WWE TLC 2020: Ranking the buildup to every match

By Sid Pullar III (SP3)
Modified Dec 21, 2020 20:46 IST
WWE TLC 2020 features several enticing matches, but the buildup has lacked in some.
WWE TLC 2020 features several enticing matches, but the buildup has lacked in some.

WWE TLC 2020 is the final pay-per-view of what has been an understandably roller coaster year for the biggest promotion in wrestling. With the global pandemic as well as creative changes transpiring, this has been a difficult 12 months. However, the ultra talented performers of WWE have more than delivered on their major shows in the face of adversity.

Heading into WWE TLC, the company have produced a tantalizing lineup on paper. Although some exciting encounters are on tap, some of the buildup has lacked with a few major contests. There have also been other matches that have received significant intrigue due to the magnificent work of the top stars in the WWE.

With a six match card for the WWE Universe to enjoy, it has been a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the leadup to this often entertaining pay-per-view. In this article, we will rank the buildup to every match at WWE TLC 2020.

#6 Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka & TBD for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships (WWE TLC 2020)

The animosity between Lana and Nia Jax has been building since before the Survivor Series 2020 pay-per-view. Jax and her tag team partner Shayna Baszler have been picking on the Ravishing Russian for the past few months with the weekly table-breaking becoming a running gag on WWE RAW. In the lead up to WWE TLC, Lana has finally found an ally in the Raw Women's Champion Asuka.

Following Lana shocking the WWE Universe by being the sole survivor in the Women's Traditional Survivor Series Match, she received a shot at Asuka's Raw Women's Title. Jax and Baszler were not pleased with this and became involved in the match, causing a disqualification. An impromptu tag team contest followed with Lana and Asuka getting the win.

The unsuspecting partners gained another victory over the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions the following week to earn a title shot at WWE TLC. However, this past week on Raw, Lana got a surprising pinfall victory over Jax that caused the champions to snap. Shayna Baszler attacked Asuka backstage and came out to inflict damage on Lana along with Jax that has caused her to be taken out of the PPV.

Now with Asuka looking for a new partner, there has been speculation that it could be Charlotte Flair, Mandy Rose or even Lana herself. The disjointed buildup and lack of real sympathy generated for the hero of this story, Lana, makes this the least anticipated bout for WWE TLC. The only real interest has to be in who the mystery partner for Asuka will turn out to be in the end.

#5 The New Day vs. The Hurt Business for the Raw Tag Team Championships (WWE TLC 2020)

The New Day duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods came over to WWE RAW in the 2020 Draft. Since moving over to Monday nights, their main opposition has been The Hurt Business. The team of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin have spent a lot of time in the ring with The New Day over the past two months, with this match at WWE TLC 2020 marking their fourth meeting.

Although Alexander and Benjamin gained a non-title win over the Raw Tag Team Champions, they have been unable to nab the belts from Kingston and Woods. Over the past few weeks, fans have seen Cedric Alexander gain more and more confidence through victories over both Kofi and Xavier. The newest member of The Hurt Business has been more brash as the weeks have gone on.

Coming into WWE TLC 2020, this will surely be one of the more enjoyable contests of the evening. However, the buildup has been lacking due to how many times these teams have been in the ring with one another. There have been too many tag team matches between the four superstars, and even the singles bouts have not carried much variation.

#4 Sasha Banks vs. Carmella for the SmackDown Women's Championship (WWE TLC 2020)

After weeks of vignettes hyping her appearance, Carmella made her return back to SmackDown last month and made her intentions clear immediately. With an attack on SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks, the Untouchable superstar let everyone know what her goal was. At WWE TLC 2020, Carmella will go one on one with "The Boss" for the gold.

These two ladies have told a good story through their promo work. Banks has expressed that Carmella is not in her league, feeling herself to be above her challenger. On the other hand, Carmella feels like Sasha has worked hard to achieve everything that she has in WWE, while she has had everything come easy to her and achieved just as much.

