WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 24

Every week on Bleacher Report, I take an in-depth look at WWE SmackDown to recap the results, offer analysis and grade the matches, segments and anything else that takes place on the show, as well as make a few predictions for future events.

This week's episode was all about building the established feuds heading into WrestleMania. Unfortunately, that meant the show was a little bloated.

A few matches were too short to be anywhere near exciting, and some of the backstage segments felt unnecessary.

However, an appearance from Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman made things a little more interesting. Other than that, nothing stood out as memorable.

Let's take a look at everything that happened on this week's SmackDown.

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte

For the first time in as long as this writer can remember, the Divas opened up SmackDown. Charlotte started the show in the ring with Ric Flair to talk about WrestleMania 32.

Becky Lynch sat with the commentary team while Sasha Banks came down to face the Divas champion in singles action.

They used stiff strikes and a lot of reversals to make this match entertaining. We should expect nothing less from these talented performers.

The only thing wrong with this bout was the length. If they had another five minutes, this could have been the match of the night.

After Banks picked up the win with a roll-up, Lynch rushed the ring and took out both of her WrestleMania opponents.

Grade: B

Notes and Highlights

• Charlotte needs to find her own hook. She relies on Flair's "Woo" too much.
• Charlotte has packed on a lot of muscle since coming to the main roster.
• It looked like one of the knees Banks hit Charlotte in the face with may have connected a little more than intended.

Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston

Before Sheamus and Kofi Kingston faced off in a singles match, The New Day gave a predictable promo about The League of Nations and their match at WrestleMania.

Kingston surprised everyone by outpunching Sheamus in the early moments of the contest, and he kept the momentum going until the show went to a break.

Kingston and Sheamus have crossed paths many times over the years, so they know each other well enough to play off each other's strengths.

When we returned from the break, Sheamus was in full control. Rusev and King Barrett taunted Kingston as Sheamus used his power to lay down a beating on the high-flyer.

Thanks to a distraction from Barrett, Sheamus was able to pick up the win with a Brogue Kick that almost knocked Kofi's head into the rafters.

Grade: B-

Notes and Highlights

• I still don't understand how calling someone "booty" is supposed to be an insult. The New Day members are the only people I have ever heard use the term that way.
• Where was Alberto Del Rio?
• Fun fact: Kingston and Sheamus are two of the last people who debuted in the WWE version of ECW who are still with the company.
• Kudos to Mauro Ranallo for referencing Ray "The Crippler" Stevens.
• The New Day's face turn has been done well. They don't pander to the crowd, but they stopped insulting them, so the fans end up cheering when they do something entertaining.

The Ascension vs. Usos

The Ascension made a rare appearance in order to job to The Usos. Konnor and Viktor got in some offense early in the match, but Jimmy and Jey quickly took over.

The bout lasted roughly two minutes and ended with a double superkick to Viktor. However, The Usos weren't done just because the bell had rung.

They brought two tables into the ring and proceeded to put both members of The Ascension through them with twin Superfly Splashes while The Dudley Boyz watched on a monitor from backstage.

Grade: C-

Notes and Highlights

• If The Usos ever break up, how would management decide which one to push harder? They are identical in almost every way.
• Poor Renee Young. Her interviews never go as planned.
• Roman Reigns took offense when the Dudleys mocked his cousins, so he challenged Bubba Ray to a fight. Not a match—a fight.

Hell in a Cell Preview

Video packages normally don't deserve their own slide, but the one for Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania needs to be acknowledged.

When this match was announced, nobody thought it was a good idea, but WWE's editing team is so good you can't help but get excited.

The combination of Shane's greatest moments, comments from WWE legends and clips of the feud made for a great story.

WWE is obviously trying hard to make Shane look like a real threat to Taker inside Hell in a Cell, and it's kind of working.

People often forget just how good Shane is in the ring. He will do just about anything to make his matches exciting, and that includes doing things a guy such as Jeff Hardy would think twice about.

Grade: A

The Miz and Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler

Four of the seven men in the Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania paired up for a tag team bout when Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler took on The Miz and Kevin Owens.

Each competitor got a chance to show off some of his signature offense, but the way everything was delivered also helped tell a few different stories.

