WWE TLC Preview 2011 - CM Punk Will Retain, Triple H To Sledgehammer Nash

Tonight, the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore hosts the third edition of WWE's themed TLC PPV, a match concept that first dropped jaws back in the famed tag bouts of the attitude era and which has since become a regular staple for feud ending rivalries. This edition will witness a popular champion try and outfox his two heel opponents in a standard TLC contest, a couple of giants use chairs to attempt to knock each other down to size and two former friends turned bitter enemies battle it out in a unique sledgehammer ladder match. What follows is a preview of all this and more in anticipation of the WWEs thirteenth and final PPV of the year. WWE Championship: Triple Threat TLC Match - CM Punk (c) vs Alberto Del Rio vs The Miz Following their beat-down of Punk on Raw, Miz claimed that both himself and Del Rio could guarantee that the current WWE champion would not be walking out of TLC with the title still intact. This suggests of course that a heel alliance is going to be formed in this first ever triple threat tlc match until that inevitable moment when Miz and Del Rio will be forced to turn against one another in order to try and win the gold. Logical booking would suggest that Punk capitalise from this fall-out to ensure a succesful title defence though in a year that seen nearly a dozen title changes on the Raw brand nothing can be called a safe bet for wwe in 2011. Either way though this promises to be a very exciting match. Prediction: With all three men climbing the ladder, Punk gets Del Rio in position for the GTS, uses him as a helicopter to knock Miz off the other side and then plants him with the finisher before being left alone to grab the gold. Sledgehammer Ladder Match: Triple H vs Kevin Nash (The first competitor to climb the ladder and grab the sledgehammer will be legally allowed to use to that weapon to try and gain a win via pinfall or submission.) Triple H is on the lookout for revenge for the brutal sledgehammer assault he suffered from former buddy Kevin Nash a couple of months back on Raw. The slegedhammer above the ladder stipulation idea feels a little like pages from the Vince Russo textbook but I think the threat of the weapon will lend a sense of urgency to the fight especially in the teasing spots when both men start to reach the structures top steps. It's hard to be seen what will be gained from the outcome of this match as Kevin Nash is unlikely to begin a giant push given his condition and a win for Trips adds nothing to his popularity but there is nothing wrong with an occasional basic grudge match especially when the historical context of the feud has been well conveyed to the audience. Prediction: Triple H - Grabs the sledgehammer but is knocked off the ladder by a recovered Nash. Nash then attempts to jacknife powerbomb his opponent but Trips keeps hold of the weapon to level Nash with the head of the hammer before pinning the giant after he collapses to the mat. World Heavyweight Championship: Chairs Match - Mark Henry (C) vs Big Show The likely blow off to this impressively intense feud sees Mark Henry and Big Show fight for the world heavyweight championship in a chairs match; a good storyline callback to the inciting incident of their rivalry and also to the finale of their last match at Survivor Series in which Show trapped Henry's leg in the weapon following a frustrating dq victory. Both men are currently playing their roles to perfection and the inclusion of chairs should add good heat to the palpable hatred already emnating from their in ring chemistry. Prediction: Mark Henry - The World's Strongest Man begs for mercy as Big Show threatens to finish him off with a chair and then cunningly uses the moment of distraction to lash out at his opponent, grab the weapon from his hands and beat him to a decisive pulp like a true, manipulative heel thug. Tables Match: Randy Orton vs Wade Barrett Wade Barrett captained his team to victory against Team Orton at Survivor Series and since then has got inside the viper's head with a series of distractions that have cost him a number of singles and tag matches on both Raw and Smackdown. This kind of bout wouldn't have interesed me much in 2010 but Orton is having such a good year from an in ring perspective that I fully expect him to carry Barrett to an exciting tussle with a number of false finishes involving the table. Prediction: Tie - Both men fall through a table on the outside following a top rope exchange. Intercontinental Title: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Booker T This match features a special and presumably one off ring appearance from announcer Booker T as he prepares to teach the young upstart champion a lesson. The fans should be heavily immersed in Booker's comebacks and quest for the title which should make for an exciting atmopshere sorely lacking in midcard title matches these days and Rhodes could get a good rub from defeating a former World Champion. Prediction: Cody Rhodes - Spins Booker around after a failed scissor kick attempt and then takes his oppoent out with the Cross Rhodes. United States Title: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Zack Ryder It's the match that the people wanted to see at Survivor Series as the "show off" defends his US title against the Long Island internet hero. If they are given a quarter of an hour or more to strut their stuff then Ziggler and Ryder have no excuse here not to steal the show and put themselves over as main event breakout potentials for 2012. This should be an exciting bout packed with near falls leading to an ending which hopefully has the fans on the edge of their seat. Prediction: Zack Ryder - Pushes Dolph away following a sleeper attempt and takes him out with a Rough Ryder to win the title. So now over to you. What would you like and what do you expect to see at the PPV this weekend and do you think the WWE will finish off the PPV year in style with the assistance of some tables, ladder and chairs? Also what do you make of John Cena's continued claims that he will not be at the PPV but rather watching at home like a fan? A PPV without the poster boy will feel strange though somewhat refreshing however I aniticpate that we'll be treated to some sort of promo from Cena confronting the Kane incident from Raw.