WWE TABLES, LADDERS, CHAIRS...AND STAIRS 2014 - 200 AND COUNTING

The last WWE pay-per view of 2014 has finally dawned upon us, which means no more frantically rushing around trying to get these previews done until next year and we can finally sit back and relax, be merry and not worry about what WWE are doing with their talent until January 2015 rolls around. Though you don’t realize it, TLC 2014 is a milestone for this blog as this preview will mark the 200th post in our near three year history. And what a long way we’ve come.

After a so-so year, that sounds like pure bliss doesn’t it?  So let’s get down to it. Tables, Ladders and Chairs has long since been a staple of World Wrestling Entertainment programming even before it was a pay-per view all of its own, though I don’t think adding ‘Stairs’ to the title will bring it anymore viewers. Everyone remembers those stunning bouts between Edge and Christian, The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania’s and SummerSlam’s so I have to concur that it made sense to designate it with its own event in 2009.

Whilst many bemoan the lack of variety on display at these events, its one of the only events of the year where WWE are forced to take risks because of the nature of the bouts; so instead of moaning about it maybe we should embrace it because we’re guaranteed some gripping hardcore action and this year’s looks no different. With WWE taking a chance on allowing Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose to potentially headline the show, it seems that the new blood and the youth movement is once again on the rise.

From the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on December 14th, this is WWE TLC: Tables, Ladder, Chairs...and Stairs 2014.

Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match

Dean Ambrose vs Bray Wyatt

For those who read the Survivor Series preview, you’ll be able to testify to the fact that I wasn’t too sure about this feud when it was announced both men would do battle at the November spectacle. However, thus far I’m not ashamed to admit that I was wrong. Now, don’t get ahead of me here because I’m not saying I was wrong about the entire feud because it could still all go tits up leaving us with a steaming pile of mess to sort through. But, from what I saw at Survivor Series things are looking good for both Ambrose and Wyatt as we head into the New Year. I may change my mind on a second viewing of their bout but we’ll have to wait and see.

Realistically, a disqualification ending was the only way WWE could have booked the bout to end at Survivor Series and still keep intrigue for TLC and whatever the promotion have planned for the twosome after. When you present two men on the verge of either stardom or abject failure against each other, then either one defeating the other comprehensively will all but end any interest the fans have whilst putting the losing party back at least six months. Neither Dean Ambrose or Bray Wyatt can afford for that to happen at this stage in their lives and both need a stature enhancing victory to push them forward. I won’t deny that the loser of this bout may find it difficult to get ahead for the majority of the first three months of next year but you can’t have it always, right?

As you’ll read in the ‘Wrestling God First Annual Awards’ which you lucky people will get to read in the Christmas blog, I am worried about Dean Ambrose. When The Shield split in the middle of the year there was a general consensus that Dean Ambrose would be the man to be left on the shelf. Seth Rollins was clearly favourite to become WWE’s next major heel whilst Roman Reigns had long been situated in a position to oppose him at WrestleMania XXXI which I believe will still happen. Obviously, it could happen here at TLC but as I’m writing this segment before any other matches are announced I cannot say for sure. Dean Ambrose got lucky with Roman Reigns falling to injury. I think we can all say that with some confidence. Because had Roman Reigns been around these last three months then I hate to think where Dean Ambrose would be; if you don’t believe me then let’s take a look at the facts.

Roman Reigns was meant to face Seth Rollins at Night of Champions which meant WWE were planning to end the Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins feud to accommodate Roman Reigns rise. Had Reigns not gone down with an injury then what would Dean Ambrose have done? WWE had him filming another trashy movie but when he returned he’d have found the door to the main event closed and his two friends taking up room which he needed to thrive. I think it’s fair to say that had Roman Reigns been around, Dean Ambrose would have been dropped into a meaningless mid-card feud instead of being able to battle John Cena and extend his rivalry with Seth Rollins which we saw stretch into Hell in a Cell. The question of whether WWE would have given him Bray Wyatt earlier or at all is irrelevant. What is important is that Dean Ambrose would have been seen as a mid-card player regardless and that would have been disastrous to his image and career.

I think Dean Ambrose can count himself to be a very lucky man. His Christmas has already come in that his star has risen further than it would have had other events conspired against him. Win or lose, Dean Ambrose has struck a chord with the WWE Universe that Roman Reigns never managed to and I believe that it would be a great disservice should he lose his place and have WWE undo all that hard work just for him to step aside for Roman Reigns. There’s no guarantee that the WWE Universe would settle for that chain of events now anyway. We have a great sense of injustice when someone returns and effectively steals a spot which someone else has worked hard to garner. If WWE do begin pushing Reigns into Ambrose’s position then they could have a mutiny on their hands.

I just don’t know what to say about Bray Wyatt. He was on the verge of something special after defeating John Cena at Extreme Rules and WWE just went and ruined it for him by placing him against worthless opponents who he either lost to or defeated to no gain whatsoever. I truly believe that splitting The Wyatt Family was a mistake. Each man had their separate roles to play within the group but now they just feel like three more faceless wrestlers in a company full of talent, even if that talent isn’t main event calibre. No doubt, Bray Wyatt will or at least should do the best of out of all three men but is that really the case? WWE could have used The Wyatt Family to greater lengths before splitting them in 2015 and this is how.

