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WWE will be presenting their final pay-per-view of the year this Sunday, TLC. Much like the other events emanating from the ThunderDome, this looks to be another solid showing. Even though the TV product hasn't been quite the best, particularly RAW, the TLC card does look exciting.
Six matches have been announced for the event so far, with all of them serving their purpose. Several of these contests could steal the show, like Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles and Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens. There is a lot of potential in the undercard as well, with some huge moments likely to happen.
These moments would definitely benefit TLC as a show, especially since it is happening during the dreaded and dull December period. WWE could do with a really strong pay-per-view outing right now.
Here are five things that must happen to ensure that happens with TLC.
#5 The two TLC Matches are booked differently
As of right now, the only two stipulation matches scheduled for TLC are the world title matches. Both of them are TLC matches, with recent weeks driving up the issues in both stories. Roman Reigns will defend the Universal Championship against Kevin Owens, while Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles will battle it out for the WWE Championship.
One of them will main event the show, while the other may happen in the middle of the card. However, for the sake of range, WWE must ensure that both world title TLC matches are laid out differently. They likely will based on the competitors in each match.
Reigns and Owens now have a personal rivalry, with The Tribal Chief directly addressing KO's family on SmackDown last week. This match will likely be more story-driven, with the right amount of spots playing off their brutal No DQ Match at Royal Rumble 2017.
Meanwhile, McIntyre vs. Styles will likely feature a lot of interference from the likes of Omos and Sheamus. This should be more-action driven than the Universal title match. Also, there is one way to ensure that both matches remain unique at TLC. By booking a unique finish to one of them. More on that in a bit.
#4 Charlotte Flair returns as Asuka's partner at WWE TLC
The primary story for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match heading into TLC was Lana standing up to her big bullies, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. She enlisted the help of Asuka and WWE had built her up as a credible underdog challenger. However, Lana was written out of TLC after Jax and Baszler mercilessly beat her down on RAW.
Right now, Asuka will go at it against the Women's Tag Team Champions with a mystery partner by her side. This seems like the perfect spot for Charlotte Flair to return. If WWE was to remove the most highlighted performer of a match from it, there has to be a grand plan.
That grand plan must be the return of The Queen at TLC. Flair was last seen on WWE TV six months ago, as she was beaten down by Nia Jax after losing clean to Asuka on RAW. It would be a nice close out that angle, while possibly allowing Charlotte Flair to become a WWE Grand Slam Champion.
Even if she and Asuka don't win the tag team titles, there is a ready-made feud for the RAW Women's Championship for the Royal Rumble. Either way, Charlotte Flair must make a surprise return at TLC. She is just the spark that RAW's women's division needs right now.
#3 Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander win the RAW Tag Team Championship at WWE TLC
WWE should ideally give the RAW Tag Team Championship match between The New Day and The Hurt Business a TLC-based stipulation. The two teams have been feuding for over a month, with several matches against each other. This one, the likely feud-ender, could do with some tables or ladders being involved.
Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander have won quite a few singles and tag team matches against Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, but none of them have truly mattered. They need to win the RAW tag team titles at TLC, simply to elevate their stocks.
The Hurt Business is extremely promising and with most of the male titles on RAW possibly in their possession soon, business will be booming. Out of all possible title changes that could happen at TLC, this is the likeliest one. Also, if Benjamin and Alexander don't end this feud on top, the entire exercise will have been pointless.
Hopefully, WWE allows them to shine as Champions. Cedric Alexander, in particular, would greatly benefit from a pay-per-view title victory over The New Day. He has looked pretty great since making the jump to The Hurt Business.
#2 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt decimates Randy Orton at WWE TLC
One of the more notable matches at TLC features 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt against one of his highest-profile rivals, in Randy Orton. The two have quite the history together, with Wyatt feeling the need to take The Viper out through his terrifying alter-ego. This is one of his biggest matches in the past couple of years.
Wyatt has the chance to avenge the psychological torture Orton put him through in 2017. He infiltrated The Wyatt Family and tore the faction apart, before burning down the Wyatt compound and defeating The Eater of Worlds for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33.
The Fiend never forgets and at TLC, he needs to exact the perfect vengeance on the man that was truly responsible for his creation. Wyatt may have gotten the upper hand over Orton in the weeks leading to TLC, but The Fiend must triumph at the pay-per-view as well. It should be a dominant victory, no less.
If he destroys the 14-time World Champion, he will be regarded as a force once again. The Viper can take as much damage as possible without it affecting his legendary status one bit. The Fiend could go in many different directions alongside Alexa Bliss after TLC and he must do so after having burnt the memories of 2017 down.
#1 The Miz cashes in during the WWE Championship TLC Match and wins the title
This may come off as a huge shocker, but there is a method to this madness. WWE has the chance to do something unique at TLC. The company could inject some buzz and intrigue into the top of the card on RAW, following this week's ratings disaster. The Miz becoming WWE Champion will certainly get the fans talking.
He could do so in the most opportunistic way at TLC, by cashing in during the match between Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles. With the two Superstars likely to wear each other down with huge spots involving tables, ladders, and chairs, there could be an opening for The Miz to sneak his way in the match.
He should insert himself into the match and make it a triple threat, before climbing the ladder and retrieving the WWE Championship. John Morrison could help Miz in executing the greatest heist in the company since WrestleMania 31 and escaping TLC with the WWE title.
It might be a challenge for Miz and Morrison to successfully evade McIntyre, Styles, Sheamus, and Omos, but the carnage of the TLC stipulation could play in their favor. The A-Lister has definitely earned a world title run after his spectacular career renaissance in 2016, so this wouldn't be out of the question.
Also, this sets up a rematch for the WWE Championship between The Miz and Drew McIntyre which could take place at Royal Rumble. If limited fans are allowed for the Rumble, McIntyre's third world title victory would garner a huge pop. One that has been a long time coming.
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