WWE SmackDown Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from September 3

Few acts have broken out in 2015 the way The New Day have, and Thursday night, Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods solidified themselves as the biggest winners of this week's SmackDown.

They had an auspicious start to their push that saw them rejected by fans as the smiling, happy-go-lucky trio of Superstars preaching positivity. As the overwhelmingly abrasive heels, though, they have enjoyed a career renaissance that has seen them generate some genuine heat and develop into one of the most entertaining acts in all of WWE.

This week's SmackDown was a defining one for the group, which kicked off the broadcast with an in-ring promo that shined the spotlight on its feud with The Dudley Boyz, thoroughly entertain with a stint at the commentary position for Bubba Ray and D-Von's match against The Prime Time Players and main event against Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

Rather than come out on the wrong end in a predictable loss to the former Shield members, the referee disqualified the trio when Woods interfered, allowing them to preserve their heat.

It was a banner night for New Day and further proof that WWE Creative is getting behind the act as the fall months approach.

Who else enjoyed a productive Thursday night and which Superstars were less lucky?

Winners: The Ascension

After spending eight months as one of the biggest disappointments in all of WWE, Konnor and Viktor attacked Neville Thursday night and revealed a new alliance with Stardust. Dubbed "The Cosmic Wasteland," the new faction is the equivalent of an axis of evil, a trio of comic book villains for The Man That Gravity Forgot to fend off in the coming weeks.

The Ascension went from the most dominant force in NXT to an enhancement tag team for everyone else to beat on their way up the ranks in WWE. 

While it may be a midcard story, the pairing with Stardust gives the team something relevant to do instead of dropping matches to Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores every week on Superstars. The exposure will help The Ascension in the long run and could repair their image, especially if they are booked strongly over the next month or so.

Loser: Cesaro

The last two months have been incredible for Cesaro, who has more than earned consideration for the best in-ring worker of 2015. He has been extraordinary in matches against Kevin Owens and John Cena, and Thursday night, he delivered once again, wrestling a fantastic match against Mr. Money in the Bank, Sheamus.

But Cesaro lost, again, and a comment made during his pre-match promo is cause for concern for his fans.

The Swiss Superman mentioned that it is not about how many times one gets knocked down; it is about how many times he gets back up.

That may make for a nice motivational poster in some college dorm room, but it is the absolute wrong approach to take with Cesaro. He is a physical specimen, a guy who is clearly a better wrestler than many of his opponents. Repeated losses are damaging to his credibility with fans and don't help build him up as a lovable loser.

If the company hopes to go anywhere with the talented Ring of Honor alumnus, he must build up a series of convincing wins over quality opposition or risk falling right back into the same position he was in a year ago at this time.

Winner: Summer Rae

Say what you will about the quality of the story involving her, Rusev, Lana and Dolph Ziggler, but Summer Rae has been phenomenal in playing the role of manipulative vixen hellbent on making a name for herself, no matter who she has to associate herself with or what she has to do.

Thursday night, she was incredibly unlikable as she continued to hurl accusations of unfaithfulness in Ziggler's direction, further infuriating Lana and igniting a catfight between the two Divas.

The fake tears she drummed up and the whining voice with which she addressed the WWE Universe earned her tremendous heat. As a villain, that is the objective, and Summer Rae has held up her end of the bargain from the very beginning of the program.

Now, if only WWE Creative could go less Days of Our Lives with the entire ordeal and more professional wrestling, everything will be fine.