WWE TLC 2013: Match Card And Predictions For PPV, Including John Cena And Randy Orton Unification Match

The most recent edition of “Monday Night Raw” featured one of the best endings this year. The show couldn’t have come at a better time, with the final WWE Pay-Per-view set to get underway on Sunday night in Houston, Texas.

TLC will feature what the WWE is billing as one of the biggest matches of all-time. The World Heavyweight and WWE titles will be unified as John Cena and Randy Orton face off in the main event. COO Triple H has guaranteed that the night will end with one undisputed champion.

Orton has been dubbed the “face of the WWE” by The Authority, but the go-home show indicated that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon could soon relinquish their support of the WWE champion. “Raw” ended with several current and former WWE superstars exchanging blows, as CM Punk got into it with Orton and Triple H, and Daniel Bryan delivered his finisher to Shawn Michaels. The scrum ended with Orton inadvertently knocking out Stephanie, which led to her husband hitting Orton with a Pedigree.

Other than the unification match, the Intercontinental Title and Divas Championship will be defended. The match card also features multiple handicap matches.

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match)

Since both championship belts will be suspended above a ladder, there has been speculation the two superstars will simply grab the other wrestler’s title, continuing the feud into the Royal Rumble. However, The Authority’s insistence that there will definitely be one unified champion makes this scenario less likely. One theory that has been suggested by some, including Wade Keller of Pro Wrestling Torch, has Triple H ending the night with both belts. If both wrestlers become incapacitated for a short time, it’s conceivable that The COO could enter the ring, considering he’s promised there will be one champion. Doing so would likely set up a scenario at WrestleMania 30 where Cena, Daniel Bryan or CM Punk would win back the title.

Prediction: Triple H

Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family (3-on-1 Handicap Match)

For the past few weeks, Bray Wyatt has been insisting that Bryan join the Wyatt Family. Bryan is the most over person in the WWE, so there is no chance of him turning heel anytime soon. The odds are stacked against him, but Bryan’s still as popular as ever, no matter how poorly the WWE may have handled his time as the WWE champion. There’s a good chance Bryan will find a way to beat either Luke Harper or Erick Rowan.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan

CM Punk vs. The Shield (3-on-1 Handicap Match)

For the past month, there have been subtle hints that The Shield could soon break up. On Monday, there was blatant dissension in the group, when Dean Ambrose got into a disagreement with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins for not helping him in a match. Punk has already stated that he expects to lose, and Reigns’ recent rise makes it hard to believe he won’t end the match with a spear. However, this could be the beginning of the end for the best stable the WWE has seen in recent years.

Prediction: The Shield

Divas Champion AJ lee vs. Natalya

AJ has held the tile for six months, but she hasn’t been booked like a dominant champ, of late, losing multiple matches on TV since the last PPV. WWE continues to promote “Total Divas,” and it might be time that a cast member wins the belt. Brie Bella was unable to take win the title, but AJ’s current losing streak indicates that the WWE may be ready for a new Divas champ.

Prediction: Natalya

Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston vs. Damien Sandow

Sandow won the title shot a week ago when he defeated Dolph Ziggler on “Raw.” Langston appears to be in the middle of a slow push towards the top of the card, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to lose the title just a few weeks after winning it for the first time.

Prediction: Big E Langston

Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango (Kickoff Match)

The match was put together with no build, simply announced as a pre-show match for TLC. The babyface usually goes over before PPV’s, with the idea that it will encourage buys. Much like with Sandow, the WWE doesn’t seem to have much direction with Ziggler. The two are probably the most popular midcard wrestlers, but were quickly dropped from the title picture, once they got their shot.

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler