WWE TLC 2011: Preview and Predictions

Sunday night, the WWE will present their final pay-per-view of the year: TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs. Live from Baltimore, Maryland, the third annual installment of this show will feature a chairs match, a tables match, a ladder match and a TLC match.

The six matches on the card should make for a stellar show, but the most interesting thing about the show is what isn’t on the card: John Cena. Cena has been featured in almost every other PPV the WWE has presented this year. Yes, Cena was the victim of Kane returning on Monday. However, I find it hard to believe that the WWE would wait until the day of the PPV to announce a Cena vs. Kane match.

Another interesting case is Daniel Bryan being left off the show. Bryan, who has yet to make a PPV appearance since SummerSlam, has been featured in recent Smackdown main events. It wasn’t that long ago that Bryan was challenging for Mark Henry’s World Heavyweight Championship. It seems as if Daniel Bryan has already been lost in the shuffle again. Then again, there is always a chance that Bryan could cash in his Money in the Bank title shot. It wouldn’t be the first time he tried to do it, despite his promise to wait until WrestleMania.

Another prominent person left off the card is Sheamus. There also is no announced Diva's match. It seems that a handful of Superstars and Divas have been overlooked this time around. But hey, they managed to make sure that Triple H vs. Kevin Nash made the card. In a time where the WWE is struggling to establish new, young stars, devoting so much time to a feud between Triple H and Kevin Nash seems to be counterproductive.

Without further ado, I’d like to move into a more detailed, match-by-match preview of the PPV.

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

This is one match I’m particularly looking forward to. Zack Ryder has had a meteoric rise these last few months and challenging for the United States Championship seems to be the next logical step in his wrestling career.

According to Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis, this match is Ryder’s last opportunity at the US Title. Dolph Ziggler has managed to retain his championship in previous bouts with Ryder, but it definitely seems like this could be Ryder’s time to shine.

Logically speaking, Ryder winning the US Title at TLC makes sense. For one, Ryder has been extremely over with the fans for the past few months. As opposed to winning the title when he first contended for it a few months ago on Raw, a legitimate program with Ziggler has done wonders for Ryder because if and when he does finally win the title, it will mean much more.

On the other hand, Ziggler is beyond ready to move up the card. Dropping the US Title to someone like Ryder gives him the chance to start establishing himself as a world championship contender. It really is about time he starts to shine on a main event level.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this match open the show. Dolph Ziggler, as we have all seen in the last few PPVs, is someone who can definitely be trusted to have a great opening match, which is important for getting the crowd into the show early on. On top of that, he and Ryder work well together and have had great matches in the past. I have no doubt that this will be a great match!

My pick: Zack Ryder

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Booker T for the Intercontinental Championship

Once upon a time, this title was a stepping stone to the world championship. In the last few years, it has become nothing more than a belt. Then Cody Rhodes came along and made the title mean something again. From his ring style to the vintage belt design, Rhodes brings an old-school feel to the title—something that makes him a delight to watch.

On Sunday, Booker T will be making his return to a WWE ring for the first time since 2007. That alone makes this match intriguing for this fan. I am very interested to not only see Booker wrestle in the WWE again, but also to see how he and Rhodes will work together.

I’m looking forward to another stellar PPV performance from Cody Rhodes. Like Dolph Ziggler, Rhodes is another guy on his way to the top. In his case, the Intercontinental Championship is a stepping stone to the world title. It’s only a matter of time until he becomes a main-eventer on Smackdown, and this feud with Booker T will bring him one step closer to that. Many of us thought it would be his feud with Randy Orton that would propel him into the main event, but that didn’t quite happen. Perhaps a string of defeats over the veteran Booker T will help push Rhodes into World Heavyweight Championship contention.

Now it’s hard to predict the quality of the match since Booker hasn’t wrestled on TV in a while, but I’m rather optimistic. Booker’s return to the ring helps give this show a sort of special feel to it. However, since it is his return and it’s probable that he won’t be wrestling full time, I’d say it’s fairly obvious that Booker T won’t be capturing the Intercontinental Championship. Perhaps we’ll see Rhodes lose via disqualification to keep the feud alive. One way or another, I’m sure Cody Rhodes will retain.

My pick: Cody Rhodes retains via DQ

Triple H vs. Kevin Nash in a Ladder Match

I think what’s going on with this match is that there will be a sledgehammer hanging above the ring and whoever gets it down can use it, but one must win the match by pinfall or submission. Honestly, this is one of the more obnoxiously stupid stipulations the WWE has come up with. The ladder match stipulation would have been so much better if applied to, say, the US or Intercontinental matches.

On top of that, we have to take into account who is participating in this match: Triple H and Kevin Nash. Triple H can still put on great matches, especially for his age. Nash, on the other hand, is way beyond the point where he should be getting a prominent match on a WWE PPV. In my opinion, all Nash brings to the table is name value.