Team Cena should have lost at Survivor Series, giving Team Authority total control of the promotion until WrestleMania XXXI. With John Cena forced to take a sabbatical, there would have been room for WWE to boost The Wyatt Family up the ranks and have them positioned in the main event against Triple H and company. WWE could even have said that The Wyatt Family were working on orders of a mysterious benefactor who would turn out to be Vince McMahon or even John Cena thus paving the way for his return in 2015. After The Authority cost Bray Wyatt the Royal Rumble Match and then made sure he faced a five on one beating inside the Elimination Chamber, WWE could have booked a six man tag team match for control of the company at WrestleMania XXXI. The Wyatt Family vs Triple H, Seth Rollins and another young gun who needed a main event boost.

Once Bray Wyatt had pinned Triple H in the main event of the company, there would be no going back for him as far as main event talent went and he’d be a sure fire hit for the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Once he’d won, Wyatt could then have brought out Vince McMahon or John Cena as the man they were working with, handing control back if it was the former. Gradually over time, Luke Harper and Eric Rowan would grow tired and jealous of Wyatt’s main event status and turn on him thus making them heels once again. As a result of that, we could have had a hillbilly war over the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and made two new stars off of the back of everything that had happened. In turn it would have made Bray Wyatt a super babyface spreading his message and even attracted more viewers to what people would have seen as a fresher WWE Network.

I know I’ve said this before and I know that WWE had no intention of doing this, but to mend what they’ve done wrong it’s going to take time and intelligence. Do WWE have enough to mend Bray Wyatt? I guess only time will tell. All they really had to do was follow the buzzards; the path was already mapped out for them. But I guess they’re even incapable of doing that in these modern times.

Whilst I’m not convinced that Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt will both come out of this feud smelling of roses, it’s fair to say that at least one of them will whilst the other should still be in a position to claw back some respect when 2015 hits. If Dean Ambrose wins here then Bray Wyatt should go over at the Royal Rumble and vice versa. WWE must keep them both on a level playing field because if they don’t, fans are going to turn away at the first sign of someone looking inferior.

Winners Prediction: Dean Ambrose

Chairs Match

Ryback vs Kane

Did you hear that sigh go up when it was announced that Ryback would once again be pushed as a singles competitor and a main event one at that? I swear I could hear the entire WWE Universe lose hope at once but fear not my powerful minions, it’s not all as bad as it sounds. First, let’s get the bad out of the way. Yes, Ryback will once again be pushed as a main event talent in 2015 and this time he may even go as far as getting his hands on the gold but that won’t be for at least another year. The good news is that we really shouldn’t worry. Ryback has actually gotten better since his tag team break from Curtis Axel, who was holding him back, and though his game hasn’t been upped drastically it should be enough for him to navigate his way through WWE’s upper-card and make a half decent main event run.

Of course, this all relies on WWE not losing interest in him again as they did last time but we can all keep our fingers crossed. You may think I’m mad with what I’m about to say as my next sentence but I really do believe that Ryback can be the Goldberg of this generation if he really tries. Before, Ryback believed he was good enough when he wasn’t and that stopped him from putting in a real great effort. In fact, the matches he shone best in were those when he had others to cover his flaws and stipulation bouts. If WWE book him in these types of bouts until he’s ready to make another charge at stardom then they could have lightening in a bottle. So this is what I suggest WWE do with Ryback in order to have a new star on their hands down the line.

Firstly, keep with him. If WWE lose interest again then they may as well fire Ryback because there is no way we’re going to buy into him a third time, which means it really is now or never for the former Skip Sheffield. He has the look and the intensity to be a true star, so the first thing WWE need to do is quickly craft a main event level tag team feud for him with someone big enough that we don’t care about his flaws or good enough they can cover them for him. John Cena would be the perfect partner for Ryback and should WWE put them together for three or four months to battle Triple H and Kane or Triple H and Seth Rollins or even Triple H and Big Show then Ryback would benefit greatly from the association not to mention being allowed to pin Triple H on pay-per view. The pair wouldn’t have to fight together every week, only on pay-per view whilst Ryback could either defeat upper-card talent on television or only be booked to fight when it’s absolutely necessary. That is the first logical step.

 The second is, whilst all this is going on, do not book Ryback on House Show events and allow those days for him to go back to WWE developmental and learn something new. Working every Monday, Thursday and one Sunday in a month would leave Ryback ample time to brush up his skills by working closely with Triple H and whoever else can lend him some much needed advice. No matter how good you are, you can always get better. Can you imagine the reaction a technically sound Ryback would receive as he slowly rocketed up the card? It would be unbelievable. Ryback could finally shed that Goldberg aura and prove that he has more than Goldberg to offer in a match. Once Ryback is ring ready and capable of putting on a twenty minute thriller then stage three begins.

