5 Outlandish Occurrences That Could Happen at Tables, Ladders & Chairs

All photos from WWE.com

Although there are well-established reservations surrounding the WWE’s adoption of gimmick pay-per-views, it is certain that Tables, Ladders & Chairs offers one of the most intriguing opportunities for the WWE to create truly memorable and unexpected moments. 

There is always the potential for the unexpected to happen at this particular event due to the abundance of weaponry directly connected to the concept. However it is the pay-per-view’s proximity to the Road to WrestleMania that increases the likelihood that something truly astonishing may happen.

Here are five outlandish occurrences that might just happen at Tables, Ladders & Chairs. These are not direct predictions, but are instead second guesses as to what the WWE might do to really shock its fans.

If any of these outlandish occurrences actually happen, it would create some very memorable moments indeed.

Each Member of the Shield Will Go Through a Table—but the Group Will Still Win

Since The Shield’s arrival in WWE, the faction’s principal attack has been the assisted powerbomb through a table. 

Sunday’s main event is a six-man tag tables, ladders and chairs match where the finish will either come through pinfall or submission. This would be a perfect opportunity for The Shield’s opponents to gain retribution, because it's clear that the most apt way to deliver payback would be to slam each member of The Shield through a table in turn. 

This would create good television.

Given the circumstances, this is not all that outlandish of a prediction. But if The Shield suffered this indignity while still earning the victory at the end of the night, that would be truly shocking. 

Defeating such odds while being so physically overmatched will show that the group is more powerful as a unit than any team thrust together specifically to oppose them. Fans should get to see another side of the faction, where each member is willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his teammates.

This will give The Shield its important first victory while minimizing the effect on the groups’ opponents, who have been physically dominant and will appear strong. 

More importantly, fighting as a team and covering for a teammate when he is downed will set the group apart. Previous factions have generally been set up to support a dominant member (such as the Straight Edge Society or The Cabinet), or have punished and ejected weaker members of the group (like Nexus or Legacy).    

Such differentiation will give The Shield a far greater chance of success in the future. 

Daniel Bryan Will Use All 3 Weapons Named by the PPV in a Submission

Daniel Bryan is the WWE’s resident submission specialist, and the unique tables, ladders & chairs match he is participating in—where pinfall and submission end the bout rather than climbing the ladder to recover something—will be the perfect opportunity for him to show this skill to the fullest. 

An obvious Bryan submission with a weapon addition would be the “No!” Lock with a chair across one of his opponent's faces to give extra leverage, to name just one example. 

Cattle Mutilation could be applied on top of the ladder to twist the shoulders beyond the angle that the ground’s sheer presence allows, or a surfboard might have a table wedged into the gap between the wrestlers to further stretch the lower back into an unnatural position. 

No matter how Bryan will end up using the various weapons allowed to further enhance his submission arsenal, the result will be a mark-out moment. But if Bryan manages to use each weapon, then he will steal the show. 

Big Show and Sheamus Will Go to Double Count-out

These two giants have previously clashed in some epic brawls, but their long-running feud is likely to come to an end at Tables, Ladders & Chairs as a winner needs to be decided. 

Yet there seems to be another possibility here.

WWE could spring a major surprise on the audience if both men beat each other down to the extent that neither can respond to the referee’s count. As a result, the match would finish in a draw. 

This would be an especially appropriate finale precisely because neither man will have truly gained the upper hand. Their equality as giants would then allow both men to proclaim themselves as the best brawler in the company.

Additionally, knocking out both champion and challenger in this way would allow the winner of the night’s Money in the Bank contest to cash the contract in. This would be eerily similar to last year, when Daniel Bryan did exactly the same to Big Show, but history has a funny way of repeating itself.

The Intercontinental Championship Match Will Have Multiple Run-Ins

The intercontinental championship feud between Kofi Kingston and Wade Barrett has been one of the most hotly contested rivalries for a minor WWE belt in recent months, but this match will be more about the Royal Rumble than the championship being competed for.

Both men are leading contenders for January’s showcase event, so other competitors outside the match will probably not want either man to build up confidence.

This could lead to multiple run-ins during the final few minutes of the contest as Superstars—both good and bad—attempt to slow down the man in the ring they most fear as a rumble opponent. Such chaos would then launch a brawl between invaders, and the whole situation could descend into anarchy. 

Barrett and Kingston are a good bet for match of the night. Which is why this particular scenario is so intriguing, as it would give WWE fans a small taste of what might be in store at the Royal Rumble.

Dolph Ziggler Will Springboard Superkick John Cena off the Ladder

Sometimes a truly outlandish move can be enough to make the WWE universe stop and pay attention to a talent. 

This can be a great feat of strength, like John Cena delivering a memorable FU to Big Show at WrestleMania XX. Or it can be a stunt that no one has ever seen before, such as Mick Foley’s swan dive off the Hell in a Cell. 

Dolph Ziggler has gained huge amounts of praise for his in-ring work, but thus far has not had a breakthrough moment in his career. 

At Tables, Ladders & Chairs this should all change, especially if he delivers his version of the superkick while flying through the air. This would lead to him finally vanquishing Cena, who has got the better of him in almost every match that the pair has ever had.

Getting a marquee victory in such an iconic fashion could well push Ziggler into superstardom, which would be an occurrence that most would find very shocking indeed.