AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose battle it out once more, this time in a match filled with tables, ladders, and chairs.
Survivor Seriesis in the books and now the Rawand SmackDownbrands are left back to their own devices...at least until January. Our next stop is WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs. A SmackDown-based PPV, the show will feature a TLC Match and elements of the TLC Match spread across the rest of the card.
As a PPV, TLCwas introduced in 2009, making this the eighth installment. It’s been a regular, annual show and has been kind of a more predictable Extreme Rules. There was also 2014, when the show was called Tables, Ladders, Chairs, & Stairs due to a silly Chairs Match between Big Show and Erick Rowan, but that was enough of a dud to send the show back to normal in 2015.
WHEN IS WWE TLC: TABLES, LADDERS, & CHAIRS 2016?
The show will take place on Sunday December 4 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
CONFIRMED MATCHES
AJ STYLES (C) VS. DEAN AMBROSE
TLC Match for the WWE World Championship
Months back, AJ Styles challenged for Ambrose’s championship and won due to a kick to the crotch. They had a triple threat against Cena and Styles went to town with a chair to retain. He had a non-title match with Ambrose where Ambrose had the chance to earn another title shot, but James Ellsworth screwed the pooch by accidentally getting Ambrose disqualified. In another match, Ellsworth made it up to Ambrose by distracting Styles enough for Ambrose to capitalize and win his title shot.
The two tried to put aside their differences at Survivor Series in a match between Rawand SmackDown, but their hatred ruled over civility and caused Ambrose to get picked off by Braun Strowman. Ambrose returned later in the match to attack Styles, reunite with his old Shield buddies, and put Styles through a table.
As a warm up for this TLC Match, Styles competed against James Ellsworth in a Ladder Match where Ellsworth’s SmackDowncontract was on the line. Ambrose interfered yet again and made Ellsworth 3-0 against AJ Styles.
BECKY LYNCH (C) VS. ALEXA BLISS
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
After weeks of hype (due to Becky being on the shelf), Becky Lynch successfully defended her championship against Alexa Bliss by making her tap to the Disarmer. There was still some controversy in that as Alexa’s legs were under the rope. She continued to complain about the injustice until Daniel Bryan relented and put together this rematch.
THE MIZ (C) VS. DOLPH ZIGGLER
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Miz and Ziggler have been fighting tooth and nail for months and we were set to have Ziggler defend the Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series against Raw’s Sami Zayn. Miz challenged Ziggler beforehand and won his title back via Maryse’s cheating. Maryse then helped Miz retain against Zayn at Survivor Series, therefore keeping the belt on SmackDown.
After a match against Kalisto, Miz was ambushed by Ziggler, who superkicked him into unconsciousness. Miz complained to Daniel Bryan. Bryan decided on a Ladder Match, insisting that it would settle the score and would be the end to their feud, no matter the winner.
NIKKI BELLA VS. CARMELLA
No Disqualification Match
Since the women’s division started up on SmackDown, Carmella has had a habit of constantly attacking Nikki Bella. 9 out of 10 times, she’d get the best of her one way or another. They decided to put that aside for Survivor Series, but...did they really?
Nikki was found beat up backstage and couldn’t compete. After the fact, she’s blamed Carmella, but Carmella’s pointed out that she’s usually pretty open to gloating about beating Nikki up. Regardless, they’re going to have their final battle at TLC.
KALISTO VS. BARON CORBIN
Chairs Match
Months ago, Baron Corbin roughed up Kalisto so badly backstage that their planned PPV bout was scrapped.
Corbin was chosen to represent SmackDownin the Survivor Series elimination tag, but his overwhelming selfishness got him kicked off the team. Instead, he was given a match on SmackDownagainst Kalisto, which he lost via roll-up.
Corbin got his revenge by doing a run-in and causing Kalisto his shot at the Cruiserweight Championship. Two days later, he repeated the action and prevented Kalisto from winning the Intercontinental Championship. Kalisto got him back by running in during a Corbin vs. Kane bout and taking Corbin down with a Van Daminator.
UNCONFIRMED AND LIKELY MATCHES
Heath Slater and Rhyno will be defending the WWE SmackDownTag Team Championship, but as of this writing, we don’t know against who. American Alpha won a Tag Team Turmoil Match, pinning the Usos after a hard-fought match. Afterwards, Bray Wyatt and his underlings appeared on the Titantron, saying that there was one more team to face. Wyatt and Orton will be taking on American Alpha for the right to challenge for the tag belts.
They’ve yet to announce a Tables Match for the show. Maybe that’s what the tag title match will be.
Check back for more news on WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2016!
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