WWE has their final PPV of the year tonight, TLC 2014, and we have a full nine matches to look forward to, although no World title match.
What does the Pulse Wrestling staff think will happen tonight?
Tables, Ladders & Chairs
Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt
David Spain: I think this one depends on who they’re going to want to push after this. Royal Rumble is upon us, and a Wyatt win here could put him in the same position he was last year, before that Cena thing happened. At the same time, Ambrose has been on one quest for vengeance which has gone unfulfilled, and this is his second. If he loses here, he could lose all. At the same time, I think Bray’s going-it-alone thing is going to be what they’ll focus on, and this is a hell of a match to gain him some prestige.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
CB:
Winner: Ambrose
Harrak:
Winner: Wyatt
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Steve Berkman: via bullcrap (also what is even at the top of the ladder??)
Winner: Wyatt
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Murtz: This will be a great match as I believe these are the two top stars in the company. I think Wyatt needs the win more and I believe that the rocking chair has been a set-up for something creeptacular in this match. The WWE needs to realize that Wyatt’s time is now and that he should be the company’s top heel. Project Lesnar 2.0 has been a complete fail and it’s time to start the build toward Wrestlemania. While both guys are over, Wyatt’s win here could lead to a resurgence.
Winner: Wyatt
Widro: It’s been a decent feud but doesn’t seem to have the juice that it should. This match should be really strong, but I’m not totally sold on who will win.
Winner: Ambrose
Tables Match (if John Cena loses, he is no longer #1 contender)
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
David Spain: I want a Rollins victory. The stars are just so aligned for it: Rollins’ blistering speech towards Cena this past SmackDown (hey, read my article about it!); a way for Cena to lose through interference or a misstep; a chance for us not to have to see Brock vs. Cena again. With all this in mind, I think Rollins’ time is now.
Winner: Seth Rollins
CB:
Winner: Rollins
Harrak:
Winner: Cena
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: John Cena
Steve Berkman: so that we can get away from Cena/Lesnar again
Winner: Rollins
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Seth Rollins
Murtz: I think Rollins has this. I am not saying I am happy about it, but when the stakes are only high for the babyface in a match, the odds are he will come out victorious.
Winner: Rollins
Widro: I would love this to be a direction change away from Cena/Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, but I would gamble that WWE is not changing their top level plans for Lesnar/Cena then Lesnar/Reigns.
Winner: Cena
Chairs Match
Ryback vs. Kane
David Spain: Ryback’s been getting some great reactions, and quite possibly has a good future in this business. Kane is approaching the end of his career and tends to be responsible for DQs rather than victories. Match goes to the Big Guy.
Winner: Ryback
CB:
Winner: Ryback
Harrak:
Winner: Ryback
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Kane
Steve Berkman: Kane doesn’t need to win this
Winner: Ryback
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Ryback
Murtz:
Winner: Ryback
Widro: Ryback is getting over lately and it’s good to see WWE get behind someone new. Kane is a virtual jobber at this point so it doesn’t make much sense for him to win.
Winner: Ryback
WWE Intercontinuental Title Ladder Match
Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper (c)
David Spain: I doubt anyone can deny that there are some people in the WWE who have true faith in Dolph Ziggler; just look at the past couple of months and challenge that statement. Whatever happens as a result of this match, Dolph is going to benefit. But does that mean he’s going to regain the belt, or would Harper keeping the belt allow Dolph to finally break through the glass ceiling for good? Personally, I say a win for Dolph against an opponent of Harper’s calibre is the best course of action: Ziggler’s rise is all but inevitable; let it build momentum. Hell, let Dolph do a title programme with Kidd before moving on up.
Winner (and new Intercontinental champion): Dolph Ziggler
CB:
Winner: Ziggler
Harrak:
Winner: Ziggler
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Steve Berkman: Ziggler falls off a ladder and somehow falls down to the fourth ring of hell
Winner: Harper
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Luke Harper
Murtz: I don’t like Dolph. All of his gimmicks are terrible and he sucks. As a result, I will pick anyone he is up against to beat him. I realize many have left the company recently including CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio, but that doesn’t mean they should push lame ducks. Harper for the win.
Winner: Harper
Widro: In retrospect, I’m not sure the original title change was a good idea if they were going to elevate Ziggler, but it seems like a step backwards for him to get the title back so soon.
Winner: Harper
Stairs Match
The Big Show vs. “Big Red” Erick Rowan.
David Spain: I’d like to go on record yet again and say that a stairs match is one of those ideas that’s up there with Katie Vick and threatening to harm Walter White’s family in terms of stupidity. That being said, I have a feeling that it’s going to be Big Show who takes those stairs and…I don’t know, okay?! I don’t know what they’re going to do with the stairs, but it’s going to be stupid! Stupid!
