3 unlikely things that could happen at WWE TLC 2018

This Sunday, WWE will have its final Pay Per View event of 2018. WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs will be broadcast live from the SAP Center in San Jose California. This show has had a mixed bag with its build up, as the SmackDown side of the card has been built up very strong, while the RAW side has been lackluster, to say the least.

There are 12 matches on the card as of now. On the RAW side, we will see Finn Balor take on Drew McIntyre, Natalya go against Ruby Riott in a Tables match, and Bobby Lashley face Elias in a Ladder match in the lower portion of the card.

The main matches on the red brand will see Nia Jax challenge Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's Championship, Seth Rollins defend his Intercontinental Championship in a grudge match against Dean Ambrose, and finally Braun Strowman go head to head with Baron Corbin in a Tables Ladders, and Chairs match with Strowman's Universal title match and Corbin's General Manager spot on the line.

On the SmackDown side of things, The Bar will defend the SmackDown tag team titles against The New Day and The Usos in a Triple Threat Match, as well as Rey Mysterio taking on Randy Orton in a Chairs match in the lower portion of the card.

The two main matches for the blue brand will see AJ Styles challenge the "New" Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship, as well as Becky Lynch defending the SmackDown Women's Championship in the first ever Women's Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.

Also, on the card, Buddy Murphy will defend the Cruiserweight Championship against Cedric Alexander, and then the team of Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox taking on the team of R-Truth and Carmella in the Mixed Match Challenge finals, with the #30 spot in next month's Royal Rumble matches on the line. With all of that being said, here are three things that could happen at TLC.

3.) Seth Rollins will retain the Intercontinental Championship, but not cleanly

Dean Ambrose attacks Seth Rollins

This Sunday at TLC, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will finally go head to head in the ring in a match that has been building since Ambrose turned heel in October.

Ambrose's heel turn so far has been underwhelming, as he hasn't been wrestling and he has been coming off as a comedy type heel, with his new "This city stinks" germophobic gimmick. However, this is still an anticipated match as Ambrose and Rollins have amazing chemistry together. Ambroise has also had the upper hand for the entirety of the feud thus far.

As for the match on Sunday, I expect the match to be great, and it could possibly steal the show. I predicted last month that this match will end in a no contest and I am sticking to that prediction, as I still see this feud extending into the new year. I also see Rollins retaining the title because...

2.) Baron Corbin will defeat Braun Strowman and become permanent RAW General Manager

Strowman and Corbin

In arguably the most interesting match on the card, Braun Strowman is scheduled to take on Baron Corbin in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match with Strowman's Universal title match and Corbin's General Manager role on the line. The reason why this match is interesting is that Strowman recently had elbow surgery and no one is sure if he will show up this Sunday or not.

Regardless of if Strowman shows up or not, I expect lots of shenanigans to take place here since WWE will want to fill lots of time here. I see one of two things happening. The first is that Corbin comes to the ring and orders the referee to count to 10, which he does and Corbin wins via forfeit, but Strowman shows up after and destroys Corbin.

While this may seem silly, it keeps Corbin in charge of RAW, but also keeps Strowman looking strong. The other possibility is that Corbin comes to the ring and tells the referee to count to 10, which he does but Strowman shows up at the 9 count and the match happens, but Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley come out and take out Strowman, allowing Corbin to win and keep his job as General Manager.

It is important to remember that there is six weeks until the Royal Rumble. It's clear that Strowman v. Lesnar is the plan for the Royal Rumble, but you don't need to announce it that early. Strowman can get his title match another way and that's how you can build up to the Rumble instead of just having Strowman carrying the weight for six weeks while Lesnar isn't on television.

So I expect Corbin to win at TLC and make all of the babyfaces (including Seth Rollins) lives miserable for the foreseeable future.

1.) Asuka will win the SmackDown Women's Championship

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When Becky Lynch returned from her injury after Survivor Series, it was announced that she would be defending her SmackDown Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. The blue brand's women's roster came to the stage saying they wanted their shot too. Later that night, Asuka won a Battle Royal and was added to the match, making it a Triple Threat TLC match.

I think WWE is going to pull the trigger on an Asuka title reign for one reason: Ronda Rousey. Both Charlotte and Becky have unfinished business with the RAW Women's Champion, and in order to do that, I don't think either of them is going to be champion at the time.

The question is when will we get Rousey v. Charlotte Part 2 and Becky v. Rousey, the match we didn't get at Survivor Series? The other question is will they be two singles matches or one big triple threat?

I can see one of two scenarios. One: Asuka wins the title and both Charlotte and Becky go into the Women's Royal Rumble match, where they are the final two and are eliminated at the same time, which would lead to a Triple Threat including Rousey at WrestleMania 35. The other is that Asuka wins the title, Becky gets her rematch at the Royal Rumble and loses, but ends up in the Royal Rumble and wins it, leading to Lynch v Rousey at WrestleMania 35.

This would also entail that somehow Charlotte faces Rousey at the Royal Rumble, but loses. Either way, you shake it though, The Empress of Tomorrow leaves TLC as the new champion.