The Raw-exclusive pay-per-view WWE TLC 2017 is this Sunday, and the event is headlined by the return of one of the top stables in WWE history.
The Shield is back and set to battle in the WWE TLC 2017 main event, but the rest of the card features compelling matches as well. And with no Universal Championship match, that makes the rest of the card even more important.
The current card for TLC features The Shield battling The Miz, The Bar, Braun Strowman, and Kane in a handicap TLC match; Finn Balor’s Demon persona battling Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail persona in a battle of alter egos; Kalisto defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Enzo Amore; The Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher facing Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann; Alexa Bliss defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Mickie James; and Asuka making her main card pay-per-view debut against Emma.
The event could likely add a match or two to the main card, but the current card features several intriguing matchups and storylines that could make TLC a successful pay-per-view for the red brand. The key storylines heading into TLC are some of the most impactful storylines in the WWE right now and will be on full showcase this Sunday.
Let’s take a look at the three biggest storylines heading into WWE TLC 2017.
Raw. Photo by WWE.com
3. Enzo Amore’s Newfound Allies
The biggest storyline to date in the history of 205 Live has been the recent developments between Enzo Amore and the rest of the cruiserweight division. Enzo’s addition to 205 Live has made the division feel much more important than it has felt up to this point and his new heelish ways have shaken things up.
But Enzo’s on-screen character had alienated the entire division to the point where he had no allies whatsoever. Kalisto made his 205 Live debut in recent weeks and defeated Enzo to win the Cruiserweight Championship and is set to defend his title against Enzo at TLC. But a recent development might play out in a big way this Sunday.
Enzo has had the support of several of the cruiserweight division’s top heels in recent weeks and they have laid waste to several of the division’s top babyfaces, including the Cruiserweight Champion Kalisto. All great heels have seemingly had allies in the past, and Enzo now has several of his own that could greatly affect the Cruiserweight Championship match at TLC.
It’s easy to assume some type of interference by Enzo’s newfound allies at TLC that could help him win back the Cruiserweight Championship. The WWE has been playing hot potato with some of their titles in recent memory and seeing Enzo win back the Cruiserweight Championship at TLC could fit that mold.
205 Live’s intrigue continues to build and another chapter could be written at TLC by the heelish ways of a Certified G.
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2. What Tricks Do The Demon and Sister Abigail Have up Their Sleeve?
One of the most up and down feuds the WWE has seen this year has been the feud between Finn Balor and Bray Wyatt. Two of Raw’s most underutilized superstars have been entangled in a hit or miss feud, but it will come to a seemingly hellish end at TLC.
After defeating Wyatt at No Mercy, Balor seemed to finally be finished with the Eater of Worlds. But Wyatt had other ideas and stated that Sister Abigail was alive and dying to meet Balor. This immediately got fans wondering what the WWE would do and another promo by Wyatt on Raw really shook things up.
His face turned to Sister Abigail form and his voice was distorted in a creepier than usual promo. Balor responded on the most recent edition of Raw by saying his demon is dying to meet Sister Abigail. And at TLC, we will see The Demon battle Sister Abigail in a battle of demonic alter egos. But what unexpected twists can we expect to see from this match?
A match of this level with major character-driven forces has to have some type of twist or turn for it to be anything special. And with the creepiness Wyatt has displayed in recent weeks, it’s hard to tell what we can expect to see from him in Sister Abigail form at TLC. The same can be said for Balor’s Demon persona as well and this has the feel of a final showdown between Balor and Wyatt.
A normal match could work if done properly, but with The Demon and Sister Abigail in the mix, something out of the ordinary needs to happen to wrap up a long-running, hit or miss feud.
WWE.com
1. The Shield’s Reunion Facing a Big Obstacle
The recently-reunited trio of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose has already made a big impact on Raw. For the first time in over three years, The Shield is a prominent force on Monday nights again and is looking to pick up right where the group left off.
But standing in its way is five superstars who look to thwart The Shield’s comeback. The biggest driving force behind The Shield’s reunion was The Miz and his actions and he has an abundance of help in his plans to prove The Shield is a thing of the past.
With the help of Sheamus and Cesaro, Braun Strowman, and the returning Kane, the deck is stacked against the Hounds of Justice at TLC. The Big Red Machine’s return on the most recent edition of Raw was particularly surprising and it adds another roadblock in The Shield’s way on Sunday. With the pieces in place in this match, fans should expect a great match.
The Shield did great work together in its heyday and with the opponents involved in this match, expecting more great work is natural. Especially when taking into consideration tables, ladders, and chairs are in the mix. The creativity in this match should be excellent as well and the WWE universe should expect some big spots.
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The Shield is at a numbers disadvantage, but it’s hard to imagine the Hounds of Justice coming up short in this one, even against five of Raw’s top heels.