It would be nice to say that the WWE is slamming through 2015 on their way to a brand new year, but unfortunately that’s not the case. After an exciting Wrestlemania crowned Seth Rollins as champion, fixing the conundrum of trying to crown a new babyface champion in Roman Reigns too soon, the WWE looked to be without a real gameplan to complete the rest of the year. Even worse, it was clear with Rollins untimely injury that the company had even less idea of what to do if they didn’t have Seth Rollins in that top position. Some might say Sheamus as champion may have always been the plan, as he’s appearing in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and being champion gives him some credibility, but this would all look worse if there was a healthy Seth Rollins out there and Sheamus was WWE champion.

But this is honestly common for WWE to be without a plan heading into the new year, only to get their act together come Royal Rumble. The past few years have been hectic come January, but that chaos has at least been exciting. The storyline issues in the WWE go beyond the main event. The card for TLC itself is pretty strong with a tag ladder match, elimination tables match and a midcard Intercontinental championship match featuring two men people feel should be main eventers but can’t make the space to be there. Yet the build up for these matches has been lacking, a ship with a captain but no wheel to steer. In 2016, WWE needs to stop waiting for events like the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania to figure things out. Don’t figure it out in 2016, figure it out at WWE TLC tonight.

Kick-off begins at 7PM EST with the show beginning proper at 8PM EST.

WWE TLC

RUSEV VS. THE RYBACK

WINNERS
Aaron, Adam Berry, Adam Contant and Rich: Rusev

THOUGHTS by Adam Berry: This will be the start of the domination of the League of Nations. Ryback doesn’t stand a chance and I hope Rusev teaches him the correct lesson: that Ryback’s ring gear is wholly unacceptable.

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
DEAN AMBROSE VS. KEVIN OWENS (c)

WINNER
Aaron and Adam Contant: Dean Ambrose
Adam Berry and Rich: Kevin Owens

THOUGHTS by Aaron Wrotkowski: These two men are the kind of guys you want at the top of any division. Owens is a great heel who has shown a better penchant for old school heel tactics than the rest of the WWE roster, while Dean Ambrose is a top guy by any definition without the room to show it in the shadow of Roman Reigns. Having him defeat Kevin Owens gives the company a male babyface champion the fans can get behind and see the plethora of heels, from Owens to the League of Nations to chase him for his title. As for Owens, he’ll be fine, especially if I think Swagger wins the United States champion. Owens is at his most despicable when chasing.

WWE DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
PAIGE VS. CHARLOTTE (c)

WINNER
Aaron: Paige
Adam Berry, Adam Contant and Rich: Charlotte

WHO WILL INTERFERE
Aaron and Adam Berry: Becky Lynch
Adam Contant and Rich: Ric Flair

THOUGHTS by Adam Contant:  If the last 3 weeks of WWE programming has taught me anything, it’s that to see change for the better in the Divas division, the real revolution has to take place in the writer’s room, not the ring. Once again fans are punished for their investment by having their protagonist and antagonist switching places for seemingly no reason. The only good that has come out of this lack of respect for the audience’s intelligence is that Charlotte actually has a personality now. A hateable personality. One that I believe will be cemented tonight with her famous father running interference and helping her daughter win. These two have yet to have a bad match against each other from a technical standpoint, so I’m sure the action in the ring will satisfy me. The only question is, can they impress me so much that it destroys the bad taste left in my mouth by WWE creative.

WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER MATCH
THE USOS VS. THE LUCHA DRAGONS VS. THE NEW DAY (c)

WINNERS
Aaron, Adam Berry and Rich: The New Day
Adam Contant: The Lucha Dragons

THOUGHTS by Rich Laconi: This match is going to be all about the “Ooos” and “Aaas”.  Five out of the six of these men are incredibly adept at high flying and given the proper time, this match will epitomize the TLC gimmick. Without DQ, I see Xavier Woods getting involved, helping New Day retain. The squad is too hot to lose steam right now, but this match will reestablish the Usos and elevate the Lucha Dragons in the tag title picture.

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP CHAIRS MATCH
JACK SWAGGER VS. ALBERTO DEL RIO (c)

WINNER
Aaron: Jack Swagger
Adam Berry, Adam Contant and Rich: Alberto Del Rio

WILL ZEB COLTER GET INVOLVED
Aaron and Adam Contant: Yes
Adam Berry and Rich: No

THOUGHTS by Aaron Wrotkowski: I’m very happy to see Jack Swagger in a storyline again. His credibility has been all but destroyed and his current gimmick is basically tapping into current xenophobia in America, but I like Swagger as a performer and feel he has been poorly handled for much of his WWE career. He’s still a big match performer and getting to work with Alberto Del Rio here could be good for him. Del Rio has likely bigger plans than just being the U.S. champion, so losing the title after getting rid of Zeb is a good way to help Swagger and allow Del Rio to be an equal partner in the League of Nations with Sheamus, instead of just another foreign face (well, heel).

TEAM TABLES ELIMINATION MATCH
THE WYATT FAMILY (BRAUN STROWMAN, BRAY WYATT, ERICK ROWAN, LUKE HARPER) VS. ECW RETIREMENT HOME (TOMMY DREAMER, D-VON DUDLEY, RHYNO, BUBBA RAY DUDLEY)

WINNING TEAM
Aaron, Adam Berry, Adam Contant and Rich: The Wyatt Family

WHO SURVIVES
Aaron: The Wyatt Family
Rich: Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman
Adam Berry: Bray Wyatt
Adam Contant: Brayn Strowman

THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: I’m starting to feel like a broken record typing this, but once again we have a seemingly one sided contest. The Dudley Boys have not won a major match since their arrival in late August, Rhyno has had about as much success in NXT, and Tommy Dreamer is only there to complete the ECW motif. The Wyatts lose almost as often as the Dudleys, so what makes their team different? Braun Strowman. WWE is high on the imposing big man and I predict they will have him as the last man standing after eliminating 2-3 of the opposing team. If past booking is any indication, he is the only character that WWE cares about protecting, so I don’t believe a dominant showing here is out of the question. Look for the ECW originals to dominate early on, then have Strowman run through them like a train.

TLC MAIN EVENT
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP TLC MATCH
ROMAN REIGNS VS. SHEAMUS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS (c)

WINNER
Aaron, Adam Berry, Adam Contant and Rich: Sheamus

WHO WILL INTERFERE
Aaron: The League of Nations
Adam Contant: Triple H
Rich: King Barrett

THOUGHTS by Rich Laconi: If WWE really wants to have Roman carry the belt, it won’t start at TLC. Reigns needs one more loss that he is cheated out before he is going to get his hands on the title. With Barrett not on the card at all, he will be free to help his fellow stablemate out, securing the victory for Sheamus. This match calls for a physical encounter, which will certainly be the best part of this feud.