WWE TLC 2011: Creating a Card Through Logic and Wishful Thinking

After a lackluster Survivor Series, this year's edition of TLC is our next stop on the road to WrestleMania. 

What can we expect from this show? I can only assure you there will be some tables, there will be some ladders, and there will be some chairs.

As far as what we don't know, I'm here to attempt to fix that. 

With a bit of logic and some wishful thinking, here is how I would book WWE's TLC.

WWE Championship: Punk (c) vs. Del Rio vs. Cena vs. Miz (TLC Match)

Logic: I'll break this down by wrestler. Oops, I mean "superstar."

CM Punk- Easy booking here for the Straight Edge Messiah. He's the WWE Champion and should be contesting at this pay-per-view.

Alberto Del Rio- ADR has some recent history with Punk and the build is already there. He does have a rematch coming up on Raw against Punk but I really can't see him starting another feud just yet.

John Cena- It wouldn't make much sense to throw Cena into a long-term feud with his match against The Rock coming up. We'll just pencil him in since it makes sense.

The Miz- With R-Truth suspended for 30 days, there is no way Miz will battle him at this event. So what else does The Miz have on the table? He's fresh off a match against Cena at Survivor Series. As a rival of Cena and a former WWE champion, why not throw him in the mix here? 

Wishful Thinking:

If last year's Fatal Four-Way TLC match with Kane, Edge, Mysterio, and Del Rio delivered, why can't this one? All of these guys are at the top of their game and should make for quite a title bout with tables, ladders and chairs.

I would obviously have CM Punk retain here. The WWE title has to find a long-term home starting now and it couldn't be in better hands. With the recent babyface build up for Punk he should have no problem walking around with the strap.

World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry (c) vs. Big Show (Chairs Match)

Logic:

Henry and Show's matches at both Vengeance and Survivor Series left us without any type of closure. This Chairs match would be the final encounter between the two and put a lid on this fairly entertaining feud.

Wishful Thinking:

Watching two giants battle each other in a wrestling ring is not as exciting as many may think. However, the last two matches between "The World's Strongest Man" and "The World's Largest Athlete" has shown us otherwise.

Chunks of the two battles may have come across as boring, but they did provide us with some memorable high points. (The ring collapsing and Show's elbow from the top rope)

Now with chairs as a legal weapon in this matchup we could expect a very interesting fight for the strap.

I would book Henry as the victor in this match, continuing his dominant run as champion.

#1 Contender's Match for WHC: Orton vs. Barrett vs. Sheamus (Tables Match)

Logic:

With the storyline of Show and Henry coming to an end at this event, Henry would need a new opponent for his World Heavyweight Championship.

After Show, we are left with three logical choices-- Randy Orton, Wade Barrett, and Sheamus. Orton and Barrett are already starting a feud and Sheamus needs to be kept near the top of card to progress his babyface role.

Wishful Thinking:

Here are three guys that can certainly deliver in the ring. Each is a viable contender and each have a finisher that can coincide well with a Tables Match. This would work as an elimination Triple Threat bout.

Sheamus would come out on top here. I would have Barrett eliminate Orton to add to his push and have the Celtic Warrior take out Barrett to end it. 

This would give us another interesting World Heavyweight angle with Henry and Sheamus as Orton and Barrett would continue a feud into Royal Rumble or break off into their separate storylines. 

Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Booker T

Logic:

We all know this is happening. After Rhodes tossed water into Booker's face after his squash against Santino, a feud is certainly in the making.

Wishful Thinking:

Booker back in the ring? Sign me up.

Who doesn't want to see the six-time, six-time, six-time, six-time, six-time, six-time World Heavyweight Champion battle the future World Heavyweight Champion?

Unfortunately for Book, Rhodes coming out on top is the clear choice. Rhodes obviously needs more build than a commentator.

Although it is the TLC pay-per-view, this doesn't have to be a stipulation match. Seeing Booker T in a ring again is good enough.

Daniel Bryan vs. Jack Swagger (Ladder Match for Bryan's Briefcase)

Logic:

*If you haven't hit the dirt sheets to see this week's SmackDown! spoilers, you may want to skip this slide.

