WWE TLC 2011: Why This Will Be a Better PPV Than You Think

WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs Pay-Per-View is less than a week away.

The card is set with six strong matches, including a unique variation on TLC gimmick match that should be interesting.

With all that said, there is some thoughts that this might be a "throw away" PPV where nothing will really happen. I tend to disagree with that assertion.

Simply put, there are factors going into this Sunday's "brawl, fall and crawl" extravaganza that makes it worth the time and money to watch it.

Four titles will be on the line while the two non-title matches actually have some potential. Each match actually has a lot of story as a backdrop.

Will it be worth the asking price? Let's find out.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T

The will be Booker's first Pay-Per-View match since Royal Rumble earlier this year. The premise for the storyline heading into the match is easy enough with Cody feeling disrespected by Booker's antics.

Booker should be alright going into this match, having worked some house shows and apparently putting in a good effort. I've also been a fan of Cody's work in the ring.

As such, one should expect a Pay-Per-View worthy effort from these two. While it won't any near the nostalgia factor that The Rock's return had at Survivor Series, watching Booker T do his thing in the ring has that value.

One other thing to consider is that Cody winning this match isn't exactly a foregone conclusion. There are rumors that Booker might be receiving another feud after he is done with Cody. That adds another unspoken layer of intrigue into a match with more depth than one would think.

Tables Match: Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton

Barrett has been getting a rather nice push as of late, to the point of being a credible threat for the World Heavyweight title. This actually is unique because of the way the WWE books their heels. He defeated Sheamus and Orton in a span of a few months, and has previous victories over Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston.

As for Orton, he's been put into the mode of putting over other wrestlers. Orton has actually accomplished nearly all that he can in the WWE, so he's at a point in his career where a victory or loss doesn't really matter much.

The setting of a table match is a good idea for these two. Both have finishing moves they can use to put an opponent through a table with and they are highly respected workers in the ring. On paper, this is a contender for "Match of the Night."

The build up has been a standard sort of fair with both men playing head games with the other. However, Barrett's clean victory over Orton at Survivor Series makes this a good match to watch.

Remember this summer when Orton put over Mark Henry twice? We could see the same thing here. Such a victory could put Barrett, storyline wise, into title contention. The SmackDown announcers have been playing this up on TV as of late.

Though Barrett would likely have to roll through Sheamus to get a shot at the title, it remains a possibility this scenario will play out to WrestleMania 28.

United States Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder

Ziggler and Ryder have been feuding for months. It began quietly on Ryder's YouTube video series "Z! True Long Island Story." However, the feud spilled over from cyberspace onto TV as Ryder began going after Ziggler's United States Title.

The build up to the match was featured heavily on last week's Raw.  Ryder and John Cena competed in a match with each man's respective title shot on the line. In a rather good match, Cena defeated Ryder with an Attitude Adjustment. Ryder bemoaned his defeat saying "It was my one shot, bro!"

Cena brought the issue up to John Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis agreed to give Ryder one last shot to cement his title opportunity in exchange for Cena sacrificing his WWE Championship title shot. Cena, after a moment, readily agreed. As is usual in a "deal with the devil," Ryder would face Mark Henry in a No Disqualification match.

Ryder made a good effort again the World's Strongest Man, but Henry was too much. However, just as Ryder looked like he was going to go down, Cena stormed the ring and gave Henry an Attitude Adjustment. He dragged Ryder's corpse over Henry in an academic pinfall.

In a span of 20 minutes, the WWE created a powerful bit of storytelling that played upon Ryder and Cena's respective characters and sold the United States Title match in a big way. Between that and the history between Ryder and Ziggler, this is more than enough storyline to satisfy any "angle aficionado."

It's very possible this will be the "blow off" to the feud. Ziggler has been getting a lot of praise backstage and maybe moved into the main event scene soon. As such, this could see the fulfillment of Ryder's personal crusade for the United States Championship.

Regardless, this match looks very good on paper and there is more emotion and story to this match than most folks realize.

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

Henry and Big Show has been the primary feud over on SmackDown. Initially, the build up was a little weak thanks to bad microphone work from the Big Show and bad booking for Henry. However, the match at Vengeance gave a proper pick-up to the feud when the ring, literally, imploded.

The carryover to Survivor Series got better, though the match ended with Big Show getting blasted in the crotch, which resulted in a Disqualification. It was clear that the feud needed something.

Lurking in the shadows was a man who promised to cash in guaranteed title shot at WrestleMania 28. Daniel Bryan had been the "forgotten middle child" on SmackDown. Rarely used and needing to find new relevance, the Blue Brand inserted him into the current title feud.

What resulted has been great storytelling and new mileage in a feud that should have been dying down. Bryan teased a cash-in of his briefcase and put on a good match with Henry in a steel cage a while back. Big Show became the big brother for Bryan, which actually added some good depth to his character.

How the WWE treats this triangle storyline remains to be seen. The feud will be moving into "blow off" mode, but how will the WWE treat Bryan? That's the question. I expect this match to end with a bang of some form.

Triple H vs. Kevin Nash: Sledgehammer Ladder Match

Given the age of these two and the fact they've blown a pair and a half of quadriceps muscles between them, the WWE is taking a massive risk with that match.

No match should sell on morbid curiosity. Let's be honest though: I'm curious to see what happens.

Storyline wise, the build up has had it's moments with both men trading sledgehammer shots on the other man's skull. The back story to these two men is as old a wrestling itself. Former friends turned bitter enemies is a classic angle that will be told time and again.

However, the fact that the WWE acknowledged they were part of infamous group called "The Kliq" adds a bit more realism to a story that desperately needed it. I'll be succinct in the fact I don't really have high hopes for a fantastic match.

But Trips surprised at WrestleMania 27 with a very good match with The Undertaker, and Nash has looked alright in the ring. Keeping those facts in mind while also mentioning the WWE has a perchance for making good moments at random, this could be a surprisingly good match.

WWE Championship Triple Threat TLC Match: Punk vs. Miz vs. Del Rio

CM Punk defeated Del Rio at Survivor Series in a great match. As such, a rematch was expected between the two for TLC. The Miz has also been rumored to be in favor with the "powers that be" backstage, so his interjection wasn't shocking either. 

All three men are capable workers in the ring and the match itself seems good on paper. Most matches involving ladders are that way as a general rule.

Punk and Del Rio have been in an on again, off again feud since Summerslam where Del Rio cashed in his "Money In The Bank" briefcase on Punk. At Hell In A Cell, Del Rio pinned Punk after beating the tar out of him with a pipe while Punk made Del Rio tap out to the Anaconda Vise at Survivor Series.

With the suspension of R-Truth, that left The Miz without his running partner and kind of listless after a good performance at Survivor Series. I actually expected him to feud with Cena as a hold over feud until WrestleMania 28. But this is acceptable as well.

There is enough of a rivalry between Punk and Del Rio to carry over the match, but the WWE has not apparently made a big deal of it as of the time of this writing. As such, take this match for what it should be.

Three men using various instruments of destruction in a match, which is usually a good gimmick type, for the top prize in the WWE. That works for me.

On the whole, there is more to the Pay-Per-View than meets the eye. Ultimately, if you are a fan of good matches, this one should be worth your time. While it probably won't equal the drama of Money In The Bank or the spectacle that was WrestleMania 27 or Survivor Series, this should be a strong affair in its own right.

As always, thanks for reading! Are you looking forward to this Pay-Per-View or dreading it? Leave your comments below.