Split him from John Cena in peaceful circumstances and after WrestleMania book Ryback in a main event singles feud, either against Randy Orton or someone of Triple H’s quality. At first, the pair would contest ten minute bouts before working their up to twenty minutes which would pass with ease if Ryback was able to hold his own instead of relying on others to help him through. Once Ryback is seen to be able to work these matches and match someone like Randy Orton move for move then WWE would have no problem in having us believe he could defeat someone like Brock Lesnar or hold the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Step four: Money in the Bank. It’s far enough away for WWE to do all of this and more with Ryback, though to get him to the July event with an aura as I described would take time and patience. At some point in time WWE have to have it with some stars so why not start now? A face Ryback would be clear favourite to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and WWE could build him even more from that moment onwards. Instead of bury him as WWE have done on occasion with Seth Rollins, Ryback could fly and defeat every name in the company on his way to the gold. WWE wouldn’t have to have him cash in like a coward, do it like Rob Van Dam did it, and we’d appreciate him more for it.

You see, WWE believe that to make a new star then that person must always go through John Cena at some point during their career. That’s simply not true. Ryback has already done that and suffered for it. There would be no reason for the pair to meet again. When Ryback is WWE World Heavyweight Champion then have John Cena do something else and vice versa. John Cena is the answer to anything in 2015, it’s about time WWE saw that. The future really is bright for Ryback if WWE can be bothered to carry out their duties to the bitter end. By TLC 2015, Ryback could be a worldwide star and this time there would be no reason for him to tank. If he did, then he’d only have himself to blame.

Just a very quick word on Kane because he doesn’t deserve to be here, we all know that by now. Looking at him in 2014, he’s an old and useless cog in a very big machine. There’s nothing to stop WWE doing some maintenance on that piece of machinery and replacing that cog except some misplaced sense of loyalty. Kane has passed it. He’s never going to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion again and would be much more use helping wrestler’s book their matches and plan them out. There’s no place in professional wrestling for Kane any longer, it’s for him to gracefully bow out and let someone else have a go.

Winners Prediction: Ryback

Tables Match

Seth Rollins vs John Cena

Everyone knows my opinion about how Survivor Series ended and just it case it slipped your attention, I didn’t agree with how the Team Cena vs Team Authority bout ended. Yes, it was excellent that WWE finally propelled Dolph Ziggler into the spotlight by having him put in a career performance of a lifetime and Sting’s appearance will undoubtedly set up a Sting vs Triple H match at WrestleMania XXXI if The Undertaker is in no fit state to perform, but as I mentioned in the preview to Survivor Series, how exactly can WWE benefit from this occurrence?  Now The Authority is done and the anonymous Raw GM is back in charge who is either going to turn out to be Triple H, Stephanie McMahon or Sting to set up something massive for WrestleMania, I would like anyone to tell me how WWE can possible profit from this result.

When The Authority were in charge, it gave the faces on the roster something to battle against. There was a regime to fight against. Someone to hate and build storylines around. The Authority still had more to give WWE and they didn’t need to go anywhere until WrestleMania. In fact the only reason WWE booked that particular outcome was so John Cena can face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Would Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble. WWE once again lacked the balls to pull the trigger on a leave of absence for John Cena and seem to think that pushing him down our throats every week is going to make us fall in love with him more than if he was gone for several months. Have they never heard the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder?

The stipulation for this bout, as you’ll all have heard by now is that if John Cena loses this Tables Match to Seth Rollins then he’ll lose his number one contendership to Brock Lesnar’s gold in the New Year. That’s all very well and good, but should Seth Rollins win this match which he probably will then it renders the Survivor Series result pointless. Because as mentioned, the only reason for John Cena to prevail in November was for him to be present to fight Brock Lesnar so if he loses the privilege then what was the point? Even though WWE clearly haven’t thought this through, I still expect John Cena to lose the match because not only has he prevailed at Night of Champions, Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series but it’s almost become a tradition for Cena to lose at the December event. He did against Dolph Ziggler in 2012 and Randy Orton in 2013.

I’ll be honest about Seth Rollins; I have gone off of him slightly. Over the last few months he’s lost that main event aura which he once possessed and that’s largely thanks to WWE’s booking of him. One moment he was WWE’s chosen one and the next he’s being jobbed out to John Cena on Raw and staring at the lights for a man who doesn’t need anymore exposure as long as he lives. I know I’m not a lone in this belief. Many other have opined that Seth Rollins has fallen so far in WWE’s estimation that a successful cash in during 2015 is now unlikely. After all, who is going to believe that Rollins can be a great and legitimate Champion when he’s losing to anyone and everyone including the one man he’ll supposedly have to defend against in 2015 when WWE run out of ideas for him.

Will a Seth Rollins victory at TLC 2014 bump him back up the card to a position where he can sensibly make that jump from? It’s hard to say, but it can’t hurt. Seth Rollins needs a couple of high profile victories and needs them fast before he falls into a mid-card player role and renders the last six months pointless. The whole point of splitting The Shield and turning Seth Rollins heel was to make him WWE’s next big star, not to give John Cena another unfortunate sole to destroy and then bury them in a role they’re too good for way down the card. However, despite the fact that Seth Rollins really has to go over here to stand any chance of succeeding in 2015 I can’t help but believe it will appear as if he’s done so by chance.

