WWE TLC 2016 Matches: Updated Card, Predictions for Event's Biggest Stars

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016 is the next big event for the company, and fans are preparing for another night of action. This event comes after the Survivor Series shocker that saw Goldberg beat Brock Lesnar in just 86 seconds, but TLC may not be that kind of night.

How could WWE ever top that surreal moment?

But Vince McMahon's company loves to create those memorable moments, and there is potential for fans to come away from TLC shaking their heads in utter disbelief. Focusing on the in-ring product is perhaps the best move here, as the card does feature the blue brand's top talents.

Among them is Nikki Bella, who is taking on Carmella in a No Disqualification match. Bella has been a target after Carmella turned heel, with the unproven Superstar looking to make a name for herself. It's an old play in professional wrestling, but it's one that works nearly every time.

Carmella wants to be the top star of the women's division, but she must take down a top star in order to get there.

Baron Corbin will face Kalisto in a chairs match. Corbin has attacked, harassed and bullied the smaller Superstar to the point that this match is now necessary. Corbin is bigger and stronger and will have the luxury of using chairs throughout the match. 

But the chair is an equalizer, which means Kalisto has a fighting chance to get the upset victory.

All eyes will be on the other four matches, which feature the main event stars from SmackDown. All four are championship matches, which means they have the primary spotlight. Each star involved in these title bouts has the potential to move forward and help their opponent move forward as well.

However, the gimmicks of TLC could enhance the matches or drag them down. The end result is up to the Superstars, who are tasked with getting their respective matches over. Fans will be watching, and they are the ones that will decide whether the night is a great success or a disappointing failure.

Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. The Wyatt Family (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

The Viper is a real snake in the grass after all.

Randy Orton has seemingly turned his back on the fans and is now a member of The Wyatt Family. Bray Wyatt's mind games have gotten the best of Orton, who is now looking to the darkness for his future.

That future may include the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

Heath Slater and Rhyno are the champs and may be a more unlikely duo than their TLC challengers. But Slater and Rhyno are over, and their tag team title reign should not end just yet. That means The Wyatt Family will go down at TLC, but how could it lose momentum now?

Maybe Wyatt should have never trusted a snake.

Orton needs to turn on his new family and cost it the tag titles. The Eater of Worlds has always prided himself on being the master psychologist, but it's Orton who has shown he loves to mentally destroy his opponents. Orton's surprising insistence on working with Wyatt makes no sense because there's no foundation for it.

Orton must show his hand at TLC.

The feud that will follow could splinter The Wyatt Family forever. Luke Harper is caught in the middle, Erick Rowan is nowhere to be found and Braun Strowman is part of the Raw roster. Once Wyatt finds himself alone with The Viper, chaos will ensue.

Wyatt will be forced to face his fears and answer for his transgressions. Orton is the man who will bring judgment day to TLC.

Prediction: Heath Slater and Rhyno.

Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss (Tables Match, SmackDown Women's Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss have a lot to live up to.

The Raw women's division is killing it right now, thanks to the work of Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair. Every time fans think the two women can't top themselves, they do just that. Though their feud will likely go on break for now, the fact is that WWE can always revisit it and have success.

Now the spotlight needs to shine on SmackDown.

Lynch has been doing a great job as the SmackDown women's champion. However, she has not had those main event moments that make her stand out as a top player on the blue brand.

Fans respect and appreciate her, but they're likely waiting for her to catch up to her Raw counterparts.

TLC may be the night when that happens. Lynch and Bliss have chemistry and a good feud, and they're getting over with fans. If they show up at TLC and steal the show, then they will have made a real statement on women's wrestling in WWE.

After all, Raw shouldn't be the only game in town.

The fact that this is a tables match makes it that much more important. Working main events on TV and pay-per-views were historic moments for women's wrestling, but it's not over yet. The tables gimmick will bring the intensity for fans while allowing Lynch and Bliss the opportunity to step up at TLC.

But this match should go to Lynch. 

The champ has come too far and is too good to lose the belt now. Perhaps Bliss can reach the point where she will be ready to take the reins, but that time is likely not now.

Prediction: Becky Lynch

The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler (Ladder Match, Intercontinental Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

How many times will Dolph Ziggler end up as the odd man out?

That's been his fate for so long now that fans expect it to happen. Every time it seems he's getting ahead, he ends up taking a step back. He's considered to be one of the best hands in WWE, but he consistently continues to come in second place.

But TLC must change all of that.

This must be the night when Ziggler finally overcomes. This must be the moment when he wins the match, regains the WWE Intercontinental Championship and keeps it. Despite how good The Miz is at what he does, there's just no reason why Ziggler can't be put back into position with championship gold.

He's far too valuable to the company, as he's still capable both in the ring and on the mic. 

This is Ziggler's time to shine, and this match could steal the show at TLC. The two men have great chemistry and always put on top-notch contests; the same should be true when they meet in this ladder match.

Fans can only speculate why WWE chooses to keep booking Ziggler to lose or come up short. The truth behind it may never be known. But the company can do the right thing now by booking him to go over at TLC and finally have a great intercontinental title run.

The Miz will still be relevant, and he will still be a viable contender for whichever title he challenges for. He may even jump ship and go back to Raw, where he can have a chance to do something different. 

Either way, this is not about hurting him; it's more about helping Ziggler. He's earned this win, and he should get it.

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler

Aj Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (TLC Match, WWE World Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

This is the big one.

Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles may not be on the same level as Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar, but it is a TLC match for the top championship in WWE. That means it should be the most important bout of the night. The only question is what role James Ellsworth will play.

More importantly, how long will this storyline drag on?

Ellsworth will intentionally or inadvertently cost Ambrose the WWE World Championship. Nothing else makes any sense. To imagine The Lunatic Fringe winning the belt smoothly and then celebrating with Ellsworth just doesn't seem logical.

In both scenarios, Ellsworth will be the one to blame. But whether WWE is willing to turn Ambrose heel right now is unclear, and Ellsworth may not seem like the type to do it at all. So either direction is possible, and now it's up to WWE Creative.

But the fact is that Styles should retain at TLC. 

He could keep the championship into 2017 so that he can face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. It's a match Styles deserves and one that would add to his growing WWE legacy. He doesn't necessarily need the title for the match to work, but Taker becoming the new champ might be a possibility WWE can't resist.

Ambrose is an established main event player and could regain the title whenever WWE sees fit, but TLC should be The Phenomenal One's night.

Prediction: AJ Styles

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.