TLC Predictions

TLC Predictions 

by Justin Blakeman

Well for those who didn't know there is a WWE PPV tonight. This years edition of WWE TLC has kind of snuck up on us and not for the reasons you may expect. It has been a rough couple of weeks for the WWE. Ratings have been steadily dropping, a number of superstars are injured or taking time off, and the product in general has really be in a slump for the last 3 weeks. WWE seems to be throwing everything they have at the wall, hoping something will stick. The card for tonight's show seems good enough and the TLC PPV gimmick always has the opportunity to provide exciting matches. But the lack of faith in WWE's current product is really killing the buzz for TLC. Never the less I am here to talk about my predictions for the show tonight. For what ever reason no matter how bad the product gets, I am always excited and optimistic about WWE's PPVs. So lets not wait any longer, here are my predictions for tonights PPV. 

TLC Kickoff Match: Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch 

Like most of the online wrestling community I was really surprised by the announcement to make Sasha face Becky in the pre-show match. These two women can flat out wrestle and they have put on a number of fantastic matches during their time in NXT. I feel like WWE is really squandering a chance for a great match and feud by putting these two in a throw away match before the show. But that being said I don't want to be totally negative in my prediction for this one. We know these two can put on a good match together and I think they will use their kick off show spot as fuel to put on a great match! I would also rather have them in the pre-show than not in the show at all. These two need to be on every WWE PPV in some capacity. It seems like WWE is behind Sasha and Team Bad so I will go out on a limb and say Sasha gets the victory tonight. But you really never know with WWE Creative anymore. 

Winner: Sasha Banks with the help of Team Bad. 

Match 1: Rusev with Lana vs Ryback

This is one of a few matches on tonight's card that just don't make any sense. It feels like WWE started these feud's and then changed creative plans. But they forgot they still had the feuds going on so they said "Screw it we are going to have the matches anyway." If you have been watching Raw you would know that this feud started after Ryback accidentally hit Lana during one of his matches with Rusev. Thats all well and good and is a standard WWE story line but later that night Rusev joined the League of Nations. This put him in a totally new story line that didn't involve Lana and kinda of seemed to put an end to the feud he started earlier in the show. But here we are are few Lana bumps later with a match at TLC. This match will probably be nothing to write home about and it will probably not go down as an instant classic. But it could be a decent short match to fill time for tonights show. I guess is that Rusev will walk away with the win and I hope they use this match to build the League of Nations up some how. Maybe a run in or a post match beat down of the Baby Face Ryback. The League of Nations needs heat and they need to build up the guys they have been destroying for the last year. I also hope this puts Rusev back on the path of destruction he was on before his feud with Cena. 

Winner: Rusev  

Match 2: Del Rio vs Jack Swagger for the United States Title: 

This match suffers from the same problems the Ryback and Rusev match face. This was a feud that started prior to the League of Nations being created. It started when Zeb Colter joined Del Rio to create a new nation called Mex-America. The concept really never caught on with fans and Del Rio's character fell flat because of it. WWE naturally put him in a feud with Jack Swagger who use to work with Zeb Colter. I am a fan of Jack Swagger so I liked the idea of having him back on WWE TV but the feud just really doesn't mean anything. I think I speak for everyone when I say that Jack Swagger stands no chance against Del Rio. Jack has not been on Raw in months and I just don't see them bringing him up from Superstars to win a title over a big name like Del Rio. The only way Swagger has a chance is if Zeb comes out to help him get the win. If given the chance I think a Swagger (Real American) US Title run could be a lot of fun. But I just don't see it happening. 

