Chairs Match
Kane vs. Ryback
It's THE BIG GUY vs. The Big Red Monster (who doesn't wear read any more, and who isn't really a monster unless you're a member of the Occupy movement or hate Ayn Rand)! And they'll be hitting each other with chairs!
Yeah, that's all I got.
The Road to TLC
These two men have history that goes back to Ryback's 2012-13 main event push. Kane was a combustible yet conflicted good guy, one half of a beloved tag team with Daniel Bryan. Team Hell No partnered with Big Hungry to combat The Shield, and The Devil's Favorite Demon served as enhancement talent when The Big Guy was feuding with John Cena for the WWE title.
Their courses strayed after that, and included time off for both. Kane was kidnapped by The Wyatt Family and came back a middle manager, except for one time when Stephanie McMahon tempted him into wearing his mask again for a Scooby Doo episode starring Bryan & Brie Bella. Ryback was a bully, and a partner to Curt Hennig's kid, and then had some surgery (don't think those three are related, but I can't be sure).
Survivor Series arrived in November, and Corporate Kane was fighting for the power that allowed him to hold his job as Director of Operations, The Authority. The Big Guy fought for himself, but wound up on the side of John Cena trying to force Triple H and Stephanie McMahon out of power at least partially because Kane's kind of a poor motivator of employees.
With all that backstory, this is probably a feud rich with nuances and possessing of layers upon layers of detail, right?
Or, it could be because The Beard made Kane work a hot dog stand where a now babyface but still kind of a bully Ryback showed up to spray ketchup and mustard on him so the D-Ops (who is somehow still in some kind of position of power even though his patrons lost at Survivor Series and...oh for &#{%s sake...) attacked him with a chair a couple of nights later...
Let's just go with that.
What's at Stake?
Worst match of the night status? Most likely to hear "CM Punk" chants?
In all seriousness, Ryback's comeback could be effected by his performance here - one way or the other. The initial pops from his return are waning, and the impact of Punk's accusations have likely been somewhat stilted by the fact that the company has been in the non-smarky South since Thanksgiving.
Kane is Kane, and remains veteran fodder for whatever younger babyface is in need or a rub. Or heel whenever his inevitable turn comes.
Can the pair shock the cynics and deliver a fun stipulation match? Or will fans stay in their chairs while Ryback and Kane swing theirs?
You know where to find out, Cagesiders!