Official WWE TLC PPV Thread: 12/16/2012

Need that Cesaro as a figure! Antonio must win!

checking in, hoping this is the night of #HEEL

Well, here are my predictions. TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in my hometown of Brooklyn. I don't care about the pre-show because whoever wins the battle royal will lose to Eve. Kaitlyn wins. OK, let's get down to business.

Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Team Rhodes Scholars-Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow (Tag-Team Tables Match; #1 Contender's Match for WWE Tag-Team Championship)

I hope this match opens up the Barclays Center. These New Yorkers will want action from the get-go. This match feels very thrown together with little build. I didn't even know this was going to be a match until yesterday. I don't think Rhodes and Sandow are done with Team Hell NO just yet, and besides, they're heels while Team Hell NO is face. It makes sense. Expect a high-octane contest, as speed and athleticism will be on display here. I don't know what WWE wants to do with Mysterio and Sin Cara as a tag-team without the titles, as a WrestleMania feud is likely. Team Rhodes Scholars is winning.

PREDICTION: Team Rhodes Scholars

United States Champion Antonio Cesaro vs. R-Truth (title match)

I had a feeling R-Truth would capture the title tonight, because he seems to be more than a one-shot challenger. But I'm starting to think that won't happen. Cesaro has been one of WWE's breakout stars this year and will carry the title into 2013. I'll be surprised if we see this match go over 10 minutes. Cesaro retains tonight in Brooklyn. After the match, either Mark Henry or Jack Swagger will return as a face and attack Cesaro, leading to a new feud. Either one would be great for the current U.S. Champion, and I'm hoping we see it here.

PREDICTION: Antonio Cesaro

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Wade Barrett (title match)

I'm not excited about this match. Kingston has held this title enough at this point, and I feel like WWE doesn't want to push him for whatever reason. The IC title doesn't do anything for Barrett either, as it's time he starts competing for the World Heavyweight Championship. I don't think that's going to happen for a while, unfortunately. Unless WWE wants Barrett to head into the world title conversation, they have to give him the IC strap. Hopefully Kingston moves on to bigger and better things. He's outgrown the midcard.

PREDICTION: Wade Barrett (new champion)

Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena (Ladder Match for Ziggler's World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank contract)

Now the fun begins tonight at Barclays. This is the biggest night in Ziggler's career. Either WWE puts him over as the company's next big star, or irreparable damage is done to his status and he never recovers. Ziggler is the most complete Superstar on the roster after CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. He strokes the mic well, his character is extremely over and is a five-star talent in the ring. I remember when Ziggler won the briefcase in July and how much I hated it. He had gotten constant world title shots before that and lost all of them. And I firmly believed he'd be the first man in WWE history to cash in his title shot and lose. Well, look at that. Five months later and Ziggler is a serious threat to the title again. Tonight will define Ziggler's existence. The first thing he must do is get through Cena, who ironically did what I thought Ziggler would do. Cena cannot win tonight. As much a Cena fan as I am, him winning would be a huge mistake. He doesn't need to be in the World Heavyweight Championship picture, and it doesn't make any sense. Ziggler beating the biggest name in wrestling today must happen. But how? Maybe The Shield will interfere, or A.J. will turn heel and cost Cena the match somehow. The A.J. thing isn't too likely because WWE might want to set her up for a WrestleMania feud with Eve, and she is extremely over, but anything can happen. TC suggested having the WHC match before the Ladder Match. Ziggler would cash in on whoever wins, and beat Cena later on to cap off the biggest night of his career. In that case, the Ladder Match would go on last and The Shield could interfere. It doesn't matter how it happens. All I know is, Ziggler will leave Brooklyn tonight having beaten Cena and with the World Heavyweight Championship.

PREDICTION: Dolph Ziggler

World Heavyweight Champion Big Show vs. Sheamus (Chairs Match for the title)

This has been a well-executed feud, as Big Show has gotten Sheamus to bring out his intensity. Although a Chairs Match isn't always the best match, these two will make it work. Expect a brutal, hard-hitting match, as both men will unleash hell on each other at Barclays. In the end, WWE won't let Sheamus lose to Big Show a third straight time. He'll get his title back. After the match, Big Show will destroy Sheamus and leave him incapacitated. Dolph Ziggler (having come off his victory over John Cena or about to face him) will cash in his MITB briefcase and become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Yes, that's completely identical to last year. Even the match is the same. But at least Big Show's the attacker and not the victim this time.

PREDICTION: Sheamus (new champion; Dolph Ziggler will cash in Money in the Bank and beat Sheamus to become the new champion)

The Shield-Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns vs. Ryback and Team Hell NO-Daniel Bryan and Kane (Six-Man TLC Tag-Team Match; pinfall or submission only)

Depending on what WWE does about Ziggler's match, this will most likely be the main event. Originally, Ryback was supposed to face WWE Champion CM Punk in a TLC match for the title, and Team Hell NO would team up with The Miz (or Randy Orton) against The Shield. Due to Punk needing knee surgery, plans changed and the WWE Championship will not be defended tonight in Brooklyn. This has created a very interesting situation, as you can only win in this TLC match by pinfall or submission. I don't think The Shield should lose. After what happened with The Nexus at SummerSlam two years ago, WWE cannot let the heat these three NXT standouts have disappear. Then again, they will NOT win cleanly. They mentioned a sword of justice on SmackDown this past Friday, which makes me think Brock Lesnar will interfere. He does have a sword tattoo on his chest. And if Lesnar does help Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns win, he can begin a feud with Ryback, which will lead to a money match at WrestleMania next April. Or Punk and Heyman could interfere somehow. For the most part, the two have ignored The Shield's attacks on Ryback and vehemently denied they were not involved. But heels lie. So it's extremely likely Punk, Heyman, or both will help The Shield win. A third option: The Shield gets help from another NXT wrestler, and he becomes the fourth member of the group. It doesn't matter what happens. The Shield's momentum will continue tonight with a major victory, Bryan does the job, and a new alliance will be formed.

PREDICTION: The Shield

I know these predictions are too late, but not everybody will be watching TLC tonight, so they might want some last-minute guidance.

Can't wait for Cesaro to be a face. Busting out the giant spin and the 'HEY!'

21 days-3weeks- 3 raws + 3 smackdowns = 6

Don't forget when he was a mentor on NXT!

R Truth is definitely not deserving to be on that list. He was champ for so short of a time. I think Shelton deserves to be on there in place of Truth.

Yes Yes Yes!