The Miz and Owens argued before the match to show they aren't friends, while the latter did a great job selling his storyline with Zayn by refusing to face him in the ring.

Owens even tried to leave prematurely, but The Miz stopped him long enough for Zayn to throw him back in the ring. Unlike Owens and The Miz, Ziggler and Zayn worked well as partners.

Owens tried to leave a second time, but Stardust, Zack Ryder and Sin Cara showed up to stop him. The Miz attacked Owens, and the mayhem allowed Zayn and Ziggler to pick up the win to cap off a fun match.

Grade: B+

Notes and Highlights

• Owens' trash-talking ability cannot be understated. It would be so awesome to see him have a confrontation with Steve Austin or The Rock.
• All seven men eventually started fighting, and to everyone's surprise, Ryder was the last man standing.

Roman Reigns vs. Bubba Ray Dudley

Reigns and Bubba Ray Dudley have met in a tag team match before, but this was the first time we saw them battle in singles competition.

Unfortunately, this bout didn't last long as both men were counted out. Reigns made an example out of Bubba, smashing his head into the announce table the same way he did to Triple H.

D-Von Dudley tried to help, but Reigns took him out before he could even get in the ring. While this helped Reigns look dominant, it did nothing to help The Dudley Boyz heading into their WrestleMania showdown with The Usos.

Grade: C+

Notes and Highlights

• It's too bad Bubba will never get the singles push he had in TNA. He is capable of being so much more than a tag team specialist.
• Do people even know why they are booing Reigns anymore? Is it just because it's cool to root against the guy management wants to succeed?

Tyler Breeze vs. AJ Styles

Had this match happened in NXT, Tyler Breeze vs. AJ Styles would have been considered a huge deal. On SmackDown, it's an easy win for The Phenomenal One.

Breeze may have gotten in a little offense, but this was just a way for Styles to show off his skills before he faces Chris Jericho at WrestleMania.

The match lasted less than three minutes and ended with Styles hitting his trademark springboard forearm to the face.

Grade: C

Notes and Highlights

• Breeze's gimmick might be a little goofy, but he deserves so much more than he has been given in recent weeks.
• Be honest: How many of you actually like Styles' entrance music?
• WWE didn't upload this match for some reason, so you can watch The New Day cut a promo instead.

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar's much-hyped SmackDown return was the final segment of the night. You would think it would be a promo from Paul Heyman with Lesnar standing there silently, but we actually got to see him mix it up a little.

Heyman was his usual energetic self when talking about Dean Ambrose and Lesnar's match at WrestleMania, so the promo section was strong.

Lesnar's advocate called out Ambrose to fight his client, but The Wyatt Family answered. Ambrose eventually showed up and took out Wyatt with a kendo stick, but it wasn't because he and Lesnar were on the same page.

The Lunatic Fringe went after his WrestleMania rival, but The Beast took him out and broke his kendo stick over his knee. The show ended with Ambrose laying motionless in the ring.

Grade: B-

Notes and Highlights

• Every single time Heyman introduces Lesnar, I hope he slips up and screams "Barack Obama!" It would be hilarious.
• I never took notice before, but Lesnar has bad cauliflower ear on the right side.
• Ambrose should have come out on top in this encounter. He needs to look like a real threat to Lesnar if we are supposed to take him seriously.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

While the show suffered from a few matches being too short, we got some decent storyline development on several fronts.

Some of WWE's most underutilized talents got screen time, with Tyler Breeze, The Ascension and Zack Ryder making appearances.

WrestleMania 32 will be here before we know it. The card is basically complete at this point, but the April 3 event is long enough to still have one or two more bouts added next week.

Predictions

• Ambrose will come out on top in his next encounter with Lesnar before Mania.
• One more hardcore legend will appear to give Ambrose encouragement before he faces Lesnar.
• Sting, John Cena and Daniel Bryan will make special appearances to hype WrestleMania before the event.
• The Andre the Giant Battle Royal will see at least one surprise entrance, whether it be a legend or someone returning from injury.
• The Undertaker will make an appearance on Raw to confront Vince McMahon about his recent comments.

What did you think of this week's SmackDown?

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter: @BR_Doctor.