WWE SmackDown: Burning Questions to Address After November 29 Show

The Nov. 29 episode of WWE SmackDown did its job. It left fans curious and intrigued about what will unfold at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.

Will chinless underdog James Ellsworth affect the WWE World Championship match at Sunday's pay-per-view? He left SmackDown in an ambulance on Tuesday night, but chances are that a dramatic entrance is ahead.

What of the two women's bouts set for the PPV card? What level of violence can we expect from Nikki Bella and Carmella?

Will Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton defeat Heath Slater and Rhyno? Does WWE have a plan for Kane—at the upcoming event or otherwise?

These are the burning questions left unanswered after Tuesday's go-home show went off the air. Read on as we dive into each and look to make sense of the unknown.

How Will Ellsworth Impact the Main Event?

Ellsworth is still at the center of the rivalry between AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose.

On Tuesday's SmackDown, Styles had seen enough of Ellsworth. He attacked Ambrose's buddy, blasting him with a Styles Clash off the ring steps.

Medical staff carted Ellsworth away. Ambrose tried to comfort him.

Was this savage act simply a means to highlight Styles' villainy, or was it a precursor to something bigger at TLC? As much as Ellsworth has been involved in past collisions between these enemies, one has to guess that he will make a mark on the match on Sunday. 

But how?

Brad Stutts of CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling tweeted one possibility:

That's among the most probable scenarios. Ellsworth could also make a "surprise" appearance and limp out to the ring to assist Ambrose. The safe bet is that he will play a significant role in the headline bout.

WWE hasn't been willing to move on from the Ellsworth story just yet.

How Hardcore Will the Women Get?

Carmella and Bella are set to clash in a No Disqualification match. Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss will battle in a tables match for the SmackDown Women's Championship.

These types of gimmick matches are rare for women, but WWE has shown in 2016 that it's willing to blaze trails in that area.

On Tuesday, Carmella threatened to smash Bella with a chair. She promised to damage her face when they meet at TLC.

But how far is WWE willing to go in these two contests? Will they be watered-down versions of these bouts, or will they feature all the flesh-reddening, cringe-inducing action we're used to seeing from the men?

Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair have been heavy-handed in their recent slugfests. At Hell in a Cell, they left chairs bent. In their Falls Count Anywhere match on Monday's Raw, Banks shattered a Kendo stick against Flair's flesh.

Don't expect blood and absolute carnage, but things should get nasty when SmackDown's women get their turn to go to extremes.

Why Is WWE Building Up Kane?

Kane is winning, but it's not clear why.

The 49-year-old veteran is suddenly in the midst of a push. He knocked off Luke Harper on Tuesday night, marking his second victory over the Wyatt Family member in the last two weeks.

Kane also owns a handful of recent wins against Wyatt. While rookies like Apollo Crews are getting next to no TV time, a guy who has been around since the late '90s is getting momentum-building wins. 

The folks at Wrestling Inc are among those wondering what this is all leading to:

Neither Kane nor Harper is on the TLC card as of now. Will Kane continue to tangle with Harper, or does WWE have a grander plan for him?

Getting him going so that Baron Corbin can tear him down in a short while is a good idea. Just having him step all over the promising Harper with no purpose would be a mistake.

Let's hope WWE is leaning in the Corbin-building direction.

Is The Wyatt Family a Lock at TLC?

The story hasn't been about the champions of late. All the focus has been on the teams clamoring for a chance against Rhyno and Slater. 

After Tuesday, Wyatt and Orton own that spot. The Wyatt Family beat American Alpha on SmackDown to become the No. 1 contenders to the tag titles. 

Since Orton joined the backwoods crew, the faction has looked increasingly impressive. Orton and Wyatt led the way as Team SmackDown knocked off Team Raw at Survivor Series. They also notched a win in six-man action against Ellsworth, Ambrose and Kane.

All signs are pointing to Wyatt and Orton dethroning Beauty and The Man Beast.

But does WWE have another underdog victory in the works for Slater? Will WWE once again script a loss for Wyatt when the lights are bright?

It's hard to be assured of a Wyatt win when he's dropped so many key bouts during his career.

His rise as a monster will be fueled by feasting on Rhyno and Slater. That's the logical move at TLC. But logic is never a certainty in the squared circle.