TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2016)

TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs is an annual gimmick pay-per-view, generally produced every December by WWE since 2009. The concept of the show is based on the primary matches of the card each containing a stipulation using tables, ladders, and chairs as legal weapons, with the main event generally being a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. 2016 was the eighth event under the TLC chronology and was a SmackDown-branded event, following the reintroduction of the brand split in July.[2][3][1]

The card included seven matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by WWE's writers on the SmackDown brand.[4][5] Storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television show SmackDown Live.[6]

At No Mercy, AJ Styles defeated both Dean Ambrose and John Cena to retain the WWE World Championship.[7] On the October 25 episode of SmackDown, Ambrose fought Styles to become the number one contender for the title, but James Ellsworth attacked Styles, causing Ambrose to be disqualified.[8] A rematch took place on the November 1 episode and Ambrose successfully defeated Styles, earning a title match at TLC,[9] for which Commissioner Shane McMahon scheduled it as a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.[10] At Survivor Series, Ambrose and Styles, both part of Team SmackDown, got into a heated argument during their Survivor Series elimination match against Team Raw. Ambrose attacked Styles, but was surprised by Braun Strowman, who scored a pinfall after a running powerslam; Styles did not attempt to break the pin. Later in the match, Ambrose returned to the ring to attack Styles and helped his former Shield partners Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to perform a triple powerbomb on Styles through a broadcast table, which enabled Rollins to eliminate Styles.[11] On the following SmackDown, Ambrose was given the night off for his actions and Ellsworth was granted a SmackDown contract. AJ Styles criticized this decision, arguing that Ellsworth should earn his contract in a ladder match. Ellsworth accepted the challenge, with both his new contract and a future opportunity at the WWE World Championship on the line. Dean Ambrose, who had been repeatedly sent out of the arena, returned during the match and helped Ellsworth defeat Styles.[12] On the November 29 episode of SmackDown, Ambrose hosted his Ambrose Asylum with Ellsworth as the guest. Styles interrupted and attacked both, resulting in Ellsworth being taken away on a stretcher. Later, Ambrose attacked Styles backstage as the show ended.[13]

On the November 15 episode of SmackDown, The Miz, with help from Maryse, defeated Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship and then retained the championship at Survivor Series against Raw's Sami Zayn; this was an open challenge originally made by Ziggler before he lost the title to Miz.[14] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, following a controversial win over Kalisto, Miz was surprised by Ziggler, who hit him with a superkick. Later, General Manager Daniel Bryan scheduled The Miz to defend his championship against Ziggler at TLC in a ladder match.[12]

On the August 2 episode of SmackDown, Kalisto was injured by Baron Corbin.[15] Kalisto returned on the November 8 episode and faced Corbin; during the match, Kalisto injured Corbin's knee, preventing Corbin from competing at Survivor Series. At that event, Kalisto was granted an opportunity for Raw's WWE Cruiserweight Championship; if Kalisto won, the cruiserweight division would transfer to SmackDown. However, Corbin interfered in the match, costing Kalisto the title and SmackDown the division.[11] On the following SmackDown, Kalisto received an Intercontinental Championship match against The Miz, but lost due to distraction by Corbin, who then executed End of Days on Kalisto. For interfering in both of Kalisto's championship matches and also costing SmackDown the cruiserweight division, he was scheduled to face Kane. During the match, Kalisto attacked Corbin.[12] Afterwards on Talking Smack, a chairs match between the two was scheduled for TLC.[16]

SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch was originally scheduled to defend the title against Alexa Bliss at No Mercy, but due to a legitimate out-of-ring injury, she was unable to compete and the match was rescheduled for the November 8 episode of SmackDown. Lynch won the match by submission, despite Bliss placing her foot on the rope.[17] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, Bliss demanded a rematch, to which Lynch agreed for TLC. Later that night, Bliss attacked Lynch, who had just defeated Natalya.[12] The following week during the contract signing, Lynch attacked Bliss but was eventually put through a table herself. At Bliss's request, their match was made a tables match.[13]

