Jay's Ways - WWE TLC 2018 Preview Submitted by Justin Watry on 12/15/2018 at 09:52 PM
WWE TLC 2018 Preview
Mixed Match Challenge Season 2 Finals: Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox vs. R-Truth & Carmella
I barely watched Mixed Match Challenge in season one and have not tuned into season two. Same with NXT UK. I checked it out, didn't get hooked and moved on pretty quickly. Even though I don't watch, I do know that these two teams did not actually do well in the win-loss column. Thus, why are they in the finals? My theory is because the rest of the bigger stars are already busy at WWE TLC. These four, no offense, are not doing anything. It is fairly easy to throw them on the card without any complications. My pick is Carmella and R-Truth for a holiday DANCE BREAK!
Winner: Carmella/R-Truth
Chairs Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
Good to have Rey Mysterio back in the fold. While I do not think he should be winning a lot, I also do not think his losses should be thrown out randomly. This Sunday, he can lose and be okay. Randy Orton appears primed to have an AJ Styles feud, so he needs to come out of this looking like a total jerk. Perhaps a post-match attack on Mr. 619 with a dozen chair shots or so? Classic rivalry that will deliver once again.
Winner: Randy Orton
Tables Match: Natalya vs. Ruby Riott
Despite Natalya following me on Twitter, I rarely pick her to win on pay-per-view. Kinda weird. Outside of Total Divas and her recent 'thank you' championship run, it is difficult to remember anything memorable on her resume. With all the emotions swirling around this Tables Match, she is the prediction. Ruby can cause a riot another night.
Winner: Natalya
Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor
Drew McIntyre is a stud. I have been saying it since he returned to WWE (in NXT). Dude is custom made for the main roster and will be a top act come 2019. Anything less than a main event run will be considered a disappointment. Mark it down now. Roman Reigns is out. Brock Lesnar is gone. Braun Strowman is a question mark. The red brand is there for the taking. Sucks for Finn Balor but sorry! No win on Sunday Mr. Demon. McIntyre wins after a solid 15 minute bout and does so clean in the middle of the ring. STUD.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Ladder Match: Elias vs. Bobby Lashley (Elias’ guitar hanging above the ring)
I am all for the Lashley character change and Lio Rush barking by his side. I am all for Elias getting cheered and becoming a popular good guy with the fans. What I am NOT for is this ridiculous guitar garbage. Forget the ladder match gimmick. Should have kept the Chairs Match with Orton and Rey. Tables Match with Ruby and Nattie. TLC Match with the three women on Smackdown and then for the Ladder Match - do Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin with a contract hanging high above. One with the permanent General Manager spot to sign for Corbin and the other paper with a Royal Rumble Universal Championship spot to sign for Braun. Simple...certainly beats a guitar hanging above the ring. My gut says Elias, but does it actually matter? Keep in mind Lashley beat Reigns clean on pay-per-view just this past summer.
Winner: Elias
TLC Match: Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
I wrote about this in my December 'reader feedback' column that will be posted in early January. Braun shows up at TLC, destroys Corbin in less than a minute and gets his Rumble showdown with Brock. Corbin may or may not be fired; I say yes. Either way, Kurt Angle is likely on his way back to take over RAW again. Then we have Corbin and Angle fighting, with Lesnar and Strowman brawling. Fun start to WrestleMania 35 season.
Winner: Braun Strowman
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. The New Day vs. The Usos
No explanation needed.
Winner: The Bar
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Champion Buddy Murphy
How many matches are on this card? Geez. I have no idea what is going with 205 LIVE because I don't watch it. In order to fill space, I will say this though. Mustafa Ali deserves all the praise in the world right now. He stepped up to the plate Tuesday night and came through in the clutch versus WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. I am a little torn on including the 205 Live on Raw and Smackdown Live but right now, it is hard to argue against the idea. Rush, Drake, and Ali are doing a very good job hanging with the main roster crew. That is cool.
Winner: Buddy Murphy
RAW Women’s Championship Match: Nia Jax vs. Champion Ronda Rousey
My hope is Ronda Rousey defeats Nia Jax in five seconds, and we never see this matchup again. My FEAR is WWE still isn't done pretending that Jax belongs in the title picture. My HOPE is Rousey has a classic bout with Ember Moon after this. My FEAR is that those two will never feud. My HOPE is Ronda Rousey takes on Charlotte next and then Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 35 in April. My FEAR is that might be a Royal Rumble victory for Ronda, which means losing the belt. Think about it - FOX will absolutely want The Rowdy One on the blue brand come 2019. That goes without saying. In order to do that, something drastic has to happen. Either a Royal Rumble win and brand change or the Superstar Shakeup post-WM. Well, the latter would be too late. We need Becky, Rousey, and Charlotte on the same show NOW! I am picking Ronda to win, but there has to be some shenanigans soon in order for the stars to align with those three feuding...
Winner: Ronda Rousey
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins
It wouldn't shock me if this was a one and done pay-per-view battle despite all the history and recent drama. Appears to be cut and dry in my book. Seth Rollins is moving up the card to main event RAW for the time being, so that means Dean Ambrose can get another IC Championship reign. Works for both men. Just go out there and have a wild brawl at TLC. That is all I ask. Renee Young will be smiling at the end of this match.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Champion Daniel Bryan
Not much to write about actually. Daniel Bryan just got the WWE Championship and until AJ Styles signs a new contract, he won't (and shouldn't) be winning many big PPV bouts. The NEW Daniel Bryan wins, and Styles works down the card a bit for awhile. No harm, no foul. I do wonder what the blue brand will look like in three months though. Interesting WM35 outlook for Smackdown LIVE.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Smackdown Women’s Championship TLC Match: Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Champion Becky Lynch
Fully expecting this to main event. I know it is MY most anticipated match of the evening. A first ever for the women and one that is well earned for all three. I can already tell I will be getting goosebumps during the entrances. This is going to be SO GOOD. Like the Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax story, I am picking the champ to retain...but am keeping the door open for controversy in the division. How WWE navigates from Royal Rumble to Mania with Becky, Ronda, and Charlotte will be quite the story. Good luck to all involved in making this work. Match of the night...and maybe even match of the year if everything falls into place. Currently, Ronda Rousey has the 2018 Match Of The Year. It would be quite fitting if THE MAN snuck in at the last minute and stole that award from her...
