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WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT TLC - THE TIP SHEET IS NOW ONLINE

By Dave Scherer, Mike Johnson and Richard Trionfo on 2016-12-03 10:47:00

WWE presents TLC featuring Smackdown on Sunday night on the WWE Network from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.  Here is our take on what we believe should happen

WWE World Champion AJ Styles versus Dean Ambrose in a TLC Match

Dave: Here we have a situation where AJ shouldn't lose the Title, since he has been so, so good with it, and Ambrose needs to stay strong.  It seems like the perfect time for James Ellsworth to cost Ambrose the match.  Maybe it's by accident, or maybe Ellsworth sees that Dean has been putting in positions to take a butt whooping.  No matter what happens, I think AJ retains, and he should.

Mike:  I don't think I am shocking anyone here by saying that this will feature a lot of crazy spots and it will be really damn entertaining.  But, should it feature a title change?  I say no.  Styles has been on a tear and just got a ton of heat on him for the James Ellsworth Styles Clash off the stairs to the floor.  It's way too soon to clip those wings, so to speak.  He has potential programs with John Cena and Undertaker ahead of him.  If I am WWE, I have Styles just barely eek by, but still beat Ambrose clean without interference.  Styles can then lay claim, once again, to being the best and be a complete jerk about it while having Ambrose go down fighting and get over for being such a tough SOB.  

Richard:  If we can get a serious Dean Ambrose in this match then I think we can have a very good main event on this PPV.  There are two things that will keep that from happening: A) James Ellsworth and B) a TV Monitor [still having nightmares about that spot from Ambrose/Wyatt in 2014].  Styles has been among the best in WWE since his early hiccups this year and he should be the champion going into 2017.  The biggest question about the World Title is, after James Ellsworth gets his match for the title, who is the next challenger?  Both men will inflict a lot of damage on their opponent, but AJ will pull through to grab the belt.

Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch versus Alexa Bliss in a Tables Match

Dave: It was pretty clear at the Survivor Series that Nikki Bella is the top woman on this show (in the eyes of those that matter).  Her being the point person on the poster, in front of the Champion, was telling.  Because of that, I don't see Bliss winning the Title here.  It seems like Bella is the one to give Becky her first serious challenge.  I don't see a change here.

Mike:   I don't see a title change here unless it is to give Lynch someone to chase as we head into Wrestlemania season.  To me, the money match for the Smackdown side right now in this division is Lynch against Nikki Bella.  Bliss is going to have a long career here and is already one of the best performers in either side of the company, but for her, it's a marathon, not a spring.  She doesn't need the belt at thus juncture and I think we will see Lynch retain.

Richard:  Is it time for the female thorn in the side of the Smackdown GM to finally win the big one or will it be another time when they could do something to change the tone of the division and fail to pull the trigger.  Becky might be the better wrestler of the two, but Alexa has a more complete package and her reactions to everything is the best among the women in WWE.  I am not a fan of the table stipulation because there is the chance the table might not break.  We did see the table break on Tuesday so that is a good sign.  I think it would be a great visual to see Alexa win the title by hitting Twisted Bliss through a table.  Then you top things off by having Alexa show up on Talking Smack TLC Edition with the title and asking 'mom and dad' (Renee and Daniel) if they are proud of her now. [I cannot take full credit for the mom and dad concept since I saw someone mention it on Twitter].

WWE Intercontinental Champion Miz versus Dolph Ziggler in a Ladder Match

Dave: They did such a great job of rebuilding Ziggler when he put his career on the line, and won the Title.  Then, they booked him really badly again and he lost his mojo again.  He needs to get it back and the best way to do it is to win here, and he should have to overcome more obstacles than just Miz to do it.  Losing doesn't hurt Miz at all.  Winning would help Ziggler a lot.

Mike:  The best thing for the good of the feud is for Ziggler to win the belt back here.  Miz is just an awesome in-ring talent and heel but Ziggler as IC champ felt like it was finally giving Ziggler the chance to fulfill his destiny as one of the cornerstones of the brand.  I really would like to see that continue.  We know Dolph is going to take some nutty bumps and that Maryse and Spirit Squad will get involved, but it should be a title change.

Richard:  Their last match was very good, but will lightning strike twice?  I am always hesitant about ladder matches because they go for the ladder too soon and it becomes a crutch for the match.  I hope they take their time to set up the use of the ladder.  Miz has been one of the MVPs of the Smackdown brand since the split and now he is the "TJ" of Total Divas so I would let him retain the title.  They say this is the end of the feud, but do you really believe that?  Ziggler will put up a good fight but he will fall short.  Just don't have Maryse be the reason for Miz' win because that is the WWE Creative Crutch.

