TLC 2014 Primer: WWE missed the "mark"

TLC doesn't mean tender loving care to the WWE Universe. Unless your listening to Pandora, it certainly doesn't stand for T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli either. TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs...and Stairs is an annual WWE Pay Per View (PPV). This year's installment will be the 6th edition to the series. You can watch it live this Sunday, December, 14 on the WWE Network at 7:00 PM EST! Despite TLC's impressive card, I think WWE overlooked a couple of essential elements.

The 1st 'ladder match' took place in the summer of 1975 in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada (as stated by Bret Hart in his autobiography, Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling). The addition of tables and chairs came about during WWE's Attitude Era. TLC matches immediately became popular during that period. WWE held it's 1st annual TLC PPV on December 13, 2009. TLC 2014 will be the 1st to include the use of stairs as a foreign object. The way it works is superstars are encouraged to use tables, ladders, chairs, and stairs as weapons or tools in order to win.

Quick vocab lesson, a "mark" in professional wrestling is a fan who still believes wrestling is real. When news leaked that wrestling was scripted in the 80's, I was just a little boy. It was the Golden Era in the WWE. Although the news crushed me and my friends, I remained headstrong. I didn't allow any naysayers and haters to sway my interest in sports entertainment.

I was 12 years old when I rented WrestleMania X on Coliseum Video. The main event was Bret "Hitman" Hart vs. Yokozuna for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, what sounded more interesting to me was "HBK" Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon competing for the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder Match. Hitman was my hero, and his championship win that night truly inspired me. Despite that, I was more inclined to rewind the VHS cassette, and watch the ladder match...over....and over. Michaels' and Razor's creative originality was enchanting, the match enlightened me. I memorized all of Razor's steps.

When WWE home video released its 1st Ladder Match DVD in 2007, I went straight to Best Buy. One of my hobbies is researching WWE home videos, and studying tape on the WWE Network. I feel that TLC matches during the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era were absolutely reckless, in a good way. The danger made for extremely climactic sports entertainment. Included below is the confirmed list of matches to be featured on Sunday's card.

TLC 2014: Tables, Ladders, Chairs...and Stairs

Tag Team Match 
The New Day vs. Goldust & Stardust
 
 Stairs Match
Erick Rowan vs. Big Show

Chairs Match
Kane vs. Ryback

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The Miz & Mizdow vs. The Usos

Ladder Match
WWE United States Championship
Rusev (with Lana) vs. Jack Swagger
 
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler

WWE Divas Championship Match
AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella (with Brie Bella)  

Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

Tables Match

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins

If John Cena Loses, he is no longer is the #1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

To be honest, the list looks average to me. To clarify, I am speaking solely from a creative standpoint. The superstars themselves are 1st class athletes. I'm disappointed that TLC 2014 won't be featuring a triple-threat tag team match. Edge & Christian, The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz set a TLC standard at WrestleManias XVII & XX. Their matches were breathtaking to watch. These superstars were making huge sacrifices for the brand in the name of TLC. They were passionate. They made me believe this was real. I became a mark, and I was in my early 20's...

Why isn't there a triple-threat tag team 'TLCS' match listed on Sunday's card? WWE's talent development department and team of trainers have done a phenomenal job this year. Today's tag teams of the Universe Era possess a superior level of athleticism, charisma, and fan appeal. Listed below are WWE's active tag teams.

The Authority

The Usos

Goldust & Stardust

The Miz & Mizdow

Los Matadores

Heath Slater & Titus O'Neil

The New Day

It's evident that the company is under utilizing a deep roster of talented superstars. Take R-Truth as an example. He is a 2-time Hardcore Champion, so why isn't he scheduled for a TLC match? They're so violent. How come Zack Ryder isn't cutting promos while nursing a torn rotator cuff? Get well soon Zack, prayers for a speedy recovery. After a huge push initially for Fandango; how come he isn't more involved in today's main story line or angles? Why isn't there a NXT triple-threat tag team 'TLCS' match? The future is now...

Survivor Series 2014 was excellent!

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