Storylines
The event comprised seven matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show, that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the SmackDown brand,[6][7] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television show, SmackDown Live.[8]
At No Mercy, AJ Styles defeated both Dean Ambrose and John Cena to retain the WWE World Championship.[9] On the October 25 episode of SmackDown, Ambrose fought Styles to become the number one contender for the title, but James Ellsworth attacked Styles, causing Ambrose to be disqualified.[10] A rematch took place on the November 1 episode and Ambrose successfully defeated Styles, earning a title match at TLC,[11] for which Commissioner Shane McMahon scheduled it as a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.[12] At Survivor Series, Ambrose and Styles, both part of Team SmackDown, got into a heated argument during their Survivor Series elimination match against Team Raw. Ambrose attacked Styles, but was surprised by Braun Strowman, who scored a pinfall after a running powerslam; Styles did not attempt to break the pin. Later in the match, Ambrose returned to the ring to attack Styles and helped his former Shield partners Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to perform a triple powerbomb on Styles through a broadcast table, which enabled Rollins to eliminate Styles. On the following SmackDown, Ambrose was given the night off for his actions and Ellsworth was granted a SmackDown contract. AJ Styles criticized this decision, arguing that Ellsworth should earn his contract in a ladder match. Ellsworth accepted the challenge, with both his new contract and a future opportunity at the WWE World Championship on the line. Dean Ambrose, who had been repeatedly sent out of the arena, returned during the match and helped Ellsworth defeat Styles.[13] On the November 29 episode of SmackDown, Ambrose hosted his Ambrose Asylum with Ellsworth as the guest. Styles interrupted and attacked both, resulting in Ellsworth being taken away on a stretcher. Later, Ambrose attacked Styles backstage as the show ended.[14]
On the November 15 episode of SmackDown, The Miz, with help from Maryse, defeated Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship and then retained the championship at Survivor Series against Raw's Sami Zayn; this was an open challenge originally made by Ziggler before he lost the title to Miz.[15] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, following a controversial win over Kalisto, Miz was surprised by Ziggler, who hit him with a superkick. Later, General Manager Daniel Bryan scheduled The Miz to defend his championship against Ziggler at TLC in a ladder match.[13]
On the August 2 episode of SmackDown, Kalisto was injured by Baron Corbin.[16] Kalisto returned on the November 8 episode and was scheduled to face Corbin, but before the match could begin, Kalisto injured Corbin's knee, preventing Corbin from competing at Survivor Series. At that event, Kalisto was granted an opportunity for Raw's WWE Cruiserweight Championship; if Kalisto won, the cruiserweight division would transfer to SmackDown. However, Corbin interfered in the match, costing Kalisto the title and SmackDown the division.[17] On the following SmackDown, Kalisto received an Intercontinental Championship match against The Miz, but lost due to distraction by Corbin, who then executed End of Days on Kalisto. For interfering in both of Kalisto's championship matches and also costing SmackDown the cruiserweight division, he was scheduled to face Kane. During the match, Kalisto attacked Corbin.[13] Afterwards on Talking Smack, a chairs match between the two was scheduled for TLC.[18]
SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch was originally scheduled to defend the title against Alexa Bliss at No Mercy, but due to a legitimate out-of-ring injury, she was unable to compete and the match was rescheduled for the November 8 episode of SmackDown. Lynch won the match by submission, despite Bliss placing her foot on the rope.[19] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, Bliss demanded a rematch, to which Lynch agreed for TLC. Later that night, Bliss attacked Lynch, who had just defeated Natalya.[13] The following week during the contract signing, Lynch attacked Bliss but was eventually put through a table herself. At Bliss's request, their match was made a tables match.[14]
On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) became the number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship by defeating The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley), The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango), The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), and The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) in a Tag Team Turmoil match. However, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton (of The Wyatt Family), who had won the Survivor Series match for SmackDown's men's team, immediately challenged American Alpha to a match for the number one contender's spot the following week.[13] On the November 29 episode, Wyatt and Orton defeated American Alpha to become the number one contenders.[14]
At SummerSlam, Nikki Bella returned from injury and joined Natalya and Alexa Bliss to replace the suspended Eva Marie against Becky Lynch, Carmella, and Naomi. Nikki won the match for her team by pinning Carmella.[20][21] Carmella then attacked Nikki on the following SmackDown and the aftershow Talking Smack, beginning a long, heated rivalry between the two.[22] At Survivor Series, Nikki was the captain for Team SmackDown, which included Carmella, for the women's Survivor Series elimination match, but was kept out of the match when someone attacked her backstage.[17] On the November 22 episode of SmackDown, Nikki accused Carmella of being the attacker, which Carmella denied. Nikki added that regardless of who attacked her, she would settle her differences with Carmella at TLC in a no disqualification match.[13]
