This Sunday, WWE World Champion AJ Styles will defend his championship against Dean Ambrose in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at the pay per view of the same name. Will Styles retain? Will Ambrose earn his second run with the belt? Only one way to find out.
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TLC Preview: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose
And Still
Dean Ambrose is not walking away from TLC with the WWE World Championship. Not only did Ambrose only lose the championship three months ago, but when he was champion, he was underwhelming. While arguably the most entertaining superstar in the company when motivated, a complacent Ambrose is an frustratingly boring one. It was so frustrating that even the great “Stone Cold” Steve Austin mentioned that he believed Ambrose needed to turn it up on his podcast.
Styles must retain the WWE World Championship, if for no other reason than to add significance to a future match against the Undertaker or John Cena. Both competitors have been rumored as potential Wrestlemania opponents for Styles, and frankly, his feud with Ambrose has gotten stale. At points, it felt more like Styles was feuding with James Ellsworth or perhaps Daniel Bryan than with Ambrose.
The Ellsworth of It All
However, Styles is a heel. So while he must win, it’s for the best that he doesn’t win clean. There are a couple of ways that this can happen, despite the match being a free-for-all. I’ve broken down three ways, in order of least to most likely, that Styles can keep the belt while staying a bad guy.
Ace of Clubs
As we saw months ago at SummerSlam, AJ Styles is still very much aligned with tag team partners, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. The trio hasn’t been seen together since the August pay per view, and if they were to interfere, it wouldn’t cost Styles the match.
Dead Man Walking
The Undertaker appeared on SmackDown Live! before Survivor Series to warn Team Blue that if anyone cost SmackDown the match, they would answer to him. While Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt were able to keep the team alive at the prestigious pay per view, Ambrose did return to attack Styles. When Ambrose briefly reunited with Shield-mates Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns for the triple powerbomb, Styles was eliminated. Taker could interfere with the match, attacking Ambrose and costing him a title shot. Just imagine, Styles, fresh off Dirty Deeds, disposed on the ground, Lunatic Fringe climbing the ladder, and then… gong.
James the Jinx
As noted, Styles has spent more time wrestling James Ellsworth than Dean Ambrose lately. He’s been a tool in the feud, but one that has become very polarising with wrestling fans. Some think he’s hilarious. Some think he’s overstayed his welcome, but for the time being, he’s a member of the WWE roster.
It would be only fitting if Ellsworth cost Ambrose the title, ending the feud. Either by being a klutz, which we’ve already seen, or by turning heel. It’s much too soon for someone like Ellsworth to be turning heel, unless he’s going to become Styles’ lackey. But don’t be surprised if he gets involved in the match and alters the outcome.
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