TLC Predictions
Credit: WWE.com
After some gruesome weeks after Survivor Series, TLC is finally here. The last few weeks were some of the worst episodes of RAW in the show’s history although last week’s edition was better, it still wasn’t good. Not to say it did not have good parts in it, it just wasn’t a great overall show. Heading into TLC, some of the matches are actually in question leading up to the PPV. Finn Bálor is dealing with an undisclosed illness and Braun Strowman still hasn’t been cleared to compete yet. We’ll see in the next day or two with their situations and how the PPV will be planned if they are absent. The top RAW matchup will be Rollins/Ambrose for sure, but next in line is Strowman/Corbin, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. The one thing that I really liked on the latest episode of RAW was the main event TLC match with Rollins and Corbin. It gave a nice preview of the PPV and did a great job involved Heath Slater and Dean Ambrose. As far as this week’s SmackDown goes, it wasn’t exceptionally great, but the match between Asuka and Charlotte Flair was great for an episode of SmackDown. This PPV will have 12 matches, yes, you heard right! 12 matches… It will be a long show, but hopefully one that we will all enjoy and hopefully we can leave Sunday night with something meaningful to build upon. Here are my TLC predictions.
*Winners are bolded
* Match card is likely not in the exact order
1. Mixed Match Challenge Finals
Carmella and R-Truth vs. Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal
The Mixed Match Challenge has just been a jumbled up mess in the second season. While it has had entertaining moments, a lot of the competitors that were in the start of season did not finish the season out. I don’t really expect another season of this, although the first season was solid, the extra risk of injury is just not something that the WWE should pursue going forward. The winner of this match will have the number 30 entry in the upcoming Royal Rumble which is a cool idea. The idea of any of these competitors entering at 30 and winning the Rumble is virtually non-existent at the moment, but the superstar with the best chance in this match however, is Carmella. So, for that reason alone, I will choose the team of her and R-Truth.
2. Women’ Tables Match
Natalya vs. Ruby Riott
I really don’t know why this match is even on the card. This seems like a weekly RAW matchup. I can’t imagine it being a later in the card, but knowing how RAW has booked the last few weeks, who really knows. The rivalry itself hasn’t been that bad, but it just doesn’t seem like a PPV worthy match. I decided to pick Ruby Riott in this match, because I think that the Riott Squad will interfere and wear down Natalya. This match is one that could go either way, but in all honesty, the winner of this match could be the next superstar to go after the RAW Women’s Championship.
3. WWE Intercontinental Championship Match - Singles
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
I expect this match to be the PPV’s opener. They are going to want to start the show off right and I think that Rollins and Ambrose will do just that. The fact that this is just a singles match gives another indicator of that as well. This match should be one of the best of the night just on star power alone. I chose Dean Ambrose to win the title because it will give Rollins a believable way to drop the title, while moving on to take a shot at Lesnar’s Universal Championship. The next PPV for the main roster is the Royal Rumble and feel like a RAW superstar will be the winner, Rollins is obviously among the favorites to win. Rollins losing and Ambrose winning is a win-win situation for creative moving forward.
4. Chairs Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio are two of the all-time greats. This match should be another good one, but I feel like we are seeing the same thing every week with Randy Orton. The chairs match element adds to the rivalry, but this match doesn’t really do anything for me at the moment. I’m sure by the time the match ends there will be something to make us cringe, but I’m not expecting anything especially out of the ordinary.
5. Ladder Match
Elias vs. Bobby Lashley
This match has to be the dumbest matchup on the card, not the match itself, but the stipulation attached to it. A ladder match? Really??? Oh, but wait, they’re trying to grab a guitar to use it as a weapon. What??? This makes absolutely no sense. Out of the other title matches without a stipulation, they choose a ladder match for this one. I have a feeling we will look back at this match and feel the same way we feel about it today, puzzled, but perhaps more so. The Almighty Lashley is getting a very big push right now, so I think he is the winner of the match.
