WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 7

The March 7 episode of SmackDown Live hit the USA Network airwaves promising a No. 1 contender would be crowned, as Randy Orton and AJ Styles did battle in the night's main event.

It was, as The Viper downed The Phenomenal One to cash his ticket to The Showcase of the Immortals.

It was not the only meaningful segment of television fans witnessed Tuesday night.

John Cena and Nikki Bella teamed for the first time, battling James Ellsworth and Carmella.

What did The Miz and Maryse have in store for their budding rivals?

The WWE Universe found out, as The Hollywood A-lister let his voice be heard, cutting a scathing promo on the leader of the Cenation and his significant other.

What else went down on the broadcast?

Take a look with this recap of Tuesday's show.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan Clear Up Championship Cluster

Credit: WWE.com

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan kicked off the show, welcoming fans to SmackDown Live.

They argued over whether Randy Orton or AJ Styles deserved the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

It went on.

And on.

And on—to the point that it felt as though the authority figures were sent to the ring to waste time, the show running short on segments.

It eventually wrapped up with Bryan and McMahon reiterating that the match between Orton and Styles would main-event the show.

Grade

D-

Analysis

There are a lot of meaningless segments on WWE television, but this took the proverbial cake.

Besides video packages recapping events fans have already seen, this was a ridiculous waste of time that did nothing but advertise a match that was announced long before Tuesday's broadcast.

A complete and utter waste of time.

John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. James Ellsworth and Carmella

For the first time ever, John Cena and Nikki Bella teamed up to battle Carmella and James Ellsworth.

Just as the bell rang, The Miz and Maryse made their way to the ringside area. This distraction allowed Carmella to blast Bella with a superkick. The former NXT star controlled the pace of the match, working over Bella until an Irish Whip to the outside allowed the Fearless competitor to make the tag to her real-life beau.

Realizing what that meant for him, Ellsworth pleaded with Carmella not to make him enter the match.

The happy babyface couple wasted no time in laying waste to the heels, scoring a dual pin following stereo finishers.

After the match, Miz attacked, sending Cena into the steel ring steps. Maryse shoved Bella spine-first into a steel post, and the villains took to the squared circle, the former WWE champion with a mic in hand.

Miz called Cena's relationship with Nikki a "sham," suggesting it was a farce created to help with branding. He accused them of copying Miz and Maryse's relationship. He vowed to end their "plastic" relationship.

Result

Nikki Bella and John Cena defeated Carmella and James Ellsworth.

Grade

B

Analysis

The match was nothing, and the teamwork between the two babyfaces was hardly enough to encourage excitement for their pairing. Their two major spots appeared disjointed and messy, and the match was nothing special, to say the least.

Miz's promo and the beatdown afterward, though, were fantastic.

It set the tone for the obvious mixed tag team match that will occur at WrestleMania, though not officially announced, and put heat on Miz and his wife in the process. It made them a threat to the happy union of Cena and Bella, which his exactly what should happen.

A quality segment overall, even if the match was essentially an afterthought.

Curt Hawkins Calls Out Dean Ambrose

A week ago, Dean Ambrose flattened Curt Hawkins, courtesy of Dirty Deeds. Tuesday, Hawkins took exception to his treatment at the hands of The Lunatic Fringe and called him out.

It did not end well for him.

Hawkins rushed Ambrose but ate a clothesline.

From there, the intercontinental champion called out Baron Corbin. He questioned The Lone Wolf's manhood and reiterated his desire for his rival to come face him.

Corbin appeared on the video screen and vowed to take everything from Ambrose, including his title, but he was not going to answer guys who called him out. He does things on his own time.

Ambrose decided to take the fight to Corbin, but not before dropping Hawkins with another Dirty Deeds.

Once backstage, Ambrose found himself attacked by Corbin, who used a pipe to bash his knee. With Ambrose immobilized, Corbin used a forklift to crush the IC champion's ribs. Agents and officials pulled The Lone Wolf away as Ambrose was left writhing in pain.

