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The final WWE pay-per-view of a pandemic-ridden 2020 is almost upon us. WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs is on Sunday, December 20. Sunday's show will be WWE's first pay-per-view in the ThunderDome era outside Orlando's Amway Center. The venue had been the home to the promotion for the past three months, but now WWE has moved to Tropicana Field.
WWE's December staple traditionally sets the stage for January's Royal Rumble and the kickoff to WrestleMania season. On this year's card, there are two marquee Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches featuring Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, and AJ Styles. The whole line-up is filled with many of WWE's top stars.
The pay-per-view will kick off at 7 p.m. EST/5:30 a.m. IST following an hour-long kickoff show, with both streaming live on WWE Network.
As fans look ahead to Sunday’s event, here are our predictions for the show:
WWE RAW Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day (C) vs. The Hurt Business’ Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander
It's the battle of the best teams on WWE RAW. "The Power of Positivity" meets the no-nonsense culture that MVP has put in place with The Hurt Business. On Sunday, The New Day will defend the WWE RAW Tag Team Championship against Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin.
Big E's departure has not stopped Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from doing what they do best - being champions. Meanwhile, The Hurt Business has asserted its dominance over the red brand for several months, and now Benjamin and Alexander have set their sights on the WWE RAW Tag Team Championship.
Kingston and Woods have gotten the better of their challengers in two recent title showdowns on RAW. But the youngest member of Hurt Business pulled off two surprising singles victories of his own for his stable. Despite their losses to The New Day, The Hurt Business as a group has been protected at all costs by WWE creative. They are heading into WWE TLC with a lot of momentum on their side.
Considering the talent involved in this match, this bout could be an early show-stealer. The New Day, who are on the verge of a three-peat over their latest rivals, are well-established. They have next to nothing to lose. So we are predicting a victory for Alexander and Benjamin because The Hurt Business is booming, and the stable deserves to hold more gold.
Our Pick: The Hurt Business
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka & TBD
The WWE's women's tag team division is a weird place to be, and the upcoming title bout at TLC is a testament to that argument.
Up until Monday night, WWE RAW Women's Champion Asuka was supposed to team up with Lana to challenge the dominant duo of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the belts. But the champions reshaped the the contest by inflicting a vicious attack on Lana. "The Ravishing Russian" is unable to compete on Sunday, so Asuka has been forced to find a new partner.
This match is a toss-up, and it's hard to predict the outcome. The uneasy alliance between Jax and Baszler has run roughshod during their dominant title reign. But it could be high time for the champions to drop the titles and reignite their feud with each other.
The result of the match will largely depend on whoever the mystery partner is. WWE has teased either Mandy Rose or Dana Brooke will take the vacant spot, but there are plenty of options on the table. Lana could heroically return and make the save at WWE TLC. Based on her recent booking, it really feels like WWE wants her to be a champion.
A win on Sunday might be the fitting peak of her journey that has been playing out in recent months. But if she doesn't show up and the company uses somebody like Rose to fill the spot instead, the heels will probably retain.
Another possibility that could lead to a title change would be the imminent return of Charlotte Flair. Going by the rumor mills, The Queen's return is looking increasingly likely. If she teams up with "The Empress", a title switch is practically guaranteed.
Our Pick: Asuka and TBD
WWE Firefly Inferno Match - “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt are familiar adversaries, and their rivalry is the most personal one on WWE programming right now.
The Fiend’s mind games cost Orton an opportunity to once again challenge for the WWE Championship. For weeks, these two enemies have been at each other's throats. To add to the misery, "The Viper" has to also contend with Wyatt's creepy backup in the form of the twisted Alexa Bliss. Orton tried to use Bliss against the monster, but The Fiend got the upper hand this week.
This past week, Orton locked Wyatt in a crate and set it on fire, hoping to burn him alive. But The Fiend emerged from the flames and locked Orton in the Mandible Claw. WWE has announced that, in light of this development, Orton and Wyatt will now settle their differences in the first-ever Firefly Inferno Match.
Initially, the revelation that Orton would be feuding with Wyatt didn't sit well with a lot of fans. Their last go-around turned out to be a meme-creating disaster. Still, their previous altercations have provided some fodder for the current narrative, so the build has been far better than expected.
