WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 14

On The Road to WrestleMania, there are bumps and bruises for the Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment.

For SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon, there was a lacerated scalp courtesy of an AJ Styles sneak attack.

The prodigal son was the recipient of a brutal beatdown by The Phenomenal One, who had reached his breaking point after weeks of having his opportunity to regain the WWE Championship taken from him.

The saga that unfolded between the two, and culminated in McMahon announcing a WrestleMania match between them, dominated the March 14 episode of SmackDown Live.

It was not the only noteworthy event to unfold on Tuesday's broadcast.

The Miz and Maryse hosted a special edition of Miz TV that ended with the announcement of another major match for The Showcase of the Immortals, Randy Orton addressed Bray Wyatt in his first interview since burning down The Wyatt Family Compound and the women of SmackDown continued the build to the championship clash on April 2.

How did each segment play out? What grades did they earn and why?

Find out now with this recap of Tuesday night's USA Network presentation.

AJ Styles Pleads His Case

A frustrated and enraged AJ Styles kicked off this week's show, addressing the recent controversy that has surrounded his career and left him off the WrestleMania card.

Styles correctly pointed out that John Cena walked back through the door and was handed a shot at the WWE Championship without earning it. From there, The Phenomenal One was denied a fair rematch, instead forced into the Elimination Chamber. Then, he won a battle royal only to be booked in a match with Luke Harper, which he won.

Yet, despite the fact that Randy Orton burned down The Wyatt Family Compound and faced no legal charges, he was given a shot at redeeming himself and earning a shot at the title at WrestleMania.

And he won at Styles' expense.

The Phenomenal One vowed to have a "conversation" with McMahon, then questioned whether he had a career left to protect before tossing the microphone to the ground before storming out.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was as impassioned and natural as Styles has come across on the microphone during his time with WWE. It does not hurt that, from a character standpoint, everything he said was absolutely valid.

Contrary to his status as a heel, he voiced his opinion, made his argument and put together a plea for a title opportunity that absolutely makes sense. WWE Creative will have a hard time convincing fans to cheer McMahon when Styles has staked his claim with such conviction and a plethora of evidence.

A great way to kick off the show but not one conducive to getting Shane-O-Mac over as the sympathetic babyface in this scenario.

Becky Lynch vs. Natalya

On the heels of an announcement last week that every available woman on the SmackDown Live roster will challenge Alexa Bliss for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania, two of the competitors involved in that bout squared off in singles action as Becky Lynch battled Natalya.

The Lass Kicker controlled the early portion of the match before a sit-out slam on the arena floor turned the tide in favor of The Queen of Harts.

Natalya worked over her opponent's back but could only keep the Irishwoman down for a brief moment.

Lynch fought back, delivering a big exploder suplex. From there, she countered an attack by her opponent and transitioned into the Disarmer for the submission victory.

Immediately after the match, Carmella blasted Lynch and stood tall to close out the segment.

Result

Becky Lynch defeated Natalya.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match itself was nothing.

It was interrupted by a commercial break and felt rushed the entire way through. Lynch winning was the right move seeing as how she is the lead babyface in the division, but Natalya has been so poorly mishandled that beating her means little at this point.

Reminding fans that Carmella is a very real threat, with a lackey like James Ellsworth in her corner come WrestleMania, is a great way to cap off this segment.

A Very Special Edition of Miz TV

The Miz welcomed fans to a special edition of Miz TV with guests...himself and his wife, Maryse.

Footage from last week's Talking Smack recapped the heel's scathing comments about John Cena and Nikki Bella. Maryse told the story of Bella stabbing her in the back and accepting a spot on Total Divas. She promised to make Bella suffer for every wrong she was done and vowed to expose her for what the former Divas champion really is: a lying backstabber.

This brought out Cena and Bella to a mostly negative reaction. The babyfaces hit the ring, and the heels retreated.

Bella grabbed the microphone, ran Maryse down with C-level insults and challenged her to a match.

"You don't get to make up matches, Nikki. Who do you think you are? John Cena?" Miz asked before wrapping up this week's edition of Miz TV.

Before he could head to the back, Daniel Bryan's music played and the SmackDown general manager appeared. He expressed his anger and how much he wants to really, really punch Miz in the face every time he makes fun of him or poorly mocks his move set.

