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

The Divas Championship was at the center of attention Thursday night on SmackDown, as Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch battled in a No. 1 Contender's match to determine the next challenger to Charlotte's title and, in the process, earned themselves "winner" status for the Mar. 3 episode.

The former NXT breakout stars engaged in another spirited affair, shorter than their match on Raw but just as intense. Before a clear victor could be determined, though, both "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Charlotte became involved, drawing a double disqualification.

Not only had Lynch and Banks delivered strong performances in the amount of time they had to work with, but the audience had bought into the story they were telling, which is why Charlotte's involvement drew the heat it did.

Things were even better moments later when backstage correspondent Renee Young revealed that the Divas Championship will be up for grabs at WrestleMania when Charlotte defends against both Lynch and Banks in a Triple Threat match.

Not only were the Divas winners for their in-ring bout, but now, just one year removed from dominating the women's division in NXT, they will have the opportunity to showcase their considerable skills on The Grandest Stage of Them All. With the whole world watching, they will clash for the top prize in the industry, with a chance to lend credibility to the "Divas Revolution" tag born in some WWE Creative meeting eight months ago.

The fan-favorite Divas were not the only competitors to emerge as winners from this week's show. Also better off than when he entered was AJ Styles, who scored another convincing win. And do not forget about The Lunatic Fringe, Dean Ambrose, who overcame the odds to net a humongous win as he prepares to challenge for the WWE Championship on March 12.

And then there was the lone loser, someone who deserves infinitely better than what he has endured over the last few weeks, particularly ahead of the biggest show of the year.

Credit: WWE.com

Loser: Kevin Owens

The intercontinental champion interrupted Ambrose's promo Thursday night, setting up a match between the two just one week after hinting that he wanted to mix it up with The Lunatic Fringe one last time.

Owens pummeled Ambrose, punishing him for the better part of this week's non-title main event. He sent the injured Superstar crashing into the barricade and tossed him around the squared circle with reckless abandon. In accordance with the story told, an Owens win should have been a sure thing.

But it was not.

Instead, Ambrose overcame the odds and won the match, delivering Dirty Deeds to put him away.

Commentators Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton repeatedly mentioned how battered and bruised Ambrose was. They made sure the viewers at home knew just how much pain he was in from the beatings he suffered at the hands of Triple H and Brock Lesnar over the last two weeks. They did their jobs.

WWE Creative did not, because Owens should have won the match.

The intercontinental champion was once again devalued, beaten and sent packing back into the midcard, where he will await some booking decision that places him in a lackluster, mediocre match at WrestleMania, rather than the high-profile bout he deserves.

Yes, Owens is immensely talented, but there is only so much the casual audience will stand for in the way of losses and 50-50 booking before it loses faith in a character. Owens is nearing that threshold.

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: AJ Styles

The strong booking of AJ Styles continued Thursday night.

He could have easily rolled into Atlanta for his match with Kofi Kingston, been distracted by Big E and Xavier Woods at ringside and have lost just his second match in WWE. Instead, Creative had him pick up the win and bail out rather than endure a beatdown at the hands of the WWE tag team champions.

The strength of the booking behind Styles is the reason crowds are reacting as favorably to him as they are. He is not treated like an idiot, nor has he been booked to be the gullible putz that most of the babyfaces are. He is a wrestler, he wins wrestling matches and he does it clean and in the center of the ring. It is simple, effective and gets guys over with the audience. 

It is kind of mind-blowing that it is not a method used more often.

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: Dean Ambrose

The Lunatic Fringe has become the Mick Foley of the modern WWE product. He is the lovable glutton for punishment that fans want to see do well. They are invested in Ambrose; they want to see him capture the top prize in the industry because they have been so involved in his plight. 

Thursday was the latest chapter in his story.

Clearly limping, his body wracked with pain after two consecutive beatings suffered on Monday Night Raw, he showed intestinal fortitude as he made his way to the ring for his main event match with Kevin Owens. There, he endured a tremendous beating but soldiered through, catching his longtime rival with Dirty Deeds for the win.

It was a strong showing from a babyface character more engaging and interesting than the one for whom the company has such high hopes at WrestleMania. He may not win the WWE Championship from Triple H in Toronto come Roadblock on Mar. 12, but Ambrose may very well force the hand of WWE Creative, necessitating changes to the marquee match of this year's WrestleMania.