Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman is currently sidelined with an elbow injury that required surgery. In this picture, Strowman reacts during to the WWE Live Duesseldorf event at ISS Dome in Duesseldorf, Germany, Feb. 22, 2017. Lukas Schulze/Bongarts/Getty Images

WWE's final pay-per-view of 2018 – Tables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) – is just around the corner and talks still continues to surround the availability of the company’s biggest stars of the moment – Becky Lynch and Braun Strowman.

The Irish woman, who is the SmackDown women’s champion, was set to headline the previous pay-per-view Survivor Series, but a freak incident which saw her break her nose and suffer a concussion saw her skip the event with Charlotte Flair taking her place instead.

Lynch is probably the most popular star in the sports entertainment franchise at the moment with the WWE Universe enamored by her "don’t give a damn – take everything head on" attitude. The SmackDown women’s champion returned with a vengeance in the weeks after Survivor Series eager to get back in the ring.

The Irish woman, who has been compared to compatriot and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Conor McGregor, renewed her rivalry with Flair – the self-proclaimed queen of the women’s division. And has now booked for a match at TLC with the title on the line; it became a triple-threat match after Asuka won a battle royal between the rest of the women roster during last week’s SmackDown taping.

Recent reports have suggested that she is yet to get clearance for in-ring competition owing to the nasal fracture she suffered when she was at the end of a Nia Jax punch. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the concussion has been cleared, but the fracture is yet to receive the green light. However, the report claims Lynch will be cleared in time for her triple-threat match at TLC.

Strowman, on the other hand, continues to remain a doubt despite him being scheduled to take on acting general manager Baron Corbin at TLC. The "Monster Among Men," as Strowman is popularly known as, injured his elbow following an assault by Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley.

The 35-year-old underwent surgery to fix the damage and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Corbin made it clear he will by forfeit if Strowman does not show up for the scheduled fight. However, according to Cageside Seats, he will not be ready and even if he returns it will be a relatively short match where he won’t have to do much.

There are also suggestions that the WWE could completely hold him back as they fear that a setback by returning too soon could jeopardize his participation at Royal Rumble – 2019’s first pay-per-view.

The TLC pay-per-view will take place on Dec. 16 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, with the triple-threat match likely to be the biggest draw. The other big matches include – the Intercontinental title match between once friends-now enemies Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, the Raw Women’s championship match between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax and the men’s WWE championship match between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan.

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