Bryan ended the segment by announcing Miz and Maryse vs. Cena and Bella for WrestleMania. "It will be the ultimate face-punching extravaganza!" he exclaimed before taking his leave.

Grade

B+

Analysis

If Creative is not careful, Miz and Maryse will turn themselves into babyfaces with their bashing of Cena and Bella. Every time they make claims about either of the good guys, said heroes come across as wholly unlikable.

Even if the guy making the claims is himself intolerable.

The evidence was in the reaction Bella received when she grabbed the microphone from Cena. There were audible boos, and the ovation that accompanied the happy couple to the ring consisted primarily of jeers.

Come April 2, it will not be a surprise at all if the crowd is pro-Miz and Maryse.

Especially without Bryan there to turn the crowd back in the favor of his sister-in-law and her beau.

Mickie James vs. Alexa Bliss

Alexa Bliss felt the wrath of Mickie James on last week's show, catching a Mick Kick to the face. Tuesday, she would have to square off with the former women's champion and future Hall of Famer in singles competition.

An intense collar-and-elbow tie-up started the match before the former allies each unloaded with a flurry of corner kicks.

Bliss took control just before the break with a running double-knee attack to the upper shoulders and back of her opponent.

Back from the break, James had the women's champion trapped in a half-crab, trying to force a tapout. When that did not work, she mounted her and delivered some crossface forearms.

Bliss mounted her comeback with an STO and demanded the crowd "shut up!" A sunset flip out of the corner nearly scored her the victory, but James blocked a DDT by holding on to the rope. Bliss fought back and tried for Insult to Injury, but James rolled out of the way and blasted her with a Mick Kick for the win.

Result

Mickie James defeated Alexa Bliss.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was an ugly match.

Not once did it feel like the women were on the same page. It was disjointed, sloppy and failed to motivate the audience. Part of that could be related to the fact that the audience had no idea whom it was supposed to throw its support behind, and neither woman did a particularly great job of answering that question.

This was a rare misstep from a women's division that has been one of the highlights of recent SmackDown Live episodes.

AJ Styles Attacks Shane McMahon

As Shane McMahon arrived at the arena, AJ Styles attacked him.

The Phenomenal One slammed him into walls and garage doors before sending him head-first into the back window of a parked car.

"You asked for this," he said, seething like a rabid dog.

Producer Fit Finlay and backstage interviewer Renee Young checked on a bleeding McMahon as the show headed to commercial.

Medics checked on McMahon after the break, attempting to clean his wounds despite resistance from the SmackDown Live commissioner.

Moments later, cameras caught Styles preparing to leave the ring when he was confronted by Daniel Bryan, who admitted he had lost all respect for the former WWE champion.

"What are you gonna do, fire me?" a defiant Styles asked.

"You're damn right I'm gonna fire you," Bryan retorted before ordering security to escort Styles out of the arena.

Grade

A

Analysis

Mean, nasty, aggressive and vengeful AJ Styles is fun.

His assault here was cold, calculating and vicious. He violently beat down the most powerful man on the SmackDown roster and was remorseless in doing so.

The arrogance and defiance with which he approached Bryan afterward and his carefree attitude as he was essentially fired on live TV demonstrate how truly distraught The Phenomenal One is after losing the WWE Championship.

Not only does this scenario put over this almost maniacal side of Styles, but it also elevates the importance of the top prize on the SmackDown brand.

If Styles is willing to put his career on the line to make a point about his status as the No. 1 contender after a decade-plus of fighting to get to WWE, it must be the most significant thing the brand has to offer.

As it should be.

Mojo Rawley vs. Dolph Ziggler

A week after a verbal confrontation between Mojo Rawley and Dolph Ziggler that saw the former announce his entry into the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, the two Superstars battled Tuesday night.

Rawley used his power to toss Ziggler around early while commentators Tom Phillips and John Bradshaw Layfield hyped the upcoming battle royal.

The Showoff was thrown to the arena floor three straight times. On the third, he walked out, sacrificing a count-out loss in the process.

Rawley ran around the ring and talked trash to the camera as the viewing audience was left to wonder why this even made it to the air.

