The superstars of SmackDown are set to put on a showcase Sunday night for WWE’s next big event TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016. This will be SmackDown’s last pay-per-view of the year, so expect the unexpected. Anything can happen in WWE. I bet virtually none of you thought that the 49-year-old returning Bill Goldberg would squash “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar in just 86 seconds at the Survivor Series. But how will the WWE shock their audience again? Will it be in their main event WWE World Championship TLC match between Dean Ambrose & AJ Styles? Will there be a surprise return at the event? What is going to happen at WWE TLC?
AJ Styles will hope to hold onto the gold as the “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose clashes with the “Phenomenal One” up high on a ladder or crashing down through a table. The Miz will do all he can do to fend off the “Showoff” Dolph Ziggler in a ladder match that is sure to bring down the house. Becky Lynch will summon straight fire when she fights the young and hungry superstar Alexa Bliss. Meanwhile, “Beauty & The Man Beast” Heath Slater & Rhyno take on their toughest challenge to date: The Wyatt Family in possibly its most sinister form. Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt look to capture those tag team titles. But will they? Will any of these titles change hands? Keep reading and you might find out.
Here’s a full preview of this exciting event, with predictions and in-depth analysis.
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016 Viewing Details
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016
Time: 7:00 P.M. EST/ 4:00 P.M. PST
TV Channel: WWE Network / Pay-Per-View
Location: American Airlines Arena, Dallas, Texas
Main Event: AJ Styles (C) vs. Dean Ambrose in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match
AJ Styles has been a very dominant and popular champion despite his win/loss record with James Ellsworth. Despite that this match is between AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose, the spotlight has been more on AJ Styles vs. James Ellsworth the past couple of months. Many of the fans have really fallen in love with Ellsworth, who appears like a turtle without a shell or a chin. So, you can expect Ellsworth to reappear and inject himself into this world title match. But either way, expect a hard-hitting contest in which both competitors will pull out all the stops to secure a victory.
But who will come out on top? I predict James Ellsworth to get involved and cost AJ Styles the championship. This will prolong his feud with Styles. Just imagine how the crazy the crowd would go after Ellsworth once again gets the better of his bully and takes away what means most to him. This will continue their feud and provide some more fresh entertainment for the viewing audience. This will also give Dean Ambrose back the gold and position him in the main event for good.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose wins the WWE World Championship after defeating AJ Styles
The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match
“The Showoff” Dolph Ziggler is looking to reclaim his gold against The Miz, but does he have it in him to once again take down the self-proclaimed “A-Lister”? The ladder match is a specialty match for Ziggler, so he does have a very good chance to not only win, but to steal the show too. The Miz is no slouch either. He is a very wily and cunning champion, who hopes to hold championship gold into 2017 and beyond.
Who will capture the Intercontinental Championship? I predict Maryse and the Spirit Squad to get involved in the match. Ultimately, I predict The Miz taking down his IC strap and leaving the arena as champion. They can’t keep playing hot potato with this championship. It will only devalue the gold and that will not bode well for SmackDown’s mid card division. But still, this match has the potential to bring down the house; expect this match to be absolutely awesome. Expect crazy spots and pulse-pounding action.
Prediction: The Miz retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship after defeating Dolph Ziggler
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Alexa Bliss for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship in a tables match
Alexa Bliss is flirting with championship gold in this match, but does she have what it takes to pull off the victory? Becky Lynch has been a very dominant champion on SmackDown’s women’s division. She is highly popular and is a fiery red force in the ring. She calls herself “Becky Balboa” and says that she’s “straight fire.” But will Alexa be able to extinguish Becky’s flames this Sunday night? Bliss certainly wants to snuff out Becky’s fire, but will she? Does Bliss have what it takes to silence the “Irish Lass Kicker”?
Lately, the SmackDown women’s division has greatly paled in comparison to Raw’s main event quality female division. While Sasha Banks and Charlotte main event Raw and October’s Hell In A Cell pay per view, the women on SmackDown are sadly stuck in mid-card purgatory or in the shadows. WWE needs to revive interest in SmackDown’s women’s division and can do so by crowning a new champion.
Prediction: Alexa Bliss wins the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship after defeating Becky Lynch
Heath Slater & Rhyno (c) vs. Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
Beauty & The Man Beast have had a hell of a run as SmackDown’s tag team champions, but they will be up against a new kind of hell in the form of Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton. The Wyatt Family has become more cold and venomous since Orton’s inclusion into the group. And now, they’re looking to add tag team gold to their gruesome resume. Heath Slater & Rhyno have been crushing it in the blue brand’s tag team division over the past months. But this Sunday night, they might just get crushed by The Wyatt Family.
Who will make it out on top here? Neither the fans nor the WWE creative staff have paid too much mind to SmackDown’s tag team division. This is a real problem that needs mending asap. The New Day is WWE’s top tag team, and unfortunately, they’re on Raw, leaving SmackDown without that kind of star power. But The Wyatt Family are amazing, Bray Wyatt is a phenom akin to The Undertaker, and Randy Orton is a living legend and a former 12-time world champion. In the end, it all comes down to who is better for business. The titles will need to go to…
Prediction: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt wins the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship after defeating Heath Slater & Rhyno
Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto
Baron Corbin has been a real bully to Kalisto. He will most likely dominant Kalisto again in this contest. But Corbin’s flaw is his pride; he underestimates Kalisto’s abilities and this will cost Baron this Sunday. Expect an exciting match fused with brawling and high-flying action. But who will come out on top? WWE and their fans love an underdog story. An upset victory will only enrage Corbin and prolong the feud. And Kalisto will want some retribution for Baron costing him the Cruiserweight Championship at the last pay per view. The little guy will most likely humiliate the big guy at the end of the night.
Prediction: Kalisto defeats Baron Corbin
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
“The Princess of Staten Island” will once again face off against Total Divas star Nikki Bella. Will the brash, young starlet overcome this former Divas Champion? Last time they clashed on pay per view, Carmella lost. Will she lose again to Bella on Sunday? I don’t think so. WWE needs to build up their SmackDown women’s division. And they can’t just turn their NXT call-ups into jobbers.
