WWE TLC 2016: Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to PPV

As WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016 approaches, the SmackDown Live brand has provided fans with several strong storylines to track heading into the Dec. 4 extravaganza.

From championship rivalries to heated personal feuds, the show will be home to some of the most passionate matches in all of WWE.

AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Becky Lynch and Nikki Bella are just a few of the premier stars from the brand who will leave their marks on the penultimate SmackDown pay-per-view of 2016.

What are the most intriguing storylines fans should track on the road to the spectacular?

Take a look with this exclusive preview.

5. Who Attacked Nikki Bella?

Nikki Bella was slated to be the leader of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series, captaining four other female competitors in a battle for brand supremacy against Team Raw.

Unfortunately, she was attacked backstage and refused entry into the bout by company doctors. Natalya, the team's "coach," replaced her and failed to pick up the win for the blue brand.

Quick to point blame at rival Carmella, Bella found out it was not The Princess of Staten Island who left her unable compete. So it begs the question: Who was it?

All signs point to Natalya, who found her way into the match as a result of Bella's injury. Still, without absolute certainty, the mystery remains and could be answered as soon as the Dec. 4 PPV.

4. The Miz and Daniel Bryan's Intensifying Rivalry

With every passing week, the issues between Daniel Bryan and The Miz intensify.

Beginning with The Miz's berating of the former WWE champion during an episode of Talking Smack and continuing with the intercontinental champion's mockery of his general manager's move set, the issues have mounted to the point where a match almost has to come out of it.

At TLC, The Miz will defend his IC title against Dolph Ziggler in a ladder match set up by Bryan.

If The Miz loses the gold, expect him to blame it on Bryan, furthering their feud and setting in motion the presumed match.

3. Alexa Bliss' Championship Aspirations

The most underrated story in WWE is Alexa Bliss' chase of Becky Lynch's SmackDown Women's Championship.

The former NXT standout has been outstanding, making the absolute most of the opportunity that has been presented to her. Her in-ring performances are finally starting to match her unrivaled facial expressions and body language, and now, she is poised to have her breakout moment against Lynch at TLC.

Lynch, conversely, has quietly been the most consistent performer to come out of the Women's Revolution. She is a great performer who understands the value of the babyface comeback, as seen by her surges late in matches.

Their chemistry is strong, and their match on Dec. 4 may be a dark-horse candidate to steal the show if they are given enough time and are not held back by any booking decisions.

2. The Continuation of Randy Orton's Immersion into The Wyatt Family

Randy Orton earned the trust of Bray Wyatt at Survivor Series, taking a spear for him that allowed Wyatt to score the victory for Team SmackDown.

Now setting their sights on the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, the duo appears stronger and more cohesive than ever.

Is Orton toying with Wyatt, luring him into a false sense of security before striking with an RKO...outta nowhere?

That is what makes the ongoing story so interesting.

Has Orton embraced his inner darkness, joining Wyatt to make for an unstoppable force of evil, or is it a plan concocted by one of WWE's most storied manipulators to get the last laugh on The Reaper of Souls?

1. Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles

The rivalry between AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose has been the marquee rivalry of SmackDown Live since the Tuesday after SummerSlam, dominating the airwaves on Tuesday nights.

On Dec. 4, the two Superstars will presumably bring their rivalry to a head in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the WWE world title.

The rivalry, which intensified at Survivor Series as Ambrose reunited with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to put Styles through an announce table, has provided fans with several entertaining moments.

The culmination to the program and the lengths to which each Superstar will go to provide an extraordinary performance make their match the most intriguing on the card.

Factor in the James Ellsworth saga, and you have the most complete story on the show.