With that being said, Daniel Bryan will receive a World Heavyweight Title shot next week against Mark Henry in a Steel Cage Match. Do I expect him to win it then? Probably not.

He has the briefcase. Why throw him another chance? 

I think this match is just a way of exposing Bryan to the main event scene leading up to a potentially ridiculous WrestleMania title match.

Anyway, after Bryan would lose to Henry, Swagger would come out and challenge Bryan for his Money in the Bank briefcase. Since he isn't in a clear feud right now, he can go through this whole spiel where he deserves the briefcase, not Bryan.

Bryan would accept his challenge and put his guaranteed title shot on the line in a Ladder match.

Wishful Thinking:

If Daniel Bryan is going to be a major player at this year's 'Mania, he has to be on the card. I believe the company has already missed it's chance for a proper buildup to Bryan's title shot, but it seems as if they're still going through with it.

I would have Bryan win and keep his briefcase to hopefully cash it in before WrestleMania XXVIII.

United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Zack Ryder

Logic:

It's only a matter of time until Ryder gets his shot, so why not here? He isn't great in the ring and by no means is a future main event talent, but Ryder has proved his value to the company. Long Island Iced Z actually received bigger pop from the NYC crowd than Rocky did at Survivor Series.

Wishful Thinking:

Many may not know that Ziggler and Ryder are actually very good friends. These two can give us an exciting matchup at the event.

I would have Zack Ryder snag the U.S. Title off of Dolph. In Ziggler's hands, the U.S. strap is rarely contested for and there is no clear division for it. If Ryder can run with it, perhaps it will bring a bit more competition and young talent into the ring.

Beth Phoenix & Natayla vs. Kelly Kelly & Eve (Tables Match)

Logic:

I guess there has to be a Divas match. They did this tag team tables match at last year's TLC, so we'll do it again.

Wishful Thinking:

Maybe a Divas match will be more entertaining with tables. (My famous last words.)

It doesn't really matter who wins here, but I'll go with Beth and her buddy Natalya to keep her atop the division.

Tag Team Championship: Air Boom (c) vs. Hunico & Primo (Ladder Match)

Logic:

With Sin Cara going down to yet another botch, Hunico is left without a clear storyline. The same goes for Bourne and Kingston.

So let's book a Ladder match for the Tag Team belts with Air Boom going up against Hunico and Primo. Primo and Hunico have already started a stable along with Epico and can add to an almost non-exsistent tag division.

Wishful Thinking:

Remember the days of The Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian?

Well with those glory days far, far behind us we can only hope to see a trace of what those men brought to the company and its tag team division.

Kingston, Bourne, Hunico, and Primo are all great athletes and do have the ability to give us a great opener in this ladder match.

I would have Air Boom retain just because. Hopefully this match would trigger the formation of a tag team division.

Final Card from Top to Bottom

WWE Championship (TLC Match): CM Punk (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena vs. The Miz

World Heavyweight Championship (Chairs Match): Mark Henry (c) vs. Big Show

#1 Contender's for the WHC (Tables Match): Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett vs. Sheamus

Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Booker T

Ladder Match for Daniel Bryan's MITB Briefcase: Daniel Bryan vs. Jack Swagger

Divas Tag Team (Tables Match): Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. Kelly Kelly and Eve

United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Zack Ryder

Tag Team Championship (Ladder Match): Air Boom (c) vs. Hunico & Primo

Notables Left off the Card

Kevin Nash: Big Daddy Cool has been pulled from all upcoming shows. Seems unlikely he'll have enough time to build up a match against Triple H for the pay-per-view.

Triple H: No Nash, no Trips.

R-Truth: As much as I would love to see him here, Truth's suspension will keep him off the show.

John Morrison: Jeff Hardy Version 2.0 doesn't deserve to be here unless he throws Dolph Ziggler back in the ring. Because doing that apparently earned him a match at Survivor Series.

Mason Ryan: Still needs more build to garner a legitimate feud.

Brodus Clay: When the hell is he supposed to be back?

What Do You Think?

What do you think?

Like the card? Hate the card? Think you can make a better card?

If so, please feel free to leave your matches or comments below.

Thank you for viewing!