WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 2

After a tumultuous first week that had SmackDown looking up at a triumphant Raw, the Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon-led brand looked to deliver a show that was more focused, and simply better, than its predecessor.

Dolph Ziggler's ascension to the No. 1 contender's spot left fans wondering whether or not he deserved a shot at Dean Ambrose's WWE Championship. With The Lunatic Fringe openly doubting him, McMahon and Bryan reservedly questioning his chances and Bray Wyatt gunning for his championship opportunity, Ziggler set out to prove everyone wrong.

To do so, he would have to defeat The Reaper of Souls in the night's main event or risk losing his title match forever.

How did he fare and what role would the current titleholder play in the night's festivities?

Elsewhere on the show, American Alpha made their debut, Eva Marie set foot inside the squared circle for a match with Becky Lynch, and Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin and Kalisto waged war for the right to challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship.

The brand continued its build to the August 21 pay-per-view extravaganza with a show that provided plenty of answers.

Find out how each match graded out, who left with their arms raised in victory and how each segment affects the brand going forward with this look back at the August 2 episode of SmackDown.

Dean Ambrose Promo

The WWE champion was in the ring to kick off the evening's festivities as commentators Mauro Ranallo, JBL and David Otunga welcomed the viewing audience to the broadcast.

"From now on, it's about building my legacy," Ambrose said about his position as champion and SmackDown's franchise star. He wasted little time addressing Dolph Ziggler and calling him to the squared circle.

Ziggler called Ambrose out for his days with The Shield in relation to The Showoff's start as a male cheerleader. The champion criticized Ziggler for complaining instead of doing something about his position. Ambrose said his top contender will steal the show, make the highlight reels but he will lose.

"I'm the guy that's going to roll into SummerSlam, burn Brooklyn down, beat your ass and become WWE world champion!" Ziggler exclaimed.

"No you're not...because you're not as good as you think you are," Ambrose said, leaving to a decidedly mixed reaction.

The Wyatt Family bumper aired and Bray appeared in the ring, dropping Ziggler with Sister Abigail.

Wyatt issued a challenge to the fallen Ziggler for a match in which if The Reaper of Souls wins, he replaces The Showoff in the championship bout at SummerSlam.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Heading into Tuesday, there was a great deal of intrigue surrounding the Ziggler-Ambrose program and what direction WWE Creative would take the story. Unfortunately, nothing that happened here did much to clear things up.

Ziggler was passionate, losing his showy demeanor while expressing his passion for the sport and determination to win the title. Ambrose, surprisingly, came across as the nonchalant heel despite being one of the most popular stars on the entire WWE roster.

The Wyatt attack was a nice twist and sets up a fresh and meaningful main event, so it was a productive segment in that regard.

Still, it would have been nice to have a better sense of which direction the story was heading rather than the overwhelming sense that WWE Creative has no clue and will play it by ear. 

Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship

Three New Era stars battled for the opportunity to challenge The Miz for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam as Apollo Crews, Kalisto and Baron Corbin met in a Triple Threat No. 1 Contender's match.

Kalisto stood tall heading into the commercial break, but the action clearly broke down in its second half, with each Superstar taking control with signature offense. Crews took down the luchador with a Samoan Drop, only to suffer a Deep Six courtesy of The Lone Wolf.

Former United States champion Kalisto took Corbin over the top rope with a headscissors, only to find himself on the receiving end of a schoolboy rollup as Crews scored the upset win.

After the match, Corbin flattened Kalisto, Crews made the save and Miz flattened his new top contender with the Skull-Crushing Finale.

It was Corbin, though, who got the last laugh with the End of Days, leaving a ring full of fallen carcasses as he exited.

Result

Apollo Crews defeated Kalisto and Baron Corbin

Grade

C+

Analysis

Too often, Triple Threat matches in WWE feature the same tired format in which one Superstar powders to the outside, allowing his opponents to take center stage. That scenario plays out numerous times before the finish.

That was not the case here. The action was never-ending, all three competitors were involved in every high spot and the finish was a genuine surprise given its simplicity.

It was the post-match activities that may have rendered the entire ordeal an exercise in uselessness, though. Despite Crews' victory, it certainly looks as though WWE Creative is gearing up for a Fatal 4-Way match in which Miz defends against the three men who waged war Tuesday night.

If so, there were certainly much worse ways to get to that endgame. 

Becky Lynch vs. Eva Marie

Eva Marie made her in-ring SmackDown debut, battling Lass Kicker Becky Lynch in a singles match. Could The Red Queen overcome Straight Fire tasked with serving as the franchise star of the SmackDown women's division?