Winner: Del Rio Wins clean with no problems

Match 3: Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens for the IC Title: 

I feel like its a common theme for this PPV but this is yet another match that has suffered from an awkward build thanks to story line changes. This feud started off with a lot of potential just due to the guys involved. Ambrose and Owens can both cut great promos and they can put on fantastic matches. Unfortunately Owens came down with an illness and missed a week of shows which left an awkward week of no action for this feud. Then WWE created the League of Nations which required Roman Reigns to make his own team which pulled Ambrose away from this feud and really made it seem insignificant. Once Owens returned this feud still received minimal focus and the only real heat between the two men was when Ambrose threw pop corn in Owens face during the go home show. I feel like this has the potential to a great match. I honestly can't think of a poor match involving Owens since he moved to the main roster. I think he and Dean will work well together and I look for this feud to continue into next year. Both of these guys could use a nice PPV win but I think Owens will take it to Ambrose and get the win tonight. 

Winner: Kevin Owens in a tough match with lots of back and forth action.

Match 4: Triple Threat Ladder Match for the Tag Team Titles

Now this is the match I am looking forward to! I think this will be the show stealer for tonights show. These are three very good tag teams, that have all held tag team gold at some point in their WWE careers. (Yes I know Lucha Dragons have only held NXT Gold But Still.) I believe these guys will be focused and ready to bring the house down tonight. They all like to fly and put their bodies on the line and I think every guy is  hungry to make a splash on a show that needs a few big moments. This is the perfect opportunity for WWE to recreate a little Team Extreme, Dudley's, and Edge and Christian magic. Now I know that nothing will be like those matches were but this one could be as close as we get to it if the guys are given the time and the free will to do what they want during the match. I just can't give this match enough hype and I hope it lives up to my expectations. I feel like New Day is nearing the end of their Tag Titles run but I really don't see it happening tonight. This would be the perfect opportunity for them to lose and not be pinned which would give them some solid griping material. But I think the numbers game will once again lean in New Days favor and they will walk away with the Tag Titles tonight. That plus they are selling merchandise like crazy right now so WWE knows they are a hot team. 

Winner: NEEEEEEEW DAAAAAAAY "HORNS UP" 

Match 5: Charlotte vs Paige for the WWE Diva's Title: 

This is an interesting rematch from last months PPV. The match may be the same but the story is totally different in every possible way. For starters both women are now apparently heel. This will add an interesting dynamic to the match, my guess is that WWE expects us to cheer for Charlotte because her heel turn seems to be a slow turn. I am actually really enjoying the Charlotte turn and hope they continue to slowly turn her and add layers to the story between her and Paige. Paige lost their last match clean so I assume she will not be winning this match tonight.  

Winner: Charlotte thanks to some Dirty trick she learned cause she is a Flair 

Match 6: The Wyatt Family vs The Team ECW

The faction bug seems to infecting WWE's product lately and for this case I am fine with it. I like the idea of bringing back some of big name ECW guys to have a short feud with the Wyatt's. That being said this needs to be a short one match feud that is dominated by the Wyatt's. The Wyatt Family has been a joke all year. They continue to pick fights they can't win and for them to turn things around they need to go on a massive dominant run. That run needs to start tonight and they need to crush the ECW guys leaving now doubt who the better team was. This is what I hope happens and it will be my predictions for the match tonight. 

Winner: The Wyatt Family 

Match 7: Roman Reigns vs Sheamus for the WWE World Heavy Weight Championship

This is it the final match of the night, the big main event! This match has take a lot of heat this week and it seems like no one is really looking forward to it. I think it will be a solid match with a few big spots. Both guys are good wrestlers and I think they will deliver a good enough match. This is clearly not the match most fans wanted and the build for the match has left a lot to be desired. The end of Raw on Monday night was just terrible and did not sell me on the match. I think Sheamus will get the win tonight and the hard road for Roman will continue into the next PPV. I hope they tell some kind of story with this match tonight and set us up with some reason to care going into Raw. I am fine with Roman winning the title or losing the match, I just want some solid story telling and I want a reason to care about either guys at this point. I think Sheamus wins the title tonight with the help of the League of Nations. 

Winner: Sheamus and the League of Nations 

Well those are my picks for the show tonight. I look for it to be a pretty fun show even if the build to the show has not quite been there. The card it's self has potential and TLC always has a chance to impress. I can't wait for the show to start I am looking forward to it and I hope you all enjoy it!!!