Welcome to the final Rasslin’ Roundtable of the year, WWE TLC 2013! I apologize in advance for their being no Pulse Polls this week, but, with The Pulse Awards going on earlier in the week, I absolutely forget what week this was. So my apologies on that, but I was at the barbershop yesterday and we got on the subject of wrestling and he asked if he could send his 10 cents in about the PPV with this Roundtable. I figured why not? So The Barber is… my barber. Now without any other delays…
Rasslin’ Rountable
WWE TLC 2013
WWE TLC Kickoff Match
Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango
CB: What, no Miz on the kickoff show?
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Justin C: Two guys who looked to have at least somewhat bright futures at the beginning of the year are now on the pre-show. Both of these guys are falling fast. It is the pre-show, and I will take the face to win here to get the crowd going.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Jeff Heatherly: This is a tough choice, as these are two competitors for whom all narrative momentum seems to have come to a dead halt of late. I give the win to Dolph based almost entirely on Cena name-dropping him during the “Ascension Ceremony” on Monday.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Chris Sanders: And this would be the “eh, why not” match of the night.
Winner: Ziggles
The Barber: I think the fan favorites are inclined to win the pre-show matches, and I don’t see much plus side to Fandango winning this.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rhett Davis: Not much else to say about this match other than the winner will probably be Dolph… or at least it should be. With his current status, maybe we’ll finally see Dolph vs. Ryder at WrestleMania for the Internet Championship.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
The Tally: Dolph Ziggler – 6
Damien Sandow – 0
WWE Tag Team Championship Four Corners Match
The Rhodes Family (c) vs. The Real Americans vs. Rybaxel vs. Big Show & Rey Mysterio
CB: I can see the titles changing here. Cody and Goldy will hopefully have a Road to WrestleMania program that goes beyond the tag titles and leads to their long-awaited one-on-one match at XXX. As for the winners, well…
Winners: Curtis Axel and Ryback (ugh)
Justin C: I feel pretty safe eliminating Ryback and Axel and Big Show and Rey from the equation here. I think there is a possibility that the Real Americans win here, but I see a singles push for Cesaro in the near future. Cody and Goldust will probably split before Wrestlemania, but now would be too early to go for the split. The Rhodes Brothers retain here.
Winners: Cody Rhodes and Goldust
Jeff Heatherly: So, what exactly are the Usos doing that they couldn’t have gotten in on this?–I shrug. The Rhodes Brothers retain because there is ZERO reason for them to drop the belts, neither logistically nor to any of these teams. (Seriously, did someone just draw Show and Rey out of a hat?)
Winners and STILL Champions: The Rhodes Brothers
Chris Sanders: Unless this is a tornado tag, I’m not all that interested in this match, especially since it was added somewhat last minute. The only thing that concerns me is the temptation WWE will have to put the belts on Mysterio and Big Show (or MysteriShow, if you wanna be lame about it).
Winner: CoDust
The Barber: I don’t see any of the competition being long lasting tag teams so I say Cody Rhodes and Goldust win this one.
Winners: Cody Rhodes and Goldust
Rhett Davis: Big Show and Rey are a weird team that was just added because the guys had nothing to do. The Real Americans are a nice addition, but I don’t see this time being theirs. And Rybaxel… seriously? Cody Rhodes and Goldust retain.
Winners (and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions): The Rhodes Family
The Tally: The Rhodes Family – 5
Rybaxel – 1
Show/Mysterio – 0
The Real Americans – 0
Intercontinental Championship
Big E Langston (c) vs. Damien Sandow
CB: Big E is just getting started…
Winner: Big E Langston
Justin C: This one would be my lock of the night. There’s no reason to take the Title off of Big E at this point. It is pretty obvious that the WWE has high hopes for Big E and I think he will get pushed and also bring the IC Title back to some prominence. Sandow, meanwhile, has fallen off after losing the MITB Contract cash in. I don’t think Sandow will have a main event shot anytime soon. Especially with only one main Title in the near future. Sandow falls back to the middle, while Big E gets a good push to start 2014.
Winner: Big E
Jeff Heatherly: While I think we’d all like to see Damien find some modicum of redemption after being the sacrificial lamb to the returning one-armed Cena, this probably isn’t the time. Big E is clearly WWE’s new midcard pet project and he won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Winner and STILL Champion: Big E Langston
Chris Sanders: Theoretically, being WWE’s new toy they want to push, Big E should win this. The only thing that has me questioning this is WWE being somewhat apologetic to Damien for the MitB cash-in and rewarding him for being a good sport about it. However for now, I see Damien getting a mid-card belt soon, just not this Sunday.