We all remember Sheamus vs John Cena and TLC 2009 when ‘The Celtic Warrior’ captured the WWE Championship when it appeared that John Cena fell off the top rope and through a waiting table by accident. The result did a little something for Sheamus but the method didn’t and I fear that the same is in store for Seth Rollins. Instead of putting him over strong, I can just see WWE doing it by fluke and that won’t do his reputation or image any good at all. From this point onwards, WWE expect Seth Rollins to be in a position to face Roman Reigns in 2015 which means that he needs to look strong. But I just can’t see it happening here, at least not effectively.

There is one positive fact on the horizon and that’s Seth Rollins is nearly done with John Cena which means he can finally get his career back on track. All he has to do is weather the storm for now and a brighter future awaits him in 2015. Of course, that’s in theory because Roman Reigns awaits Seth Rollins in the New Year and then WWE really will be at a loss at to who to put over and who to put back six months. I expected Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns at TLC, which was the plan until WWE found out Reigns wouldn’t be fit for action though maybe they’ll shock everyone by having John Cena attacked by a mystery assailant and replaced by Reigns on the night. Don’t get your hopes up though. However, in 2015 the pair will do battle in a war which will resemble Randy Orton vs Batista in 2009. And I don’t mean that in a positive way.

If you cast your mind back to those dark days of Randy Orton’s career in 2009, you’ll remember that he constantly lost to ‘The Animal’ which included several Championship losses to his former teammate. I fear the same fate will befall Seth Rollins beginning at Royal Rumble. This my friend, before we wrap up this segment, is how I see 2015 padding out. John Cena will somehow find a way to keep his position as number one contender and defeat Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble. Seth Rollins will then cash in on Cena and defeat him for the title only for Roman Reigns to return and win the Royal Rumble match setting up a WrestleMania XXXI main event filled with new blood for a change.

Seth Rollins will lose to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XXXI just months after winning the gold, thus hurting his reputation and his image. Like Randy Orton, Seth Rollins will be sacrificed to help Reigns rise and WWE will be left trying to pick up the pieces of his career until they either abandon the pursuit or somehow cobble together what’s left. This is how WWE should book Seth Rollins in 2015 to preserve his character and future after losing the title. Keep everything up until WrestleMania XXXI but have him retain the gold against Reigns, with Roman only just losing to him on events after the big one. Seth Rollins should then lose the gold to Reigns at SummerSlam 2015 which would allow him a massive reign and some credibility.

It’s so important that WWE preserve Seth Rollins at TLC and in 2015. His image is everything and the future of the company rests on his shoulders. If WWE are seen to bury such a talent just to advance John Cena once again then how can we trust them to do what’s best for the future of their company again? There is more than anyone knows riding on this match and result. If WWE balls it up again, there’ll be nowhere else to turn.

Winners Prediction: Seth Rollins

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Ladder Match

(c) Luke Harper vs Dolph Ziggler

I truly believed that when Dolph Ziggler had his patchy series with The Miz over the WWE Intercontinental Championship, that WWE didn’t have a clue as to what to do with the man whom everyone had taken to heart. After all, who could blame me though I wasn’t the only one, because not only did WWE flit the Intercontinental Championship between the pair with reckless uncaring which didn’t help the image of the title but it didn’t seem to care about either man or how the public viewed them. The Miz wasn’t as great a concern as Dolph Ziggler because there really was nothing that he could do in the company which would make him matter anymore, but Dolph Ziggler was a different case altogether.

Every WWE pay-per view event is planned at least six months in advance as much as that is hard to believe. Which means that when WWE booked Dolph Ziggler to lose to The Miz and exchange the title back and forth in a pointless series, they knew that they’d be pushing as they did at Survivor Series and afterwards as well. So I’ll ask the question which is on you’re minds. What did WWE believe Dolph Ziggler’s image would be after suffering such losses to meaningless stars? If WWE were truly behind Dolph Ziggler’s rise to stardom wouldn’t they have either allowed him to bypass the Intercontinental Championship altogether and face someone higher up in the company or had him successfully defend the Intercontinental Championship until TLC which would have given him and the title a greater aura.

I’ll give WWE credit. They managed to effectively include the belt in the Survivor Series main event which did it some good, but just think how much better it would have been had the title been around the waist of the sole survivor which would have elevated it much more. Had the Intercontinental Championship been seen to have been thrust ahead of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship which hasn’t been defended since September which ignores every rule, but it would have been able to take main event status at TLC...and Stairs without hesitation. The good it would have done everyone involved would have been beneficial to all.

I didn’t agree with Dolph Ziggler’s loss of the title to Luke Harper on weekly television. A championship change should occur only on pay-per view where it can be witnessed by as many people as possible. Dolph Ziggler needed to look strong and so the best course of booking action would have been to have him retain the gold from SummerSlam to TLC and then have him lose it to Luke Harper in what is sure to be one of the best matches of the night. That way, fans would have begun to believe that WWE were serious about Ziggler’s run into the main event because losing one piece of gold to acquire another is what we’ve come to expect.

