WWE SmackDown Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from July 23

No Superstar has enjoyed the sort of career renaissance that Cesaro has over the last month. That was highlighted Thursday night when he battled WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins in the main event of SmackDown. Though he may not have emerged victoriously, no one had a better night than the Swiss Superman.

Aside from working with an elite performer the likes of Rollins, Cesaro's path to SummerSlam on August 23 also became clearer.

A backstage confrontation with Kevin Owens suggested that the former Ring of Honor stars had unfinished business. After all, Owens had previously cost Cesaro the United States Championship in a classic television match with John Cena.

By the time Owens attacked the Swiss Superman following his defeat at the hands of Rollins, it was clear that the heavyweights are on a collision course for a showdown at the Biggest Party of the Summer, live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

It will be the highest-profile match Cesaro has wrestled in months and proof positive that WWE Creative finally has figured out how to effectively push the talented worker up the card and, more importantly, sustain that push.

The international star was not the only competitor to have a big night on SmackDown, though.

Money in the Bank holder Sheamus scored a huge win to kick off the show, and Stardust furthered his rivalry with Neville and paid homage to his father in the process.

Then there were Sasha Banks and Naomi, who were put over in a special video package, only to lose to the Bella Twins moments later, which made them the night's biggest losers.

What is the justification for those Superstars and Divas to be placed in those categories, other than the obvious?

Let's take a look.

Winner: Sheamus

After losing cleanly to Randy Orton at Battleground, Sheamus was all but dead in the water. After a promising heel turn the night after WrestleMania, he found himself treading water with no real momentum to speak of. He was losing more than he was winning, which was unfathomable for someone so typically protected by WWE Creative's booking style.

Thursday night's victory over Dean Ambrose, though, was a step in the right direction for someone who's desperately in need of a spark to ignite a push into the late summer and falls months that lie ahead.

That's especially true if there is any expectation of Sheamus cashing in his title opportunity and actually winning. Fans have seen guys such as Jack Swagger win the briefcase despite a losing streak, capture the title and fail miserably.

In order to prevent that same misstep, Sheamus should go on a run that allows him to become the unstoppable heel so that when he does cash in, win or lose, it means more to the briefcase and the match.

For now, though, the win over Ambrose is an opportunity for the company to improve its use and treatment of the multiple-time world champion.

Losers: Sasha Banks and Naomi

During Thursday's broadcast, a video package heavily touting Sasha Banks' talents, and featuring a few words from the NXT women's champion, aired. She discussed Team BAD and how they would take over the Divas division.

Instead of living up to the hype, though, the team proceeded to go to the ring and lose to the Bella Twins just moments later.

It is questionable use of Banks, who has the potential to be the most valuable of all the women who were recently called up to the main roster. The silver lining in this scenario is the fact that the loss came in a tag match in which Naomi was the one pinned, which saved Banks from suffering her second loss this week.

Why the company would go through all the trouble of producing a video package that put over Team BAD the way it did, only to have them job out to the Bella Twins (who most certainly did not need the victory) is a mystery.

At least the match was a suitable showcase for Banks and Naomi, who looked phenomenal from an in-ring perspective.

Winner: Stardust

There are some who will understandably question the decision for Cody Rhodes to continue portraying the Stardust character in the wake of his father's death a month ago, but Thursday night, it became clear that, for the first time, WWE Creative has an idea for the persona.

Stardust is an over-the-top villain, and Neville, his target, is a wholesome hero. Their rivalry is the stuff of comic books, as alluded to by the graphics that have hyped their matches in recent weeks.

Thursday night, Stardust became more than a cliche, though, as he cut a promo that was not only delightfully insane but also channeled the spirit of his father, the late Dusty Rhodes.

"Reach out, Neville, and know that my hand is touching your hand," he said, paraphrasing the Hard Times promo that many consider the greatest of all time.

It was a nice touch from Stardust, who appears more motivated now than he has in a year.