Winner: Big Eugene Langston
The Barber: I’d say Big E is the lock of the night. I see absolutely no upside to Big E being beaten by Damien Sandow.
Winner: Big E Langston
Rhett Davis: Big E gets another victim which he’ll give the Big End to. Sorry Damien.
Winner (and STILL Intercontinental Champion): Big E Langston
The Tally: Big E Langston – 6
Damien Sandow – 0
Divas Championship
AJ Lee (c) vs. Natalya
CB: It’s time for this title to change hands. AJ is a great Divas Champion, but it’s Nattie’s time.
Winner: Natalya
Justin C: This one is a toss up for me. I understand Natalya is on Total Divas and they probably want to have one of those girls win the Title. But I could also see AJ holding on to the Title until Wrestlemania. The WWE could have put the Title on Natalya before and they didn’t. Instead they went with Brie, and that failed miserably. Those that read my stuff know I think Natalya is slightly overrated. I’m keeping the Title on AJ here.
Winner: AJ
Jeff Heatherly: I have to try to base this pick on logic and not wishful thinking, although I adore both of these competitors (as is pretty well-known). On one hand, (my spirit animal) AJ continues to be the most effective Diva on the roster and I feel like taking the belt from her before her muscle Tamina can turn on her and go for the silver-and-purple would be a bit of a mistake…THEN AGAIN(!), it’s the last pay-per-view of 2013 and Nattie is the last (and best) of the “Total Divas” who could believably give AJ a real challenge. It pains me a bit (but seriously, not too much; because she’s great and deserves this) to say it, but…
Winner and NEW Champion: Natalya
Chris Sanders: I’m looking forward to this match because I think a lot of us agree that Natalya really should be in the Divas title scene a lot more frequently than she has been. It’ll be fun to see the kind of match she can get out of AJ. However, with Total Divas currently not taping, I don’t think they’re going to have a cast member win the championship and not have it featured on the show.
Winner: AJ
The Barber: I’ll say because she’s on Total Divas, Natalya will win this one. I think they’re moving Tamina up the card so she needs a top face to go against.
Winner: Natalya
Rhett Davis: This is a tough one to call, but I’ll say AJ will win and hold the title to, hopefully, WrestleMania.
Winner (and STILL Divas Champion): AJ Lee
The Tally: AJ Lee – 3
Natalya – 3
The Shield vs The Best in the World
CM Punk vs. The Shield
CB: The breakup of The Shield has been subtly teased, but this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I say Rollins and Reigns walk out on Ambrose, then…
Winner: CM Punk
Justin C: I could see this handicap match going a little bit differently. The WWE continues to tease tension between The Shield and it may reach its breaking point here. There’s no doubt that Roman Reigns is destined for big things. Every member of The Shield should be. I expect Punk to get more heavily involved in The Authority storyline after this match. I see Punk picking up the win here after Reigns accidentally spears Ambrose, allowing Punk to pick up the win after he tosses Reigns to the outside.
Winner: CM Punk
Jeff Heatherly: Clearly we’re headed for the inevitable Shield implosion, but whether or not it’ll be fully realized here is up in the air. Regardless, I think infighting may spell doom for the Hounds of Justice this time around.
Winner: CM Punk
Chris Sanders: This should be a lot of fun to watch, I honestly don’t care one way or another in regards to the winner. Typically, it’s easy to say that the outnumbered man will lose. However, this is CM Punk and you really never know what to expect soley based on that aspect alone. My best guess is that some shenanigan will go down that’ll cost Punk the match. Will it have something to do with what happened at the end of Raw? Who knows.
Winner: The Shield
The Barber: I’ll go with CM Punk to win this to cause more dissention amongst the ranks of The Shield.
Winner: CM Punk
Rhett Davis: This could be the end of The Shield or just a swerve in order to show how united they are. I say that it’s an illusion to trick CM Punk, and it’ll be revealed in the match as The Shield will fake a break up and then jump CM Punk.
Winners: The Shield
The Tally: CM Punk – 4
The Shield – 2
Battle of the Beards
Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family
CB: I think Bryan loses this battle, but they will make up for that by having him win the Royal Rumble next month.
