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WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN SUNDAY (IF NO OTHER CRAZY CHANGES ARE MADE): THE WWE TLC TIP SHEET

By Dave Scherer, Mike Johnson & Richard Trionfo on 2017-10-21 16:25:00

WWE presents the TLC PPV on Sunday night, live from Minneapolis, MN

Dean Ambrose, Kurt Angle, and Seth Rollins vs. Miz, Braun Strowman, Cesaro, Sheamus, and Kane in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match.

Dave: Welcome to Hot Shot TLC!  Just imagine if WWE hadn't made the ridiculous move of adding Kane to the match on Monday.  They could have done an angle where the heels destroyed Reigns somehow and then had Rollins and Ambrose take on the other four and fight valiantly, but lose, setting up a 3 on 4 traditional Survivor Series match for next month.  The Shield could have said they didn't even want an extra guy.  Instead, we are in hot shot mania with with Kurt Angle coming back in a match that they started promoted on Friday.  Plus, they are giving us Balor vs. AJ for WHAT reason?  To save a B PPV?  It's insane.  And they are putting Angle in a TLC match with his neck history?  Insane to me.  In any event, if it were The Shield, they should win.  Since it's not, have the heels win and create a rematch next month.  If WWE were not announcing their Network numbers next week, they probably wouldn't have hot shotted to this degree.

Mike: This went from being really interesting to overbooked to completely insane real quick, eh?  I applaud WWE for trying to create a big spectacle in the wake of all the health issues this week.  The sad part is that Angle's return is sort of wasted with two days notice, but that's the cards they were dealt.  I am with Dave that Miz's team should win, especially since that would build some heat towards Reigns and The Shields going for revenge when he is cleared to return, plus add some antagonism between Angle and the villains.  This will be a trainwreck, no doubt about it, and it's just a weird thing that out of nowhere, the return of not just Kurt but also Kane has been sacrificed for this match.

Richard: I like the idea of only having one match with tables, ladders, or chairs because it means that what happens in this match will mean more than if we had already seen it five times on the show.  However, I don't want to see all of the stuff being done to Kurt Angle.  The removal of Roman Reigns due to health issues allows for the Shield 'in ring reunion' to be pushed off a little longer.  If Roman was still in the match, there should have been no reason for The Shield to have lost the match, but with Angle in there, if Ambrose, Rollins, and Angle lose, then you can have any member of the Shield blame Angle for the loss to set up a future match.  If Angle is the one to win the match, then any of the five people he beats will be able to set up a future match with Angle (since I can't see Angle not involved in Mania in some way).  I liked the idea on audio earlier in the week of Kane and Strowman having issues, allowing the match to even out.  With two titles out of the picture in this match, I can see Angle making Miz tap out to set up Angle versus Miz at Mania where Angle can cut promos about how he is going to be a great father, unlike Kurt.  I can also see Jason Jordan peripherally getting involved to make sure that Angle doesn't 'overdo it' during the match.

Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James for the WWE Raw Women's Championship

Dave: I think this will be a really good match, with Mickie coming close a few times, but Miss Bliss finding a way to win in the end.  It makes no sense to put the Title on Mickie at this time, especially with Asuka debuting.

Mike: This should be very good.  I love Mickie's work and think she is great, but the right call is for Bliss to retain, especially with Asuka in the wings.

Richard: I think this could be a good match, but it definitely feels like filler for the Women's title until Asuka gets her chance.  The idea of Mickie becoming a seven time champion has been a good story, but Alexa as champ will give us better interactions to set up the Asuka challenge.  We have seen this match on Smackdown and I hope they will deliver a strong match.  With two other women's matches on the show, this is a great chance for the Women of Raw to show what the division has.

AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor

Dave: The WWE App said that Styles is fighting The Demon.  Why?  What is the reasoning?  If Bray can't work, fine, let AJ fight Balor.  The Demon is mad at Wyatt, not AJ.  But it seems WWE wants to do a visual for the fans so the hardcore fans will love the dream match up.  The Network numbers release is in play here as well but a finish is hard.  If AJ wins, it hurts Balor.  If he loses, he goes back to Smackdown making his brand look inferior to Raw.  So I see some kind of Bray supernatural stuff leading to the finish.  I know a lot of fans, like Rich below, are hoping for a half hour classic.  My hunch is we won't get that.  I think if they get 15 minutes it will probably be a lot.

Mike: This should be great, but only if they give it a lot of time.  To me, they should go back and forth with some great competitive wrestling and in the end, Balor should win as cleanly as possible.

Richard: While you never want anyone to miss a pay per view due to injury or other circumstances, a beautiful garden has emerged from the fertilizer that was the build to Wyatt/Balor.  This match should be a showcase match with nothing on the line, except a chance for the announcers to point out Raw vs Smackdown and how that will also happen at Survivor Series.  Do you have Gallows and Anderson make an appearance to get the "Too Sweets" from the crowd?  A Balor victory would do a lot to help Finn and maybe remind someone that he belongs in the Universal Title picture.  A Styles victory can get the Smackdown announcers to point out how their guy went into 'enemy territory' and won a match on a Raw brand PPV.  Just give them 30 minutes and don't have creative put too many fingerprints on the match.  We are all winners.

Kalisto vs. Enzo Amore for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Dave: I think Enzo has hit his apex and is going downward right now.  If he wins, the silly "no one can touch" me thing is still in place.  Just have Kalisto win and get the guy that doesn't belong in the Title picture out of the Title picture.

Mike:  I don't see Amore getting the title back here.  

Richard:  Much being a 'From Day One' person on this site, I have been a 'From Day One' person who has not gotten into the Enzo character.  While he gets eyes on 205 Live, I think he will bring in the people who are not looking for the wrestling that most of the 205 Live viewers would want to see.  I see Enzo winning the title back and then we get Enzo, Drew, Noam, Tony, and Ariya to form a five man team to face Kalisto, Ali, and three others at Survivor Series.

Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander vs. Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher

Dave: This has been fun to watch, with Gallagher transitioning.  It could go either way, but I would love to see Gallagher continue his transition by doing something that leads to his team getting the win.  Let the faces chase for revenge.

Mike:   I am hoping this is more of what we have seen on Raw and 205 Live of late.  If they want the program to keep going, Kendrick and Gallagher should win, but with all the substitutions, I can see WWE having the majority of the babyfaces going over.

Richard: Just like the Women's Division being showcased with three matches on the PPV, we get two Cruiserweight Matches and I am happy to see that happen.  When Alexander faced Gallagher on Monday, I was wondering who would be added to a tag match on the PPV before it was even announced and we got Rich Swann.  Most of these men were showcased on 205 Live but have fallen out of the title picture so they are afterthoughts on TV.  While Enzo's character is getting eyes on 205 Live, the athleticism we will see in this match should get more eyes on the product on Tuesday nights.  If Swann and Alexander win, Kendrick has to take the fall.  I can see either team get the win, but I think Swann and Alexander winning can push Gallagher completely over the edge and become Kendrick's Droog.

Asuka vs. Emma.

Dave: Well, common sense says Asuka debuts and has a strong showing where she beats Emma pretty easily.  Of course, common sense said that Shinsuke Nakamura should have done the same exact thing to Dolph Ziggler and we saw how that worked out.  I am going to hold out hope that Vince will see Asuka and be impressed and push her the way that she should be pushed.

Mike: This is all about establishing Asuka.  The real question is whether this will be a competitive bout or just Emma being squashed.  To me, the squash is the right move to make.

Richard:  If anyone thinks Emma is winning this match, it is their first day watching wrestling.  I like the idea of Emma facing Asuka because we can get a good match despite the squash nature we will probably see.  I can see them having Asuka a little hesitant about her first main roster match and give Emma offense for the first two minutes and maybe a near fall or two.  Then, Asuka flashes the smile of death and then you can count down to the destruction of Emma.  It is a matter of when, not if Asuka becomes the Raw Women's Champion and this is the first step.  Creative needs to look at what Smackdown did with Nakamura and do NONE OF THAT.

Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks (Kickoff Show)

Dave: So Sasha beat her last week and Alicia said she didn't tap.  Sasha then makes her tap this week, again.  Alicia attacks her in the back so we get a third match.  Yay.  Sasha has to win.  If she loses, it doesn't elevate Alicia, it just makes Sasha look weak.

Mike:  Placeholder.  Sasha wins with the Bank Statement after they brawl.

Richard:  This is the feud that never seems to end.  I have not been a fan of the Crazy Alicia Fox character but the uncertain nature of the character also gives us the opportunity for something different to happen in this match.  The smart money would be on Banks to win, but Alicia could something something her way to a victory.

Drew Gulak's Power Point Presentation (Kickoff Show)

Dave: This should be fun.  It has been fun on 205 Live!

Mike: Drew Gulak has done an excellent job thus far taking his old "campaign for a better CZW" persona and transfering it over to 205 Live.  I am guessing someone ruins the night for him, but it should be interesting to see how that happens.  Gulak's facial expressions have been awesome.

Richard:  I have loved everything Drew has done as it relates to the POWER POINT PRESENTATION on 205 Live.  It is the Mick Foley Anti-Hardcore character in ECW done to perfection.  I hope we get more than one proposal (since there are 268 left), but I can see Tozawa coming out to ruin the festivities.   To add to the awesome, I hope he invites Elias to provide the soundtrack for the POWER POINT PRESENTATION.

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