6. TLC Match
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
I personally think one the reasons why RAW has been so bad is because they have pushed this match without anything to attach to it. By that, I mean that Strowman has been unable to perform in the past month and Baron Corbin by himself just doesn’t win over a crowd. Corbin is decent in the ring, but other than that he is painfully average. I don’t even know if Strowman will be good to go in this match, but if he is, he wins. This is a match that we shouldn’t overthink. If Strowman is a go, he will decimate Corbin and he will lose his privilege as GM of RAW. The most interesting thing to come out of this match will be the RAW after for more insight of who the next GM may be. We’ll see if the match holds up, but from what I’m hearing, it doesn’t seem like Strowman will be cleared.
7. SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match – Triple Threat
The Bar vs. The New Day vs. The Usos
I could easily see The Bar retaining the titles in this match, but I just think The Usos are walking away as winners in this one. There is nothing really that makes me think that, it’s just a gut reaction. These three teams honestly could swap the titles for the next few months and it wouldn’t really make a difference in the SmackDown Tag Team division. We’ve seen these teams face off many, many times and I think this will be another one that will be solid, but won’t steal the show.
8. Men’s Singles Match
Finn Bálor vs. Drew McIntyre
This is another one that may not happen on Sunday. Bálor has been dealing with an undisclosed illness and his status for TLC is up in the air. If the match does happen, I think McIntyre wins though. It will be another good match between the two, but McIntyre is getting a big push and could honestly win the Royal Rumble next month. I can’t think of a scenario in which McIntyre loses, unless Dolph Ziggler shows up to interfere. This match is another showing of RAW having too much talent, but not enough space to fill.
9. RAW Women’s Championship Match- Singles
Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax
I had no idea where to put this match on the card. I have a feeling it could be later in the card, but I think this is the perfect spot. This rivalry has run its course. After this match, we don’t need to see these two competitors face-off ever again. To see the matchup at WrestleMania that we’re all looking forward to, one of the Women’s Championships need to be dropped. With that being said, Ronda Rousey isn’t losing her title to Nia Jax, or will she? We’ll find out, but I’m not expecting it.
10. WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match - Singles
Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander
The guys on 205 Live are starting to get some love. On the last SmackDown, we got to see Mustafa Ali against the WWE Champ, which was a very solid match. It’s good to see these guys on the main shows, because they honestly should be. In this title match, we’re going to see a rematch of the WWE Super Show-Down show stealer. This was the last time the title changed hands, with Buddy Murphy becoming the Cruiserweight Champ for the first time in his career. He has a great deal of momentum right now, so I really can’t see him dropping the title, however, if he does it will be to Cedric Alexander. Expect this to be another great match.
11. WWE Championship Match – Singles
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles
Should be one of the best, if not the best, matches on the card. These two superstars are at the top of the WWE food chain and will put on a show every single time they get into the ring. Daniel Bryan won the WWE title on SmackDown prior to Survivor Series, so I don’t think he will relinquish it this soon. AJ Styles is a natural underdog and this could be key for him later down the road if he gets another shot at the title, which he absolutely should. We might even get to see a renewal of the Styles/ Nakamura feud that we really didn’t see a conclusion in their first WWE run-in. This could easily be the main event, but I think there is still one more match that overshadows it.
12. SmackDown Women’s Championship Match – TLC Triple Threat
Becky Lynch vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte
This should be the match of the night and WWE should do the right thing by booking this match last on the card. It’s understandable if they don’t, but I think it should happen. Becky Lynch is returning to action, which is a huge plus in itself. She is the best thing in WWE by a large margin. I mentioned this earlier in the article, but I think Lynch drops her title in this match. I really hope she doesn’t, but at this point I can see her losing her title more than I can see Ronda losing hers. I don’t think this match could’ve been booked any better and it certainly will be enjoyable to watch and to add to the excitement, it will be a TLC match. I think Charlotte is the favorite to win the match at the moment, but I picked the Empress of Tomorrow to claim her first title on the main roster. Mella might be money, but Asuka is Gold. She is beyond over with the crowd and is so charismatic, I think this is her time to shine and I think this will be Match of the Year worthy. If Lynch loses the title, I don’t think the WWE should even entertain the idea anyone else winning the Royal Rumble. I personally think that Lynch should enter at number one and throw everyone over, but I know that isn’t realistic. Any competitor in this match could believably win this one, which shows that WWE creative is doing their job.
Yacs
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