Do I believe that Dolph Ziggler will achieve his main event dream once again? No. Not because he hasn’t got the talent because he has, but because WWE have at least four more wrestlers they’re more bothered about than him in 2015. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt have priority over Dolph Ziggler as far as Vince McMahon is concerned and then there’s John Cena and Brock Lesnar to focus on not to mention Sting, Triple H, the returning Daniel Bryan as well as The Rock’s talked about retirement match which will all have priority over someone like Dolph Ziggler as WrestleMania rolls around. So where does Dolph fit in? Well that is a hard question to answer.

There’s no place for him in the WrestleMania season which means he’ll have to wait until after the event. Would a Dolph Ziggler vs Seth Rollins feud take off? Maybe! WWE could turn Ziggler heel but it wouldn’t make much of a difference, we’d treat him as a face anyway. Which means WWE would have to actively supply heels for him. I just can’t seem them going to those lengths when they have so many ready main event talents climbing ahead. It’s going to be a tricky period for Dolph Ziggler but if he can weather it then maybe there’s hope for him in 2015. But like always, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Luke Harper has been a revelation in his singles role despite my early forecasts that he wouldn’t make it outside The Wyatt Family. For those of you who follow this blog religiously, you’ll have heard me state that WWE wouldn’t treat him as a serious star and in a few months he would be headlining Superstars. I’ll retract that statement for now but I still believe that even though Harper is the Intercontinental Champion, WWE won’t have the guts to push him any further. Why? He doesn’t have the look that Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins does and he certainly doesn’t have the physique for WWE to take him seriously as a top tier star.

He’s slightly portly and though has a tremendous wrestling physique still won’t feature heavily until Vince McMahon steps down. Vince doesn’t want someone like Harper to be the face of his company when John Cena and others are much more attractive. It’s shallow and pathetic but it’s how McMahon operates. Which is why this is how WWE should and indeed must push him until a space becomes available higher, or Triple H decides to take matters into his own hands and make him a true star which he looks like now. So here we go. Though it won’t be a popular decision with many on the night, Luke Harper should defeat Dolph Ziggler to retain the title but do it so Ziggler doesn’t suffer any.

As Dolph Ziggler climbs the ladder to success, he should be halted by his next feud which hopefully will be with Bray Wyatt and plunged into darkness. When the lights come back on, Bray Wyatt should be knelt in the ring in an attempt to distract Ziggler which would allow Harper to nail a sit down powerbomb from the top of the ladder which would be the move of the year. Harper should grab the gold and be booked in the coming months against real competition who can make him look good and who he can exploit his talents against. If Luke Harper was to run through a string of top class faces he would look unbeatable and when someone did finally defeated him for the gold it would enhance that person and the title two fold.

The future can be bright for Luke Harper even if he’s not following the buzzards anymore. But it will take a tremendous amount of effort on WWE’s behalf and we know how they feel about putting in month’s worth of effort with younger stars. Like with Dolph Ziggler, I wouldn’t hold my breath with Luke Harper’s push but its possible and if it comes off then it could be unforgettable and the making of a fresher and different future for the company to embrace. If you think they’re going into it willingly though, then you may just want to take a look out of your window and if you scrunch your eyes up really hard...you may see pigs flying.

Winners Prediction: Luke Harper

WWE United States Championship Match

(c) Rusev vs Jack Swagger

To me, this bout which rehashes a feud which failed to set the wrestling world alight in the summer smacks of sheer desperation and ill planning by WWE which should have been thought about and re-planned with every eventuality covered. By rights, for those who haven’t been reading this blog you naughty people, Rusev’s opponent should have been John Cena and he should have been on the way to stardom when he comprehensively defeated the leader of the Cenation in what surely would have been a gripping Tables Match. That would have been the correct course of action which then would have signalled a John Cena victory at some point in the future.

However, that has now gone Pete Tong as we say in the UK because Roman Reigns isn’t yet ready to step back into the ring and take his place in a feud against Seth Rollins. So WWE have done what WWE usually do best and improvise with everything that it’s had a knock on effect to. I know I’m not a wrestling booker and all I am is a humble blogger and un-commissioned writer, but come on people this really isn’t a difficult job. WWE’s even less so as far as I can see. When it comes to improvisation and things not working out as you’d wish all you really have to do is approach things with a level head and not panic when someone goes down with an injury and isn’t back in the game by the time you need him. As far as I’m concerned, WWE have really dropped the ball here and set Rusev back six months when after Survivor Series he was ready to take the giant leap into the unknown of WWE’s main event.

So, what would have been the correct course of action to take regarding Rusev at the December extravaganza I hear you ask? Well allow me to enlighten you my dear followers, because that is just how generous I am. It should have begun at Survivor Series before Rusev was eliminated by countout. Amongst an affray, Rusev should have struck John Cena with a power move and pinned him to send Cena packing. That would have gotten the attention of most fans and really put Rusev on the map. Especially if John Cena had have come back later in the match and brawled with Rusev to make sure he was eliminated from the bout. That would have been the perfect setup for a match at TLC...and Stairs, especially if Rusev had have continuously demolished John Cena in the post-Survivor Series period.

