From The "Mind" of The Stronghold...

My First Thoughts on TLC 2016...

Nikki Bella vs Carmella
No Disqualification Match
(WINNER - Carmella)

The one point everyone seems to have overlooked about the interlude in this feud is Nikki's assailant at Survivor Series (i.e. Natalya), which has yet to be resolved on-screen. I see Nikki perhaps taking things "too far" during the No-DQ match in the eyes of the self-proclaimed "Smackdown Coach" Nattie and she comes out to put a stop to it, only to lay Nikki out so that Carmella picks up the pinfall and moves on to face Becky as the next title challenger.


Heath Slater & Rhyno vs New Wyatts
Smackdown Tag Team Championship
(WINNER - New Wyatts)

Not afraid to admit I'd been dead wrong about Survivor Series, where I thought Orton would pull the trigger on Bray. It's clear we're getting the slow-burn for Orton here that WWE intended for Bryan and the Wyatts in 2014 before his overwhelming fan support and Punk's walkout completely washed it out.

I COULD go with a DQ win for Slater & Rhyno, but I've been partial to the idea of Bray FINALLY holding some gold (i.e. silver) in WWE for a long time. It simply feels like the Rhyn0-Slater pairing's starting to lose gas as the top team on Smackdown, not to mention there's already a surefire feud for the Wyatts in the form of American Alpha, who have been far overdue for a run at the tag titles since their draft to the blue brand.

Smackdown's got a good "evil" thing going with Randy seemingly having bought into Bray's doctrine and going above and beyond to prove his loyalty and mettle, so why pull the plug now when it's getting good?


Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss
Smackdown Women's Championship
Tables Match
(WINNER - Becky Lynch)

Normally, with a no-pin-required stip like a table match, it wouldn't be entirely unfounded to have Alexa pull off an upset, or even unprecedented since the same happened with Sheamus' first WWE Title win over Cena in '09.

That being said, though, it's still too soon in Becky's maiden voyage with the blue strap to drop it to Alexa. However, I do applaud the Smackdown writing team for putting emphasis behind their personal feud and the importance of the championship rather than over-hype the "historical first" of a one-on-one Women's Tables Match.


Baron Corbin vs Kalisto
Chairs Match
(WINNER - Baron Corbin)

Kalisto more or less got his pound of flesh from Corbin already, injuring him enough to cost him a spot and a payday from a high-profile match at Surivor Series. More of a gut feeling than anything, but I feel Corbin should dominate here and remain on a tear going into the 2017 Rumble so that he'll look like a considerable threat.


The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler
Intercontinental Championship
Ladder Match
(WINNER - The Miz)

Said it in episodes past and I'll say it again; there's far more upside to Miz as the unbearable primadonna titleholder in a constant tit-for-tat feud with GM Daniel Bryan, using absolutely any, ANY means to hold onto the championship and bring its "prestige" to an all-time high. Meanwhile, I'd be even more fascinated to see how Ziggler's character progresses after going full-tilt against Miz and coming up just short.

As for the match itself, I actually think that Maryse (and possibly the Spirit Squad) will get involved early too often and get the boot, but it'll ultimately come down to Ziggler making the crucial mistake of being the ultimate showman to get one last big move in on Miz, only to miss, allowing Miz to retain.


AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose
WWE World Championship
TLC Match
(WINNER - AJ Styles)

Much in the same vein as Ziggler having a possible breakdown following his match, I see the same happening for Ambrose when Ellsworth triumphantly returns and not-so-triumphantly costs Ambrose the match by accident. This leads to Ambrose's heel turn and subsequent unhinged beatdown of Ellsworth, who's such a pitiable, sympathetic character by this point that the crowd will turn on Ambrose the moment he decks Ellsworth in the not-chin.

Aside from that, I see Styles' celebration being cut short by a certain Phenom...or perhaps we'll see Taker make the save on Ellsworth to set up a program with a deranged Ambrose. Either scenario (Taker vs. Styles, Taker vs. Ambrose) would work well for me, as a Styles feud could stem from Taker taking offense to Styles' words that he runs the blue brand, where as its been Taker's "yard" for many years.

As far as Ambrose goes, it could simply be that Taker is protecting Ellsworth, who exemplifies the "heart and soul" that the Phenom and Smackdown are all about, or they could take it a step further with Shane McMahon, who's grown tired of Ambrose's cornball antics and wanton disrespect and looks to his WM 32 rival to get the Lunatic Fringe in line.

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Keep Your Minds Open!
Mine is closed, for now...

"Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
- Swami Sivananda