WWE TLC 2015: Top Themes Established in Build to Event

A ladder-lined bridge to what's to come, WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2015 is the definition of a transitional show.

Sheamus' reign as world champion feels like an interim one. Charlotte is moving into new territory with an increasingly dark character. And a number of new groups have formed during the build to the pay-per-view, a development sure to have an impact on WWE long after all the broken ladders and cracked tables are cleaned up at TLC.

Sunday's PPV will not be marked by a wealth of climaxes.

WWE is in the midst of the early stages of feuds, the beginnings of factions and the first chapters of storylines. The company surely has its eyes on April's WrestleMania. And TLC is simply the preamble to the official road to The Show of Shows.

It's a prologue that will rely on camaraderie and one of the oldest centerpieces of wrestling narratives: the quest for vengeance. 

Revenge

Roman Reigns has his crosshair set on Sheamus after The Celtic Warrior ended his championship celebration at Survivor Series. With confetti sticking to his sweat, Reigns held the WWE title after winning a tournament and besting good friend Dean Ambrose in the final.

But as Sheamus' new T-shirt reminds us, that reign only lasted five minutes and 15 seconds.

And WWE has had to cram a revenge story into a three-week stretch. Reigns is hungry to beat Sheamus and take back the title. It's a narrative that feels hollow at the moment, largely because there's been such little time for that hunger for vengeance to stew.

Should Sheamus cheat Reigns out of a victory at TLC in underhanded fashion, that story will get a huge boost. It will be easier to believe Reigns is livid and a victim of injustice.

The Divas Championship match is built around more a more personal pursuit of revenge. Paige has riled up Charlotte by going after her family.

Before Survivor Series, Paige insulted Charlotte's late brother, Reid Flair. More recently, she slapped Charlotte's famous father, Ric Flair, to incite the champ.

In their last PPV meeting, they didn't go after each other with enough aggression. It was too much of a wrestling match and not enough of a street fight. TLC offers them a second chance to claw at each other rather than lock up in traditional fashion.

Unity

Wrestlers are choosing sides as the year closes. The roster has become increasingly filled with stables en route to TLC.

Rhyno and Tommy Dreamer returned to join forces with The Dudley Boyz. Sheamus formed The League of Nations. Reigns recruited The Usos and Dean Ambrose as a counter-faction. The New Day even seemed to want to merge with Team B.A.D.

This strategy has allowed a greater number of Superstars to make the card. Normally, a guy such as Braun Strowman would struggle to get a PPV spot. But as part of The Wyatt Family's battle with the former ECW stalwarts, he's poised to get some spotlight alongside his posse.

Rather than just have a tag team clash between the sides, WWE brought in Rhyno and Dreamer to expand the battle.

That should make the match a more exciting one. The ring will boast a great variety of talents in the elimination tables match. The Wyatt Family benefits big time from going this route as WWE doesn't have to choose who to leave on the sidelines; everyone's invited.

Sheamus' new stable will be well-represented at TLC too.

Rusev is set to face Ryback. Alberto Del Rio will defend his U.S. title against Jack Swagger. Strangely enough, though, WWE has treated those two heels as if they are a part of separate universes.

In one, they have their individual goals and animosities. In another, they appear without their managers and back up Sheamus as part of The League of Nations.

WWE needs to merge these. Have the entire crew prowl around the ring as The Bulgarian Brute goes to battle. Have The League of Nations be Del Rio's insurance to keep his championship.

Forming this group is definitely a good idea. On his blog, Jim Ross wrote, "Like the fact that WWE is trying to create a faction with Sheamus and company. Whether it works or not is TBD but hopefully the four talents involved are contributing to the presentation."

For it to work, WWE needs to continue to make the group unified. Its members need to be involved in their comrades' respective feuds.

More than anything, it's these factions that will have the most impact past TLC. The League of Nations can be a great spot to keep those four guys. The Wyatt Family can devour the ECW stars en route to bigger things. And should flirtations between The New Day and Team B.A.D continue, a supergroup could be on the horizon.

Transition

When John Cena returns, when Brock Lesnar comes charging back and the road to WrestleMania truly kicks off, don't expect Sheamus to be champion.

His feud with Reigns has struggled to pick up momentum. Crowds aren't reacting to his heel antics.

Few expect The Celtic Warrior to hold onto the gold for long.

Credit: WWE.com

Even those praising him see him a transitional champ. Kenny Herzog wrote for Rolling Stone, "If he bears down and comes across a little more threatening, and finds a way to command the room, Sheamus can make this thing work until the A-team comes back."

That's a switch that could happen as soon as TLC. WWE may have had grander plans for Reigns' coronation, but dwindling ratings suggest the company will try a new wrestler at the top.

Leading up to the PPV, two characters are undergoing a transformation.

Del Rio seems to have abruptly ended his "MexAmerica" shtick. On Monday's Raw, he berated Zeb Colter, telling him to stay away from him. And with that, it looks as if a new version of Del Rio is on the way.

Should Colter realign with Swagger, Del Rio could put an emphatic end to both his rival and an anchor of a storyline. He'll be free to focus more on his part in The League of Nations.

Charlotte is undergoing change, as well. Her darker, more aggressive personality of late makes it clear that she is headed for heel-dom. 

Unfortunately, WWE has rushed the process. It now feels like villain will face villain at the PPV. It's hard to root for either Paige or Charlotte right now.

In that way, WWE seems to be prepping the champ for a future opponent. Perhaps it'll be Natalya yanked from obscurity or Charlotte's shaky ally, Becky Lynch. Either way, the Divas title match is hurting because it feels so much like the precursor to something else.

As ESPN's Robert Flores pointed out, it's a transitional period for WWE overall:

Reigns is trying to make the leap to megastar status. The company is in search for answers with a banged-up roster and sinking ratings.

TLC won't definitively tell us where WWE is headed, but it will offer a number of clues. Fans will see how much of a priority The League of Nations and The Wyatt Family are and whether the brass is finally ready to give Reigns a real turn as the top titleholder.