Result

Mojo Rawley defeated Dolph Ziggler via count-out.

Grade

F

Analysis

The only question after this one: What was the point?

It might have been a showcase for Rawley ahead of WrestleMania, but does anyone really believe that guy has a chance in hell of actually winning the battle royal?

Perhaps it was meant to put over Ziggler's nonchalant heel act. If so, it did a terrible job because he came across more as a quitter than someone playing mind games or a Superstar with a plan.

This was a waste of a segment designed to put over the annual least-significant match on the WrestleMania card. Even with that in mind, it failed miserably.

Randy Orton Addresses Bray Wyatt

Randy Orton stalked toward the squared circle without pomp or circumstance prepared for a promo directed at WWE champion Bray Wyatt.

"You can learn a lot from a viper," Orton began before admitting that he had been lying in wait for the perfect opportunity to strike at Wyatt.

Orton told the same story from two weeks ago, relaying the message as if fans had not heard it before. He attributed his actions to a desire to be more sadistic than ever before.

"At WrestleMania, I swear to God, I will take everything from Bray Wyatt!" Orton exclaimed before Wyatt interrupted him.

Wyatt admitted that Orton was right; he was left naked and stripped of his power.

"You thought you burned the soul of Sister Abigail, Randy, and so did I," he said before claiming that Abigail is the spawn of Satan and has now bestowed her power upon him.

"It is my duty to purge all of the infidels in this life. I'll start with you," he threatened. "In her ashes, I baptize myself," he said before rubbing ash and rubble from the fire that claimed The Wyatt Family Compound two weeks ago all over himself.

"Follow the buzzards," he commanded before letting out a spine-tingling scream.

Grade

B

Analysis

The biggest issue facing this segment was the overly scripted nature of Orton's promo.

It felt like he was speeding through his lines so he did not forget them. When he finally slowed down to compose himself, it was as if he were seconds away from losing his place.

Then Wyatt appeared, and the segment improved exponentially.

Say what you will about the supernatural elements of Wyatt's character and the talk of Satan and baptizing himself in ashes, but he is so incredibly invested in his persona that every word he says is believable.

Wyatt is very much the WWE champion right now because he has taken his on-screen persona and made it his own. This was another fine example of a promo that was so over-the-top that it should have never worked.

It did because the performer made the audience believe every word he said, summoning the characteristics and personality traits he has developed for the persona and channeling them into another promo segment dripping with conviction.

American Alpha vs. The Usos

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, tag team champions American Alpha took to the squared circle, battling The Usos in a tag team match set up a few weeks ago.

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable frustrated Jey Uso early, grounding him and scoring a quick near-fall off a cradle.

The Usos seized control heading into the break and retained it coming out of the timeout.

Jimmy and Jey isolated Jordan to near-silence, neither of the teams built strongly enough over the last handful of months to warrant a red-hot atmosphere for this bout.

That it became the background for Shane McMahon's journey through the backstage area did not help matters.

Jordan made the hot tag to Gable, who exploded into the match. He delivered a series of German suplexes and followed up with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex to Jimmy.

Jordan had Jey up in an electric chair only to be caught by a superkick from the illegal Jimmy. Seconds later, Jey capitalized and scored the pinfall off a victory roll.

In the closing seconds of the show, McMahon limped onto the entrance ramp and proclaimed, "AJ Styles says he doesn't have an opponent for WrestleMania? He does now."

Result

The Usos defeated American Alpha.

Grade

C

Analysis

Everyone worked hard, the outcome was the right one if The Usos are intended to be the next challengers to American Alpha and the finish was clever enough.

With that said, fans could not possibly have cared less, and that is a major indictment against the SmackDown writing staff.

For as much as they get right, the tag team division has been the one glaring issue SmackDown has faced from the onset of the brand extension. Lack of depth and story has plagued it, and this is evidence of those deficiencies.

The constant reminder that the Shane McMahon saga was more important only further signified management's absence of faith in the division. No win by the top contenders is enough to generate excitement for an impending WrestleMania match that feels destined to take place early on the event's Kickoff show.

The announcement from the prodigal son to close out the show put a cherry on top of an incredibly rushed start to his feud with Styles.