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As 2020 comes to a close and we look forward to 2021, WWE looks to end the year on a high note as it presents its annual Tables, Ladders, and Chairs event. It'll be the first WWE pay-per-view since the company moved the ThunderDome to Tropicana Field.
Similar to the Hell in a Cell Match, the TLC match can end heated feuds. Because the stipulation is attached to a pay-per-view, the match's significance has declined in recent years. Still, TLC is one of the better gimmick matches WWE offers. These bouts usually deliver in the ring. This year should be no different, as we have two TLC matches for the WWE and Universal Championships.
With WWE's tendency to add matches to pay-per-views at the last minute, don't be surprised if one or two more matches are added to the card ahead of Sunday's event. As of this writing, there are six matches currently scheduled for this Sunday's show.
On the WWE RAW side of the card, The New Day will once again defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Business. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against the RAW Women’s Champion Asuka, who will need to find herself a new tag team partner, as Jax and Baszler took out Lana this week.
Also, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt will take on Randy Orton in the first-ever Firefly Inferno Match. In the main event for the red brand, Drew McIntyre will defend the WWE Championship against “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles in a TLC Match.
On the SmackDown side of the card, Sasha Banks will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against the recently returned and repackaged Carmella. The two Stars have been engaged in a bitter rival in recent weeks. In the main event for the blue brand, Roman Reigns will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a TLC Match.
Without further ado, here are five things that could happen at this Sunday's TLC pay-per-view.
5.) Charlotte Flair will return as Asuka's tag team partner at WWE TLC
Jax and Baszler will be taking on Asuka and a mystery partner, as the duo took out Lana with a vicious attack on this week’s episode of RAW.
It is unclear why WWE took Lana out of this Sunday's match. TLC was the perfect place for Lana to put Jax through a table and finally get her revenge after months of torment at Jax's hand. With Lana ruled out for Sunday, Asuka won't have to go far to find a partner. There's someone who has been out of action for months, and she'll likely be looking for revenge.
If you remember earlier in the year, Jax injured Charlotte Flair’s shoulder and took her out of action. Aside from the Royal Rumble Match, there is no better opportunity than WWE TLC for “The Queen” to make her return. Not only does this direction for Sunday make sense, but the RAW Women’s Division desperately needs Flair.
A Charlotte return this Sunday make sense from a storyline perspective, as Jax is the woman that took her out months ago. Plus, it will also give the RAW women’s division some needed star power and a new challenger for Asuka.
4.) Roman Reigns will continue to dominate at WWE TLC
WWE Univeral Champion Roman Reigns has turned his his attention to his next challenger, the revitalized and fearless Kevin Owens. This match came to be after Owens had enough of Reigns and Jey Uso on WWE SmackDown. Owens specficially had an issue with Reigns' treatment of his cousin.
While we saw this feud and match take place three years ago, the dynamic has shifted a lot since that encounter. Back then, Owens was the cowardly heel that was just scraping by with the help of his best friend, Chris Jericho. On the other hand, Reigns was the babyface that fans did not like whatsoever.
Fast forward three years, and now Owens is a hero. The fans are even more behind him now than they were three years ago, even when he was a heel. Meanwhile, Reigns has completely transformed, as he has become the top heel in WWE. These two put on a great match at the Royal Rumble in 2017, and there’s no reason why they won’t do so again on Sunday.
The only downside to this feud is that this will likely be a one-off match, as rumors are swirling that Reigns will likely be feuding with Daniel Bryan after WWE TLC. Even if this wasn’t a one-off match, Reigns would likely still win here. His reign of terror is just getting started, and it probably won’t end until WrestleMania at the earliest.
The likely outcome for this match will involve Uso costing Owens the victory. This approach would keep Owens looking strong in defeat. It would also add to the dynamic between Reigns and Uso. Reigns might again berate Uso for his interference. There's eventually going to be a payoff to Reigns' constantly abuse of Uso. Sunday could be the next step toward that explosive clash.
