WWE TLC 2018 preview

Fabulous Truth (R-Truth & Carmella) (SmackDown) vs. Mahalicia (Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox) (RAW), in the Finals of the Mixed Match Challenge, for the #30 spot in their respective Royal Rumble matches

The story: Mixed Match Challenge has been weird this season. (Still great, but… weird.) How did these two teams make it to the Finals? Well, they’re two of the only teams on this season that even existed from the very beginning of the competition, as nearly every team on the show has been affected by injury. (Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss’ team, for example, is now Curt Hawkins and Ember Moon.)

Prediction: The Fabulous Truth wins this and R-Truth ends up accidentally showing up to compete in the Women’s Battle Royal match. 

Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Cedric Alexander, for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (205 Live)

The story: This is Cedric Alexander’s mandatory championship rematch, after losing the Cruiserweight Championship to Buddy Murphy at Super Show-Down.

Prediction: This should be a great match, but unfortunately for Cedric Alexander, Buddy Murphy’s got his number. (Unless, unlike Mustafa Ali on this week’s SmackDown, Cedric decides to take a play out of Daniel Bryan’s book and hit Buddy in the groin.)  

Bobby Lashley vs. Elias, in a Ladder/Guitar on a Pole match (RAW)

The story: As Bobby Lashley enjoys his status as part of General Manager-Elect Baron Corbin’s entourage (his “Corbtourage?”), Elias has been one of the few WWE Superstars to step up and speak out about this. Of course, it’s not exactly because he’s standing up for the locker room or the WWE Universe: It’s mostly because Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush keep interrupting him when he’s just trying to sing his songs.

Prediction: Elias will squeak out a win, though Bobby Lashley might get the guitar first (making it legal for him to use it as a weapon) because of Lio Rush’s presence.     

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor (RAW)

The story: Unlike Elias, Finn Balor definitely sees things through the lens of being a locker room leader and standing up to the bullies (which is an understatement) in the Corbtourage. Drew McIntyre, however, wants to mold the RAW locker room in his image and thinks Finn Balor is the ultimate example of every issue he’s had with his colleagues since returning to WWE.

Prediction: The Dolph Ziggler of it all honestly might lead Finn Balor to get a big win over Drew McIntyre. But assuming that’s not the case—or that Baron Corbin abuses his power in some way before or even during this match—Drew McIntyre is the obvious, easy winner.

The Bar (c) vs. The Usos vs. The New Day, in a Triple Threat Tag Team match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship (SmackDown)

The story: On SmackDown, tag team wrestling actually matters, so each of these three teams is just trying to work harder than the other to get the gold. Oh, and The Bar and The Usos had a rap battle.

Prediction: Despite their mutual respect, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before The Usos and The New Day explode. And while The Bar no longer have Big Show in their corner, they should still be able to capitalize on something like that explosion, if/when it happens.

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Asuka, in a Triple Threat TLC match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship (SmackDown)

The story: It’s hard to really tell if this match is more about the SmackDown Women’s Championship or the egos of all three of these women.

Prediction: You don’t want to bet against Becky Lynch—especially not these days—but it looks like a new champion might be crowned in this match. While Charlotte would be the obvious choice, Asuka would both surprise and really work, especially as the WWE Universe really just loves watching her kick ass. (Besides the kendo stick destruction to this week’s SmackDown, she also beat up The Miz to end their time on Mixed Match Challenge. Everyone loved it.) 

Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin, in a TLC match for the Universal Championship #1 Contedership (Strowman)/RAW permanent General Manager (Corbin) (RAW)

The story: Braun Strowman has promised RAW GM-Elect Baron Corbin that he’s going to get these hands, but Strowman has also been recovering from an elbow surgery (after a vicious attack from the Corbtourage). And Baron Corbin has promised that Strowman’s not actually going to be cleared for this match, meaning it will be a win by forfeit for Corbin… and once he wins he’s officially the permanent GM of Monday Night RAW.

Prediction: Corbin is going to get these hands. (Especially after he competed in a full-on TLC match just this Monday, the dummy.) Assuming he doesn’t though, even if he wins by forfeit, chances are Vince McMahon will just fire him the following night on RAW. (Vince McMahon will be on RAW the night after TLC.)  

Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio, in a Chairs match (SmackDown)

The story: Randy Orton really has it out for Rey Mysterio and his mask… so instead of having a mask vs. hair match or something like that, these two men get the dreaded Chairs match on the card. (But at least noting will be on a pole.)

Prediction: Orton. Rey Mysterio will probably end up getting destroyed in some interesting ways due to the match gimmick, and Orton’s vicious streak seems to have no end in sight. 

Natalya vs. Ruby Riott, in a Tables match (RAW)

The story: The Riott Squad have been having fun at Natalya’s expense for a pretty long time, but recently, it got very personal, with Ruby Riott first breaking the sunglasses of Natalya’s late-Hall of Famer father (Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart). She didn’t stop there either, leading the Squad in sneak attacks on Natalya and generally showing no remorse. This week, as Natalya attempted to give an emotionally-charged speech about all of this, Ruby interrupted her to real a surprise: a table (for their already-announced match) with The Anvil’s image on it.

Prediction: Natalya is technically screwed because of the numbers again (assuming Sasha Banks and Bayley don’t step in to help even the odds), but she truly deserves to get revenge on Ruby (and the rest of the Riott Squad) for both the physical and emotional pain they’ve caused her recently. 

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nia Jax, for the RAW Women’s Championship (RAW)

The story: Ever since breaking Becky Lynch’s face, Nia Jax has truly lost grip of any sense of humanity or humility, promising to do even worse to the RAW Women’s Champion in their title match. And with Tamina by her side, she seems to think she’s invincible.

Prediction: Nia Jax is not invincible, and Rousey retains (then moves on to getting revenge on Becky Lynch and/or Charlotte Flair).  

Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose, for the Intercontinental Championship (RAW)

The story: The night Roman Reigns announced he had leukemia and would have to leave WWE, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins won the RAW Tag Team Championship. That same night, Ambrose turned on Rollins, effectively destroying what was left of The Shield. Since then, Ambrose has been colder, more calculating, conniving—and also oddly worried about catching some sort of disease from the WWE Universe. According to Ambrose, he’s just putting Rollins out of his misery, because every Shield brother is just getting what they deserve for being such bad people.

Prediction: The question is if this one will even end with a proper decision? If it does, it looks like there might be a new champion in the form of Dean Ambrose. 

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles, for the WWE Championship (SmackDown)

The story: Daniel Bryan hit AJ Styles in the groin to become the WWE Champion, and now as “The New” Daniel Bryan, he’s letting all the WWE Universe know just how “fickle” they are. (He’s also let them know “The YES Movement” is dead.) Styles just wants his championship back and some semblance of revenge.

Prediction: AJ Styles probably won’t wear a cup, and Daniel Bryan will use that to his advantage. AJ Styles should really wear a cup.