WWE TLC 2019: Ranking the build-up to every match

Are you prepared for TLC?
Are you prepared for TLC?

WWE will partake in its final PPV of the year, and the very last one of the decade -- TLC, 2019. Expected to go out with a bang, it will be extremely intriguing to see how WWE manages to do that without their main two titles being defended (the WWE and Universal championship) on the show.

But don't worry, there will definitely be other titles on the line and a couple of Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches as well.

It will also be interesting to see how the results of this card will affect the Royal Rumble PPV and the WrestleMania season in general. Today we'll be looking at the build-up to every match to be performed that night and we'll be ranking them from worst to best. (7 is worst, 1 is best)


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#7 Rusev vs Bobby Lashley

It will all happen on 'Rusev Day'!
It will all happen on 'Rusev Day'!

Rusev and Bobby Lashley have been at odds ever since Lana and Lashley started having an "affair". This buildup is the worst mainly because of the extreme lengths it seems to be going to convince everyone that Lana and Rusev are actually divorced. Both Lana and Lashley were arrested on Raw in Tennessee. On another episode of Raw, they had a "divorce" segment. Do you see? None of this is really necessary.

Lana yelled at Rusev while discussing the custody of their dog, and then she proceeded to blame the WWE Universe for the problems in their marriage (classic heel move, blame the crowd for everything).

Following that, Rusev agreed to get a divorce on the condition that he and Lashley will go to war at TLC. Bobby Lashley then came down and threw a curveball at everyone by promising to marry Lana after the divorce was final.

Rusev had heard enough and he slammed Lashley through the divorce table. Boom! We got Bobby Lashley vs Rusev TLC 2019. This match could've used some tables, ladders, and chairs to really get some excitement mixed in there. Nevertheless, this match will probably be filled with "Rusev Day" and "CM Punk" chants.

#6 Roman Reigns vs King Corbin

The 'Big Dog' has been unchained!
The 'Big Dog' has been unchained!

Ever since the draft, these guys have constantly been on each other's bad side. Let's be honest, they probably would've never liked each other anyway. To give credit where it's due, this feud has gotten kind of interesting as of late.

Roman Reigns beating the living daylights out of Robert Roode and 'King' Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler handcuffing Reigns to a post and throwing dog food on him were the highlights of this rivalry, among other things.

This is one of those matches that needed the tables, ladders and chairs stipulation. Without them, what do you have? The occasional Superman punch, a spear, a Deep 6, etc. If everything that happened with Reigns and Corbin turned out to be for nothing, then it may even end up being like the end of Hell in a Cell that saw the fans booing in unison.

#5 New Day vs The Revival

End of The New Day's title reign?
End of The New Day's title reign?

When Kofi Kingston and Big E celebrated the Thanksgiving weekend on the 29th of November, they put their Smackdown Tag Team Championships on the line in an open challenge. Fortunately for them, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura couldn't get the job done. So, there was a Fatal-4-Way Tag Team Elimination match to determine the #1 contenders for the titles.

Shorty G and Mustafa Ali, the Lucha House Party, the Heavy Machinery and The Revival went to war on Smackdown, and The Revival picked up the victory. That goes to show you that they aren't just all talk.

They will now face The New Day at TLC 2019 in a Ladder match for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship. The Revival have had their fair share of gold in WWE. They also know The New Day pretty well.

Who's willing to pull out all the stops and be the team that will stand tall with the titles in hand?

#4 The Viking Raiders' open challenge

Will The Viking Raiders retain their titles against surprise opponents?
Will The Viking Raiders retain their titles against surprise opponents?

The Viking Raiders have been a truly dominant force since coming to the main roster. They haven't had success with finding credible competition, so they decided to issue an open challenge to anyone wanting to take on the fight. Considering the fact that no one has answered their open challenge yet, it can only mean that their opponents are going to show up at TLC. Fans are eager to see which team will have enough heart to accept.

This could possibly be teasing the return of a legendary or a sidelined tag team. If that's really the case then we will know that the payoff of this long wait was well worth it. Think about it, when WWE leaves us hanging with "surprise partners" and we find out that they're actually a 10-year-old kid in the Wrestlemania audience, then other bizarre match-ups are also possible.

When they really come through with a good surprise, like The Rock being the host of Wrestlemania after years of being away, it makes up for the waiting period. So, if WWE has something under their sleeve, it better be well worth the reception of the fans, good or bad.

#3 The Kabuki Warriors vs Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

A year-old rivalry with a twist?
A year-old rivalry with a twist?

Asuka, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair waged war in the first women's TLC match one year ago. These women know each other so well. That would bode well for Lynch and Flair in their upcoming match for the Women's Tag Team Championships. That also could work in Asuka's favor with her being a heel now and being able to add someone like Kairi Sane in the mix.

Flair and the Kabuki Warriors had a match two weeks ago, and things didn't end well for Charlotte in that encounter. Following that, Becky Lynch took on the challenge. Things didn't end well for her either. They attacked Lynch with a chair and then Kairi Sane smashed 'The Man' with an Insane Elbow to put her through a table.

Well, if you can't beat them, you go get one of your friends to help even the odds. So, Lynch joined forces with Flair and then the champions went right through the latter and put out a challenge for their Women's Tag Team Championships.

#2 The Miz vs Bray Wyatt

This feud got real personal real quick
This feud got real personal real quick

The Miz will be facing Bray Wyatt at TLC 2019. A couple of weeks ago, Bray Wyatt appeared to tear out Daniel Bryan's hair after dragging him under the ring. Or as Michael Cole described it "into the depths of hell". This can only mean one thing, Daniel Bryan is going to debut a new look at TLC this Sunday.

Whether that will be by interfering in the match, or by popping up on the titantron, or in some other way is yet to be determined. If The Miz can pull off the win against Wyatt, he may just be in line for a Universal Championship match in the near future. To see The Miz in the main event picture again after so long should be interesting in terms of how it will affect the landscape of WWE if he were to go on to defeat Wyatt for the title.

#1 Aleister Black vs Buddy Murphy

The match that you shouldn't miss
The match that you shouldn't miss

Both Buddy Murphy and Aleister Black are extremely talented Superstars who, without a doubt, could be used a lot more than they currently are. Aleister Black has been dishing out challenges for months. Murphy knocked on his door a few weeks ago and then walked away before Black could answer. They've looked most impressive on this build-up to TLC.

Aleister black hit a Black Mass on Murphy. So this Sunday, he will be looking to bounce back from Aleister's attack. This has been a dream match for a lot of fans for a long time coming. Both men have had their fair share of championship victories. With Black as former NXT Champion and Murphy coming into the bout as former NXT Tag Team and Cruiserweight Champion, this match definitely doesn't lack the skills and experience to be 5 stars.

At this point, only time will tell how the PPV will actually turn out. But one thing's for sure, I'll be watching and hopefully, you will be too.

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Edited by Shruti Sadbhav
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