Since debuting on the main roster, reigning intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens has done many great things. Owens has defeated John Cena cleanly, defeated Chris Jericho at WWE MSG and finally ended the run of Ryback as Intercontinental Champion, a reign that started poorly with an awful Elimination Chamber match highlighted in a Botchamania episode (NSFW Language in video) and never got going thanks to an awful feud with The Big Show. Owens needs to continue his upward climb in the WWE, and he can do this by cleanly defeating Dean Ambrose at TLC.
Owens was an absolute beast on the Independent Circuit, and he dominated NXT as well. When he debuted on the main roster, he immediately got into a high profile feud with John Cena, and proved that he could hold a main event spot in the company. Owens has a move-set nearly unmatched in professional wrestling, and he has charisma on a microphone. It sounds more like he's just talking to you, than addressing a crowd, which makes him very strong at cutting promos. His run as Intercontinental Champion has been good, and he has carried some low competitors to great matches.
Owens needs to have a clean victory over a big-time opponent, and after a loss to Ambrose in the semi-finals of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series, he can get his vengeance by defending his title at TLC. This would continue the very impressive start to his WWE career and put him in a spot where he can hold the belt until beyond the Royal Rumble, possibly getting a legitimate WrestleMania feud with a championship on the line. A feud for the title with a returning Sami Zayn is a potential show stealing match.
The only problem is Ambrose. How would he handle losing again in a big match, considering he still has not had a legitimate singles storyline with a superstar not named Seth Rollins since he was dominated by Bray Wyatt at the end of 2014? Ambrose really has had no build up to a feud recently, which makes him a perfect candidate to win the 2016 Royal Rumble.
By losing this title, he will not be in a feud heading up to the January PPV and can then be considered a favorite to win. He has already had his run-ins with Triple H and could be the man who tries to take down the Authority's Champion, should it be Sheamus or another competitor with ties to the group, at WrestleMania 32. Ambrose is one of the hottest stars in the company, and the WWE would capitalize from Ambrose getting a real shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
While Ambrose could use a run as a champion, Owens needs to continue his dominance in the mid card, and if he can keep the Intercontinental Championship past TLC, he would have a legitimate title run that would help his career and help move him toward the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. If it also means Ambrose has a chance to win the Royal Rumble, it seems like a situation that benefits both competitors and the WWE Universe.
