WWE TLC: Kurt Angle returns to in-ring action, Finn Balor battles AJ Styles

Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Raw general manager and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle competed for the first time in 11 years Sunday at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs as the Olympic gold-medalist teamed up with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose in place of Roman Reigns.

Reigns was unable to compete and take part in The Shield's first match since reuniting earlier in October due to falling ill from a viral infection. WWE also announced that Bray Wyatt would also be unable to compete at TLC due to a viral infection and was replaced by Smackdown Live's AJ Styles to take on Finn Balor.

Angle was gifted a black SWAT uniform from Ambrose and Rollins before their main event match against Intercontinental Champion The Miz, Sheamus, Cesaro, Braun Strowman and Kane, making the Olympic hero an honorary member of The Shield.

In true Shield fashion, Angle accompanied the Raw Tag Team Champions to the ring by walking through the crowd. The bout, a 3-on-5 Handicap Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match, began with The Shield overcoming the odds and dominating their opponents by using chairs and neutralizing the big men first including Strowman and Kane.

A brutal conflict that included multiple Superstars being thrown through tables and struck by ladders, the numbers began to catch up to The Shield as Strowman took out Angle with a Running PowerSlam through a table that ended with Angle being taken to the back by medical personnel.

The Miz -- who played ringleader throughout -- then led Strowman, Kane, Cesaro and Sheamus to beat down Ambrose and Rollins until Kane accidentally struck Strowman with a chair. After a shoving match that was broken up by the others, The Miz called forth a garbage truck by the entrance to throw his opponents into.

After more brawls, The Miz's team started to implode as Kane and Strowman began to battle each other. After Strowman recovered from being thrown off the stage and having a string of chairs collapse onto him, The Monster Among Men attacked his teammates until he was thrown into garbage truck that was then told to drive away.

As Ambrose and Rollins were carried back to the ring to end the match, Angle reappeared and took out Sheamus on the ramp and drove Cesaro into a table using an Angle Slam. Ambrose and Rollins then drove Kane through a barricade leaving The Miz all by himself.

The Shield then teamed up on The A-lister and won the match after delivering each of their finishing moves and a Triple Powerbomb for the three count. The trio then celebrated in the ring together as Angle was seen smiling.

The special Smackdown vs. Raw confrontation between Styles and Balor in his demon form also sent the crowd into a frenzy as the pair met in a one-on-one match for the first time. Dubbed a dream match by WWE, the duo share a history together overseas as they appeared in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of the Bullet Club.

A competitive bout, The Demon won the match after he nailed Styles with a devastating Coup de Grace as he landed hard on the chest of The Phenomenal One. Afterwards, Styles and Balor showed respect to each other by sharing a Too Sweet in the middle of the ring, a signature hand gesture of the Bullet Club.

Also at TLC, former NXT star Asuka made her main roster debut against Emma. The Empress of Tomorrow won after Emma tapped out to the Asuka Lock after dominating earlier in the match.

Asuka has now put the Raw women's division on notice as she has remained undefeated since joining WWE in 2015.

Other moments from TLC included Sasha Banks defeating Alicia Fox during the kickoff match; Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann defeating Gentleman Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick; Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss retaining her title against Mickie James; Enzo Amore becoming the new Cruiserweight Champion by defeating Kalisto; and Jason Jordan defeating Elias after Jordan had interrupted Elias' concert multiple times.