A Rusev domination over the face of WWE would have been the perfect weapon with which to build his unbeatable aura which would in turn have given us hope that maybe WWE aren’t concentrated on protection John Cena anymore. In turn we may have brought the WWE Network in our droves just to see history be made and John Cena to lose yet another match after weeks of beatings and attacks in which he wasn’t good enough to get the best for Rusev. Regardless of what the mindless John Cena followers believe, he cannot continue to be pushed mercilessly at the expense of others whilst men like Rusev are stuck with wrestlers like Jack Swagger who have tried to make something of a feud with him before and failed. Something has to change.

There is no doubt that Rusev has a great future ahead of him in WWE but its not going to involve the WWE United States Championship or Jack Swagger as an opponent. It’s nothing against Swagger but he’s sunk so far once again that requesting his release wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I know that he’s hanging onto the hope that WWE will push him hard again but it’s not going to happen now and that is something which he has to get used to. Not everyone can make it and Jack Swagger is one of those people. I don’t doubt that the title around Rusev’s waist would be better around Swagger’s because it’s doing nothing for its current holder. But it won’t happen at TLC because that means Swagger would have to defeat his Bulgarian foe and WWE are saving that honour for John Cena in 2015.

So what’s the best thing we can hope for out of this bout? As far as I can see, a good bout is the only thing we can hope for. Something better than their inferior SummerSlam flag match would be welcome at least that way both men could end the year on a high even if one them isn’t going to progress further than his current level. In short, this is just a means to get Jack Swagger back onto pay-per view and bide Rusev’s time until something bigger and better is fashioned for him.

Winners Prediction: Rusev

WWE Divas Championship Match

(c) Nikki Bella vs A.J Lee

I have heard that people were genuinely surprised when Nikki Bella defeated A.J Lee for the WWE Divas Championship at Survivor Series. Well the question I would ask is why? As far as my memory serves me, I did warn you this was on its way and that WWE had big plans for Nikki Bella which will eventually end in her defending the gold against sister Brie Bella when the latter sees the light and puts her career on the line against Nikki just to set herself free. WWE telegraphed this for us when Nikki turned on Brie at SummerSlam and it’s the path they’ve been walking ever since. So when Nikki Bella pinned A.J Lee in November, no one who knows anything about wrestling should have been surprised.

With that all said, I really don’t know what WWE are hoping to get out of this feud and it’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard of since C.M Punk announced that he would enter UFC and follow in the footsteps of Brock Lesnar. Whilst Punk is doing so in the hope that he can secure a wrestling contract like Brock Lesnar’s somewhere down the line and because he knows that if it works he’ll be worth millions to Vince McMahon when he does decide to return to the ring, I really can’t see what the positive outcome will be in this situation with his wife and Nikki Bella. Let’s take a look at the facts and see if you can spot something I’m missing.

Change has to happen; I think on that we are all agreed. But to take one of the best female wrestlers there has been in this industry and make her job to someone who doesn’t have the wrestling talent to lick her boots is just plain dumb. I know WWE have done so just to build the feud between the sisters but look what will have to happen before Brie Bella captures the gold. Firstly, WWE are planning the next switch for WrestleMania unless they change their minds in the meantime and then anything could happen. But going on what the company are planning right now, then they’re going to have to find some way of keeping the title and the woman in question relevant for another four months. Not to mention the feud which she’s in with her sister.

Do you want to sit and watch Nikki Bella defend the title for another four months whilst warring with some of the worst talent WWE has? I know I don’t. Whilst in the meantime wrestlers such as A.J Lee and Paige are dumped into the faceless women’s roster in order to tread water. If WWE are going to keep this rolling then they’re going to have to begin Brie’s slow revenge in January and just hope it has enough steam to last until April. The perfect way to do this would be to have Brie once again aid her sister at TLC before being ordered to administer a beat down of A.J Lee after the match. Then, frenemy Paige can race to the ring to save A.J and the pair can begin a quest to battle The Bella Twins which has legs until WrestleMania.

The Bella Twins vs Paige and A.J Lee at Royal Rumble would be a classy tag team bout prior to the Royal Rumble Match and alongside Dolph Ziggler vs Luke Harper for the Intercontinental Championship and John Cena vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship would be one of the most solid undercard in the event’s history. Eventually, Paige could turn on A.J at the exact same moment Brie turns on Nikki and then challenge her sister to a career vs title bout on the grandest stage of them all. It’s a natural and logical avenue which may give the most inadequate Bella time to up her game and cover her flaws. Other than that, what else could we hope for?

Without Paige and A.J Lee as her opponent, Nikki is going to be given wrestlers live Eva Marie and Layla who can’t do anything to cover her flaws, or worse, we’re going to see match such as Nikki Bella vs Summer Rae on pay-per view events which is going to simultaneously sink the title after all the hard work A.J and Paige did to restore its reputation as well as the interest in her feud with Bella heading into a New Year.

