WWE TLC 2014: Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to PPV

December 14, World Wrestling Entertainment will produce its annual December extravaganza, dubbed TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, just three weeks after a monumental Survivor Series that saw the debut of Sting, the demise of The Authority, the rise of Dolph Ziggler and the latest chapter in the Dean Ambrose-Bray Wyatt rivalry.

The show is the last chance WWE has to leave a lasting impression on fans and viewers prior to the start of the new year and, thus, the road to WrestleMania 31.

As TLC draws nearer, every rivalry and storyline becomes that much more scrutinized. They are picked apart by analysts and critics, and fans react more strongly when they realize that what they are watching has huge implications on the biggest show of the year.

Which of the storylines unfolding in the shows ahead of the upcoming pay-per-view bear the most watching?

A few may surprise you.

The Development of Erick Rowan 

Credit: WWE.com

As a member of the Wyatt Family, Rowan was very much an enigma.

While fans recognized Bray Wyatt's immense talent on the microphone and Luke Harper's considerable in-ring skills, there were major questions concerning Rowan's ability to succeed at the next level of competition.

That his "character" consisted of wearing a lamb mask and warning opposition to run answered none of the fans' questions only added to bigger doubts about his future.

Then the world watched as he gradually improved with every passing week, his arsenal of power maneuvers meshing perfectly with the smaller, quicker and more agile tag teams he and Harper squared off with on a regular basis. He showed flashes of being a very solid big-man competitor capable of working with more traditionally talented stars to deliver a quality match.

Now on his own following the dissolution of the Wyatt Family, Rowan has shown flashes of character development that will only help to benefit him in the long run. His one-word answers that sum up an entire angle coupled with his constant toying with a Rubik's Cube indicate that there is a much smarter man behind the mask than we have been led to believe.

As that character continues to evolve, and Rowan works with bigger stars in singles competition, his overall performance will improve by leaps and bounds.

Up first? The Big Show. While that may not sound like a quality match, keep in mind that the World's Largest Athlete has a tendency to deliver some of his best work in matches against similarly massive opposition and is often motivated by working with younger stars. Thus, the match between him and Rowan should exceed expectations.

Rusev's Next Challenger 

The year 2014 has seen Rusev knock off no fewer than five (five!) former world champions as he ascends the ladder in WWE. Sheamus, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Big Show and Dolph Ziggler have all gotten a taste of the Bulgarian Brute's dominance to this point. Unfortunately, when one's resume includes quality wins such as those, as well as a Battle Royal victory over nearly the entire midcard, where exactly does one go from there without appearing to be taking a step back?

That is the scenario facing Rusev as he gears up for TLC.

It very much appears that Rusev is being built up for an eventual match with John Cena that may lead to the end of his undefeated streak but, at the same time, would instantly elevate him to the top of the business.

Unfortunately, WrestleMania is months away, so what does Rusev do now to stay busy?

It looks like a rematch with Swagger or, perhaps, a new opponent in Cesaro awaits the current United States champion. While neither is incredibly appealing, especially given the fact that Rusev just competed in the main event of the Survivor Series, the likelihood that the match would continue the champion's streak of quality matches is high.

Of course, the idea for either Swagger or Cesaro is based on what fans witnessed on the November 28 episode of SmackDown. Whether there are other plans for the Bulgarian Brute remains to be seen.

The Intensification of Ambrose vs. Wyatt

One of the biggest disappointments leading into the Survivor Series pay-per-view was the quality of the story between Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt. Until that show, the story felt very clunky and disjointed as WWE Creative tried to flesh out the details, most notably the reason for the two to actually compete against each other.

At the event, Ambrose destroyed Wyatt with tables and chairs before standing atop a ladder, setting up a TLC match between the two for the December 14 pay-per-view.

In the weeks to come, the violence and intense hatred between the two should be amplified as they prepare for one of the biggest matches of their young careers.