WWE TLC 2016: 5 Potential Finishes for AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose

WWE TLC, Credit: WWE.com

WWE TLC 2016 shows Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles in Tables, Ladders and Chairs for the WWE World Championship. The following are five ways the match can end.

A Tables, Ladders and Chairs match seems like the perfect environment for the final chapter between Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship. It’s been a fun feud to watch at times, but the two are likely meant for bigger and better opportunities with the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania fast approaching.

WWE TLC 2016 is a SmackDown-exclusive pay-per-view event that will help round out the calendar year. It’s a chance for current storylines to end and for new ones to begin. The main event will feature Ambrose and Styles competing in what should be the Final Chapter of their championship rivalry. It’s been extended with a third party in the form of James Ellsworth.

With someone like Ellsworth likely in the mix during the main event, there are a number of different options the WWE creative team can take. Either Styles or Ambrose could realistically leave the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. Ellsworth could be the aid that helps Ambrose finally reclaim the title

At the same time, Ellsworth could lead to Styles retaining the championship. Anything is truly possible for the Dec. 4 show. The one thing that is for certain is that there must be a winner since TLC doesn’t allow for any disqualifications or countout victories. The following are just five potential ways for the WWE to conclude the WWE World Championship under TLC rules.

5. Ellsworth Heel Turn for Styles Win

This is one of those types of finishes that will likely never happen. But knowing how the WWE creative team can make some awful decisions, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. The WWE has always been able to make a babyface shift to the dark side. Depending on how it’s done, a heel turn for Ellsworth could work out pretty well.

While it might be the most popular booking decision, here’s how it is possible. AJ Styles could become very persuasive in explaining how Ellsworth would benefit more from being his ally. After suffering three losses to “No Chin Music,” the WWE World Champion is likely thinking about the possibility of luring Ellsworth to his corner. It would also provide one of the biggest surprises for the night.

Let’s say the momentum is on Ambrose’s side during the TLC match and Ellsworth motions that he’s going to help set up a ladder for the Lunatic Fringe. Ambrose begins climbing the ladder until Ellsworth shockingly swings the chair at Ambrose. This allows Styles to climb the ladder to retain the championship.

It’s not the most likely option. In fact, it may very well be criticized by many fans. But the WWE has made similar booking decisions in the past. It’s still possible, so it’s going on the list.

Credit: WWE.com

4. Ellsworth Distracts Styles for Ambrose Win

Considering the momentum that Ellsworth has developed in the last few months, he could be a major factor in how the TLC match ends. It also could be the best, and most likely, chance for the Lunatic Fringe to reclaim the WWE World Championship. Depending on how it’s done, it could help continue the rivalry between Styles and Ellsworth moving forward into the Royal Rumble.

Styles could spend parts of the match attacking Ellsworth in an attempt to have him removed from the equation. Maybe one spot could include Styles placing Ambrose in the Tree of Woe in one corner before doing a baseball slide to Ellsworth on the opposite side of the ring. The Phenomenal One could also use the weapons against Ellsworth more often in hopes he’s not a curse at the end.

This could then lead to him taking his eyes off of Ambrose as he has a number of close calls to grabbing the championship above the ring. Styles could spend most of the match staying one step ahead of Ambrose. But he could end up giving Ambrose too many close calls before one leads to him winning the title.

The final moments of the match could see Styles beating up Ellsworth outside the ring before attempting to stop Ambrose. Only Ellsworth would grab onto his leg to prevent him from getting into the ring.

Credit: WWE.com

3. Styles Evens the Odds with New Ally

Styles has been able to remain the WWE World Champion without the help from The Club, which he had while on Monday Night Raw. It’s certainly helped him in being perceived as a main event superstar in the WWE Universe. But with the losing streak to Ellsworth and possibly being in a two-on-one situation at TLC, he might need to recruit some assistance.

One SmackDown Live superstar who could benefit from being recruited by the WWE World Champion would be Baron Corbin. The Lone Wolf has spent the last few months pestering smaller superstars like Kalisto. But that feud might be coming to an end and the WWE would need to have a plan for their new giant moving forward.

Maybe Styles has a secret meeting with Corbin about what aligning himself with the WWE World Champion would mean. It also allows the WWE to help provide a big boost to someone who could truly benefit from being associated with Styles. The Phenomenal One would also have a bodyguard to assist him to continue winning in true, heel-like fashion.

The match might look as if Ambrose is going to receive the assist by Ellsworth before Corbin comes out of nowhere with a Big Boot to Ellsworth. The distracted Ambrose would then take the Phenomenal Forearm, followed by a Styles Clash. Corbin could then signify his new alliance by holding the ladder as Styles grabs the WWE World Championship.

Credit: WWE.com

2. Braun Strowman Attacks Ellsworth, Costs Ambrose the Title

During the traditional five-on-five elimination match at Survivor Series earlier this month, Ellsworth showed his worth by helping the blue team with a key elimination. Ellsworth grabbed onto the leg of Braun Strowman to prevent Raw’s dominant giant from getting back into the ring before the referee’s count of 10. It certainly was a key moment in SmackDown Live’s big win for the dual-branded pay-per-view.

The moment also led to Ellsworth receiving an attack from Strowman after being thrown from the stage and through a table. While the big man certainly got some form of retribution against Ellsworth, there’s a good chance that he’s not going to be completely satisfied. Who’s to say Strowman might not make a surprise visit to WWE TLC 2016 and make an impact that leads to a WWE brand war.

Strowman comes out and attacks Ellsworth. Ambrose might attempt to save his friend, only to be attacked himself. This leads to the opportunity for Styles to climb the ladder and grab the WWE World Championship. The after-effects could lead to SmackDown leadership of Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon claiming Raw’s Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon were behind Strowman’s interference.

This might provide some additional fuel for a Raw vs SmackDown Live angle for WrestleMania. Or possibly a chance for SmackDown to have The Undertaker face Strowman at WrestleMania 33.

Credit: WWE.com

1. Ellsworth Costs Ambrose, Again

James Ellsworth has proven to be somewhat of a benefit to SmackDown Live, which earned him a contract to be a full-time WWE superstar. This can be seen when he helped lead to Braun Strowman’s elimination at Survivor Series (which was mentioned in the last slide). But at the same time, Ellsworth has cost Ambrose a chance at the WWE World Championship back in October.

There’s a good chance that Ellsworth could once again lead to Styles getting the win. While Ellsworth cannot get Ambrose disqualified under the rules of TLC, maybe Ellsworth makes a big mistake. The spot could involve Ellsworth getting in the ring with a steel chair and attempting to swing at Styles and hitting the Lunatic Fringe instead.

Or maybe he sets up a table that Ambrose is immediately knocked into for a devastating crash landing. Either way, Ellsworth could accidentally cause the Phenomenal One to get a big win to reclaim the WWE World Championship. There’s a saying that a champion knows a variety of ways to win, but not all will be pretty or popular ways.

Considering the instability of Ambrose, this sort of loss could lead the Lunatic Fringe to snap and turn heel. While many enjoy seeing him as the top face on SmackDown, a feud with Ellsworth would make a good amount of sense for the Road to WrestleMania.