WWE TLC 2014: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More

The Wyatt Family is poised to leave behind a trail of bent steel and bruised bodies at WWE TLC 2014.

Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan all enter big gimmick bouts as the pay-per-view calender comes to a close. For the bruisers, TLC represents an opportunity to continue their respective upward climbs.

Though familiar faces such as Big Show and John Cena are on the card, it's emerging stars such as Wyatt and his fellow nutcase Dean Ambrose who stand to gain the most.

On Steve Austin's podcast, Vince McMahon questioned the current roster's level of ambition. With the help of ladders and chairs, this is the roster's first chance to respond to those comments.

There is just one last show to steal in 2014. 

WrestleMania season begins momentarily. Before that, Cleveland hosts an event with moderate buildup and an abundance of gimmick matches.

Rumors and Potential Spoilers

CM Punk chants and rumors continue to follow AJ Lee around.

There has long been word that the former Divas champ is on her way out. Those rumors had not come from reliable sources until now.

According to PWInsider Elite (subscription required, h/t Wrestling Inc), some people within WWE believe that AJ is leaving the company following the TLC event. The report notes that this isn't something that has been confirmed but something folks are talking about.

That still sounds fishy. This could just be a case of backstage gossip. Still, fans would be wise to keep an eye on how AJ is booked.

If this is a swan song, she may be getting some type of send-off. 

Many fans thought Randy Orton would make a surprise appearance at Survivor Series. Sting showed up instead.

It appears it will be Orton's turn this time around.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestleZone) reports that it's very possible Orton will return to WWE during the match between Seth Rollins and Cena. Apparently, WWE isn't set on whether it will have the Viper come back as a babyface or heel, so plans concerning what he does are still in the air.

After filming The Condemned 2 for the last few weeks, Orton needs to re-enter the WWE landscape in a big way—the reported plan would allow him to do just that.

Credit: WWE.com

It wouldn't be the surprise that Sting's arrival was, but it makes perfect sense from a narrative standpoint.

Orton has had time to heal from his kayfabe injuries. And now he has the chance to keep a man he hates from winning a huge match.

Match Card

• Jack Swagger vs. Rusev (United States Championship)
• AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella (Divas Championship)
• Erick Rowan vs. Big Show (Steel Stairs match)
• Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper (Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship)
• The Usos vs. Damien Mizdow and the Miz (Tag Team Championship)
• Ryback vs. Kane (Chairs match)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt (TLC match)
• Seth Rollins vs. John Cena (Tables match)

Quick Predictions

• Rusev over Swagger.
• Nikki over AJ.
• Rowan over Show.
• Harper over Ziggler.
• The Miz and Mizdow retain by disqualification.
• Ryback over Kane.
• Wyatt over Ambrose.
• Cena over Rollins.

Rusev Holds off the Real American

Bet on Rusev for now. It would be an odd time to end his streak of not getting pinned or tapping out.

Rusev won the U.S. title belt off Sheamus a little over a month ago. To take it off him in his first pay-per-view defense would run counter to all the momentum WWE has built up for him thus far.

Swagger has extra motivation after Rusev injured Zeb Colter, but that may be his undoing, causing him to lose focus.

Nikki Retains

If you believe the rumors that AJ is leaving, then you most certainly expect Nikki to win here. Even folks who doubt those ongoing Internet rumblings have reason to believe AJ will lose, though.

WWE has crowned a new Divas champ five times this year. The only time there was more turnover was in 2010. Besides, Nikki hasn't even been champion a full month.

There hasn't been much buildup for this match and no strong foreshadowing that Brie is turning on her sister. 

That means this will likely be a typical Divas match that doesn't last too long. Look for heel tactics to be the difference, either from Brie at ringside or Nikki herself.

Big Red's Big Moment

WWE clearly wants to shine some spotlight Rowan's way. It inserted him into the Survivor Series main event and has now pitted him against an established name with world-title pedigree.

There's also been an element added to his character—he is now a genius who apparently prefers solving Rubix cubes over bathing.

There's little point hyping him up and giving him these added dimensions to have him lose his first singles match on pay-per-view. Bet on Rowan looking strong here by overcoming a giant. 

Harper's Reign Continues

The Wyatt Family will keep rolling when it's Ladder match time.

Harper is in a similar position to Rowan. He has just started his singles run and is entering the biggest singles match of his career. This will be a showcase for him, fending off the Showoff and impressing with some surprisingly agile moves off the ladder.

It would be shocking if WWE takes the IC title off him already. TLC will mark the first time he's defending it on pay-per-view.

Anger Gets the Best of Jimmy Uso

The Miz's flirtations with Jimmy Uso's wife, Naomi, are going to result in the champs holding onto their titles. Jimmy has been furious with the Miz as of late, looking ready to slug him at every turn.

That rage is an easy way to have the Usos lose without looking weak. Perhaps Jimmy traps the Miz in a corner and ignores the referee's five count, resulting in a disqualification. 

With this feud just catching fire, look for WWE to extend it to at least one more pay-per-view. The Miz and Mizdow survive here but soon have to face the Usos in a Steel Cage match down the road.

Don't Bet on Kane in 2014

To find the last time Kane won a pay-per-view match, you have to go all the way back to WrestleMania 29, per CageMatch.net.

Back then, he was still in a mask, still receiving treatment from Dr. Shelby and still one half of Team Hell No. Since that duo split, Kane has consistently been someone else's prey.

WWE is using him to make others look good. He has been beaten by Ambrose, Cena and Daniel Bryan. Get ready to add Ryback to that list.

The company looks to want to push Ryback up the card. It hasn't treated Kane as anything more than a corporate goon who the good guys topple.

Wyatt Wins Round 2

WWE has to give Wyatt a pay-per-view win at some point, especially if it eventually wants him to face the Undertaker at WrestleMania 31, as the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported (h/t SEScoops).

This looks like a rivalry that could last a few months, given how intense it has become. That signals the heel going over early to keep the babyface in pursuit of revenge.

That's how WWE played Ambrose's rivalry with Rollins, although the Lunatic Fringe never ended up getting his retributive victory.

Cena Holds onto No. 1 Contender Spot

Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble is a money match. Even if it will be the third battle between them in the span of a year, it's still the kind of big-name bout the company craves.

Cena losing means he no longer has a crack at the champ ahead of him. Why would WWE veer away from Lesnar and Cena? 

Rollins not only has to face a man who is often booked as superhuman, but there's the strong possibility the man he Curb Stomped out of the WWE comes back.

The logical story for the company to run with is Orton returning to cost Rollins the match and re-establish their rivalry. That gets Orton back into the picture and frees Cena to go after Lesnar.

There will be no Sting debut to push back Orton's return this time around.