WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs… and Stairs predictions

Craig Wilson, Jamie Lithgow and Brian Damage

Tonight the WWE hold their final PPV of the year with the gimmick heavy Tables, Ladders and Chairs event. The main event of which will see John Cena put his number 1 contendership on the line against Seth Rollins. Elsewhere, Dolph Ziggler attempts to win the IC title back from Luke Harper, Miz and Mizdow defend their titles against The Usos, Erick Rowan takes on Big Show, Ryback takes on Kane and Rusev puts the US title on the line against Jack Swagger.

Today on the blog Craig, Jamie and Brian share their predictions and thoughts ahead of tonight’s show.

Pre show
New Day (Big E. & Kofi Kingston) vs Gold and Stardust

Craig: They may have already picked up a loss on TV but they can’t really rack up too many if they are to go anywhere.

Winners: New Day

Jamie: As the newly formed team one would have to assume the New Day should win. However, they’ve already lost on TV and individually appear to be the exact same as they always were… except they now wear similar tights. Thus far I don’t see the point in their union, but I still think they will win.

Winners: The New Day

Brian: New Day is in the infancy stages…they need to look strong in this match. Personally, I think Kofi and Xavier woods make a better tandem…but whatever.

Winners: New Day

Ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Luke Harper (c) vs Dolph Ziggler

Craig: I think this should be a good match up. We all know that Ziggler will sell for Harper and make him look a million dollars here. Harper should retain this and, judging by Ziggler’s current trajectory, will move on from the Intercontinental title scene and onto bigger things. Personally, I’d love to see Ziggler vs Rollins as a title feud. Ziggler regaining the belt is a momentum killer and shows he’ll be stick there for some time to come.

Winner: and still IC champion Luke Harper

Jamie: If given the opportunity this could be the match of the night. Big guy vs. smaller guy usually goes over well with a WWE audience. Plus both guys are athletic, have a track record of good matches and both are over with the fans in their respective roles as heel and babyface.

Winner: Luke Harper

Brian: Dolph needs this win to keep his momentum…..lets be honest….Dolph is nowhere near in line for a WWE title shot. The IC title still keeps him relevant to casual fans. I’d rather see Dolph move onwards and upwards…but winning the IC belt can’t be the worst thing in the world….can it?

Winner: Dolph Ziggler (New Champ)

U.S. Title match
Rusev (c) vs Jack Swagger

Craig: Had Swagger not spent years bouncing around with a few peaks here and there, I’d care more. This should be quite interesting though but there’s no way Swagger is winning the title. Match, maybe but title, no. There’s more to come from these two.

Winner: Swagger by dq or count out. Rusev retains.

Jamie: I’m with Craig here. No way Swagger wins the title, but surely they can’t revive a feud just so Swagger can lose all over again?! I imagine – and hope – Rusev will be selling the effects of Swagger’s ankle lock on Raw.

Winner, by count out or DQ: Jack Swagger

Brian: Is there any conceivable way Jack Swagger defeats Rusev for the US title? Nope.

Winner: Rusev

Tag Team Championship Match
The Miz & Damien Mizdow (c) vs The Usos

Craig: I’m bored of the Usos. I really hope Miz and his stunt double keep the gold.

Winners: and still tag team champions The Miz and Mizdow.

Jamie: I hate to say it, but I’m not interested in the slightest. When Jimmy Uso slapped Miz last week I saw a side of The Usos I had never seen before; a mean streak. Alas, that appears to have been a flash in the pan.

Winners: The Miz & Mizdow

Brian: The Usos are entertaining…but I see Miz’s wife Maryse Oulette somehow getting involved in this match.

Winners: Miz and Mizdow

Divas title Match
Nikki Bella (c) vs AJ Lee

Craig: I’m not really sure about this one. Are we set for another Bella swerve. Will Brie aid Nikki or accidentally cost her the title? What we can rule out is a clean finish. Nikki probably retains.

Winner: and still champ, Nikki Bella

Jamie: The rumours say that AJ will be finishing with WWE at TLC, but even if that’s not true I’d still back Nikki to retain. AJ could do with a sustained period of time away from the title. This will help establish Nikki as champion – as it did Paige – and if/when AJ does regain the title her victory will mean that much more.

Winner: Nikki Bella

Brian: With rumors of AJ Lee possibly leaving the WWE soon….my guess is where there is smoke there is fire. Look for Nikki to retain…

Winner: Nikki Bella

Steel stairs match
Erick Rowan vs Big Show

Craig: I think the WWE have biggish plans for Rowan. Maybe not to the same extent as Harper but still. There’s something in him and a win here will help aid that progress.

Winner: Erick Rowan

Jamie: I’m all for new ideas and new matches, but what is a stairs match? I’d like to know how it will differ from a no-DQ match, or a street fight or… anyway, Rowan has to win.

Winner: Rowan

Brian: I honestly don’t care…but my guess is Erik Rowan wins.

Winner: Erik Rowan

Chairs match
Ryback vs Kane

Craig: if this isn’t short lived it’s going to be grim.

Winner: Ryback

Jamie: Like the stairs match, but worse. The best we can hope for is that this lasts no more than five minutes.

Winner: Oh, let’s say… Ryback

Brian: See above statement…if I had to pick a winner…Ryback

Winner: Ryback

Tables, Ladders and Chairs match
Dean Ambrose vs Bray Wyatt

Craig: I’m looking forward to this one. I like their stuff to date, I like that WWE have successfully kept them looking deranged and I predict a slobberknocker here. We’ll see a more hardcore match than we’re used to and that should set this one apart.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Jamie: Probably the most interesting match on the card in regards to picking a winner. On the basis that Wyatt has looked vulnerable lately I’m picking him to win. Ambrose has more than stood his ground in this feud, so it’s time the bad guy turned up the heat.

Winner: Wyatt

Brian: This should be the match of the night….Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt most likely will tear the house down in this one. I want to pick Dean…but I see Bray going out a winner.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

Tables match
John Cena vs Seth Rollins

Craig: Hopefully Seth goes over here. Being stuck for a while in a programme with John Cena does absolutely nothing for him.

Winner: Seth Rollins. It’s got to be Seth Rollins.

Jamie: Isn’t it funny how WWE performers only have the inclination to use folding tables as a weapon during the month of December? Anyway, what exactly is at stake in this match? If Cena loses then he is no longer no. 1 contender. Are we supposed to believe that if Cena loses he will not receive a WWE Title match, whether at the Royal Rumble or otherwise? This stipulation is almost as ridiculous as a John Cena getting fired scenario. Anyway, I expect Randy Orton to run-in and cost Rollins the match. Thus denying “The Future of WWE” the opportunity to “step up” and “grab the brass ring”.

Winner: John Cena

Brian: Seth Rollins needs a good bounce back victory and against John Cena will do the trick. If Rollins does win…it’ll be from outside interference…something tells me…Randy Orton is going to show up.

Winner: John Cena

Watch/Not watch:

Craig: Watch. This doesn’t really look too bad. Sure, we’ve seen most the match-ups already but that’s just a reflection of modern wrestling more than anything else. There’s still enough here to interest me. I hope Rowan and Harper both go over. I’d also, based on their match on Raw, see them go at it a bit more down the line.

Jamie: Watch. There’s a two or three matches worth catching here, and others worth a look based on Vince McMahon’s recent comments about performers “stepping up”. I hope WWE realise the potential irony in booking Big Show, Kane or Cena to defeat their younger, fresher opponents…

Brian: Watch