Winner: Big Show
Loser: Whoever was the first person to use the phrase ‘stairs match’ in a creative meeting
CB:
Winner: Rowan
Harrak:
Winner: Big Show
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Rowan
Steve Berkman: Erick Rowan will be playing the violin and making wine
Winner: Big Show
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Erick Rowan
Murtz: I like the way “Big Red” is being used. I actually think the writers have a done a good job with the way that they separated Bray Wyatt’s stable. I think Erick Rowan is one of the WWE’s brightest talents and that he could be everything Big Show isn’t in terms of establishing credibility as a destructive big man in the ring. I pick Rowan.
Winner: Rowan
Widro: Much like the Ryback/Kane match, this seems designed for an older star to put over someone younger that WWE is hoping to elevate.
Winner: Erick Rowan
WWE Tag Team Titles
The Miz & Damien Mizdow (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey)
David Spain: We all know that the WWE loves its relationship drama, and that’s what they’re doing right here. If the Usos get the belts, this is more or less over. I think Miz’s creepin’ or some interference from Naomi is going to lead to Miz and Sandow holding onto those belts.
Winners (and still Tag Team Champions): Miz and Sandmiz
CB:
Winner: Miz and Mizdow
Harrak:
Winner: Mizes
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Miz and Mizdow
Steve Berkman: I’m sick of titles changing for no reason
Winner: The Miz’s
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: The Usos
Murtz: I have always liked The Miz. I think The Uso gimmick is starting to get played. I don’t think the titles will change hands.
Winner: Miz/Mizdow
Widro: Unless they are moving immediately to a Miz/Mizdow breakup, I think they retain and keep the act going for a while longer.
Winner: Miz/Mizdow
US Title
Rusev w/Lana (c) vs. Jack Swagger
David Spain: As much as beating up my favourite old man would be a way to fire me up, I think we’re going to see a very similar result to the last time these two locked up. Colour me worried about the fact that Rusev’s gone back to Swagger, by the way. Guy’s got an undefeated streak: the angle writes itself, guys.
Winner: Rusev
CB:
Winner: Rusev
Harrak:
Winner: Rusev
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Rusev
Steve Berkman: Rusev wins and declares himself European Champion
Winner: Rusev
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Rusev
Murtz: I will never understand why valets aren’t used anymore. Lana is single-handedly carrying Rusev and while I normally wouldn’t care about the Ryno lookalike, she makes me watch his matches. I can’t say the same for Swagger who, if we are calling a spade a spade, has been a flop. It’s isn’t his fault. He just isn’t being promoted in the right away. Rusev wins.
Winner: Rusev
Widro: Rerun!
Winner: Rusev
WWE Diva’s Title
Nikki Bella (c) vs. A.J. Lee
David Spain: I don’t know where we’re at right now on the rumours of AJ leaving, but to my knowledge the story hasn’t changed. Plus, for some reason the WWE seems to think that the Bellas make for interesting programming. Whilst I want to see AJ Lee take back her belt and put it on the line against Natalya, Paige and Charlotte in a Fatal Four-Way, I feel we’re going to have the Bellas stuffed down our throats for a little while longer.
Winner (and still Divas Champion): Nikki Bella
CB:
Winner: Nikki Bella
Harrak:
Winner: Nikki
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Nikki Bella
Steve Berkman: because AJ is going to go join Phil
Winner: Nikki Bella
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: Nikki Bella
Murtz: I actually think there are stakes in this match and I like how this feud has developed. While I would have normally predicted AJ Lee to win the title back, when you consider that her main squeeze just announced that he was signing with UFC and her suspicious hint to commentator’s that they would “miss her when she is gone” on the last episode of Smackdown, it appears Lee might be on her way out. As a result, I think Nikki Bella retains.
Winner: Bella
Widro: I’m not sure why WWE refuses to give a storyline explanation for Brie and Nikki being back together. There is a small chance that Brie turns back face and helps AJ win, but I think more likely Nikki wins.
Winner: Nikki Bella
pre-show
Gold & Stardust vs. New Day
David Spain: I take it that not all of the New Day will be wrestling, otherwise this really is easy to predict. Even if not, we’re still in the honeymoon period for this team, before the WWE forgets what they had planned and focuses on something instead. It’s still a New Day.
Winners: The New Day
CB:
Winner: New Day
Harrak:
Winner: New Day
T.J. Rutherford:
Winner: Dust Brothers
Steve Berkman:
Winner: n/a
Jake Ziegler:
Winner: New Day
Murtz:
Winner: Gold & Stardust.
Widro: Even though they jobbed in their first Raw appearance, it’s hard to see The New Day jobbing again so soon after they debuted.
Winner: New Day
