Injury Report
Finn Balor is not currently injured, but did miss Raw this week due to illness. He was expected to be fine for TLC on Sunday, but the last word prior to publication is that he is not yet clear. If he’s unable to go on Sunday, Drew McIntyre will be credited with beating him down ahead of the event.
Dakota Kai is being evaluated this week for a possible torn ACL.
Kevin Owens is projected to be healthy for his return to the ring around February. That said, depending on what else is going on, the company may hold off on KO until Mania. Then again, too many more injuries/illnesses and they may need his star power sooner rather than later.
Another superstar primed for return is Sin Cara. He was last seen battling Andrade “Cien” Almas months ago, but needed time away for knee surgery. Reports have him cleared to work and training at the PC to get back in the groove.
Mixed Match Challenge
With Finn Balor off TV this week, Apollo Crews replaced him as Bayley’s MMC partner. How much credit can the eventual winners really claim given how many substitutions have been necessary this season?
Dec 16: TLC
PPV weekend is now upon us, and surprisingly many of the rumors point to some gold changing hands this weekend. Let’s preview what is scheduled (and what may still change between now and Sunday).
WWE Championship: Daniel Bryan© vs AJ Styles- Any time 2 guys of this caliber share the ring it’s worth paying attention, but expect Bryan to retain and continue his heel turn momentum.
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch© vs Charlotte Flair vs Asuka (TLC Match)- It’s still unclear if Lynch is 100% healed from the broken face she suffered before Survivor Series, but “The Man” herself swears she’ll be fighting this Sunday. Many skeptical fans fear Asuka was only added to the mix so that she can eat the pin without hurting the momentum of Lynch or Flair. That said, there are also plenty of rumblings that we may get a surprise title change from this match. IF that is indeed the case, I say put the strap on Asuka. The crowd loves her in spite of the poor booking she’s suffered through over the last year. Why not elevate her to championship status and leave TLC with 3 mega-star women instead of only 2?
Raw Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey© vs Nia Jax- Don’t expect the “Face-Breaker” to dethrone the “Baddest Woman on the Planet” when Rousey still has so much unfinished business with the women of SDL.
Intercontinental Title Match: Seth Rollins© vs Dean Ambrose- With Reigns health related hiatus and other injuries/illnesses plaguing the roster, Rollins is clearly moving into position as the top guy in the company. Before he can move into the Universal Title picture and a potential showdown with Brock Lesnar he first has unfinished business with his former Shield brother Ambrose. Whether is happens this Sunday or in a rematch later on, Ambrose should be walking away from this feud with the IC title so that Rollins can move higher up the ladder.
TLC Match: Braun Strowman vs Baron Corbin (TLC Match)- Strowman has missed the last couple of weeks dealing with an elbow issue and may not be 100% healed for Sunday. Most recent reports do suggest that 100% healed or not, “the Monster Among Men” WILL be in attendance at TLC. Even if he can’t work a full match, they could easily stage a squash angle where he dispatches of Corbin quickly and easily.
Smackdown Tag Title Triple Threat: The Bar© vs The Usos vs The New Day- Possibly the best, and most protected, tag teams on the entire roster across all brands. Unfortunately, because they’ve been the only teams presented strongly and mixing it up with each other in various combinations for some time now, the very idea of seeing them go at it again is sadly tiresome. There is some speculation the titles could change hands here, but does it even matter at this point?
Finn Balor vs Drew McIntyre- As reported in the injury section, Balor is dealing with some sort of contagious illness and may not be cleared for Sunday. If Finn is indeed unavailable, expect McIntyre to continue his own upward climb by taking credit for removing his foe physically on TV recently.
Elias vs Bobby Lashley (Ladder Match w/guitar hanging over the ring)- Elias’ face run is still in its infancy and could really use the momentum of a win here.
Natalya vs Ruby Riott (tables match)- While I love that Riott is finally being given something a little meatier to work with, I’m never a big fan of using dead parents in angles like this.
Randy Orton vs Rey Mysterio (Chairs match)- We’ve been down this road too many ties before, and I can’t say that I’m overly invested in revisiting the feud again
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Buddy Murphy© vs Cedric Alexander- Sadly, I have not kept up with 205 as well I should have, so I don’t have a lot to offer here. At the very least is should be an entertaining bout considering the men involved.
Final of the Mixed match Challenge: R-Truth & Carmella vs Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox (winners get entry #30 in their respective Royal Rumbles)- I fully admit that I have not watched more than 2 matches of the MMC. That said, given all of the participant substitutions that have been necessitated by injuries and illnesses, I’m happy to see that the final 4 participants are actually superstars who have been in the tournament since it started.
WWE Week on USA
As has become something of a holiday tradition, USA Network has programmed a full week of WWE related content for prime time next week. The Fox Smackdown transition next fall likely means this is the last year they will be able to do something like this all on one network.
Monday Dec 17- Monday Night Raw (fallout from TLC)
Tuesday Dec 18- Smackdown Live (fallout from TLC)
Wednesday Dec 19- New Day’s WWE 2018 Pancake Powered New Year Super Spectacular (a collection of WWE highlights from the year hosted by the New Day)
Thursday Dec 20- Tribute to the Troops (the annual celebration of our military, filmed at Fort Hood a few weeks ago)
Friday Dec 21-San Andreas (2015 film starring future WWE Hall of Famer Dwayne The Rock Johnson)
Additionally, there will be a marathon of Miz & Mrs starting Thursday night after the Troops special, and USA’s Talking Stoop segments will feature interviews with WWE Superstars throughout the week.