3.) The Fiend will defeat Randy Orton in the Firefly Inferno Match at WWE TLC
This Sunday at TLC, Randy Orton must once again face the demons of his past as he takes on “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. It is unclear what exactly the rules of this Firefly Inferno Match will be. It could be like the rules of the original Inferno Matches, or it could be like the Ring of Fire Match from WWE SummerSlam 2013.
Much like Reigns' bout with Owns, this is a match that took place three years ago. At WrestleMania 33, Orton defeated Wyatt to win the WWE Championship. The two also had a House of Horrors Match at WWE Backlash the same year, and Wyatt emerged victorious at this show. Since then, Orton has returned to his “Legend Killer” gimmick, and Wyatt has transformed into The Fiend.
It is difficult to determine who is the babyface and who is the heel in this feud. On one hand, Orton spent a few months punting legends in the head. On the flip side, The Fiend seems to be mentally manipulating Alexa Bliss. He feels like a heel in this storyline.
Plus, by costing Orton at shot at the WWE Championship, The Fiend somewhat cemented his heelish role. Still, Orton tried to set Wyatt on fire on this week's episode of WWE RAW, so there might not be a clear face in this feud.
Both stars have struggled in high-profile matches recently. Of the two of them, Orton can afford to take a loss here and give The Fiend some much needed momentum. The added stipulation could protect Orton, as he might not have to take a pinfall in order to lose.
With an Edge return potentially on the horizon, WWE is likely trying to run out the clock until he returns. If he does, the rivals will likely pick up where they left off.
Since the rules of this match are unclear at this time, it is hard to predict an outcome. But let's assume that this will be a cinematic match that will have special rules. If that's the case, Bliss will likely help The Fiend defeat Orton.
The monster could throw Orton into the fire, or he could apply the Mandible Claw for the pinfall victory. Either scenario would keep Orton looking strong in defeat, and either one would give The Fiend a victory he really needs.
2.) Drew McIntyre will defeat AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre will defend the WWE Championship against AJ Styles in a TLC Match on Sunday.
This match could be considered a dream match for some fans, as both men can go in the ring. Most importantly though, this match is a breath of fresh air for McIntyre, as he had been feuding with Randy Orton since August. As for Styles, he is rolling into this match on a hot streak. Styles is undefeated since he got drafted to the red brand.
An important thing to note about this match is that it was reportedly not the original plan, as Braun Strowman was penciled in to face McIntyre at TLC. Depending on the severity of a reported injury, one would figure this Styles-McIntyre match is a one-off to get McIntyre to the Royal Rumble. There, Strowman might get his chance.
It's also important to consider all the variables involved. The looming threat of The Miz and the Money in the Bank briefcase could affect this match. There's also McIntyre’s friend Sheamus, who could interfere, too.
McIntyre will probably defeat Styles with a clean finish. After the match, McIntyre will be exhausted and beat up, so The Miz could try to cash in. But Sheamus might stop him from going through with it.. With this scenario, you can keep the build going towards a feud between Sheamus and McIntyre, which feels like it's inevitable.
1.) The Hurt Business will win the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships
One of the more underlooked matches on the WWE TLC card is the match for the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships. This match will feature the current champions, The New Day facing off against Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Business. While we have seen this match multiple times, these two teams always deliver. Sunday should be no different.
The issue with this match is that as mentioned above, we have seen this match three times already. Two of those matches were title bouts, and they both occurred on the same episode of WWE RAW. The New Day won this pair of matches, so The Hurt Business doesn't have a lot of momentum on their side heading into Sunday.
Another issue here is the depth, or lack thereof, in the RAW tag team division. Right now, there are only three tag teams that are getting consistent television time on Monday nights. Those teams are The New Day, The Hurt Business, and RETRIBUTION (if you can even count them as a tag team). So, regardless of who wins at WWE TLC, they don’t have much to work with going forward.
With that being said, the likely outcome at TLC will see Alexander and Benjamin dethrone The New Day as the champions. New Day is so established that they can lose, and it wouldn’t hurt them one bit. On the other hand, a loss for The Hurt Business could severely damage their status as a group.
Other than their tag matches with The New Day, this stable has been winning pretty much all of their matches recently. If WWE wants to present The Hurt Business as a truly dominant faction, it is time to pull the trigger and give them more gold on Sunday.
