Batista-Undertaker Rivalry Renewed; TLC PPV Comes Full Circle

In two weeks, WWE presents another themed pay-per-view called TLC, the one night of the year where we celebrate the weapons that modified a wrestling industry. There will be three main event matches consisting of a Ladder match, a Tables match, and a Chairs match all culminating to one electrifying main event, a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Tag Team Match. This match is so brutal that there have been only eight TLC matches since its conception in 2000; Chris Jericho has been in two of them, only winning one. His challengers for the Unified Tag Team Titles, DX, have never been in a TLC Match. In terms of Ladder matches, Shawn Michaels has contested in six, while, his partner, Triple H has only been in two. When it comes to TLC experience, Chris Jericho has all the momentum, but Big Show has only been in one ladder match that he lost. If Chris Jericho expects to retain his titles, it would be wise to have Big Show keep Triple H grounded to make it an even fight, since Jericho has defeated Michaels before in a ladder match. Despite having to defend his titles in a TLC, Jericho wanted in on the World Heavyweight Title match for the same night. Teddy Long did him one better, one on one action with The World Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker.

First Match: Cryme Tyme vs. The Hart Dynasty. When you see Cryme Tyme coming out, you automatically know that Hart Dynasty follows, why? Cause there are only two tag teams over on SmackDown. I know, it's the cold hard truth. We once had the team of Jesse and Festus, but Jesse became Slam Master J and well... Festus hasn't been seen in ages, until tonight! JTG was being too theatrical in the ring; and Matt Striker is right, why do Cryme Tyme get to fight in construction boots? Those are not regulation wrestling gear, and it creates an advantage for Team Word Up. Hart Dynasty, fulfilling their dream match on RAW this past Monday, taking on DX in tag team action. They lost the match, but they lost to the best. Which brings us back to SmackDown, Cryme Tyme needs more competition so they can experience different fighting styles! Cryme Tyme tried resorting to tricks, but Hart Dynasty remained focused and played the game. Tyson tossed JTG out of the ring, which in turn he was tossed by Shad Gaspard. But the first rule of wrestling, never take your eyes off of your opponent, and that's what Shad did with DH Smith. The son of "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, executed the Saito suplex on Gaspard for the win. The Hart Dynasty is one step closer to becoming the future of the WWE.

Second Match: Matt Hardy vs. CM Punk w/Luke Gallows. CM Punk once again came out to preach to the people, but this time he brought a body guard and a brown paper bag. We all remember him as "The Corn-Fed Colossus," Festus, but he has returned to the WWE, with a heel change, under the name Luke Gallows. CM Punk claims that Festus' family and friends enameled his drug use, but now, he has helped him find the Straight-Edge within him. And inside the brown paper bag, is a drug so dangerous, he had to warn everyone: My Life, My Rules - The Jeff Hardy DVD Set. And as the sands of time turns back to the summer, Jeff's older brother, Matthew Moore Hardy comes out to defend Jeff's name. Jeff has not forcing anyone to do anything, he was a free spirit. This confrontation segwayed into their match, and what appeared as Matt Hardy's time to overcome the man responsible for his brother's departure from the WWE, led to another assault, this time, by the hands of Gallows. Matt Hardy won the match by disqualification, but the beating he sustained by the only two Straight-Edge wrestlers in the WWE is not something to celebrate about.

#1 Contenders Match: Kane vs. Batista. On Monday Night, Batista arrogantly declared himself Undertaker's next opponent, and if anyone were to go against him, they would suffer the same punishment as did Rey Mysterio. Kane challenged Batista on his "threat" and pleaded for The Animal to dispense some pain. Now, the last time these two faced each other was on the Decade of SmackDown celebration, back in October, but this time around it was for a shot at the World Heavyweight Title. A look at these two contenders: Batista's demeanor completely changed since Bragging Rights, meaning that he has gone completely heel, and he no longer uses pyro during his entrance. Yet, his "Ultimate Warrior-Like" ring rope shake, which signals for the Batista Bomb, has returned as part of his gimmick. Kane, on the other hand, has faced off against Taker during several key points in his career, two-times at WrestleMania, and no one knows The Undertaker like his little brother. Problem is, Kane and Undertaker have terrible matches because if you recall WrestleMania XX, Taker's return entrance was more memorable than that match. In this contender's match, Batista was knocked over the barricade, which then, he lured Kane to strike with an low blow with the steel chair. The referee never saw the chair come into play, so as the ref continued to count to ten, Batista made his way back into the ring. As a result of a count-out, Batista will go on to TLC to face off, one on one, for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Intercontinental Title Match: (C) John Morrison vs. Eric Escobar w/Vickie Guerrero. GM Teddy Long asked John Morrison how he felt after his loss at The Survivor Series. Morrison compared the loss to King Leonidas, "it was like I was against 300 men in the battle of Thermopylae, except I have better abs." This is why I love John Morrison, no matter the situation, he continues to look to the future. John Morrison also declared that he would take on Sheamus, McIntyre, or Miz any time, one on one; but, fate sent him a different foe, in the form of "The Puerto-Rican Nightmare," Eric Escobar. Vickie Guerrero demanded that her boyfriend have a title shot against John Morrison, in which both Long and Morrison agreed. At one point, there was a sense in the air that the title would switch hands due to Vickie's expert interference, but not even that could stop John Morrison. The Friday Night Delight set up Escobar for Starship Pain, and not many people can kick out of that move, and Escobar did not make the list. Vickie grew tired of Eric's lack of progress in the WWE, so she dumped him; in which, latter Eric would call out her faults and dumped her instead.

Main Event: Chris Jericho vs. The Undertaker. What was once a dream match, has occurred four times, one being for the World Heavyweight Championship. Chris Jericho is the first ever Undisputed World Champion, and he looks to reach the pinnacle of Sports Entertainment with a 6th World Title Reign. However, Jericho has been denied his shot at the title and instead had to deal with the ominous foe, The Undertaker. The #1 contender, Batista, sat in the commentary circle, never saying a word, but just biding his time. We all recall the epic encounter that Batista and Undertaker had at WrestleMania 23, and the matches that soon followed, it looks like that feud will be reignited once more. Before the match could end, Batista entered the ring and delivered a chop block to the back of Undertaker's knee. Chris Jericho finally won, via disqualification, but before Dave could return, Jericho connected with the Codebreaker. Batista pummeled Taker with a serious of vicious chair shots that left the Phenom unable to sit up with his famous DeadMan Rise. Even though it has not been made official, this World Heavyweight Championship match will inevitably be deemed a Chairs Match.

WWE TLC Line-Up:

ECW Champion, Christian vs. Shelton Benjamin (Ladder Match)

WWE Champion, John Cena vs. Sheamus (Table Match)

World Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker vs. Batista (Possible Chairs Match)

Unified Tag Team Champions, Jeri-Show vs. DX (TLC Match)