As were just hours away from the fourth annual TLC event (at the time of writing), Id like to call for an end to the gimmick pay-per-view. Now before I get started, this isnt going to be a nostalgic article calling for the return of pay-per-views such as Backlash, Judgment Day and No Mercy. Although I enjoyed the Attitude Era, I realise that time has passed. One flaw that Ive identified in WWEs product in recent years is predictability. As a writer, I know the importance of keeping the audience asking questions and WWE simply just do not do this anymore. Pro-wrestling is storytelling in more ways than one. The wrestlers tell a story when they are inside the squared circle and in the age of sports-entertainment, theres usually an even larger story taking place outside of the ring. In recent years weve seen certain feuds exhausted, the same matches each week on Raw and very few surprises. The most exciting moments seem to be when new faces emerge such as The Nexus and The Shield. Its good to see guys other than John Cena getting a chance in the title picture just like Ryback has recently. It makes WWE fresh and interesting and allows pay-per-views to become intriguing instead of just a re-hash of what came just four weeks previous. But for me, one massive contribution to the predictability of WWE at the moment is gimmick pay-per-views; Elimination Chamber, Extreme Rules, Money in the Bank, Night of Champions, Hell in a Cell and TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs. Prior to these pay-per-views being introduced in 2009, any matches could take place at any time. After the introduction of these events, certain matches are in most cases limited to a specific event. In the past, the fact that these matches could take place at any time increased the element of surprise and they became more of a novelty. Instead, theyre now dictated by an event on the calendar, not by how appropriate they are for a certain time in a feud. In addition to this, the matches lose their respective value. For example, the Hell in a Cell match has always been representative of the end of a feud. Due to the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, this is no longer the case. A Hell in a Cell match could arrive whether the feud has matured to this point or not. For me, the TLC matches have always showcased a certain group of talent on the roster, just like the Money in the Bank match did at WrestleMania. This is no longer the case and these matches are less enjoyable as a result. Sure, the audience know what theyre going to get when it comes to these pay-per-views. They know that theyre going to see the annual Money in the Bank matches; they know that all championships are going to be on the line in one night and they know that theyre going to see the famous Hell in a Cell structure well before storylines and feuds are even set up. This isnt a good thing. To me, matches should be set up around storylines and feuds. At the moment, its the storylines and feuds that are being set up around whatever match types are coming up at the next pay-per-view. For example, after being unable to regain his title against the Big Show, Sheamus attacked him with a steel chair. How coincidental that such an attack should occur with TLC just around the corner; conveniently setting up a Chairs match between the pair. This brings me right back to the flaw of predictability. In this case, and many others, the audience are one-step ahead of the writers, knowing exactly whats going to happen based on whichever pay-per-view is around the corner. When watching Survivor Series last month, its inevitable that the audience realised that in a months time, it was likely that theyd see the same matches in a Tables, Ladders or Chairs related contest a month later. Not only does this put the audience ahead of the writers; it just encourages lazy booking. Unfortunately, the schedule for 2013 has already been announced and we're in for another year of predictable booking because of these events. WWE need to do themselves a favour and get back to a schedule that does not dictate what matches should take place at a certain event. Encourage the audience to ask questions and increase the element of surprise. At the moment, theres little surprise at all.