Winners: The Wyatts
Justin C: This is a toss up. The Wyatts lost at Survivor Series and could probably use a win here. Bryan continues to be over despite the WWE’s best efforts to make that not happen. I think when it comes to the results of this match, a loss probably doesn’t hurt Bryan’s popularity with the fans. The crowd is practically begging at this point for another big Bryan push. I don’t see it happening soon. I think the Wyatts get the win here after Bryan puts up the valiant underdog effort.
Winners: The Wyatt Family
Jeff Heatherly: It’s not too late to make my blockbuster booking plan for Daniel and The Wyatts a reality (for the uninitiated, see column #10 of “Guys and Divas”), but I’m going to go with the pessimistic/benign choice here and say it’s still probably a no contest or DQ of some sort.
Winner: n/a
Chris Sanders: The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that this is Daniel Bryan’s version of the “embrace the hate” story. It’s DB’s storm to go through before he comes back to reclaim the WWE Championship. Or at least that’s what we’re hoping for. Word is that WWE is not going to turn a blind eye on the crowd reaction from Raw this past week and plans for bigger things in his future. Whether or now I actually believe that is another story. Regardless of what happens in the future, Bryan walks out strong on TLC.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
The Barber: I’ll say Daniel Bryan because he seems to always overcome the odds and what’s better odds for him to overcome than three demented psychos wanting to convert him to an almost satanic cult?
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rhett Davis: This match intrigues me because it’ll be interesting to see if Daniel Bryan wins to move into the Royal Rumble to win that or if he loses here to then win the Royal Rumble. Or if he even wins the Rumble. Bryan’s my pick to win the Rumble at this point so I’ll say that he wins here tonight to send The Wyatt Family into a frenzy.
Winner: Goat Boy
The Tally: Daniel Bryan – 3
The Wyatt Family – 2
Double DQ/Countout/ETC – 1
WWE Title Unification Match
WWE Champion Randy Orton (c) vs. World Heavyweight Champion John Cena (c)
CB: I’m going to assume there really will only be ONE Unified Champion after TLC … and that ONE will be Randy Orton. They are setting this up as a swerve where HHH has tension with Randy but then helps him win anyway. Or maybe Vince himself overrides Triple H and costs Cena. Either way…
Winner: Randy Orton
Justin C: To me, this is all about what presents more options. Who does John Cena fight if he wins? Orton again? Punk or Bryan again? Orton, meanwhile, could have a match with Punk that seems fresh and even a match against Roman Reigns if the WWE really wants to get behind him soon. I don’t want to see another rematch between these two but I think we will get one at the Rumble. We could also get a screwy finish too. I was thinking that originally, but I’ve backed off that thought recently. I see Orton winning here and holding the Title until Wrestlemania.
Winner: Randy Orton
Jeff Heatherly: Would WWE really have the stones to pull a swerve and have each competitor grab a separate belt?–I can only imagine the fans’/IWC’s outrage were that the case. Giving them the benefit of the doubt…it’s still a tough call. Timidly, I’ll give the win to Randy via some sort of Authority meddling; as I’m pretty much in the camp that thinks the chaos at the end of Raw was all a (very entertaining) ruse.
Winner and NEW UNIFIED/UNDISPUTED/WHATEVER Champion: Randy Orton
Chris Sanders: I’m really scared that WWE is gonna come up with some hokey finish where the two guys somehow end up switching titles at the end. I have to hope that isn’t the case because not even WWE could be that dumb. Or could they? But lets be honest, we all know how this is really gonna turn out.
Winner: Cena.
The Barber: John Cena needs to be the champion heading Royal Rumble so I’ll go with him.
Winner: John Cena
Rhett Davis: I know there’s going to be some sort of trickery with this match, but I have no idea what it’s going to be. It seems as though The Authority is siding with John Cena after Orton’s mishap, but just because they aren’t with Orton does that really mean they’re with Cena? What’s stopping someone from walking into this match and stealing the titles? I’m not sure. It would be interesting to see a new champion for The Authority step forward, but it looks like WWE will just have Orton win due to some interference.
Winner (and NEW UNIFIED WWE AND WORLD CHAMPION): Randal Keith Orton
The Tally: Randy Orton – 4
John Cena – 2
Well that’s it for the Rasslin’ Roundtable. Be sure to keep it tuned in here for the latest news and results of TLC 2013!
