Predicting the match order at TLC 2017

It's one thing to predict the winners and losers at TLC 2017, but how about taking a guess at the match order on that card?

WWE has announced 6 different matches for the main card of TLC 2017, not counting the Kickoff match featuring Sasha Banks versus Alicia Fox.

Here is my subjective view of how important each of these 6 segments rank on the TLC 2017 card, ordered from most important to least important.

1. Angle, Rollins, Ambrose vs. Kane, Cesaro, Sheamus, Miz, Strowman
2. The Demon vs. AJ Styles
3. Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James
4. Kalisto vs. Enzo Amore
5. Asuka vs. Emma
6. Swann & Alexander vs. Gallagher & Kendrick

It is important to come up with a list like this to get an idea of which matches are going to be placed in the key spots on the card or take up the most time, and which matches might end up in the cool-down spots or be given the least amount of time.

I initially had the women’s championship match ranked 2nd over Balor versus Abigail, but AJ Styles is one of the biggest stars in the company. His last-second inclusion into the match vaults it ahead into 2nd place; it might not have a title on the line but it will almost surely get more time on the show.

Main event

This one is a no-brainer. Nothing on this card comes within striking distance of the Kurt Angle’s match for the main event spot. Even if Kurt Angle ends up getting replaced by Jason Jordan once TLC goes on the air, this match is still the clear main event.

Opening match

The opening match of the night is usually one of the mid-level attractions with good work rate that normally doesn’t require a dedicated video package ahead of time to hype it up.

Mickie’s championship match has higher stakes than Asuka’s match, so it would be strange for Mickie’s match to go on earlier in the night.

Balor’s match with Styles is probably going to carry the middle of the show, because this is a card that is low on star power in the undercard.

In an alternate universe the cruiserweight tag match could certainly provide the faster-paced action that is appropriate for the opening match. But in this WWE Universe, it’s just a filler match that will likely be used in one of the least important segments on the show.

That leaves Enzo or Asuka for the opening match. An Enzo promo always has a chance to start things off, but Asuka’s debut is probably a better choice. Nakamura and Samoa Joe each made their PPV debuts earlier this year in the opening match of the night, and I think Asuka will follow suit.

That gives me the following card:

Segment 1: Asuka vs. Emma
Segment 2:
Segment 3:
Segment 4:
Segment 5:
Segment 6: Angle, Rollins, Ambrose vs. Kane, Cesaro, Sheamus, Miz, Strowman vs. Kane, Cesaro, Sheamus, Miz, Strowman

Everything else

This card probably needs one more match or segment, and I’m willing to bet that extra segment will be placed right before the main event. Therefore I’ll throw the filler cruiserweight tag match into the next least important spot on the card, which is Segment 2.

After that, one of the more important matches of the night should come next. WWE generally likes to put a lot of space between women’s matches if possible, so I’ll go with the Demon in Segment 3 instead of Alexa Bliss.

That leaves Mickie and Enzo for Segment 4 and Segment 5. There’s a chance that the women’s championship match could be overshadowed after seeing Styles and Balor do their thing, and the women’s championship match deserves better placement than that. Therefore Enzo gets Segment 4.

Finalized card

So here is my final prediction for the match order at TLC 2017, along with guesses on the bell-to-bell match times.

Segment 1: Asuka vs. Emma (7 minutes)
Segment 2: Swann & Alexander vs. Gallagher & Kendrick (9)
Segment 3: The Demon vs. AJ Styles (17)
Segment 4: Kalisto vs. Enzo Amore (11)
Segment 5: Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James (12)
Segment 6: Angle, Rollins, Ambrose vs. Kane, Cesaro, Sheamus, Miz, Strowman vs. Kane, Cesaro, Sheamus, Miz, Strowman (31)

That's my prediction for the match order at TLC 2017. What's yours?