Winners Prediction: A.J Lee

Steel Stairs Match

Eric Rowan vs Big Show

The first question on my mind when WWE announced this was ‘What the hell is a Steel Stairs Match?’ Of course, the answer is very simple and somewhat pointless. Big Show and Eric Rowan will do battle in a normal bout upon which the use of the ring steps will be completely legal. I’m bet you’re glad you waited for this now aren’t you? Because what WWE have done here very carefully scraped the bottom of the barrel so dry that they’ve actually hit desperation for match types. Who the bloody hell wants to see these two fight and especially in such a poor stipulation bout? Big Show is terrible in almost every other match, what makes WWE believe that he will be better here? The answer is that WWE have no other heels to pit Rowan against and that is where they will fall short again in 2015.

The outlook for Eric Rowan wasn’t and still isn’t bright. His participation at Survivor Series was as good as pointless and just looked like WWE needed something to do with him and someone to replace Sheamus with. There was no real substance behind it which is why his inclusion was met with cold indifference. We’re clever people. We can see when someone is going to work out and when someone isn’t and the majority of us can plainly see that out of Luke Harper and Eric Rowan, it’ll be the latter who gets pushed into the shadows before being released. Eric Rowan just doesn’t have what it takes to be a star in WWE and is in a similar vein to The Highlanders, Trevor Murdoch and others who came and failed to conquer.

Look at the possibilities. What is there for Eric Rowan to accomplish? He’s never going to capture singles gold which means almost every feud he competes in will be pointless, which leaves tag team competition. Eric Rowan is good when he has someone to cover his flaws and that is why he should have stayed with Bray Wyatt. Some wrestlers are better when shielded by others and this was the case with Rowan. I don’t doubt that WWE will soon book him in a feud with Luke Harper, but that won’t go anywhere when WWE realise Harper is the better of the two.

I fear that this feud with Big Show is the best Eric Rowan can expect from WWE. After this ends, it’s all downhill from here. He’ll be a regular on Superstars before April and released before Christmas 2015. Some people just aren’t meant for wrestling stardom and that’s okay. Unless Eric Rowan can find a niche and quickly then he’s doomed. It really is as simple as that.

I would go into a great big philosophical debate about Big Show but I believe that everything that could be said has been said. He’s yet again hogging spotlight that he doesn’t need and can’t do anything with. Big Show is a relic in wrestling and it shows. If anyone can suggest something WWE could do with Big Show which I cannot refute then I’ll concede I was wrong in public. You know where to get hold of me; the link is at the top of this very page. Until someone can point out where I’m going wrong with Big Show then I have no interest in talking about him or watching him compete. And neither do I believe does anyone else.

Winners Prediction: Eric Rowan

WWE Tag Team Championship Match

(c) Mizdow vs The Usos

Believe it or not, WWE do actually have meetings to plan these title changes out and rarely decree it on the spur on the moment even though that is how it seems on a weekly basis. When The Usos lost their WWE Tag Team Championships to Goldust and stardust at Night of Champions, it was a bad move on that I think we can all agree. However, when Goldust and Stardust then lost the titles to Mizdow at Survivor Series it was just a completely idiotic move on everyone’s behalf. Once day, I would like to meet the person who believes these type of results are a good idea because as far as we can all see, The Miz and Damien Sandow as WWE Tag Team Champions benefits no one.

Jimmy and Jey Uso did such good things with the tag gold, from their excellent series with Luke Harper and Eric Rowan, to their main card worth fatal four way match against The Real Americans, Los Matadores and Rybaxel at WrestleMania XXX and even their series with Goldust and Stardust was very good in most places. In The Usos, WWE have a reliable and talented team who need protecting from the politics and rubbish which the promotion put their talent through on a weekly basis. I know there are some people out there who aren’t in favour of long title reigns but for what The Usos did for the gold which was previously treading water in no man’s land then they at least deserved the gesture of WWE allowing them to break Demolition’s record.

I’ve been thinking on The Usos a lot whilst writing this blog and what would have been best for them. And this is what I have come up with. Scratch the title loss to Stardust and Goldust and pretend for a moment it never happened. WWE had many other options when perusing the idea of keeping The Usos as Champions and didn’t need to take the titles away from them when they could have kept them as champions and allowed them to take on all comers. The Usos defending against the other three teams at Survivor Series would have been another excellent addition to their legacy and they could even have made something of this bout if they had something to fight for, namely another excellent entry into the title reign.

For the good of the company, WWE should have sanctioned The Usos to retain the gold until WrestleMania when they had a great and thrilling team to supplant them. In January 2015, before the Royal Rumble, WWE could have promoted an NXT tag team or two NXT regulars who deserve the promotion to the main roster to begin a storyline against The Usos which would culminate at WrestleMania. By the time April came around, The Usos would have been phenomenon’s and should this other team have beaten other notable teams on pay-per view and television they would also be favourites to take the gold. It would help WWE get across the youth element of WrestleMania XXXI which should be priority. The Usos vs a new team who they’d had a thrilling bout against at either Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber would help draw more numbers for the event. People love Jimmy and Jey, WWE need to capitalize on that.

