WWE TLC 2016 Results: Most Memorable Moments from PPV Event

WWE: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016 was a night of memorable moments. From high spots to brutality with steel, the best of the best on the SmackDown Live roster fought in battles that seemed poised to end some of the first longstanding rivalries on the newly divided WWE brand.

As with every year at TLC, phenomenal spots were aplenty on this show, with almost every match including weapons and carnage. Still, certain moments rose above the rest in terms of lasting effect.

Many new stars arose, particularly when Kalisto and Baron Corbin battled in a chairs match. Multiple first-time champions were crowned, leaving SmackDown with fresh blood at the top and many disgruntled former champions. AJ Styles alone was a highlight reel with how many times he went for broke to defend his championship.

Just whittling down this show to its foundation is difficult with how great it was from start to finish, but make no mistake—there were outstanding moments that will define SmackDown going forward.

The following are the biggest moments from all the top matches at WWE TLC 2016 based on their impacts on the show, shock value and potential to cause major shifts on SmackDown going forward.

Luke Harper Saves Randy Orton to Seal a Win for The Wyatt Family

Credit: WWE.com

The new Wyatt Family had gotten off to a rocky start due to the growing tension between Bray Wyatt's old compatriot, Luke Harper, and his new darling, Randy Orton. While Harper was uncertain of Orton's allegiances, The Viper questioned Harper's ability to get the job done.

At TLC, they both proved their worth to one another, as Harper saved Orton from a Gore on the outside, which allowed the 12-time world champion to quickly return to the ring and RKO Rhyno to seal the victory. It was only through complete cohesion that this all-star pairing of talent could overcome the first-ever SmackDown tag team champions.

As this story between the members of The Wyatt Family continues, this will remain an important moment for the group, as it was both the showcase of its dominance and Wyatt's first championship victory, proving his family could be in the most dominant position it has ever been.

The Miz Berates Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan After His Victory

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz has been working at another level on the mic and in the ring lately, and his ladder match with Dolph Ziggler was just another example. Miz came out the other side of a high-intensity contest yet still managed to cut a perfect promo on the loser and on general manager Daniel Bryan. He even continued to sell his injuries as he did so.

Miz thanked Bryan for the motivation he had given to him to succeed and demanded more respect than ever before. While Ziggler lay outside the ring, struggling to rise, Miz also put in a few final digs at his longtime rival to make clear he was done with this chapter in his championship reign.

While Miz continues to showcase how good he has gotten in the ring, his mic skills are still his most potent weapon, showing he may just be the best all-around performer going right now with a fire behind his words and actions that seem indomitable.

Baron Corbin Swats Kalisto out of the Air with a Steel Chair to Stop His Rally

Credit: WWE.com

While a whole match cannot be considered a single moment, the battle that Baron Corbin and Kalisto waged at TLC was a star-making showcase that helped define the entire PPV. The two creatively utilized their surroundings to the fullest and proved they were ready for the time and spotlight they were given.

The biggest moment of the match was when Kalisto seemed destined for victory, only to run right into a chair from Corbin. The brutal headshot was so vicious to watch that it sold the fact that Kalisto was completely out cold, making the following End of Days unnecessary brutality by Corbin.

This was not a match that showcased the two men's technical or athletic prowess, but it showed perfectly how well they could create and develop spots. This spot was a perfect send-off to an excellent match, with Corbin making a statement to the entire roster that he is ready for the next step.

Alexa Bliss Captures Her First Championship and Leaves Becky Lynch Distraught

Many major championships switched hands this past week, but no win was more shocking and momentum-shifting than Alexa Bliss' victory over Becky Lynch. Since she was signed in 2013, Bliss has gone from having no experience to becoming one of the top stars in the women's division, making her one of the biggest WWE Performance Center success stories to date.

Still, she was going up against one of the best in the business, with Lynch seeming destined to run SmackDown's women's division. Lynch looked to be the absolute best woman on SmackDown by a wide margin. Bliss' clean victory over The Lass Kicker showed how quickly she has grown and how important it is for WWE to keep pushing its women forward.

The moment of Bliss winning was capped off by an attempted interview with Lynch, who sealed how powerful this moment was by putting precious few words to her frustration. She emphasized how huge it was for her to fall off the mountaintop after such a long road to get there in the first place.

It is moments like this that will help solidify the unique identity of SmackDown's women's division, as both Bliss and Lynch grew as stars in a match with a shocking result.

AJ Styles Hits a Springboard 450 Splash Through a Table

Credit: WWE.com

TLC matches are always good for some fantastic spots, but nothing in the match—or on the whole show, for that matter—could compare to Styles' springboard 450 splash. While the move has always been impressive to behold, The Phenomenal One made it look easy to adjust the move to land outside and brutally slam Dean Ambrose through a table.

Throughout their match, Ambrose and Styles seemed most focused on inflicting pain rather than pulling off huge ladder spots. This made this spot even more impressive, as it was an exclamation mark on a contest that built toward its biggest moments. Everyone was in awe after this spot.

On a night of death-defying stunts, Styles once again helped solidify his legacy as the best in-ring performer in the business right now with a move that few WWE stars could ever pull off.

James Ellsworth Betrays Dean Ambrose

James Ellsworth has been an integral part of the WWE World Championship feud on SmackDown for months now. His underdog story of gaining a contract by outshining Styles with the blatant help of Ambrose made him a fan favorite without anyone having to suspend disbelief with his limited move set.

When Ellsworth came out to interfere at TLC, everyone expected him to help Ambrose, the man who had carried him to his opportunities in WWE. Instead, the newcomer betrayed his friend, knocking him off a ladder and through two tables in order to seal a victory for the man who had tormented Ellsworth, Styles.

It was a shocking turn that made for a huge moment on a show that kept most of its stories simple and focused. Ellsworth would later reveal on Talking Smack that he turned on Ambrose because he believed he had Styles' number and would win the championship from him on SmackDown this week.

Adding this final wrinkle to Ellsworth's character showed him as a more complex—if more dimwitted—star, and it may have just been the push Ambrose needed to go off the deep end, as he was once more stabbed in the back by a friend.