Smackdown Tag Team Champions Heath Slater and Rhyno versus Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt

Dave: Slater and Rhyno have been good as the champions.  They got a really nice buzz going for a while.  But given who they are going against here, it certainly seems like a Title change will happen.  If so, I hope it's done in a way that keeps Rhyno and Slater strong and that they aren't discarded once their run is over.

Mike:  I really like how much mileage WWE has gotten out of Rhyno and Slater, but I think the time has come to switch the belts over.  I think adding the titles to the Wyatts gives them some credibility and also helps cement Orton and Wyatt's bond.  This should be a decent match, but at the end of the day, Orton's starpower will tip the scales here.  Unless this has all been a way for Orton to screw with Bray (which if it is, now is not the time to pull that trigger), RKO on Slater scores the win.  Wyatts vs. American Alpha has a nice ring to it.

Richard:  Other than that cameo during the main event on Tuesday, it is like they forgot that they have tag team champions.  The Smackdown Tag Team Division is not the strongest on top and it feels more like 'What can we do to tease everyone with American Alpha and then pull them back'.  It appears the novelty of the Rhyno and Slater team has been passed on to the novelty of James Ellsworth.  I did not like the set up for the match on Smackdown to give Orton and Wyatt the shot at the title, but it will be interesting to see how they work together with the title on the line.  Is Orton really working with Wyatt or is it Bryan/Wyatts all over again?  What happens with Luke Harper?  Do you give the titles and tease issues with Orton and Harper to set up the ultimate Wyatt Family Tag Team Turmoil with Rowan joining forces with Harper to challenge for the titles?  It is a shame they have not done more with Slater and Rhyno over the last six weeks, but maybe they can have Slater 'lose everything' to set up the return of The Repo Man (and then have Darsow go back and forth between brands to deal with the New Day/Demolition situation).  The Fireflies will get to celebrate with the new champions.

Kalisto versus Baron Corbin in a Chairs Match

Dave: I have no idea why a guy the size of Corbing is having so many problems with a small guy like Kalisto.  It's just really odd booking to me.  It's time for Corbin to win here, and win strongly.  Like destroy Kalisto with chairs even after the match is over strongly.  As I say all the time, perception matters and Corbin needs to be presented as a big, strong tough guy.

Mike:   I am actually really looking forward to this as both have been very good in their respective roles and this gives them the chance to truly have the spotlight.  I hope they sieze the day.  The chairs stipulation actually makes Corbin a really foreboding Goliath, which should give Kalisto the chance to be a hell of a David with all his highspots and fast offense.  This may not be the show-stealer but to me, it's the most important match on the show because it will be about building the future stars of the brand.

Richard:  The chair could have been an equalizer for Kalisto if Baron was not allowed to use one.  This feud has been Kalisto 1 and Corbin everything else.  When you look at these two men and determine which has the better short term upside, it is Corbin.  They need someone to jump into the IC Title picture and they have not figured out what to do with his character.  Raw has done wonders with Braun Strowman but Smackdown could do something similar with Corbin but missed.  I can see Kalisto moving on to 205 Live if he loses on Sunday.

Nikki Bella versus Carmella in a No Disqualification Match

Dave: As I said above, Bella is being presented as the top woman on the brand.  I have really enjoyed Carmella since she turned heel and if it were up to me, I would give her a hard fought win here.  But it's not up to me, so I see Nikki winning and moving on to the Title picture.

Mike: The feud has been really good and truth be told, one of my favorite Nikki storylines ever.  I think the time has come for Carmella to get her ass kicked and have Bella get the win.  To me, Bella getting it and then being laid out to set up future matches makes the most sense.

Richard:  They have done a good job to build this feud since Nikki did take Carmella's 'place' on the face side of the Smackdown roster.  I am not a big fan of using the Cena/Bella relationship because it does not feel 100% genuine in the promos.  It did make the brawl on Tuesday's show genuine (if you look at the photos of Carmella post-Smackdown).  This match is in an interesting place because where it is on the show could make or break this match.  It needs to be separated from the other Women's match so people won't compare the two to the detriment of all four women on the PPV.  It also needs to be unique and not use too much that we will see in the other matches.  This should be a brawl with little wrestling.  Carmella should focus on Nikki's neck injury during the match.  Carmella needs this win more than Nikki.

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