'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We're less than a week away from TLC and it's the final PPV of the year! While many argue that wins and losses don't matter in WWE, it certainly does affect fans' perception of a superstar and also their momentum going forward.
This is a crucial point of time in the WWE calendar year because we're over a month away from the Royal Rumble. As we know, the Royal Rumble is when the road to WrestleMania begins.
TLC may be the time where we start seeing a slow build towards WrestleMania. Perhaps two stars teasing a feud, an interference that sparks up a storyline, or more. However, the importance of momentum can't be understated. There are a few of superstars walking in with a lot of momentum and there are those who don't have it but could gain a lot of it with a huge win at TLC. Let's take a look
#5 Elias
Elias recently turned babyface and it's worked wonders. The crowd absolutely loves him and he represents the best part of a successful turn - the fact that the character hasn't really changed at all. The character simply changes its focus. In this case, Elias has gone from trashing the crowd via his songs to trashing his opponents only.
He's had a lot of momentum and the fact that he's now seemingly aligned with Finn Balor and that he was the victim of a 3-on-1 beatdown a few weeks ago makes him an even bigger babyface.
He faces Bobby Lashley and it's a must-win match-up for him. Getting a big win over The Almighty Lashley will definitely make him an even bigger babyface and fans are going to be behind Elias through and through. Let's hope he gets the W!
#4 Finn Balor
Finn Balor has been in creative limbo for the longest time. It's sad to think that the last meaningful feud that he's had was against Seth Rollins when he debuted. Unfortunately for him, he's been in lacklustre rivalries and really hasn't progressed much as a character.
This isn't his fault, naturally, as it's WWE creative who really isn't giving him the ball to run with. As of now, he simply plays a WWE superstar who's happy to be there, but that isn't enough.
Finn Balor, like Elias was also in a 3-on-1 beatdown and has found himself in the midst of a feud with the up-and-coming Drew McIntyre. Although the odds are clearly against him and no one expects him to win, Balor needs to get the W because it'll give him some momentum heading into the New Year.
He was responsible for giving McIntyre his first pinfall loss since his main roster return (thanks to interfering in McIntyre's match with Ziggler). Let's hope it leads somewhere this time.
#3 Asuka
Asuka continued her undefeated streak from NXT on the main roster. She debuted in TLC last year and went undefeated for months, all the way up until WrestleMania 34. After the prestigious streak ended, she was drafted to SmackDown Live, a move which many considered quite good.
Things seemed to be slowly going her way as she challenged Carmella in two consecutive PPVs for the SmackDown Women's Championship, but she suffered two pinfall defeats in two flat finishes.
Since then, she too has been in creative limbo, not really doing all that much. However, she has a huge opportunity in the first-ever Women's TLC match this Sunday. It's true that Becky Lynch has the most momentum and its also fair for fans to want her to stay as champion. However, Asuka winning would still protect Becky Lynch as she won't get pinned and moreover, there might be bigger things planned for her in the future (like a WrestleMania match against Ronda Rousey).
Asuka winning the Women's title would re-legitimize her in the eyes of fans.
#2 Braun Strowman
After a brutal 3-on-1 assault in the hands of Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman had to undergo the knife and get surgery on his elbow. His status in TLC has been up in the air since.
Baron Corbin said that the match would go on, whether he was there or not. If he doesn't show up, he wins by forfeit. The rumour mill has stated that Braun Strowman is in fact going to be at the PPV and that the surgery was a rather minor one.
As you're probably aware, the stipulation of the match states that if Braun Strowman wins, he gets another Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar. If Baron Corbin wins, however, he replaces Kurt Angle as permanent RAW General Manager. If he does lose, however, his position of authority is gone.
It's important that Strowman wins, as RAW has been getting very boring with the entire program centering around Baron Corbin and his ruthlessness.
#1 Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose has been one of the most hated superstars since his heel turn in late October. The fact that it happened on the night that Roman Reigns made his shocking announcement only gave him more heat.
He's been on a role since and the reaction to his heel turn has been quite mixed. What it has done, however, has made Seth Rollins a far more popular babyface, which is the objective of a heel in the first place.
With Roman Reigns gone, Seth Rollins is poised to become WWE's next top babyface and with plans in place for him to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35, it seems suitable that he drops the Intercontinental Championship to Dean Ambrose before going on a tear.
Losing a title doesn't always have to be a demotion. It likely means bigger and better things. Meanwhile, Ambrose is the perfect candidate to carry the Intercontinental title, already having held it twice with two good reigns.
