On December 7, 2015, WWE Raw broadcast live from Charleston, South Carolina, with major storylines unfolding just days before the TLC pay-per-view. The night opened with Michael Cole welcoming viewers as the League of Nations—Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, and Rusev—stood confidently in the ring. Displaying their new theme music, Sheamus relished his WWE World Heavyweight Championship status, boasting about his rapid victory over Roman Reigns and declaring the group’s worldwide dominance. The proud display prompted the Charleston crowd to chant “You look stupid” and “USA! USA!,” but Sheamus countered, reveling in his heel persona.
“It’s 2015, folks, America just doesn’t cut it anymore.”
As the League celebrated their unity, Sheamus declared,
“Because we’re the best of the best of the best of the best of the best…”
A Clash of Powerhouses: Unexpected Faces Emerge
The entrance of the Wyatt Family interrupted the League’s bravado, leading Bray Wyatt to assert himself with unsettling authority:
“this is my world and I’m just allowing you to breath in it.”
Things escalated as the Dudley Boyz and Tommy Dreamer joined in, issuing a chaotic challenge. Bubba Ray Dudley promised to intensify the chaos:
“We’ll see your chaos and raise you to the extreme!”
When Rhyno, recently called up from NXT, arrived to back up the ECW Originals, the crowd sensed a brawl was imminent. Suddenly, Roman Reigns, accompanied by Dean Ambrose and the Usos, stormed to the ring, leading announcer Michael Cole to exclaim,
“Seismic response! This is going to be a massive fight. Hell may have frozen over, but hell is about to break loose.”
Opening Tag Team Mayhem Ignites Raw
The bell marked the start of an epic 16-man elimination match: League of Nations (Sheamus, Del Rio, Rusev, Barrett) vs. Wyatt Family (Wyatt, Strowman, Harper, Rowan) vs. The Dudleys, Tommy Dreamer & Rhyno vs. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & The Usos. This dynamic showdown featured rapid tags and fierce action. The first elimination came when Tommy Dreamer caught Erick Rowan with a DDT, ousting the Wyatts, followed by Team Extreme being pinned after Sheamus delivered the Brogue Kick to Bubba Ray Dudley.
The contest continued with hard-hitting highlights—Ambrose’s flying elbow on Rusev, a bearhug from Rusev on Jey Uso, and a wild sequence of tags. After Sheamus attempted his signature Brogue Kick, Roman Reigns countered expertly with a decisive Spear, clinching victory for his team in 23 minutes and setting the stage for tension ahead of TLC.
Backstage Stories and Ongoing Rivalries
Behind the scenes, Ric Flair and Charlotte discussed Charlotte’s controversial tactics, while a plug for the upcoming Steve Austin interview with Shawn Michaels teased fans for post-TLC content. In other storylines, Stardust’s bizarre antics caused friction with Titus O’Neil, who challenged Stardust to
“get you some. That’s what you need. Get you some.”
Meanwhile, Sheamus, interviewed by Renee Young, warned Reigns, claiming he was nowhere near championship material and predicting another short defeat at TLC.
Owens Faces Ziggler as Mind Games Escalate
Kevin Owens squared off against Dolph Ziggler while Tyler Breeze and Summer Rae, acting as self-proclaimed royalty, watched ringside. Their presence brought an air of mockery, but the match itself turned physical quickly, with Owens dominating early and Ziggler fighting back. Despite Ziggler’s resilience, including a top rope DDT and the Zig Zag for a near fall, Owens ended the match with his Pop-Up Powerbomb, securing the win after 19 grueling minutes.
Post-match, Dean Ambrose entered the ring, popcorn and soda in hand, and taunted Owens by flinging both at him, provoking a furious reaction and heating up their rivalry leading into TLC.
Women’s Tag Bout and the New Day’s Comic Interlude
Sasha Banks and Naomi (with Tamina) triumphed over Alicia Fox and Brie Bella, capitalizing on interference and teamwork for the win. Their celebration was interrupted by The New Day, who handed unicorn horns to the victorious women and led a dance in the ring, continuing their streak of outrageous and comedic segments. The New Day later explained they didn’t need ladders to defend their tag titles, poking fun at pop culture and their anticipated upcoming ladder match at TLC.