Though Bliss's involvement has been minimal recently, bringing her into the storyline has been a masterstroke. "The Legend Killer" has defeated Wyatt numerous times in the past, but on Sunday, he will be up against a whole different animal - The Fiend and a brand new stipulation.
The Fiend got the better of Orton on WWE RAW, and that would usually signal that Orton will win this weekend. But this isn't a typical feud. Moreover, the sole motive behind reinstating the rivalry has seemingly been to give Wyatt the big rub he needs. If the feud goes well, Wyatt could become a credible threat to Drew McIntyre's WWE title. The best possible outcome would be to conclude the feud on Sunday by giving The Fiend the win, perhaps with a little help from Bliss.
Our Pick: The Fiend
SmackDown Women's Championship Match - Sasha Banks (C) vs. Carmella
For several weeks in a row, Carmella has unleashed a series of sneak attacks on the champ. Carmella's angle is that while Sasha Banks has had to work hard for everything in her career, Carmella is a natural star. She has also focused on the fact that her title run was longer than than all of Banks' reigns combined.
Banks retaliated by unleashing an onslaught of her own on Carmella during one of her backstage vignettes. "The Boss" trapped her in the Bank Statement until she was pulled away by backstage personnel. From there, it was only a matter of time before their clash at WWE TLC was official.
"The Princess of Staten Island" is a refreshing challenger for "The Boss." Carmella is always money, as her catchphrase claims. But Sunday is not the right time to give her the title. This program is basically a one-off feud that will likely wrap up once this match is over.
Carmella is a reliable in-ring performer, and she will put up a good fight. But Banks will still be holding the gold at the end of this one. Her title reign is just beginning.
Our Pick: Sasha Banks retains.
WWE Championship Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match: Drew McIntyre (C) vs. AJ Styles
A phenomenal challenger awaits WWE Champion Drew McIntyre on Sunday. AJ Styles secured a date with the spirited Scotsman by defeating Keith Lee and Riddle in a Sudden Death Triple Threat match a few weeks ago.
"The King of Claymore Country", who is in the midst of his second WWE Championship reign, has prided himself on being a fighting champion. He will now face an unbeaten Styles (8-0 since the WWE Draft) as his final hurdle in 2020.
This match is a fresh pairing, and Styles also has an unfair advantage in the form of the incredibly tall Omos. There is also the looming threat of Mr. Money in the Bank, The Miz. Plus, Sheamus has teased that he could turn on McIntyre, so he could be crucial to the outcome. He could either clear the path for his friend by fending off Omos and The Miz, or he might interfere and cost McIntyre the title.
It's almost impossible to envision the champion dropping the title so soon after he won it back. So he'll probably be more than equipped to deal with any sort of interference. As a result, it's fair to expect McIntyre to walk out of WWE TLC as the champion.
Our Pick: Drew McIntyre retains.
WWE Universal Championship Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match: Roman Reigns (C) vs. Kevin Owens
Roman Reigns has been tearing apart the blue brand ever since his jaw-dropping return at WWE SummerSlam. He reclaimed the WWE Universal Championship in short order before he cemented his status as "The Tribal Chief." His victory over Drew McIntyre at WWE Survivor Series showed the WWE Universe who the top champion really is.
Kevin Owens is a worthy opponent for Reigns. He's been on fire in recent weeks, as he has been cutting passionate promos left and right. Reigns has seemingly brought "The Prizefighter" side of Owens back out of him. After a few weeks of heated animosity, Owens challenged Reigns for a showdown at WWE TLC, and the champion accepted.
"The Prizefighter" has defeated some of the biggest and baddest names WWE has to offer, so trouncing Reigns isn't out of the realm of possibility. But the odds are stacked against him. It's probable that Reigns has been earmarked to hold the gold at least until WrestleMania 37. Plus, with Jey Uso by his side, he simultaneously edges Owens in the numbers game as well.
The duo has competed before in an excellent No Disqualification match at the 2017 Royal Rumble. With tables, ladders, and chairs at their disposal, Sunday's contest could easily be the best match of the night. As for the result, a Reigns retention seems a lock.
Our Pick: Roman Reigns retains.
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