These are two accomplished superstars, with Sasha being a grandslam winner and Carmella being a two time Money In The Bank winner. This clash at WWE TLC 2020 was unnecessarily given away on the December 11th episode of WWE SmackDown, where Carmella won by disqualification.

Although that match gave away what fans might see at the match on the pay-per-view, the promo and character work has been solid enough to make this an appealing contest heading into the show.

#3 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton in a Firefly Inferno Match (WWE TLC 2020)

Since coming over to Monday Night Raw, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt has targeted Randy Orton. The former SmackDown Tag Team Champions have plenty of history dating back to 2017. It was Orton who burned down the childhood house of Wyatt, betraying him ahead of beating him at WrestleMania 33 for the WWE Championship. Now at WWE TLC 2020, Wyatt plans to finally get his revenge.

Wyatt got a measure of vengeance by costing Orton his WWE Title opportunity in a match against AJ Styles to qualify for a Triple Threat Match. The weeks since have seen the animosity between the two heat up. Orton has targeted The Fiend's associate, Alexa Bliss, as his weakness, while Wyatt has played his own mind games on the Legend Killer.

On the go home show to WWE TLC 2020, Orton played a game of hide and seek with Wyatt, which saw him lock Bray in a box and light it on fire. The Fiend then popped out to attack Orton, which leads us to a Firefly Inferno Match at the pay-per-view. The ridiculousness of some of the camera tricks used for this feud, as well as use of puppets, potentially hurts the seriousness of the buildup to this grudge match.

#2 Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles in a TLC Match for the WWE Championship (WWE TLC 2020)

Drew McIntyre regained the WWE Championship by defeating Randy Orton on the November 16th episode of Monday Night Raw. AJ Styles defeated Randy Orton, then both Riddle and Keith Lee in a Triple Threat Match to become the No. 1 Contender for the WWE Championship at WWE TLC 2020. This marks the first collision between two of the company's top stars here.

The lead up to this WWE Championship battle has seen more focus on the friendship between McIntyre and Sheamus than it has on the rivalry with Styles. The Phenomenal One has been working with The Miz and John Morrison to try to get Mr. Money In The Bank to cash in on the WWE Champion, so he can face The A-Lister instead of the Scottish Warrior.

Styles, Miz and Morrison have been trying to put Sheamus against McIntyre at every turn, but they have failed to cause a true rift between the two men. Styles took out some aggression on Sheamus with a steel chair on the go home Raw ahead of WWE TLC 2020, following a win against the Celtic Warrior.

These two competitors have to be considered among the best in-ring performers in the entire company. With the Tables, Ladders and Chairs stipulation, this will be a high quality affair that will leave fans on the edge of their seat. The limited interactions between the two men is the only thing that holds this back from being the best buildup to the matches at WWE TLC 2020.

#1 Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens in a TLC Match for the WWE Universal Championship (WWE TLC 2020)

Roman Reigns has been the most captivating character in WWE since his heel turn and alliance with Paul Heyman. After suffering a defeat to Reigns at Hell In A Cell 2020, Jey Uso has joined his cousin's side by doing his bidding. Ahead of WWE TLC 2020, Kevin Owens has become a thorn in the side of "The Tribal Chief".

Owens has not been pleased with the way Reigns has treated his family. The Prizefighter has shown no fear of Roman Reigns or any of his family, despite their intimidation tactics. Kevin Owens has been beaten down by Jey Uso and Roman Reigns at every turn, but has consistently kept getting up to display his never say die attitude.

The character and promo work of Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Kevin Owens and Paul Heyman has been absolutely stellar. They have crafted the most compelling story in all of WWE. The superb performances of all the individuals involved has made for excellence in the weeks leading up to WWE TLC 2020.

The chemistry between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens has been off the charts, both in the ring and on the microphone. The Tables, Ladders and Chairs stipulation fits nicely with the two men's styles. Thanks to the amazing performances of all the characters involved and the individual skills of the two superstars, this has made for the best buildup of any match heading into WWE TLC 2020.

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