I know it doesn’t sound like it, but part of me does want to see this match. Maybe I just want to see if Nash can still climb a ladder. I don’t know exactly what it is. Maybe the WWE suckered me in with the sheer fact that two legends like Triple H and Kevin Nash will be facing off on PPV.

Since I can’t see these two having another match on PPV at the Royal Rumble, I’m guessing that this will be their first and only PPV match. I’m not expecting a high-quality match. What I am expecting is that Triple H will win and we’ll see Kevin Nash attack him afterwards. Perhaps the feud will continue on Raw over the next few weeks.

My pick: Triple H

Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton in a Tables Match

Wade Barrett has been on a roll over the past two months. The “Barrett Barrage” has helped Barrett recover his career after being booted from the Nexus and then being buried as part of the Corre.

I’m weary to jump to the conclusion that a feud with Orton will help Barrett regain his status as a potential main-eventer. I thought that Orton would move Cody Rhodes up the card, but he just ended up beating him time and time again.

The only win Barrett has on Orton on PPV is when his team defeated Orton’s at Survivor Series, and that was only because of the help he got from Rhodes. In my opinion, a win of any kind over Orton will help build him up. The tables match stipulation allows for Barrett to get a win without hurting Orton. Take, for example, Sheamus’ win over Cena at TLC 2009.

I’m going to optimistically say that Barrett will beat Orton in this match. Right now, Barrett is still at the point where he needs to be built up again. In my opinion, any kind of loss on a PPV stage will do more harm than good. Even more so, it would make sure that the feud keeps going. Since Barrett has been costing Orton wins on a weekly basis, I’d like to see this keep going to the point where Barrett is the one to eliminate Orton from the Royal Rumble.

My pick: Wade Barrett

Mark Henry (c) vs. Big Show in a Chairs Match for World Heavyweight Championship

I have more hope for this match than I have for any of their previous encounters strictly because they are allowed to use chairs. I feel like these two will thrive in a match where they are allowed to brawl because it limits the necessity for actual in-ring wrestling.

While I may not be looking forward to this match, I must admit that Henry and Big Show have been having much better matches than I ever expected. I’d love for them to exceed my expectations again. Considering how low my expectations have been for this entire feud, that shouldn’t be hard.

I expect this to be the final match of their feud. Yes, they have made some memorable moments, especially with the ring collapsing spot, but it’s time for Mark Henry to move on. In my opinion, the worst part about this feud is that not once did I believe Big Show was a credible threat to the title. That is the same case for Sunday. I expect Mark Henry to retain simply cause they haven’t booked Big Show in a way that makes him a believable contender.

My pick: Mark Henry

CM Punk (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. the Miz in a TLC Match for WWE Championship

CM Punk, who just won the title a month ago, will defend it against the former champion, Alberto del Rio, and Miz. Del Rio and Miz, especially on this past edition of Raw, have been working together to try and take down the champion. Because of this, there is reason to believe that CM Punk may not retain, which generates interest in the match.

Since all three of these guys have experience in these kinds of matches, I expect that they’ll deliver an excellent main event to close out the year. CM Punk, Miz and del Rio are all guys that have been known to perform the big spots that make TLC matches memorable. If I recall correctly, I believe del Rio fell off a ladder and through a table at last year’s TLC PPV.

As I mentioned before, the fact that del Rio and Miz have been working together to try and dethrone the WWE Champion makes it more believable that Punk may not necessarily retain. However, I would certainly like to see him retain here. The rumor that Chris Jericho is returning to challenge Punk at WrestleMania makes me think that the WWE has long-term plans for Punk as WWE Champion. Thus, in that respect, it seems like a lock that Punk will retain.

Another interesting aspect of this match is how Punk will perform as the top performer on the card. Without John Cena booked for the show, it seems as if CM Punk is the top draw.

My pick: CM Punk

Conclusion

All in all, this show has the potential to deliver some memorable moments to close out 2011. I do think that they shorted us with the promotion of the show, though. By announcing only six matches and leaving off guys like Daniel Bryan and Sheamus, that’s like asking for bad buy rates.

If this show does indeed draw poorly, I hope that the blame isn’t put on CM Punk. I also hope that it doesn’t give WWE the idea that they need John Cena on every PPV. The most fresh thing about this PPV is the lack of Cena.

While I don’t expect much from the World Heavyweight Championship match or the Kevin Nash vs. Triple H match, I do expect good quality matches from the rest of the card. Sure, this show will likely end up being a forgettable one, but it should make for a rather entertaining three hours!

Immediately after the WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV ends, This Very Ring on PW 24/7 Radio will be on air with a live recap. Tune in for original commentary on the show. Also feel free to join the PW 24/7 chatroom and discuss the show with fellow fans.

You may also follow me on Twitter @MikePW247.