Hands up all those who believe that The Miz and Damien Sandow have a future in WWE? And then hands up for all those people who believe that handing The Miz and Damien Sandown tag team gold was a good idea and actually helped the titles flourish and keep the vital image given to them by The Usos? Anyone? I thought not. I really don’t know what WWE can do with The Miz and Sandow and their victory at Survivor Series was sheer desperation to make us believe that the pair still has a future with the company. I really can’t sit here and tell you what WWE should do with the pair because all avenues have been exhausted. I truly believe this is their last with the company which could and should have made them stars.

Winners Prediction: The Usos

Tables, Ladders, Chairs...and Stairs Kickoff Match

The New Day vs Goldust and Stardust

Contrary to popular belief, I do agree with WWE’s decision to place Kofi Kingston, Big E. and Xavier Woods in a team together because let’s face it, they were going nowhere separately. After his excellent feud with Rusev, Big E. faded away from WWE’s pay-per view scene and the company didn’t seem to care about his career, willing to leave him to rot in the under-card. That was a shame because Langston could do so much more than WWE were having him do and he proved that this year against Bad News Barrett and the aforementioned Rusev. Big E. isn’t perfect, but he certainly has the potential to be big if WWE play their cards right with this team.

Putting aside Xavier Woods, who is by far the weakest link in this team, Kofi Kingston is still one of the most exciting prospects WWE has on its books even though they’ve chosen to forget he even exists. His skill and athleticism are almost unmatched and though he could have been a killer heel on his own, this partnership could spell out great things for him in the future even though tag team don’t seem to have a great shelf life in WWE in 2014 or as we’re talking about, in 2015. At some point The New Day will split, but not before WWE have the opportunity to do something special with them.

For the moment, I’m going to ignore Goldust and Stardust because I’m tired of saying that they don’t work as a team or as heels. So as WWE have chosen to ignore what we’re telling them then I will ignore their efforts to make the Rhodes brothers stars. Instead, because we don’t get a chance to do this often, I want to look at the opportunities that await the new team on the block and they are huge if WWE are really committed to making Kingston and Langston stars. Though it may not look much now, both men are starting on the road to something really special and now with The Usos battling The Miz and Damien Sandow for the WWE Tag Team Championships there is a massive chance to make The New Day stars in one foul swoop and this is how it should be done.

As this bout will go on first, WWE must put The New Day over Goldust and Stardust and then allow The Usos to regain the WWE Tag Team Championships later in the show. After that, in 2015 they can initiate a face vs face tag team feud over the titles in which The New Day will narrowly lose a thrilling encounter to Jimmy and Jey at the Royal Rumble. Following the Royal Rumble, WWE could begin to turn The New Day heel off the back of their failure to capture the titles as faces and that being good guys hasn’t gotten them anywhere in the past. It would be a logical heel turn for both Kingston and Langston and a believable one for those who have followed their careers up to now. The pair could convey a heel aura perfectly as they must have so much pent-up frustration in them over the way they have been used previously.

At Elimination Chamber, WWE could alter plans and for once put the effort into their doubles division to really make them stars and instead of booking just one Elimination Chamber Match book two and have the first fought over the WWE Tag Team Championships with The Usos defending the titles against The New Day, Stardust and Goldust and The Miz and Damien Sandow. Beginning with a four way brawl until one partner is released as usual from the chamber, it would be an unforgettable bout which would do the doubles division some good. The New Day could look like winning the gold only to fall at the final hurdle once again and then turn heel in the aftermath destroying The Usos which would set up a bout for WrestleMania which people would actually be interested in.

This could be WWE’s best chance to reinvigorate their tag team division and they should grasp it with both hands. If The New Day are booked as real contenders and not buried in a feud such as the one suggested, then WWE will reap the rewards. For everyone involved, but mostly for Kofi Kingston and Big E. their new partnership really could spell out a New Day.

Winners Prediction: The New Day

So there we are, the final event of 2014 is upon us and I think it’s safe to say that for the most part, it’s been a decent year for WWE where big events were concerned. We’ve seen the end of The Undertaker’s streak, The rise and fall of Daniel Bryan and The Shield, a fairytale story come true, John Cena take his most comprehensive beating at the hands of Brock Lesnar and the debut of Sting. It’s not been a bad old year has it? Considering some of the previous years we’ve had, then we really have been spoilt with what has been on offer.

2015 looks bright for WWE if they can just get the hang of pushing new talent instead of making them wait in queue behind John Cena for their shot. This time last year, we were ready to crown a new and if you believe WWE the first WWE World Heavyweight Champion in history; three hundred and sixty five days later we’ve got our fingers crossed that the ascension of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt and eventually Roman Reigns will come full circle. This is time last year, WWE told us to believe in The Shield. In 2015, we hope that we can still count all three of them as the next evolution of professional wrestling.

This is the future my friends. And the future is now.

Onwards and upwards...