The heel demanded the official remove her ring jacket for her, drawing even more heat than she already found herself on the receiving end of.

Eva Marie feigned injury early as she claimed to have injured her knee coming off the second rope during her ring entrance.

The referee called off the match, much to the dismay of the audience, who chanted "Becky" as focus shifted to Renee Young backstage.

Carmella joined the interviewer but was cut off by Natalya. The Queen of Harts invoked the name of her uncle, Bret Hart, before a challenge was issued for a match between the competitors.

Grade

C

Analysis

The Eva Marie injury was desperately in need of some over-the-top character work from the heel. As it stands, she looked legitimately hurt, confusing the audience and leaving the segment to die a horrendous death.

It could turn out that the Total Divas star is legitimately hurt, but it is likely the start of an angle in which she repeatedly feigns injury to get out of a beatdown.

The match between Carmella and Natalya, made in the wake of the nonmatch between Lynch and Eva Marie, has the potential to be fun. However, that does not excuse what came across as a highly unnatural segment of television.

American Alpha vs. The Vaudevillains

Former NXT tag team champions American Alpha made their SmackDown debut Tuesday, drawing an impressive reaction as they took to the squared circle for a match with Simon Gotch and Aiden English, The Vaudevillains.

Chad Gable took Gotch down with a belly-to-back suplex, then trapped him in a waistlock. The Olympic wrestler controlled Gotch before a tag to Jason Jordan led to a huge dropkick. The Vaudevillains took control for a brief moment, but the energetic babyfaces responded with a double clothesline from Gable and a pair of dropkicks that left The Vaudevillains scurrying for the sanctity of the ringside area.

Jordan overcame a few minutes of American Alpha playing defense, exploding into the ring with a series of suplexes before him and Gable delivered Grand Amplitude for the pinfall victory.

Result

American Alpha defeated The Vaudevillains

Grade

B-

Analysis

As an introduction to American Alpha, this worked. Both Gable and Jordan exploded into the ring with every tag, their energy popping the crowd despite initial reactions suggesting the fans were not as familiar with the act as WWE management may have hoped.

The suplexes thrown by Gable and Jordan were phenomenal, and the comparisons from Mauro Ranallo to The Steiner Brothers are the types of things that help fans relate to a new act, even if it does heighten expectations somewhat unfairly.

Would the dynamic duo have prospered even more with a series of squash matches to build their connection with audiences? Yes, but by jumping to the top spot in the SmackDown tag team division, Jordan and Gable instantly feel more essential to the brand's roster than they otherwise would have.

AJ Styles' Message to John Cena

Credit: WWE.com

"I came out here for one reason and one reason only: to talk about John Cena."

AJ Styles could no sooner get the words out of his mouth before Cena's music played and the arena erupted into the typical mixed reaction as the franchise star of World Wrestling Entertainment hit the squared circle.

Styles claimed to have Cena figured out and was somewhat dumbfounded that his rival was still around despite having beaten him up countless times.

"I don't want you here. You don't belong in this ring with me, John," Styles said, summing up his issues with Cena.

"Nashville, Tennessee, is the weakest of minds. Trust me, I know," Styles followed up, both generating cheap heat and taking a shot at former employers TNA Wrestling at the same time.

Styles took exception to the idea of participation trophies and called himself "the elite" before Cena took over on the mic.

"I don't give a damn. I'm a grown-ass man. I'm here outta love," Cena answered Styles' questions about his reasoning for sticking around.

"That's exactly what I thought you would say," Styles responded, seemingly goading Cena into a challenge. "SummerSlam, AJ Styles, John Cena. No excuse. No Club. Me and you."

Cena wasted no time accepting and Styles vowed victory.

Grade

A+

Analysis

It is almost impossible to remember a time when Styles' mic work was considered the weakest part of his performance because The Phenomenal One was outstanding here.

Whether he was taking shots at Dixie Carter and TNA, verbally running down parents and their children, or reacting to Cena's passionate explanation of his new role in WWE with a mocking slow clap, Styles proved himself as one of the most well-rounded characters on the roster.

As great as Styles was, Cena was equally as spectacular.

When Cena is motivated and impassioned about a particular subject, he shines. His love for WWE and what he does was so readily apparent that if you asked an honest internet fan, he or she would have admitted that they wanted to see the West Newbury, Massachusetts, native whoop Styles' ass then and there.

The segment was compelling and defined the issues that exist between the Superstars, leading to a high-profile match that feels every bit like a main event.

