Writing The Book: WWE TLC 2018

Welcome to “Writing the Book”! This is where I attempt to book entire wrestling pay-per-views in an interesting yet logical matter. This week we have WWE TLC 2018!

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Jimmy Jacobs is right. Writing a wrestling show is hard. This one, deceptively so. WWE’s next event is the Royal Rumble which has direct ties to Wrestlemania. So as I started toying with the match card, I realized that I had to essentially predict parts of the Mania card four months in advance. This WWE TLC PPV may have greater implications than we previously realized. 

I’ve listed the matches in my desired order of the card.

WWE TLC Kickoff

The entire WWE TLC card is 12 matches which is unnecessarily long for a wrestling show. The pre-show is two matches most of the time but I added an extra one for Sunday. 

Natalya v. Ruby Riott – Tables Match

Winner: Ruby Riott

I want both competitors to come out looking good here. Before Nattie eventually loses, I want her to find a way to put both of the other members of the Riott Squad through a table. Ruby gets the win but Natalya also appears fairly strong and resilient. 

Elias v. Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush – Guitar suspended above the ring can be used as a weapon

Winner: Lashley

My original plan was for Elias to win after using a second guitar hidden under the ring. But Lashley needs the win more. He’s the most physically imposing guy on the roster but isn’t being booked like it. He held all the gold over at Impact but hasn’t been in a single title feud since returning. I don’t see that changing soon but a PPV win is a start. Lio Rush also needs to get involved. That’s what he’s there for. 

Buddy Murphy (c) v. Cedric Alexander – Cruiserweight Championship

Winner: Murphy

The only person Buddy Murphy should lose that belt to is Mustafa Ali. The build isn’t there for a title change and I didn’t want it to get lost in the shuffle of this enormous card so I made it the main event of the pre-show. 

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WWE TLC Main Card

The Bar (c) v. The New Day v. The Usos – Smackdown Tag Team Championships

Winners: Usos

The SD Live tag scene needs a slight shift. It looks like they’ll stick with having the spotlight on these three teams for awhile. The Bar took the belts off the New Day in October and haven’t gotten much action since. Perhaps an Usos/Bar feud can get some momentum going for both teams again. 

Rey Mysterio v. Randy Orton – Chairs Match 

Winner: Orton

With the way he’s been presented I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Orton hovering around the world title picture in the coming months. Also, a chair needs to be involved in either a 619 or RKO. Not only will the kiddos love it, but so will I. 

Finn Balor v. Drew McIntyre 

Winner: McIntyre

This could be a show-stealer if given time and paired with a clean finish. I wouldn’t complain if Balor got this big win but McIntyre shouldn’t lose until he gets a Univeral Title opportunity.

***EDIT: There have been conflicting reports today on Finn Balor’s availability at TLC. If he is replaced, Drew needs to win regardless of who the opponent is. 

R-Truth and Carmella v. Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox – Mixed Match Challenge Finals (winners get entrant #30 slots at the Royal Rumble)

Winners: The Fabulous Truth

This will be a nice comedy match to let the fans breathe before the marquee matches at the top of the WWE TLC card. We’re going to need at least five dance breaks and meditation sessions from each side before the match’s conclusion. 

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Braun Strowman v. Baron Corbin (Strowman wins: Awarded Universal Title match, Corbin is stripped of power. Corbin wins: Corbin becomes permanent Raw General Manager)

Winner: Strowman

This is the match I was excited to book. I don’t know what Strowman’s status is going to be like following his elbow surgery. I’d be shocked if he was already capable of competing in a full-blown TLC match. This is why I’m booking it as if Strowman is unable to compete. 

Baron Corbin is in the ring about to declare himself the winner by forfeit. He even has some sort of government official with him ready to declare himself the Raw GM. That’s when Strowman appears on the big screen live from another hospital bed. He states that he can’t make it but found a suitable replacement. That’s when this music hits.

Yes, Lars Sullivan makes his main roster debut as a babyface. He walks to the ring and Corbin tries to put an end to the whole thing. Sullivan grabs a mic and says Stephanie McMahon allowed him to replace Braun as long as he signs with Monday Night Raw. Michael Cole sells the moment on commentary and elaborates on what a huge deal that is for Raw. 

Lars eventually wins the match and strips Corbin of his power. The #1 Contender’s spot is still up for grabs. That can be claimed by Strowman when he’s healthy or McIntyre and Sullivan can try to claim their rightful stake to Brock Lesnar’s belt. 

Ronda Rousey (c) v. Nia Jax – Raw Women’s Championship

Winner: Rousey

I’m willing to bet my car that Rousey holds that belt until Wrestlemania. She’s one of the biggest draws in the company so she needs one of the biggest singles matches at Mania. These two had an excellent match at Money in the Bank so I’m just going to let them do their thing at TLC. 

Seth Rollins (c) v. Dean Ambrose – Intercontinental Championship

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose needs to ride this momentum all the way into a championship win. If he loses cleanly then this whole persona change will feel meaningless. This is a great feud for both guys but many people consider Seth the best in the world. I think 2019 is the year we start to see Seth headline pay-per-views again, so this booking at WWE TLC will get us there. The Universal Championship is the final belt he has yet to claim. 

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The New Daniel Bryan (c) v. AJ Styles – WWE Championship

Winner: Bryan

My long-term goal is for a babyface Miz to meet Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. That means DB has to keep his championship at WWE TLC. AJ being out of the world title feud is hard to envision. The only other mid-card guy he can have a program with is Orton. That’s why I want these two to have one more match. 

I’m booking this match to end via referee stoppage. Daniel Bryan will target AJ’s knee constantly. DB keeps strapping on the knee bars but AJ always gets to the ropes. However, AJ tries to hit a Styles Clash and his knee buckles. Then he tries to hit a Phenomenal Forearm but slips off the ropes. AJ can no longer stand so the referee stops the match. 

Daniel Bryan ending the match by DQ feels cheap so this will allow a different avenue toward a rematch. They’ll have a Submission Match at the Royal Rumble. Submission matches rarely happen now and both men have submissions in their finishing arsenals.

Becky Lynch (c) v. Asuka v. Charlotte Flair – Tables, Ladders, & Chairs Match for SD Women’s Championship

Winner: Asuka

This is the perfect opportunity to finally give Asuka that championship belt that’s wrongfully alluded her. As much as she deserves it, the (Becky) fans could turn on Asuka. In the event of this happening, I have a backup plan for WWE TLC. 

In all of NXT and WWE, Asuka has never been a real heel. Now is the time. When Becky and Asuka have their rematch in January, Asuka should purposefully “re-injure” Becky’s face. A report will come out soon after saying that Becky will be out for weeks. She ends up being a surprise entrant in the Rumble. She’s walking down to the ring wearing a face mask and fighting off doctors trying to hold her back. Becky ends up winning the whole thing (eliminating Nia in the process). Boom, Becky vs. Ronda at Mania. 

Meanwhile on Smackdown, Asuka is a heel. During the Spring, she has a few title matches with her old friend, Naomi. When that’s settled, Asuka vs. Charlotte at WrestleMania is reborn with the roles reversed this time around.

Next time on “Writing the Book”: Wrestle Kingdom 13!

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