5 Reasons why WWE did a TLC match before the PPV on RAW

It was the go-home show before the TLC pay-per-view came our way. RAW was a stacked affair and also had an air of freshness that had been missing in recent times. The men and women of the red brand took each other to the limit to entertain us immensely. All culminating in a stacked main event TLC match.

Wait, why did WWE choose to have a TLC match on RAW, right before a pay-per-view? I will suggest 5 possible reasons in this article. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my assessment in the comments.

Let me personally say at the outset that I thought it was an extraordinary match. Whatever the reason may have been for WWE to book the match, both men delivered.

So, can we please have a round of applause for Baron Corbin and Seth Rollins?

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#5 To make us believe there will be a title switch

For a while, everyone was convinced that Corbin would become the next Intercontinental Champion

Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose is a huge feud that does not need a title to make it special. All of us know this and also realize that we'd be invested in a match between the two men irrespective of whether a Championship is on the line. And this is why WWE wanted to make us feel like Corbin would use his authority to steal the Intercontinental Championship from Seth Rollins.

Look at the pieces and how they all stacked up this week. It was mostly the babyfaces who picked up wins, except for McIntyre and Rush, both of whom are Corbin's goons. It was all too possible that Corbin would abuse his authority and become Champion.

This was not to be. But the tease of the title changing hands may have kept viewers invested for hours.

#4 To have Rollins compete in a TLC match

Seth Rollins sadly does not have a gimmick match at TLC

As mentioned before, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have a singles match at TLC. The Intercontinental Championship is up for grabs at this event. However, this is not a stipulation match unlike the other contests at the show.

Rollins is arguably the most exciting in-ring performer in the company. While others may be a lot more agile or athletic, he has the crowd support on his side and hence his matches always feel a lot more special than those of his peers. Therefore, to give the audience a glimpse of what Rollins can do in a TLC match, this match may have been set up.

Of course, because of the personal nature of the rivalry between Rollins and Ambrose, the two do not need any sort of special match. Their match could steal the show.

#3 To make up for Finn Balor's RAW absence

Would Balor have been the one to challenge Corbin to a match otherwise?

Rollins has been obsessed with Ambrose over the past few weeks on RAW, as he should be because Ambrose has caused Rollins to act irrationally and lose his temper. This has happened on more than one occasion. And it's been building to a boiling point, obviously to spill over to a boil at TLC.

He's been kept away from the Corbin situation on RAW. And therefore, it was strange to see him come out to confront the General Manager Elect and put him on notice. It could have had to do with Finn Balor's absence on RAW.

Balor had been leading the resistance against the corruption of Corbin. He had to miss RAW this week because of injury or illness, based on which rumour you choose to believe in.

Hence, Rollins vs. Corbin!

#2 To bring the Heath Slater story full circle

Slater had a big role to play in the main event

Heath Slater was responsible for his former friend Rhyno getting fired from WWE. And ever since then, he's become a pawn to the Authority and Baron Corbin. He even helped Lio Rush pick up a win over Elias, even though Lashley was responsible for most of the beatdown on RAW's minstrel.

Fast forward to the main event, where Rollins accidentally knocked Slater out of the ring. Slater would return and almost cost Rollins his prized Intercontinental Championship, looking to keep his job. It was a moment where every fan in the arena thought that we would have a brand new WWE Intercontinental Champion.

To be fair, I thought this was one of the most cohesive storylines that WWE has told in a while. Slater will turn on Corbin for sure, down the line, but his journey to get there should be fun to follow.

#1 To boost the ratings

Ultimately, it all boils down to the bottom line

RAW has been having a few dismal weeks because of the shows they've been putting up. This week felt like a fresh start when Rollins accused Corbin of being the reason the shows did not deliver. He broke the fourth wall and mentioned the TV ratings. It was clear that WWE had put time and effort into this show and they would put on a really good episode.

A match of this magnitude on RAW is a must watch affair for sure. Such a match gets discussed, talked about and gets viewers to tune in. Fans also had a feel-good moment when they saw Corbin lose, at long last.

This match also established Seth Rollins as the new king of the division. In the absence of Reigns, he had stepped up to the plate to become the company's top babyface.

Let's hope he becomes Universal Champion someday.