WWE TLC: Predicting Outcome of Every Match on the Card

While there is still some time between now and TLC on Sunday, the card for the bridge to Royal Rumble seems to be fairly set. Normally the transitional pay-per-views such as TLC don't have the best slates of matches, but I tend to say that this particular card is an exception to that rule.

Every match is of some kind of importance and is intriguing in one way or another. Also, while gimmick pay-per-views aren't my favorite due to the fact that they limit gimmick matches throughout the rest of the year, there is no denying that TLC matches and the like enhance the viewing experience.

I don't anticipate much title movement with the WrestleMania season nearly upon us, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it won't be an entertaining card. TLC promises to be fairly unpredictable, but here are my picks for each of the matches scheduled for Sunday's pay-per-view.

Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T

Five-time WCW Champion Booker T will make his official return to the ring on Sunday save for this past Royal Rumble and a couple joke matches on RAW. He will be taking on Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. The two of had a slow-burning feud for weeks since Rhodes began handing Booker paper bags during his grotesque gimmick.

The pair has exchanged attacks in recent weeks and promise to put on a pretty entertaining match. Booker, a former Intercontinental Champion in his own right, will be looking to add more gold to his already impressive collection. I view this feud as little more than an avenue to get Rhodes more over and push him toward main-event status.

While Booker hasn't been an active competitor for quite some time, he has a great reputation and is generally loved by fans. A win would help lend some credibility to Rhodes after he was essentially buried by Randy Orton on their feud. I don't see this rivalry lasting too long, so look for Rhodes to score an impressive, clean, pinfall victory en route to retaining the strap.

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett (Tables Match)

In what is a bit of a rehash of a feud from last year, Randy Orton and Wade Barrett will lock horns at TLC in a tables match. While Orton's WWE Championship was on the line when these two faced off at Survivor Series last year, this match is all about restoring Barrett's legitimacy after he was basically misused following his exit from Nexus.

The creative team has done a really nice job of making Barrett look like a true force over the past couple months as the "Barrett Barrage" is in full effect. Orton has been one of his many victims of late thanks to Barrett continually interfering in his matches. Also, Barrett's team defeated Orton's team at Survivor Series with Barrett eliminating Orton to win the match.

WWE had an opportunity to put Cody Rhodes over the moon by getting the better of Orton in a feud, but that didn't happen for whatever reason. I would be shocked if they made the same mistake with Barrett. He has already beaten the likes of Orton, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan during his recent hot streak, so I think Barrett's momentum will continue.

This particular bout will be a tables match, which certainly allows for some fluky victories. I envision Orton attempting to RKO Barrett through a table, but Barrett simply shrugging him off, sending Orton through the table instead. This pleases all sides as Barrett gets the win and Orton ceases to look weak.

United States Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder

After weeks of trying to get a rematch, Zack Ryder will finally get one last chance at taking Dolph Ziggler's United States Championship. Ryder's transformation has been incredible as I think it's fair to say that he has gone from glorified jobber status to perhaps being the most over wrestler in the entire company.

Ryder's on-line petition for a United States Championship shot has become the most-signed petition in the history of the Internet and his feud with Ziggler continues to be one of the most entertaining things in the company at the moment. With Ryder perhaps at his all-time peak in terms of popularity, it's time to strike while the iron is hot and give Ryder the gold he so richly deserves.

What shouldn't be lost in all of this is the steady ascent of Ziggler, though. Over the past couple months Ziggler's character has very subtly evolved and he is now main-event ready. As great as it is for him to have the United States Championship, he can't really make the next step until he ditches the title.

A loss wouldn't hurt Ziggler in the least as he won a fatal fourway against Ryder, Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes on this week's RAW and defeated Randy Orton this week. Giving Ryder the title elevates him and taking it away from Ziggler elevates him. Ryder coming out on top is truly a no-brainer.

