WWE SmackDown Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from January 7

The first SmackDown broadcast on USA Network presented fans with a look at what they can expect from the show going forward. The emphasis was on the WWE Intercontinental and Divas Championships, there was considerable hype for the Royal Rumble match featuring a wealth of talented midcard stars, and John Cena made a special appearance on the blue brand.

But it was neither Dean Ambrose nor Kevin Owens, Becky Lynch nor Charlotte who wound up the as night's biggest winners by the time the clock struck 10 p.m., though.

Instead, it was the new commentary team consisting of Jerry "The King" Lawler, Byron Saxton and the new voice of SmackDown, Mauro Ranallo.

The announce team jelled right out of the gate, with Ranallo bringing a certain class and seriousness to his approach as play-by-play commentator. He was informed, never appeared rattled by the pressure of his position and worked well with both Saxton and Lawler.

Speaking of Saxton, he is often criticized for coming across as a smiling shill, but Thursday night, he never stepped out of place. Instead, he worked in stride with his peers, coming across as clearly and as naturally as he ever has.

And finally, there was Lawler. For the first time since 2002, the Hall of Famer appeared interested in the product. More importantly, he reverted back to his heel ways, balancing the disgust Saxton has for heels like Mr. McMahon, Charlotte and Owens with perfectly plausible reasons for their behavior.

At least according to him.

For the first time in years, the commentary team felt like legitimate sportscasters telling the viewing audience the stories, putting over the talent and making each match feel that much more important. Their contributions to Thursday's show simply cannot be understated.

They were not the only winners from SmackDown, a show that also had a fairly big loser as well.

Who joined King, Saxton and Ranallo as winners, and which one performer wishes she had enjoyed as strong a night?

Let's take a look.

Winner: Kalisto

The masked luchador turned in another solid performance, using his speed, agility and high-flying prowess to upset United States champion Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match.

Of course, John Cena provided the distraction that led to the victory, but the win only fuels the tidal wave of momentum Kalisto has been riding since his jaw-dropping performance at TLC in December.

The win would seem to set Kalisto in motion for a potential title showdown with Del Rio, who he pushed to the limit last November in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament. With the absence of the aforementioned Cena, the roster needs a major push from young stars to help fill the voids left by injuries up and down the roster.

Kalisto is a dynamic performer who fans can, and will, buy into if they have a reason to. Bilingual and marketable thanks to his mask, he can be the big Mexican star that the company so values. His recent push is the perfect way to heat him up in time for Royal Rumble and onward to WrestleMania.

Loser: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is a sympathetic babyface and a character that fans want to cheer. They want to see her beat Charlotte and win the WWE Divas Championship, but unfortunately, she is being booked in a way that will doom her rather than provide her and the fans the satisfaction of her eventual championship victory.

How many times does Lynch have to fall for Ric Flair's distractions and get rolled up by Charlotte before fans question her intelligence? It is a common theme to her matches thus far. Whether against Charlotte, Team Bella or Team B.A.D., Lynch is regularly falling for extracurricular activity around the ringside area. At some point, she must say "screw it" and focus on her opponent.

The more she is booked as gullible, the more likely it is that fans yank their support and throw it behind someone who is a little brighter. The character has one flaw, and unfortunately, it is a massive one that WWE must correct or risk ruining her once and for all.

Winners: Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose

The WWE Intercontinental Championship match headlined this week's broadcast, as Owens challenged Ambrose. The match was as wild and chaotic as one would expect from two heated rivals, ending with both men writhing from a brawl that left the ring and headed to the stage before ending near the production equipment.

No winner was determined, but both Owens and Ambrose continued what has become the best rivalry in WWE, battering each other with considerable ferocity, to the point that the ring could not contain them.

It is likely that the two Superstars will take their war to the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, where they would battle for the right for one of them to leave as champion. Given the quality of their program to this point, their contest on that night could steal the show.