WWE TLC 2011: Randy Orton and Superstars That Must Rescue PPV

While the card for WWE's TLC pay-per-view on Sunday looks fairly solid, there isn't much to truly reel in the viewers. Basically, all of the matches have the potential to be pretty good, with the exception of Mark Henry vs. Big Show, but good matches on paper don't always come to fruition.

For those that do buy this pay-per-view, they will be looking for a significant return on their $60 investment. Survivor Series ended up being worth it last month, and next month's Royal Rumble is almost guaranteed to be good, but TLC has been hit or miss in the past.

With that said, provided the stars step up with their best possible performances, this event can be extremely entertaining. Here are five superstars who, if they come through on Sunday, can rescue a pay-per-view that has suffered from lack of proper build.

Cody Rhodes

Over the past year or so, Cody Rhodes has truly undergone an extensive character evolution. After Legacy broke up, Rhodes became a narcissistic heel known as "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Once his face was "damaged," however, he took on a darker persona. Recently, Rhodes dropped that and he is now sort of a combination of his past two gimmicks.

While Rhodes has changed in a lot of ways recently, one thing that hasn't changed is his fantastic wrestling ability. Rhodes has proven capable of putting on five-star matches with essentially anybody, and his matches are often the highlight of their respective cards. Rhodes will compete in an interesting bout on Sunday as he defends his Intercontinental Championship against Booker T.

This will be Booker's first meaningful singles match in the WWE since 2007. Because of that, a little ring rust is to be expected. Provided Rhodes continues to perform in the ring like he has, that shouldn't be a problem. In his prime, Booker was a solid worker, so he should at least be able to hold up his end of the bargain. There is no question that the purpose of this match is for Rhodes to showcase his skills, though, so he should put on another dandy.

Zack Ryder

It wasn't long ago that Zack Ryder was barely seen on WWE television, but thanks to the creation of his YouTube show Z! True Long Island Story and a well-earned push, Ryder will face Dolph Ziggler for the United States Championship at TLC. Ryder failed in his previous attempt to capture Ziggler's title, but all signs point to Ryder finally getting his moment in the sun.

Ryder has masterfully promoted the feud on his show and because of that, the US title match may have the best buildup of any match on the card. Ryder's excellent in-ring skills are a bit overshadowed by his over-the-top gimmick, but there is no doubt that he can go. At the same time, Ziggler may very well be the best overall wrestler in the company at the moment.

I think Ryder and Ziggler will have an equal effect on whether or not this match lives up to the hype, but it would seem as though most people want to see Ryder win the belt. As long as Ryder brings his usual energy to the ring, performs well and ultimately wins the United States Championship, I think the vast majority of fans will be happy.

Kane

It may be true that Kane isn't even scheduled for a match at TLC, but he could be an integral figure when it comes to the quality of the show. After missing months due to a kayfabe injury suffered at the hands of Mark Henry, Kane returned in grand fashion on RAW as he interfered in a match between Henry and John Cena and chokeslammed Cena.

There was some talk that Kane and Cena might have a match at TLC, but with no announcement just a day away from the pay-per-view, that seems incredibly unlikely. Still, there is a decent chance that Kane will make some sort of appearance. I would either expect him to attack Cena during a promo of some kind or interrupt in the World Heavyweight Championship match between Henry and Big Show.

Wrestling fans are buzzing since his return, especially since he is once again donning a mask. It is funny to think that something as simple as a mask could make Kane interesting again, but it seems to have worked. I think the possibility of a Kane appearance alone might cause some people to buy this pay-per-view, and I don't see any reason why he won't show up and wreak some havoc.

CM Punk

Ever since his legendary worked-shoot promo in the summer and ensuing WWE Championship win at Money in the Bank, CM Punk has seen a meteoric rise in his popularity. Punk certainly had a nice following prior to the summer, but I think it's safe to say that he is now the most over superstar in the entire company. Because of that, he will need to come through on Sunday.

Punk is perhaps best known for his mic skills, but he is also one of the best in-ring workers in the company. It truly is hard to think of a bad match that Punk has been a part of over the past several months or so. I think that trend will continue at TLC as he defends his WWE Championship against The Miz and Alberto Del Rio in a TLC match.

The match as a whole should be extremely entertaining, as all TLC matches tend to be, but Punk's mere presence is what should put it over the top. The crowd exploded when he won the title at Money in the Bank and the same happened when he won at Survivor Series. I don't see any way in which Punk loses this match, so provided he puts on a good show, as he always does, the fans should go home happy.

Randy Orton

When it comes to Randy Orton, most people either love him or hate him. While some may find him to be boring or repetitive, there is no question that he gets major pops from the crowd wherever he goes. I personally believe that his "Viper" character could use a bit of an overhaul, but he has truly excelled in the ring over the past year.

Orton has been involved in a number of well-wrestled feuds, most notably against Christian and Cody Rhodes. Orton's detractors might say that Christian and Rhodes carried Orton, but I don't think there is any doubt that Orton has acquitted himself well. Orton will need to shine bright again on Sunday when he faces Wade Barrett in a tables match.

I believe that the purpose of this match is to keep Barrett's momentum rolling while giving him a big pay-per-view win over one of the faces of the company. While the focus will be on Barrett, Orton needs to hold up his end of the bargain as well. Orton must continue his string of quality matches all while making both Barrett and himself appear strong. There is no question in my mind that Orton must lose this match, but he has done a great job of putting over others in recent weeks and he has to do so again effectively on Sunday.