WWE TLC 2018: Predicting the quality of every match

The final WWE pay per view of 2018 is this Sunday. It's a bloated card, with 12 matches. It's so bloated that it would be understandable why many fans wouldn't want to watch live, especially given that the bloated card is far from an All Star lineup. Some matches look great. Others look forgettable at best.

Which matches would you want to go out of your way to see and which would preferably be ignored? We'll predict and rank their prospects here.

#12 Mahalicia vs. The Fabulous Truth

To suggest that this year's Mixed Match Challenge was cursed would be an understatement. When it started in September, it featured an All Star lineup. Thanks to injuries and changes of pace on the main shows, that roster gradually got whittled away. Now the finals of this tournament feature four jobbers. That's despite Jinder Mahal and Carmella's title reigns. Thankfully, those reigns appear as distant now as the prospects of fans wanting to go out of their way to watch this match.

Despite there being some stakes involved in this final - the #30 slots in the winning team's respective Royal Rumble matches next month, everyone knows that none of these four have any chance of victory, as they shouldn't, rendering it moot.

If WWE has any sense, this match will be shunted to the pre-show, where it can be safely ignored.

#11 Elias vs. Bobby Lashley

Essentially, this is a variation of an object on a pole match, with a guitar suspended above the ring. The first to climb the ladder and retrieve it will be able to use it as a weapon.

Be wary. These kinds of matches are usually horrible.

The reason it's ranked as high as it is comes mostly in the form of Elias. He's exciting enough to create some mild interest in this, but there's nothing here to get this above the mediocre line on its best day.

#10 Natalya vs. Ruby Riott

The second of a series of matches that feel like they shouldn't be happening at all, the tables stipulation might do something to save this contest, but it still feels like it should be shunted to the pre-show as well.

Neither competitor has any real momentum or heat going for her, to the point that WWE needed to go back to one of their old, distasteful wells and exploit the death of a performer to try and gin up some interest in this match. It was mildly successful.

As far as work rate goes, it will be fine, as both Ruby Riott and Natalya are serviceable performers, but it isn't going to be exciting by any means. The addition of a few tables will be enough to make it less forgettable, but won't be enough to change the fundamentally heatless atmosphere going into this match.

#9 Finn Balor vs. Drew McIntyre

The third of a series of matches that feel like they shouldn't be happening at all, it's a wonder why it was booked, especially since the alliance between McIntyre and Ziggler dissolved on the way into TLC.

Perhaps Ziggler will replace Balor, given his supposed illness. No word on that yet, but it wouldn't make too much of a difference on the ranking of this match.

Whether it's Balor or Ziggler, it still feels like an afterthought in comparison to the rest of the matches on the card, and McIntyre's victory without much trouble is as certain as the sun rising in the east.

McIntyre has far bigger and better things to do as he heads into the Royal Rumble, where he will be one of the favorites to win the most exciting contest on the WWE calendar.

#8 Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax

This feud, as was predictable, has been a dud. It isn't close to one of the worst of the year - not in a year that featured some truly terrible content, but a dud is a dud nevertheless. Both women aren't good talkers and their segments have been part of a string of awful Raws of late.

Ronda Rousey should be trusted to carry this match into something that works. She did just that at Money in the Bank. The result thankfully won't be in doubt though, and it will just be a relief when those results are in and Nia Jax is moved down the card.

There might be some memorable spots in this match. It just feels like filler going through the motions, though. WWE could have picked a much better opponent out of that battle royal at Evolution.

#7 Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton

Now we begin to get on to the better contests on the card, but we're still not quite at the cream of the crop. The chairs match stipulation always feels redundant. Regardless, Orton and Mysterio should be able to make something good out of it.

Randy Orton is one of the best acts in the company at the moment, with his sadistic heel turn, and chairs have played a large role in the build between the two heading into 2018's final pay per view.

Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio can be counted on to make the best of the stipulation and deliver something memorable. They'll take the fight to each other, Orton will probably do something sadistic and ghastly as he did at Hell in a Cell, and the match will give us something to talk about in the morning. Job done.

