WWE Rumors: TLC Triple-Threat Surprise Planned, AJ Styles Contract Update

Becky Lynch aka "The Man" is arguably one of the biggest draws in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) at the moment and rumors are rife that the company has big plans for the Irish woman in the coming months.

Lynch is currently the reigning SmackDown women’s champion and will be defending her title against Charlotte Flair and Asuka in the upcoming Tables Ladders and Chairs (TLC) pay-per-view, WWE’s final showpiece event of 2018.

The Irish woman, who has welcomed the comparison to compatriot and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Conor McGregor, was scheduled to face former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series, but a concussion made her ineligible.

Lynch has since renewed her rivalry with Flair from whom she took the SmackDown title and will come face to face against her on Dec. 16. However, it was made a triple threat match after the other women superstars on the SmackDown roster complained of unequal treatment.

A battle royal was held among the other women wrestlers and Japan’s Asuka came out on top and will join Flair and Lynch in the match at TLC. It is now being claimed that Asuka could walk away with the title with the bigger picture in mind.

According to Wrestling Observer Live’s Bryan Alvarez, WWE could write it as such to make Asuka win the title, which will leave both Lynch and Flair open to compete in the Royal Rumble match in 2019.

The winner of the 30-woman Royal Rumble match will get to headline WWE’s flagship event WrestleMania and it being reported that the hierarchy wants to see a matchup between Rousey and Lynch for the Raw women’s title – currently held by the former UFC star.

“It makes me wonder if maybe the reason she’s in there is to win because of course, you know how they do things. Nobody’s gonna expect it,” Alvarez said talking about the outcome of the TLC triple threat match, as quoted by Ringside News. “Everybody’s expecting either Becky Lynch or Charlotte to walk out with the title but — hey, they could very easily do the deal where they’re both in the Royal Rumble, they’re both trying to win the Rumble to get their hands on Ronda Rousey and if they’re both going to be in the Rumble then somebody else should be the champion. So there’s a very good chance Asuka will walk out as champion. I guess we’ll find out.”

Meanwhile, the former face of SmackDown AJ Styles continues to be in negotiations over a new contract with WWE. He will be out of contract in April next year but is yet to agree to a new deal.

Recent reports suggested that he is seeking reduced ring time and a more lucrative deal by exploring other options, but according to Ringside News, it is not certain the tactic will work. But Styles is one of the most recognizable faces in the wrestling world and they will be hoping not to lose him to a rival company.

“WWE for some time has been trying to lock in talents to five-year deals. You know the one name that is out there is AJ Styles,” Mike Johnson said, as quoted on Ringside News. “His deal isn’t expected to expire until April and if he doesn’t wanna come to terms with WWE or if he wants to kinda look at going to another company and not just AEW, but Impact or Ring Of Honor or Lucha Underground or anybody he can use this to kinda nudge WWE to get a little more money he might not get otherwise.”