The WWE is going to wreck a whole lot of furniture this weekend as superstars collide at TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs), Smackdown Live’s final PPV of the year. The show will feature plenty of gimmick matches, which usually translates to a lot of fun for the fans.
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ComicBook.com has assembled a team of wrestling experts to vote on the winners of each match at Survivor Series and explain their decisions. So check out our best guesses and be sure to share yours in the comments below!
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella in a No Disqualification Match
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Nikki Bella (3 – 2)
Lan Pitts: In the immortal words of Will Arnett in Hot Rod “Oh my God, who cares?” They have fudged Carmella since breaking up with Enzo and Cass and she should have been a package deal. Nikki is fine, I guess, but Carmella needs SOMETHING for us to root or boo her, but the lack of any reaction when her music hits is deafening.
Chris Killian: I’ve got Nikki for this one. I haven’t been enamored with Carmela at all since coming to the main roster.
Lucas Siegel: Carmela wins after interference by Nattie, finally revealing that it was she who attacked Nikki backstage at Survivor Series. Nattie attacks Carmela after, too, for good measure.
Jim Viscardi: Carmela seems the best suited for a no DQ match, but because of that I think Nikki comes away with the win.
Christian Hoffer: This is one of those feuds that should have ended last month. Carmella wins, but only because Smackdown needs more credible heels and Becky needs someone besides Alexa to feud with until Wrestlemania.
Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin in a Chairs Match
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Kalisto (4-3)
Dallas Jackson: WWE is all in with 205 Live and so they need to build some street cred and that means Kalisto will get the win for the lighter weights.
Brandon Gnetz: Is it too late to change this to a Hair match? The only thing more fleeting than a Baron Corbin push is Baron Corbin’s hairline. I’m bald. I know the signs when I see them. Regardless of the stipulation, the one man wolfpack wins.
Lan Pitts: Oh, Baron Corbin. They tried so hard to make you a thing. Kalisto needs to get over to keep the ball rolling on his solo career and to also validate that the cruiserweights are no laughing matter.
Lucas Siegel:Let’s hear it for the little guy. Hopefully Kalisto can pull this off so that Corbin’s complete delegitimizing of the entire Cruiserweight Division doesn’t gain any ground.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) vs. Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton (7-0)
Christian Hoffer: One of the sad things about underdog stories in wrestling is that they eventually have to end. Heath Slater did great work after the brand split and got rewarded for it, but now it’s time for him to die at the altar of the Wyatt Family. American Alpha needs a solid opponent and the Wyatt/Orton combo should give them all they can handle.
Lucas Siegel: The Wyatt “family” wins and legitimizes my least favorite stable in wrestling. I sit in a corner weeping for five minutes. Wouldn’t be surprised by some American Alpha interference gone wrong here, just to keep them in the conversation.
Chris Killian: Unless Orton turns on Bray, I see no way no how they can keep the belts on Slater and Rhyno.
Lan Pitts: I’m not going to lie here: I freakin’ love the Wyatt Family. I might be the loner here, but I love bizarre gimmicks. The Wyatts are more than just generic dude in trunks #3, 349 and I think it works in this day and age as they really stand out. Anyways, once Wyatt/Orton win, I want them to go full bat nuts crazy with Orton. Why, yes. Randy does hear voices in his head. Oh, he’s some reincarnated snake god that the Wyatt cult worship? I’m 1000% here for that. Plus, this will be Bray’s first WWE gold and it’s about time.
Brandon Gnetz: They’ve finally given the Wyatts some direction. The tag team championships seems a little pedestrian for someone wanting to rule the world, but I guess it’s a good start.
Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Ladders Match
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Dolph Ziggler (4-3)
Brandon Gnetz: NO! NO! NO! Why do I have to keep predicting Miz vs Ziggler matches? Is this wrestling purgatory? Ziggler wins, I guess, but probably loses it the next week for no apparent reason.
Jim Viscardi: Oh come on! Miz needs to move on from the IC title – I think he’s done a pretty good job elevating it – but give it to Ziggler so WWE can try and push someone else up to the IC Level. We need one more Miz World Title run.
Chris Killian: The Miz retains with further assistance from Maryse. And they should keep the strap on this golden couple until they decide he’s ready for another run at the WWE title.
The Miz just got the strap back and as a heel champ he is really fun. Dolph, poor Dolph, just can’t get the breaks he needs. This could be a really fun match to watch as well. I look for the Miz to win a solid showing.
Lucas Siegel:Ziggler gets the title back as a thank you for letting The Miz outperform him at Survivor Series – The Miz is due for a World Championship storyline here (and would be WAY more interesting than what they’ve been doing), and giving up the Intercontinental in favor of that makes sense.
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Alexa Bliss in a Tables Match
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Becky Lynch (4-3)
Dallas Jackson: There is a serious swell that the women’s title changes hands too much and so some consistency would be nice — earmarking this as a Lynch win. However, I am such a fan of Alexa that I openly root for the title to continue being passed around.
Lan Pitts: I wish I could say I liked Becky. Becky has deserved all of this momentum, but she’s gotten real stale real fast. Alexa has definitely come into her own as of late and we’re sure the Harley gimmick didn’t hurt. It would be good to see the belt put on some new blood and help make Bliss all that much bigger of a star, but Becky’s reign isn’t over yet so bet on red to go over and retain.
Jim Viscardi: I think it’s time for Alexa Bliss to shine as champ – love Becky but i’d like to see her fight to win it back.
Lucas Siegel: Inclined to pick dark horse Alexa Bliss for two reasons: the heel champion bias, and because Women’s championships change hands more frequently than dollar bills.
Christian Hoffer: Alexa Bliss has really shone during this feud, but she’s not quite ready to be a champion. Becky Lynch retains, but look for Alexa to make a big impact on the women’s division in 2017.
WWE World Championship Match: AJ Styles (c) vs. Dean Ambrose in a TLC Match
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: AJ Styles (7-0)
Christian Hoffer: I love Dean Ambrose and I love this feud, but I can’t see how he wins this thing. It makes way more sense for AJ Styles to hold the belt until John Cena decides to take it off of him…preferably at Wrestlemania next spring.
Brandon Gnetz: This should be the blow off to their feud, but I have no idea who is next in line for a championship opportunity. I expect James Ellsworth to hobble out in a full body cast and have his IV accidentally bump into the ladder, causing Ambrose to crash into 7 tables. AJ retains.
Dallas Jackson: Hopefully with James Ellsworth being dead there won’t be some stupid antics to interrupt the match and Styles wins. They have to start rebuilding BOTH of these characters as Ellsworth has done damage (perhaps irreparable) to each as Styles has three wins over Cena and three losses to Ellsworth — which is a clown story — while Ambrose has become a bit of a joke, too. This match had best be good.
Chris Killian: Dean Ambrose as a main event guy thus far has been a dud. I see AJ retaining. I also sense very soon (possibly after the match) an encounter with a certain deadman setting up for a title match at the Royal Rumble.
Lan Pitts: I think I might be the only one at ComicBook that actually enjoys this feud. What’s not to love about this? Dean and AJ actually feels like a classic main event. They have contrasting styles but share a similar history in their journey to the WWE. True, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart this ain’t, but they’ve really given their all (despite the Ellsworth factor). I’d love to see Dean at the top of the class once again, but AJ is going over and main eventing the Rumble.
