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WWE TLC: Will James Ellsworth show up? Will AJ Styles play dirty?

All the key questions heading into Sunday's Smackdown PPV

WWE - AJ Styles
Image: AJ Styles will do anything to remain WWE World Champion

Smackdown's stars return to pay-per-view action on Sunday night at WWE TLC.

The main event in Dallas will see AJ Styles defend the WWE World Championship against Dean Ambrose in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

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There are also individual Table, Ladder and Chairs bouts set for the event, including the latest chapter in the heated Intercontinental Championship rivalry between The Miz and Dolph Ziggler.

Below Sky Sports WWE ponders the key questions that will be answered...

Will Styles venture to the dark side again?

Styles earned fans courtesy of his in-ring excellence - but he won the WWE World Championship, and has subsequently kept hold of it, via dodgy means, with The Phenomenal One's stint with the strap now in excess of 80 days.

WWE Smackdown - AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, James Ellsworth
Image: Dean Ambrose points at the prize he and Styles will be fighting for at TLC

Styles' reign began at Backlash in September when a low blow to Ambrose while the referee was down helped him dethrone The Lunatic Fringe, while he then pounced on discord between Ambrose and Cena to pin the former in a title defence on Smackdown.

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Then, in a Triple Threat at No Mercy, he overcame Ambrose and Cena after bringing a steel chair in play, before he dealt with the prospect of being toppled by the ultimate underdog James Ellsworth by getting himself disqualified. Will Styles uses nefarious tactics again on Sunday?

What role will Ellsworth play?

The last we saw of Ellsworth, he was being helped into an ambulance after receiving a Styles Clash off the steel steps on Tuesday's edition of Smackdown. Yet, if The Chinless Wonder is fit - and even if he is not - there must be a fair chance he shows his face in Dallas.

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Styles flexed his muscles ahead of TLC by smashing James Ellsworth into the steel steps with a Styles Clash.

For one, Ellsworth has become good pals with Ambrose - despite The Lunatic Fringe recently referring to him as a mutant - with his interference ultimately leading to Ambrose earning his title opportunity at Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

But the diminutive grappler is also in line for a shot at the winner, with his Ladder Match success over Styles on the blue brand a few weeks back not only seeing him secure a Smackdown contract but also garner a future tilt at the WWE World Championship.

Will Wyatt nab his first title?

Considering Bray Wyatt has battled WWE luminaries like Kane, The Undertaker, Randy Orton, John Cena, Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho since he appeared on the main roster in the summer of 2013, it seems rather odd that he is still waiting for his first championship.

WWE
Image: Bray Wyatt is still awaiting his first title in WWE

The Eater of Worlds tried to earn a WWE World Title shot over the summer - he was foiled by Dolph Ziggler on both occasions - but is now just one match away from becoming a Smackdown Tag Team Champion alongside new ally and frequent WWE title winner Randy Orton.

Wyatt and Orton fended off a spirited challenge from American Alpha on Tuesday night to secure a crack at Rhyno and Heath Slater and must fancy their chances at the weekend, with doubts over their teamwork quashed when they helped Team Smackdown beat Team Raw at Survivor Series - Orton eating a spear from Roman Reigns on Wyatt's behalf.

WWE TLC quiz
WWE TLC quiz

Test your tables, ladders and chairs knowledge

Will any other belts switch hands?

Besides the WWE World and Smackdown Tag Team Titles, two more straps will be up for grabs, with Women's Champion Becky Lynch defending against Alexa Bliss in a Tables Match and The Miz putting the Intercontinental crown on the line against Ziggler in a Ladder Match.

Bliss may have seized the psychological advantage over Lynch this week when she shoved the Irishwoman through a table, while the NXT graduate is also still smarting over the referee failing to notice her foot on the ropes when she tapped out to Lynch in her last title tilt in Glasgow.

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Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss' bickering led to the former being smashed through a table - and the pair being put in a Tables Match at TLC.

Miz versus Ziggler, meanwhile, should be a belter, not just because their rivalry has become laced with emotion and it could be their final skirmish for a while, but also because both competitors have Ladder Match pedigree, each previously winning a Money in the Bank contract.

How can I keep up to speed?

You can watch WWE TLC live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) from 1am on Sunday night (Monday morning). The show will cost £14.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.

You will also be able to follow a live blog of WWE TLC on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app from just after midnight on Sunday, as we bring you the build-up to the show, text commentary of all the matches and the best pieces of social media.

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YouTuber Delzinski reckons Ambrose will put Styles through a table at TLC - but will he also take the WWE World Title from him?

Then, on Monday morning, you will be able to watch some choice highlights of TLC across the Sky Sports platforms, as well as read our report.

TLC booking details

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) from 1am on Sunday, December 4 (Monday morning).

The pay-per-view will cost £14.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.

WWE TLC will repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, December 5 and 10pm on Tuesday, December 6.

You can order the show online by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=WWETLC

You can also book the event over the phone: UK viewers should call 03442 410 888, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).

You are also able to order the show via your Sky remote:

Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs

Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and then WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).

Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.

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