Randy Orton vs. Fandango

The threat of potential payback from Brock Lesnar prompted police presence around the ringside area as Randy Orton battled one-half of Breezango, Fandango. Based on the comments made by Orton at Battleground, where The Viper called into question the legitimacy of the so-called Ballroom Brute, the contest figured to be a one-sided affair.

Instead, Fandango grabbed a headlock after surviving a Garvin Stomp. His offense was short-lived, though, as Orton fought out with a side suplex and fired off a flurry of clotheslines. A powerslam followed before Tyler Breeze interjected himself and suffered a similar fate.

Orton's signature draping DDT flattened Fandango, only for Brock Lesnar to appear at ringside. Orton dropped Fandango with the RKO, but The Beast Incarnate completed his receipt from Monday night, obliterating his SummerSlam opponent with an F-5.

Security escorted Lesnar from the ring as Orton was left to recover.

Result

Randy Orton defeated Fandango by disqualification

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was more angle than match, and rightfully so.

Lesnar showed up and got his revenge on Orton. With that said, it would have been nice for WWE's production team to not tip his presence by having him appear at ringside. Instead, it would have been more effective had he surprised Orton as The Viper did to him 24 hours early.

It is that one letdown which kept the segment from jumping into "B" territory.

Still, Lesnar's appearance on SmackDown lends credibility to the show and makes it feel more important than it ever did during the joint WWE era.

The match between Orton and Fandango was a nice call back to the former's comments at Battleground, though it would have meant more if footage of Orton's appearance on The Highlight Reel accompanied it.

Carmella vs. Natalya

Credit: WWE.com

After years spent in NXT partnering with Enzo Amore and Big Cass as one of the hottest and most energetic performers on the roster, Carmella made her in-ring debut Tuesday night against Natalya.

At least it was supposed to occur that way.

Instead, Natalya jumped Carmella from behind, suplexing her on the arena floor and trapping her in The Sharpshooter.

Referees flocked to the ringside area to pull the former championship competitor off of her prey.

For the second time, SmackDown was left without an advertised women's match.

Result

No contest

Grade

D

Analysis

The Eva Marie nonsense was forgivable because it looked like WWE Creative would make up for it with Carmella vs. Natalya. Instead, that match was scrapped for the sake of another angle. Unfortunately, that angle was not nearly strong or original enough to excuse the shoddy booking.

Fans already perceived the SmackDown brand to have the weaker women's roster. The last thing they need is to have their concerns confirmed in the manner they were Tuesday, when the call was made to half-ass two stories seemingly intended to bring conflict to the division.

Lack of character development for either Natalya or Carmella certainly did them no favors.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Bray Wyatt

Credit: WWE.com

Gone was the cockiness and arrogance as Ziggler made a beeline to the squared circle. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say I got under Ziggler's skin earlier tonight," Dean Ambrose said while joining the commentary team for the night's marquee bout.

Wyatt used Ziggler's aggression against him, taking control until an ugly rollup left the viewing audience wondering about the health of The Reaper of Souls' previously injured ankle.

After finding himself on the receiving end of a beating through the majority of the match, Ziggler mounted a comeback with a big Stinger Splash and neckbreaker. Wyatt responded with his trademark senton splash. Wyatt tried to expose the turnbuckle pad, allowing Ziggler to deliver the Zig-Zag for a heartstopping near-fall.

Ziggler actually removed the pad, but found himself on the receiving end of the uranage slam. Another near-fall left fans on the edge of their seats. A frustrated Wyatt unloaded on his opponent, but it was Ziggler who recovered, sent him into the exposed turnbuckle and delivered a superkick for the pinfall win.

Ziggler and Ambrose stared each other down until Erick Rowan came from out of nowhere to attack the No. 1 contender. The Lunatic Fringe made the save, but the remnants of The Wyatt Family left the babyfaces lying to close out the show.

Result

Dolph Ziggler defeated Bray Wyatt

Grade

A

Analysis

Ziggler and Wyatt have worked with each other before, and the result was almost always an entertaining match. This one, though, relied more on storytelling. Ziggler was determined to overcome the perceptions about his ability and did just that, overcoming Wyatt's onslaught and using his own underhanded tactics against him.

Everything from the Zig-Zag fakeout on was golden. The reversals were great, the repeated turnbuckle teases were strong and the outcome was the right one.

Going forward, the post-match activities will prove most interesting.

The blossoming feud between Ziggler and Ambrose divided them late, allowing The Wyatt Family to leave them lying and establish dominance.

How Bray and Rowan are intertwined in the championship picture as SummerSlam approaches remains to be seen, but their presence will only add to the air of unpredictability that exists at the top of the blue brand card.