WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 25

"High stakes" was the theme of Tuesday's WWE SmackDown Live, as three of the night's matches had much to offer the winner.

For Dean Ambrose, his match with AJ Styles presented him the opportunity to challenge for the WWE World Championship that has consumed him in 2016.

The Hype Bros chased the chance to appear on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series, as did Nikki Bella and Natalya.

Heath Slater and Rhyno each wanted to retain the tag titles as they battled The Spirit Squad, and Becky Lynch made a much-appreciated return to the brand.

How did those stars fare, and what came of their quests?

Take a look with this recap of the Oct. 25 broadcast.

Kane vs. Bray Wyatt (No Disqualification Match)

Just in case you were not tired of watching Bray Wyatt and Kane work together, this week's show kicked off with a No Disqualification match between the two.

Luke Harper did not accompany Wyatt to the squared circle, but he did appear mid-match and attacked The Big Red Monster.

Harper continued to interfere until Randy Orton appeared and watched from the ramp.

He hit the ring and appeared poised to join Kane in a two-on-one attack of Wyatt, but Orton shockingly dropped his ally with an RKO, allowing Wyatt to score the pinfall victory.

Result

Bray Wyatt defeated Kane.

Grade

C

Analysis

The betrayal of Kane was likely little more than another mind game played by Orton as his feud with Wyatt nonsensically drags on.

Let this be the last time Kane and Wyatt work together for the foreseeable future.

Please.

Becky Lynch Returns

After weeks away while rehabbing an injury, SmackDown women's champion Becky Lynch returned to the blue brand and was confronted by Alexa Bliss ahead of their big title battle on Nov. 8.

Bliss insinuated that Lynch was a coward, even brushing off her rival's recent surgery.

Despite Lynch's vow to rip her shoulder out of her socket, Bliss got the last laugh, planting the champion with a DDT and using yellow spray paint to draw a streak down The Lass Kicker's back.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This is a surprisingly effective program considering the fact that Lynch missed as much time as she did.

Bliss considers the champion the coward, thinks she is superior and will do whatever it takes to prove it come Nov. 8. For Lynch, she must prove her championship credentials by defeating her top contender.

This was a straightforward segment, and Bliss has even more heat for humiliating the popular babyface.

The Hype Bros vs. The Ascension

In the rematch no one asked for, The Hype Brothers battled The Ascension. At stake? The opportunity to represent SmackDown at Survivor Series.

Zack Ryder was isolated from his partner—as usual—and Konnor and Viktor beat him down.

He made the hot tag to Mojo Rawley, who exploded into the match and joined the former intercontinental and United States champion in delivering a Hype Ryder for the win.

Result

The Hype Bros defeated The Ascension.

Grade

D

Analysis

Ryder and Rawley have wicked chemistry, but both of these teams are dead in the water, and no win over the other is enough to reinvigorate them. 

Nikki Bella vs. Natalya

The stakes were high for Nikki Bella and Natalya as they took to the squared circle for their one-on-one battle. The winner would be awarded leadership of SmackDown's women's team at Survivor Series. The loser would not be on the team at all.

After a big clothesline on the arena floor, Natalya controlled the bout, working her opponent over on the mat in hopes of applying the Sharpshooter for the win.

Bella made it to the ropes, fired off a comeback and scored her own submission victory with the STF.

After the match, Carmella attacked, planting Bella with her own Bella Buster and mocking John Cena's "You Can't See Me" gesture.

Result

Nikki Bella defeated Natalya.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Why were Bella and Natalya fighting for the right to captain Team SmackDown?

Should that not be the job of the women's champion, be it Becky Lynch or Alexa Bliss after Nov. 8?

The match was one-dimensional and not good, and Carmella's beatdown was repetitive at best.

Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. The Spirit Squad (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz, Maryse and The Spirit Squad hit the ring for a promo aimed at diminishing Dolph Ziggler's accomplishments and credentials. The intercontinental champion interrupted, followed by Heath Slater and Rhyno.

The verbal exchange broke down until a tag team title bout between Slater and Rhyno and The Spirit Squad was booked.

Slater was isolated from Rhyno, who received a sustained pop throughout. His hot tag sparked excitement and led to a hot finish that saw Kenny of the villainous cheerleaders sent flying into The Miz. From there, the Detroit native blasted Mikey with a Gore for the victory.

Result

Heath Slater and Rhyno defeated The Spirit Squad.

Grade

C

Analysis

The entire ordeal was entertaining enough, but as has been the case for the last two weeks, WWE Creative has struggled mightily to follow up on the near-classic wrestled by Miz and Ziggler at No Mercy. The Spirit Squad is a joke in 2016, and Slater and Rhyno have lost incredible momentum.

This is a story in desperate need of its next chapter.

Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles

Credit: WWE.com

Prior to Tuesday's main event, Dean Ambrose agreed to allow James Ellsworth to be in his corner for his much-anticipated match against AJ Styles in which, if he won, he would earn a championship opportunity.

The match was the standard competitive fair fans have come to expect from the two, with the added element of the lovable loser at ringside.

Late in the match, Styles obliterated Ellsworth and looked to have things under control. Then he soared from the top rope for the Phenomenal Forearm and right into a Dirty Deeds attempt. A brief exchange saw Styles dumped to ringside, where Ellsworth blasted him with a superkick, drawing a delayed disqualification and robbing The Lunatic Fringe of his championship opportunity.

Result

AJ Styles defeated Dean Ambrose via disqualification.

Grade

B

Analysis

This is an intriguing story in that it could be the emphasis for an Ambrose heel turn. The Lunatic Fringe is the unstable competitor seeking gold, but he's being held back and burdened by an underdog who idolizes him.

Frustration could mount, and the result would be a renewed sense of danger in Ambrose and a brilliant bit of booking that freshens things up after falling into stagnancy post-No Mercy.