WWE TLC 2016: Predictions

Alexa Bliss is ready for WWE TLC 2016. Photo courtesy of WWE.com

Predictions for the 2016 WWE TLC pay-per-view.

As the calendar years, winds down the WWE takes aim at their annual 3 hours of mayhem that is the WWE TLC pay-per-view. In now its eighth installment since becoming a show of its own, TLC always seems to bring the violence year in and year out. This year should be no different as the Smackdown brand has a scheduled 6 matches on hand, 5 of which are no disqualification matches.

Since the brand split in July, Smackdown, although seemingly lighter on star power, appears to be the most engrossing product. AJ Styles has been an outstanding champion, Alexa Bliss seems like a breakout star, and the Randy Orton/Bray Wyatt pairing has been nothing short of brilliant. And seriously, James Ellsworth? The fact that the crowd explodes when a guy like that appears is a testament to how great the writing has been for the blue brand.

Sunday night will look to further some of these thrilling story lines while also drawing some to completion. With the aggression meter always turned up for TLC, there is potential for some serious fireworks.

Ahead we take a stab at predicting the outcome of TLC 2016 from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

WWE.com

Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) vs Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton

The Smackdown tag titles will be up for grabs Sunday night in a battle that seems, on paper at least, to have title change written all over it. There are some variables in play however that could really shake things up.

Let’s back track a bit. It was only one month ago that Orton and Wyatt were staunch adversaries before The Viper changed his tune and joined the family. This came on the heels of the previous 2 months that saw the pair exchanging sneak attacks and mind games. Has this all been a rouse from Orton? We can also throw in the fact that a baby viper girl was just born on November 22nd. Will that require Orton to take some time off rendering him unable to carry a title right at the moment?

And where do Slater and Rhyno really stand on Smackdown? Their late summer run to the titles was about as compelling a story in the entire company, but since then it’s been a bit anti-climactic. Setting the fact that the WWE missed an opportunity to really push this popular duo aside, can anyone really see them taking out the steamroller that is Orton and Wyatt?

So what this match comes down to is what feud makes more sense, in the long run, Orton versus Wyatt, or Orton and Wyatt as a villainous tandem. My guess is that the original plan was the former, but the reality is that the latter is the better story. I’m going with a title change.

Winners and New Champions: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton

Source: WWE.com

No Disqualification Match: Nikki Bella vs Carmella

I for one am interested to see how or if these two can ratchet up some violence. No one will ever mistake Carmella or Nikki for being extreme but throwing some weapons and trickery into a bout between them will not only help both women put on a solid match, but it’ll also help this somewhat stale feud come to a solid end.

Much like the other matches Sunday night, there are also some x-factors. The main one is the story line of what really happened to Nikki at Survivor Series. Shortly before the 10 woman elimination match, Nikki was struck down behind the scenes, rendering her unable to compete. Smart money pointed at “The Queen of Staten Island” who Bella had been feuding with for the previous 2 months as the culprit.

Enter the Natalya factor. The coach of the Smackdown team that night was clearly the biggest beneficiary of Nikki’s absence as she was subbed in for her in the match. Nattie has established herself as a top female heel on Smackdown and seems just as likely to be the attacker as Carmella.

My guess is that the no disqualification angle in this match is simply a tool for to initiate outside interference. That interference will be from Natalya on behalf of Carmella enabling the young New Yorker to score the victory.

Winner: Carmella

Credit: WWE.com

Chairs Match: Baron Corbin vs Kalisto

The feud between “The Lone Wolf” and “The King of Flight” has been surprisingly vicious. Now, it’s no shock to see Corbin dial up the mean, laying waste to Dolph Ziggler numerous times during the summer, but Kalisto? It’s been a welcome sight to see the luchador find his nefarious side, injuring Corbin last month forcing Baron’s removal from the Survivor Series match. Corbin followed that up by screwing Kalisto out of his Cruiserweight tile match at that same event.

So what this match comes down to is who can take the action to the extreme the most. Believe it or not, Kalisto has the experience factor in that department. He’s already competed in an Elimination Chamber and TLC match and has pension for taking dangerous chances. Use the below video as a reference.

This should be a solid tilt of two guys trying to take the next step off of the mid-card and it’s the always fun David vs Goliath fight. A Kalisto win wouldn’t be a total shock but the WWE is clearly very high on Corbin. Look for an especially brutal battle with Corbin as the victor.

Winner: Baron Corbin

WWE.com

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match: The Miz (c) vs Dolph Ziggler

Look, this has been a good feud. No doubt about it. But hasn’t it gone on long enough? 3 and a half months is a long time especially since it’s been so stunningly one-sided. Outside of his title win at No Mercy in October and his subsequent, yet meager 37-day championship reign, Ziggler seems to end up on the short side of the stick pretty consistently with Miz.

The in-ring action between these two is undeniable. All of their matches pack drama and excitement. It’s the perfect mix of heel and baby face as the ever-over Ziggler duels with the criminally underrated, cunning heel Miz that has delighted audiences everywhere they perform. But with that all being said, this war needs to conclude Sunday night and it should be a good one. As both former winners of the Money In The Bank briefcase, Ziggler and Miz are veterans of the ladder match and that will be on display Sunday.

The outcome of this match will be decided on what makes the most sense and another title switch between these two doesn’t make any. Expect a classic. A classic that sees Miz retain.

Winner and Still Champion: The Miz

WWE.com

Smackdown Women’s Title Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs Alexa Bliss

The match between Lynch and Bliss is a match that I predict will be one that we see on a number of pay per views in the years to come. Lynch, 29, and Bliss, 25, are full-fledged superstars that have the potential to be the top female wrestlers in the company for the next decade or so and as far as in-ring ability goes, are a dream match up.

Now, as much as the physical tools go, they’re close but their characters couldn’t be much more different. Lynch is the love-able, fiery baby face and Bliss, the angry, deceitful, griping heel. The mix of the two personas has produced a captivating program ever since Bliss became number one contender in October. Since then, it’s been a back and forth fight that has seen a scorned Bliss end up on the losing end through officiating gaffs. This has left Bliss salivating for the belt and it’s been nothing short of awesome.

Numerous title reigns are in the future of both of these women but only one can walk out of TLC as champ. Look for Bliss to pick up her first championship in fluky if not unfair fashion leaving this program to continue on into the new year.

WWE.com

WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles (c) vs Dean Ambrose

This has been fun, hasn’t it? But unfortunately, like most good things in life, the Styles/Ambrose feud will come to its completion Sunday night. This program has done wonders for the Smackdown brand, carrying the main event scene and shockingly turning the unknown, goofy looking James Ellsworth into a legit television character. The chemistry between Styles and Ambrose, both in and out of the ring, has been electrifying and Sunday’s blow-off match has the potential for greatness.

Being that TLC is the December pay per view for Smackdown, it’ll be the last show of it’s kind until the new year and the start of the push to Wrestlemania. So whoever walks out champion at TLC will be in line for some serious booking and high profile matches. Heck, people are already linking Styles to a program with The Undertaker.

Ambrose was a solid champion after grabbing the belt at Money In The Bank in June and carrying it until September, while in the process procuring the belt for the Smackdown brand. There’s no doubt that there are more title reigns in his future, but unfortunately for him, now is AJ Styles time. He walks out of Dallas still champ.

Winner and Still Champion: AJ Styles

How will these matches go down at the WWE TLC PPV?