#6 Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin

I fully expect Braun Strowman to return with a monstrous vengeance on Sunday. The way the story has been written, with Baron Corbin flaunting his power at every turn, demands major comeuppance.

If it didn't, all these all-time horrible Raws would be happening for no reason. WWE is indeed inconsistent on this front, but I'll give enough leeway for now.

He'll talk up Braun Strowman forfeiting before the match, only to find, to his horror, that the Monster has returned. Corbin is then going to get smashed with tables, ladders, and chairs en route to a Braun Strowman victory.

If Braun Strowman is still nursing an injury, a squash match could conceal it and allow him more time to heal before the Royal Rumble, which is still six or so weeks away from TLC. Now will be the time to get him started off on the right foot.

#5 The Bar vs. The Usos vs. The New Day

There's no reason that this shouldn't excel. There's three great tag teams in a triple threat match together. The New Day and The Usos always do great together. The New Day and The Bar always do great together. All three should do great together just as a matter of course.

This match could well punch above its weight and be the surprise hit of the night. It will have some tough competition going forward, but if there's anyone that can beat it, it's these three. We'll need to see how much time they get and where the match is placed on the card.

If the match gets into third gear, we might be in for one of the best tag team matches of the year, and one which has sorely been needed in a year where tag team wrestling has fallen far from the highs that it set in 2017.

#4 Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will finally collide on Sunday. It's a collision we've seen many times before, but the roles are now reversed, and tensions are high. Seth Rollins has been on a tear this year, and if they get the right amount of time, they could well steal the show.

Now is the time for Dean Ambrose in particular to step up. Let him live up to his reputation as the "Lunatic Fringe" and this match could punch above its weight against stiff competition.

It's almost a shame that this is a match that feels like it deserves a stipulation but isn't getting one. That's alright. One imagines that there's more left for this feud in the aftermath of this contest. It will run at least to the Royal Rumble, if not all the way to WrestleMania. Now's the time to get it started well.

#3 Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander

On May 29th, these two delivered a match of the year candidate. Cedric Alexander won back then. At Super Showdown, though limited by time, these two delivered another great match to even the score, and deliver the championship to Murphy.

Now, they'll get their rubber match, and I'm optimistic that it won't be shunted to the pre-show.

If they get enough time, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to deliver another match of the year candidate. That's what it really comes down to. Super Showdown felt like a rushed sprint. Now they thankfully won't need to compete with an overlong Undertaker vs. Triple H match for time.

Limiting some of the forgettable matches and giving this one more time is a no brainer. If that's the case, we're going to be in for a major treat on this coming Sunday.

#2 Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles

After a few fantastic TV matches, we all wanted to see it happen on pay per view, with more time and no commercial interruptions. We almost got it at Crown Jewel, but that didn't pan out. Now, we're finally getting it, and it's coming in a highly charged atmosphere.

Daniel Bryan has gone on a tear since he won the title. In truth, he's doing some of the best work of his already storied career. It's this NEW Daniel Bryan that AJ Styles will have to face and the stakes are going to be raised as a result. This will be added to their already stellar ring work together.

There's no reason why this shouldn't be a match of the year candidate. It can excel even if it gets bad placement on the card or not quite enough time. With those two things, it could be spectacular.

#1 Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

Even with the Styles vs. Bryan match, there was never any doubt that this would be the most highly anticipated match on the card. It's a first time ever meeting between these three - three of the best in the company - in a triple threat match, and it's going to be a TLC match to boot.

Becky is the hottest act in the company. Charlotte always delivers on big occasions. Asuka is finally looking like her old self again.

There's no way to go wrong with that equation. Better yet, there's also no way that these three won't get the time they need.

It might not technically be the main event on the night. SmackDown matches never are. But it will be the main event in the minds of everyone else but Vince McMahon.

This is going to be amazing. It would be one of the biggest surprises of the year if it isn't amazing.

What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.

Edited by Pratyay Ghosh