs over Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio and Rusev, and destroying WWE COO Triple H.

Get WWE Network now |  Video: Roman Reigns in 8-bit?

BOSTON — “One versus all.” Roman Reigns’ rallying cry ultimately cost him the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Tables, Ladders & Chairs, as Sheamus retained his title thanks to an assist from The League of Nations.

Although Sheamus left with the title, Reigns was the only man standing at the end of the night, as he destroyed everyone in sight, including WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H, as WWE TLC came to a close.

Watch WWE TLC on WWE Network |  Update: Triple H being evaluated

Reigns has been climbing to the mountaintop for most of 2015. At Survivor Series, he seemingly reached it, outlasting sports-entertainment’s top stars in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament. Only “5:15” later, Sheamus kicked him off the summit, spoiling the moment by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. To get redemption at WWE TLC, Reigns not only had to climb again — this time in a literal sense — but he also had to battle Sheamus’ numbers advantage.

The no-disqualification Tables, Ladders & Chairs stipulation made for the perfect lack of rules for these destructive competitors. The first Superstar to climb a ladder and pull down the WWE World Heavyweight Championship would leave with the title. Every bruise dished out along the way was a bonus.

Check out photos of the destruction |  Full WWE TLC 2015 coverage

Reigns wasted no time in handing out the first one, clubbing Sheamus with a series of hard right hands as soon as the bell rang. He pummeled The Celtic Warrior in the early goings, knocking the champion to the ringside floor and tossing him into the timekeeper’s area. Sheamus tried to battle back, but Reigns continued to punish, dragging him toward the entrance ramp before throwing him into a pile of tables, ladders and chairs, and denting a chair over Sheamus’ elbow.

When the champion staggered back to his feet, though, he managed to counter Reigns’ offense and dropped him through a pair of tables. He followed up by throwing The Big Dog through a third table with White Noise. Reigns appeared to be down, but he wasn’t out.

As Sheamus rose from the wreckage and stumbled back into the ring, Reigns crawled after him, grabbing his boots. Insulted, Sheamus slid back to the outside, where he grabbed The Big Dog’s hair and began to toy with him like a cat playing with a mouse. “You want a fight, right?” Sheamus tauntingly yelled as Reigns lay on the ringside floor. The fight was far from over, though.

The Celtic champion laid down a ladder in the ring, seeking to deliver a final blow with an Irish Curse backbreaker; Reigns narrowly countered with a one-armed powerbomb onto the steel. Sheamus writhed in pain, holding his elbow and showing the effects of Reigns’ earlier beating on the entrance ramp. 

Sheamus cashes in at Survivor Series |  Throwback photos: Roman Reigns in NXT

With momentum bouncing back and forth, Sheamus set up for the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán. Reigns powered out with a series of elbows, then slammed Sheamus with a Samoan Drop through a ladder propped between the ring apron and announcer’s desk.

Both competitors were down, and the race to grab the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was on.

Watch highlights, courtesy of WWE Network |  Full WWE TLC results

The challenger nearly pulled in the title, but Sheamus knocked over the ladder. The champion nearly unhooked his prized possession, until Reigns ran up the rungs and hit him with Superman Punch at the top of the ladder, causing Sheamus to fall through a table. 

With Sheamus down and the title inches away, Reigns was closing in on his second WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign.

At that moment, The Big Dog’s crowning moment of glory crashed and burned. 

Roman Reigns had his fingertips on the WWE World Heavyweight Title, but United States Champion Alberto Del Rio and Rusev — members of Sheamus’ League of Nations — came to the champion’s rescue. Del Rio kicked Reigns to the outside, where Rusev locked in the Accolade while Del Rio pushed Sheamus into the ring.

Reigns fought valiantly despite the numbers disadvantage, connecting with Superman Punches to Del Rio and Rusev. Unfortunately, he couldn’t avoid Sheamus’ Brogue Kick, which ultimately allowed the champion to climb to the top and reclaim his title. 

Full WWE TLC 2015 coverage |  What awaits Reigns after his attack?

Much like Sheamus’ interruption of Reigns’ celebration at Survivor Series, the defeated Reigns spoiled the post-match party, spearing The League of the Nations before dishing out 11 chair blasts to Sheamus, Del Rio and Rusev. With Sheamus’ skin a beet red, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and a host of referees rushed to the ring and pleaded with Reigns. As Triple H checked on the wounded champion, he yelled for Reigns to leave the ring and said, “You’re a loser.” 

The rabid Big Dog responded with a devastating Superman Punch and a vicious dismantling of WWE’s Chief Operating Officer. He dented a chair over the COO seven times before powerbombing him onto the Spanish announce table. While Stephanie begged Reigns for mercy, he drove Triple H through the table with an elbow drop. Reigns walked to the back, but when he saw the referees try to carry Triple H to the back, he charged back and split the COO in half with a Spear. 

Watch exclusive post-TLC interviews |  Triple H to be evaluated

Reigns unleashed months of frustration out on The League of Nations as WWE TLC came to a close. It was only fitting since Sheamus and his international crew spoiled two of the biggest nights of his WWE career. However, even as Sheamus, the League and Triple H lay unconscious on the ground, Stephanie McMahon promised Reigns would “pay for this.” The Roman Empire’s war may have just gotten a little too big.