WWE SmackDown Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from April 14

WWE SmackDown continues to be one of the more consistently entertaining weekly television shows produced by the sports entertainment juggernaut, rife with solid writing and jam-packed with meaningful matches and segments, not to mention its fair share of biggest winners and losers.

The show, devoid of star power thanks to WWE kicking off its major European tour, still succeeded because of focused booking, strong performances by some of the best workers in the business and the meshing of two high-profile feuds in the main event.

Two quarterfinal matches in the Tag Team No. 1 Contenders Tournament and a strong, though short, women's bout between Emma and Paige rounded out a very effective show.

Which Superstars, male and female, emerged from the pack to gain momentum heading into the May 1 Payback pay-per-view? And which of their peers failed to leave an impression?

Let's take a look.

Winner: AJ Styles

Credit: WWE.com

The Phenomenal One's push continued Thursday night with one of AJ Styles' gutsiest performances to date.

Late in the bout, he was on the receiving end of a nasty inverted suplex off the top rope that saw him land on the top of his head. He immediately held his neck as fans found themselves wondering if the nasty-looking spot had resulted in a legitimate and crushing injury to the current No. 1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Whether it resulted in any real pain or not, Styles showed incredible guts in fighting through the spot and picking up the win over Alberto Del Rio via old-school Oklahoma Roll.

Styles has gotten over quicker than anyone could have imagined and his in-ring performance against Del Rio, in a very strong wrestling match, is just another shining example of why.

Loser: Zack Ryder

Credit: WWE.com

While it is abundantly clear Long Island Iced Z will remain in the hunt for The Miz's WWE Intercontinental Championship, there is not much reason to buy into him as a credible contender based on the way he was booked Thursday night on SmackDown.

Sure, he interrupted the edition of Miz TV that kicked off the broadcast and got a good reaction while doing so. He also was part of the show-opening promo, a major spot for him given how poorly he had been handled months earlier.

It was all unraveled, though, when he was squashed minutes later by Baron Corbin, lasting just three minutes with The Lone Wolf.

Since WrestleMania, it has been clear WWE Creative has plans for Ryder, but the way they have gone about booking him has certainly left a lot to be desired.

Winners: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Credit: WWE.com

The Certified G and Big Cass took to the squared circle for the first time since being called up to the main roster, battling The Ascension in Round 1 of the Tag Team No. 1 Contender's Tournament. They exceeded all expectations, proving to the audience they are more than a promo and a few catchphrases, delivering an electric and energetic performance against familiar foes from their days in NXT.

They were crisp, unaffected by the pressure on them and the result was one of the better first impressions from an NXT call-up.

If Amore and Cassady can continue to back up their impressive promo work between the ropes, earning the respect of the audience from a wrestling perspective, they may very well be the most successful act to make the transition to the main roster since The Shield.

They certainly are popular enough to make that happen.

Loser: Paige

Credit: WWE.com

Speaking of NXT call-ups, Paige was once the standard bearer for the women's division. She was clearly the future. Somewhere along the line, though, she was shoved to the background in favor of Nikki Bella, then inexplicably overshadowed by Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks upon their arrival to the main roster.

This, despite the fact she was the emphasis for the so-called "Divas Revolution" that began in NXT and bled over to the main roster.

More concerned with her place in the Total Divas universe than between the ropes, WWE Creative has left her to wallow in mediocrity, paired with lesser-skilled women in tag team matches or shoved into enhancement matches designed to get her opponent over.

Such was the case Thursday as she battled Emma in singles competition. A complete afterthought, she was but a competitor for the Aussie competitor to bowl over as she continues to build toward a match with Becky Lynch.

It is a disappointing place for Paige to be in but it does not appear as though her placement on the card is poised to improve anytime soon.

Winner: Emma

Credit: WWE.com

The former happy-go-lucky Superstar has embraced her heel turn, which began months ago in NXT and has helped her attain relevancy on the main roster.

On Thursday, Emma cut a very strong promo on Becky Lynch before proceeding to defeat Paige clean, further picking up momentum en route to her showdown with the Irish Lass Kicker.

From her body language to her facial expressions, most of them steeped in utter disdain for her fellow Divas, Emma has upped her game and more than deserves the push she is on the receiving end of at this point.