On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) became the number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship by defeating The Hype Bros, The Ascension, Breezango, The Usos, and The Vaudevillains in a Tag Team Turmoil match. However, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton (of The Wyatt Family), who had won the Survivor Series match for SmackDown's men's team, immediately challenged American Alpha to a match for the number one contender's spot the following week.[12] On the November 29 episode, Wyatt and Orton defeated American Alpha to become the number one contenders.[13]

At SummerSlam, Nikki Bella returned from injury and joined Natalya and Alexa Bliss to replace the suspended Eva Marie against Becky Lynch, Carmella, and Naomi. Nikki won the match for her team by pinning Carmella.[18][19] Carmella then attacked Nikki on the following SmackDown and the aftershow Talking Smack, beginning a long, heated rivalry between the two.[20] At Survivor Series, Nikki was the captain for Team SmackDown, which included Carmella, for the women's Survivor Series elimination match, but was kept out of the match when someone attacked her backstage.[11] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, Nikki accused Carmella of being the attacker, which Carmella denied. Nikki added that regardless of who attacked her, she would settle her differences with Carmella at TLC in a no disqualification match.[12] On the November 29 episode, Carmella apologized to John Cena for what she would do to his girlfriend, Nikki Bella, at TLC. Frustrated, Nikki attacked Carmella, who managed to escape.[13]

During the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Kickoff pre-show, Apollo Crews, The Hype Bros (Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder), and American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) faced Curt Hawkins, The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), and The Vaudevillains (Simon Gotch and Aiden English). Jason Jordan won the match for his team by pinning Simon Gotch after performing "Grand Amplitude".[21]

The actual pay-per-view event opened with Heath Slater and Rhyno defending the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton). In the end, Rhyno attempted a "Gore" on Orton outside the ring, but Luke Harper pushed Orton, resulting in Harper receiving the "Gore" from Rhyno. Rhyno returned to the ring to face Wyatt who he believed was the legal man. Orton, however, surprised Rhyno with an "RKO" to win the championship.[22]

Next, Nikki Bella faced Carmella in a No Disqualification match. The match ended when Nikki sprayed Carmella with a fire extinguisher and performed a "Rack Attack 2.0" for the win. After the match, Carmella alleged that Natalya was the one that attacked Nikki at Survivor Series.[22]

After that, The Miz defended the Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler in a Ladder match. During the match, Miz targeted Ziggler's leg. Miz applied a Figure Four Leglock on Ziggler, whose leg was trapped in a ladder. As Ziggler climbed the ladder, Miz performed a Slingshot Powerbomb on Ziggler onto a ladder wedged in the corner. In the end, as Ziggler tried to retrieve the title belt, Miz attacked Ziggler with two low blows and retrieved the belt to retain the title.[22]

In the fourth match, Baron Corbin faced Kalisto in a Chairs match. Corbin executed the "End of Days" on Kalisto onto a pile of chairs to win the match.[22]

Next, Becky Lynch defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Alexa Bliss in a Tables match. The match ended when Lynch and Bliss fought on the ring apron above a table. After Bliss was pushed down to the floor, Bliss performed a Powerbomb on Lynch through the table to win the title.[22]

In the main event, AJ Styles defended the WWE World Championship against Dean Ambrose in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. During the match, Styles attempted a suplex through four chairs on Ambrose but Ambrose countered with a rolling release suplex through the chairs. Ambrose then set up a ladder on a broadcast table, from which he performed a diving elbow drop onto Styles through another broadcast table. Ambrose climbed the ladder to retrieve the title belt but Styles stopped him and then performed a Springboard "450 Splash" on Ambrose through a table set up outside the ring. Styles climbed the ladder but James Ellsworth appeared and distracted Styles. As Styles attacked Ellsworth, Ambrose stopped him and performed "Dirty Deeds" onto the ring steps. As Ambrose climbed the ladder to retrieve the belt, Ellsworth pushed the ladder, causing Ambrose to fall through tables set up outside the ring. Styles retrieved the title belt to retain the championship.[22]