Grade

C+

Analysis

For the first time, fans got a taste of the cerebral nature of Corbin. Not only did he further establish the "my time, my rules" attitude, but he also set Ambrose up for an attack that left The Lunatic Fringe in agony.

The eager babyface let his emotions get the best of him. The result? He took his head out of the game long enough for Corbin to capitalize. There is a story to build on there if WWE Creative chooses to.

The Blissertation

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James made their way to the ring for the former's Blissertation. The current SmackDown women's champion ran down a list of potential top contenders, beginning with Naomi.

She made bad joke after bad joke until she got to Becky Lynch. She referred to The Lass Kicker as Chucky, asking how many times she had to beat her before she stopped coming back.

Lynch appeared, followed by Natalya. Bliss shut down both women's advances toward the title in short order. Then, unexpectedly, Mickie James announced that her friend was about to name her the No. 1 contender.

Daniel Bryan arrived and, in the spirit of Teddy Long, announced a tag team match pitting James and Bliss against Natalya and Lynch—that is, after announcing that Bliss would defend her title against every available woman on the SmackDown roster at WrestleMania.

Grade

D

Analysis

It is early, but this may be the front-runner for Worst TV Segment of the Year.

It was written so poorly it almost set the division back, ruining the credibility of Bliss in the process. It was pathetically subpar and featured truly awful one-liners that a five-year-old would not find funny.

Worse yet, it did nothing to make fans want to see a match between the four women. Instead, it made audiences want to turn the volume on their televisions off, and that is the exact opposite of the intended effect.

The WrestleMania announcement ensures the title bout will be a mess rather than a true story-based match.

Becky Lynch and Natalya vs. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James isolated Becky Lynch for the majority of the match, wearing her down as partner Natalya watched on from the corner.

Unwilling to tag her reluctant partner, Lynch fired off a comeback and was rolling late.

From out of nowhere, Natalya entered the match and destroyed The Lass Kicker with a German suplex that left her lying in a heap. The Queen of Harts stood over her before departing, leaving the heels to pick up the pieces.

Rather than James scoring the win for the heels, Bliss tagged herself in and picked up the pinfall victory.

After the match, a disenfranchised James blasted Bliss with a kick to the delight of the crowd.

Result

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James defeated Becky Lynch and Natalya.

Grade

C

Analysis

Everything about the women's division this week felt rushed and disorganized.

From out of nowhere, James turns heel and everyone is eligible for a title opportunity.

The writing was poor, the match itself felt more like a secondary background piece to the overarching story, and the result was a disappointing presentation from what is typically a bright spot on the blue brand.

Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles

Credit: WWE.com

After weeks of turmoil surrounding the top contender's role, Randy Orton and AJ Styles fought in Tuesday's main event to determine which Superstar would headline WrestleMania against Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship.

Styles worked over the knee and lower leg of his opponent, presumably setting him up for the Calf Crusher finisher. With every opening Orton tried to seize came Styles kicking his leg out from underneath him and regaining control of the bout.

The Viper fought back into the match, delivering a Full Nelson Slam that nearly scored him the victory.

Styles blocked the second-rope DDT and applied the Calf Crusher, but Orton reached the ropes to force the break. Orton finally delivered the aforementioned DDT but had his RKO blocked via Pele Kick.

Orton attempted an RKO that would have caught Styles in midair. Instead, Styles faked it and Orton crashed to the mat. Styles attempted the springboard 450 splash, but Orton rolled out of the way. Styles rolled through...and right into a pop-up RKO that ended his night and sent The Viper to WrestleMania.

Result

Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles.

Grade

A

Analysis

If this was any indication, Styles and Orton have wicked chemistry that should be revisited after WrestleMania.

The leg work was fantastic but did not factor into the remainder of the match. That is the only complaint from a bout that did everything necessary to keep Styles strong while providing the desired outcome.

Now Orton heads to WrestleMania for a showdown with Wyatt, while Styles potentially revisits Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan's decision to book this match in the first place.