Lucha Dragons Score Upset Over Tag Champs
The New Day faced the Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) in a spirited contest. After Big E’s dominance, a distraction involving Xavier Woods and the Usos allowed Kalisto to roll up Kofi Kingston, giving the Lucha Dragons an important win heading into the high-stakes TLC ladder match.
Reigns Responds to Sheamus: More Than Just Taunts
Renee Young caught up with a confident Roman Reigns, taunting Sheamus about his style and promising to deliver punishment:
“We’ll see who goes to school and who doesn’t.”
Miz TV with Charlotte and Ric Flair Sees Tensions Soar
Miz welcomed Charlotte and her father Ric Flair to Miz TV, pressing Charlotte over claims about her ruthless demeanor. The exchange quickly turned heated, with Charlotte firing back,
“I feel sorry for your wife.”
Paige soon appeared to stoke further conflict, leading Ric Flair to proudly declare,
“We are Flairs and we are champions.”
Paige responded by slapping Ric, triggering a ringside altercation as Charlotte attacked Paige, intensifying their feud ahead of the pay-per-view showdown.
Rusev and Lana’s Schemes Against Ryback
Rusev, flanked by Lana, took on Ryback in a physical contest. Mid-match, Lana faked another injury, creating distraction for Rusev to attack. As Ryback checked on Lana, Rusev ambushed him, leading to a disqualification victory for Ryback. The segment cemented the pair’s deceptive heel tactics and continued their antagonism toward their rival.
Jack Swagger Defeats Stardust Amid Interference
While Jack Swagger faced Stardust, Del Rio and Zeb Colter’s arrival created chaos at ringside. Swagger found an opening and finished Stardust with the Patriot Lock. After the bell, Del Rio attacked Swagger, only for Titus O’Neil to warn him,
“Del Rio, watch out! Watch out!”
The confrontation ended with Del Rio retreating, setting up more hostilities between the U.S. Champion and his challenger.
Tommy Dreamer Falls to Braun Strowman’s Power
Tommy Dreamer, representing Team Extreme, confronted Braun Strowman. Despite Dreamer’s early offense, Strowman’s brute strength proved overwhelming, subduing Dreamer quickly with a crushing submission maneuver and notching an easy victory for the Wyatt Family powerhouse.
The Final Confrontation: Roman Reigns Delivers the ‘Tater Tot’ Taunt
As the main event segment began, Roman Reigns stood in a ring surrounded by tables, ladders, and chairs, signaling his readiness to face Sheamus. Calling out his rival, Reigns taunted Sheamus for his earlier claims, using a pointed joke about Irish stereotypes that ignited the infamous “Tater Tot” chant. Sheamus initially hesitated to approach, wary of Reigns’ traps:
“What do you say there, tater tot? Does that look better for you?”
Reigns continued taunting, building momentum with the crowd:
“Everybody, you’re scaring the Tater Tot. He’s terrified. He flinched like a little girl right now. I mean, come on. I’ve challenged your manhood. Are you a champion, or are you a footnote, son?”
The tension boiled over as Sheamus finally rushed the ring, leading to a wild brawl that saw both men trade offense at ringside, on the stage, and through set pieces around the arena. The chaos climaxed when Reigns speared Sheamus through a stack of tables, leaving both men battered.
A Night of Intensity and Conflict Sets the Stage for TLC
The December 2015 Raw episode showcased WWE’s storytelling at its most volatile, with shifting allegiances, backstage outbursts, and confrontational promos. The chaotic opening, unpredictable eliminations, and the heated Reigns-Sheamus confrontation generated buzz, especially when Reigns’ “Tater Tot” taunt became the subject of chants and online debate. The night reinforced Roman Reigns’ status as a divisive figure—capable of stoking laughter and skepticism in equal measure. With TLC looming, the episode left fans anticipating whether Reigns could finally overcome Sheamus for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship or if the League of Nations’ dominance would continue.
