The dust has barely settled from an explosive Survivor Series show a couple of weeks back, and yet we have already arrived at another go-home show on SmackDown Live. With TLC this Sunday, what surprises did WWE’s blue brand have in store, before their final brand-exclusive pay-per-view of the year?
This Tuesday’s show was headlined by Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton facing American Alpha, with the winners going on to face Heath Slater & Rhyno for the Tag Team Championships on Sunday; but the matter of the WWE World Championship also had to be addressed before Sunday.
Would James Ellsworth continue to be a thorn in AJ Styles’ side, or would this be the week where Ellsworth finally get his comeuppance?
#1 Bliss puts Becky through a table
SmackDown Live began this week with Renee Young in the ring, ready to oversee the Smackdown Women’s Championship match contract signing, between Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch.
While not feeling anywhere near as prestigious as Raw’s Women’s Championship, the feud between Alexa and Becky has been good, and the fans seem invested in their match at TLC and are eagerly anticipating the outcome.
The build to Sunday’s bout continued with some verbal back and forth, between Champion and challenger, and was turned up a notch, when the inevitable brawl ensued and ended with Alexa Bliss putting Becky through a table.
Can Alexa get the upper hand again on Sunday and walk out of TLC as Smackdown Women’s Champion?
#2 Kalisto & Dolph vs. Corbin & Miz ends in DQ
Prior to their matches on Sunday, Baron Corbin and The Miz teamed up to face their respective TLC opponents in Kalisto and Dolph Ziggler.
The match didn’t last long and soon broke down when Maryse hit Ziggler with a ladder behind the referee’s back before Corbin attacked Kalisto with a steel chair, which led to disqualification.
Will Kalisto continue to show a more vicious side on Sunday and exact some revenge on Corbin?
And in their final encounter, will it be The Miz or Ziggler who succeed in their ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship?
#3 Orton challenges Harper
The unlikely union of Randy Orton and The Wyatt Family has benefited all men involved and has injected some much-needed intrigue into all of their characters. That continued this week when Randy Orton, challenged Luke Harper to do what needed to be done in his match against Kane.
Harper clearly isn’t happy taking orders from Orton, but listened to Bray when he told him to “send Kane back to Hell”. The dynamic between Harper & Orton, in particular, is interesting and it will be fun to see how this plays out over the coming weeks and months.
#4 Carmella & Nikki brawl…again
As has been a common sight during their feud, Carmella and Nikki Bella once again ended up brawling and being pulled apart by officials. The mentions of John Cena by Carmella have added a bit more spice to this feud over the last few weeks, but overall it is beginning to grow tiresome.
Hopefully, this Sunday will be the end of this rivalry, and the two women will go their separate ways after TLC.
#5 Ellsworth on Ambrose Asylum
Smackdown Live’s newest signing, James Ellsworth, was Dean Ambrose’s guest on this week’s edition of the ‘Ambrose Asylum’. Ellsworth spoke about how he earned himself not just a Smackdown contract, but also a future World Title shot when he defeated AJ Styles last week.
However, would he challenge Styles or Dean Ambrose in that Championship match? This predictably led to Styles interrupting proceedings and attacking both men. Styles would take out Dean Ambrose before turning his attention to Ellsworth and…
#6 Styles destroys Ellsworth
It’s been a long time coming, but AJ Styles finally got his hands on James Ellsworth and brutally beat the newest SmackDown Live signee. Styles beat him with whatever he could get his hands on, before hitting Ellsworth with a devastating ‘Styles Clash’, off the stairs to the ringside floor.
This looked brutal and ended in Ellsworth being taken out of the arena in an ambulance. Does this mean that Styles & Ambrose will be able to finish their feud by going one-on-one on Sunday in their TLC match? Let’s hope so.
#7 Harper fails
As previously mentioned, Luke Harper was tasked with sending Kane back to hell by both Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton earlier in the night, but could he succeed?
The answer is no. Kane was victorious over Harper in their match and brought Harper’s worth to the Wyatt Family into question. Does this mean there will be repercussions for Harper for failing in his task? If so, will the punishment come at the hands of Randy Orton?
#8 Table match for Women’s Championship
Renee Young would catch up with SmackDown Live Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch outside the trainer’s room and inform her that, after what took place earlier in the night, Alexa Bliss wants their Title match on Sunday to be a Table match.
Becky admitted that she wasn’t 100% after being put through a table, but said that Alexa could have whatever match she wants.
Becky went on to vow that this Sunday, she will “get revenge on that little b****”.
#9 Bray & Orton earn Tag Title shot
In this week’s main event, Bray & Orton would defeat American Alpha to earn themselves a Tag Team Championship opportunity, against Heath Slater & Rhyno at this Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view.
The finish came after Luke Harper, who appeared at ringside to try and redeem himself for his loss earlier in the night, saved Bray from an attack from Jason Jordan, which allowed Bray to hit ‘Sister Abigail’ on Jordan for the victory. Will this be enough to save Harper from any punishment for his earlier failings?
And is there any chance that Slater & Rhyno can defeat the seemingly unstoppable Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton at TLC?
#10 Ambrose & Styles brawl as show goes off air
Dean Ambrose left the arena with James Ellsworth earlier in the night and blamed himself for Ellsworth’s beating, all the while promising that he would make things right. He returned to the building and tracked down AJ Styles and the two brawled backstage as SmackDown Live went off the air.
With Ellsworth seemingly out of the picture for this Sunday, will we finally see who ‘the man’ is on SmackDown Live?
Who do you think will walk out of TLC as WWE World Champion? Let us know in the comments below.
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