Triple H vs. Kevin Nash (Sledgehammer Ladder Match)

After missing a couple months of action due to a sledgehammer attack from former best friend Kevin Nash, Triple H will face Nash in the first ever sledgehammer ladder match at TLC. Whoever retrieves the sledgehammer can legally use it in the match. While this may not be the best match in terms of pure wrestling, it should be fun seeing these two veterans lock up.

It's hard to say where this feud is truly going, so I can't see the creative team messing up the result of this match regardless of where they go with it. Triple H and Nash are basically on a level playing field right now as Triple H took out Nash at Night of Champions and Nash returned the favor on RAW.

At some point this feud is going to include John Laurinaitis as he is clearly working with Nash behind the scenes. My prediction is that Triple H will retrieve the sledgehammer, but just before he can use it, Laurinaitis will interrupt the match, giving Nash the upper hand and the victory. This one is far from a sure thing, but at some point the creative team has to reveal what everybody already knows, and that is that Laurinaitis sabotaged Triple H.

John Cena vs. Kane

This match has yet to be announced, but for all intents and purposes, it looks like John Cena will be taking on the returning Kane on Sunday. In a move that shocked the WWE Universe, Kane returned from an "injury" suffered at the hands of Mark Henry on Monday. Rather than attack Henry during his match with Cena, however, Kane delivered a chokeslam to the face of the WWE.

Kane returned with a modified version of his mask, as well as a goatee and a wig. He certainly looks menacing and much more legitimate than he has in quite some time, so this storyline intrigues more than any Cena storyline in recent memory. In a promo that aired for Kane on Monday night, Cena was seen in the mirror that Kane smashed, so there was a bit of a precursor to his true intentions.

Prior to Kane's kayfabe injury he talked about how he didn't feel as if he was a monster anymore. That certainly explains his return to his more traditional attire, as well as his new attitude. I assume that Kane has targeted Cena since he is widely considered to be the golden goose of the company.

I would be very surprised if there were a definitive resolution to this match as it simply wouldn't make sense. To have Kane return with such fervor only get buried by Cena would be a colossal waste, but I can't envision the creative team allowing Cena to lose this match. More than likely it will end in Kane losing by disqualification and proceeding to beat Cena senseless in order to further the feud.

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs. Big Show (Chairs Match)

Yawn. Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about the prospects of yet another match between Mark Henry and the Big Show. I fully understand that a proper resolution is needed before these two can move on to better things, but I think the feud has dragged on long enough. Hopefully a chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship at TLC will be all she wrote for this rivalry.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Henry's character right now, but I think Big Show's recent dominance is beginning to undermine Henry's tough-guy image. That, of course, can be wiped out if Henry picks up the win at TLC. I don't honestly believe that the creative team would entertain any ideas of giving Big Show the title, so I'm going to trust that Henry will pick up the victory.

With everything that both competitors have gone through during this feud, there is no chance that Big Show losing will make him look weak. What it will do, however, is elevate Henry even more as he has been battling through a kayfabe leg injury. I firmly believe that Henry will hold the title until WrestleMania where he will ultimately lose it to Daniel Bryan, so Henry gets the hard-fought win here.

CM Punk vs. The Miz vs. Alberto Del Rio (Triple-Threat TLC for WWE Championship)

While CM Punk defending his WWE Championship against The Miz and Alberto Del Rio in a triple-threat TLC match at TLC may be the most entertaining match on the card, it is also the most predictable. Punk just won the belt from Del Rio at Survivor Series and with his popularity continually rising, I don't envision him dropping it any time soon.

The seeds were already planted on RAW as both Miz and Del Rio assaulted Punk following a win over him in a tag-team match. Miz alluded to him and Del Rio working together in order to eliminate Punk from the match entirely. It never ends well when two heels team up in that fashion as they either wind up turning on each other in the process or eventually getting beaten by the "helpless" face.

I fully expect Miz and Del Rio to have Punk in a compromised position only for them to be unable to come to an agreement with regards to who goes after the title. This will allow Punk to get back in the match, channel his inner John Cena and vanquish his foes. All parties involved in this match are awfully fun to watch right now, but keeping the title with Punk is clearly the right choice for the time being.