WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Dec. 13

WWE SmackDown placed a trio of its top stars on center stage, and unsurprisingly, the strategy paid off. 

Tuesday's SmackDown saw AJ Styles, The Miz and Alexa Bliss all thrive in the spotlight. Styles mocked the man who was supposed to challenge him for the WWE Championship. The Miz was his usual expertly arrogant self. And Bliss deftly played a coward and a bully. 

Styles had to settle for a spot on Miz TV when his WWE title bout was canceled. 

The sudden change of plans didn't hurt the show. SmackDown countered by leaning on high-stakes matches. Washington D.C. played host to a SmackDown Women's Championship match and two contests that decided No. 1 contenders for other titles. 

Most of what the blue brand offered clicked—from the Gabriel Iglesias cameo to a surprise duo's emergence from a field of tag teams. 

The following is a look at the night's victors, high points and lowlights.  

Miz TV with AJ Styles

SmackDown head honchos Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan watched footage of Dean Ambrose's Intercontinental Championship match with The Miz from last week. 

They scolded James Ellsworth for interfering in that bout. McMahon sent Ellsworth home, saying he was too ill to compete against Styles. 

Moments later, The Miz interviewed WWE champ AJ Styles. The Phenomenal One mocked Ellsworth and bragged about all the challengers he has defeated.

The Miz called out Styles, saying he was better than him. The two looked ready to trade blows when Ambrose stormed in. Dolph Ziggler soon arrived as well.

A brawl broke out. Styles retreated. Luke Harper blasted Ambrose from behind.

McMahon and Bryan announced that Harper, The Miz, Ambrose and Ziggler would all battle in a Fatal 4-Way match to decide the new No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Looks like he came down with 'chinfluenza.'"—Styles on Ellsworth 
• "Your hair is way nicer than a soccer mom's."—The Miz to Styles
• "I'm not on your level; I'm above it."—The Miz to Styles

Grade

B+

Analysis

SmackDown had to switch plans on the fly again, and it did well to flourish regardless. This wasn't a great segment, but it was a fun, solid opener that set up the rest of the show.

The tension between The Miz and Styles was excellent. But with the two top Superstars of 2016 involved, that's no surprise.

It's refreshing to see Harper in the mix with these title contenders. His talent has been squandered for too long. Even sniffing the WWE Championship is a major improvement for the big man.

Natalya vs. Carmella

Natalya tried to convince Nikki Bella that she didn't attack her at Survivor Series. Carmella's entrance interrupted her explanation.

Bella sat in on commentary as Carmella and Natalya brawled. Natalya bashed The Princess of Staten Island in the corner. Carmella used her quickness to launch a counterattack. 

The two rivals brawled outside near Bella. Carmella soon rolled up Natalya in the ring to get the surprise win.

Result

Carmella wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You're a liar!"—Natalya to Carmella before slapping her
• "You guys are putting two and two together and getting 23."—John "Bradshaw" Layfield

Grade

C-

Analysis

This story has potential, but the match underwhelmed. Carmella shrieked through much of it, and the two Superstars barked at each other more than they wrestled.

Still, the contest added animosity between these women. And it kept the storyline in the forefront.

This looks to be a slow-burning narrative. If that's the case, the payoff is going to have to be bigger. 

SmackDown Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contenders' Battle Royal

The Hype Bros vs. The Ascension vs. The Vaudevillains vs. American Alpha vs. Breezango vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno

Mojo Rawley eliminated Simon Gotch within seconds. The pace then slowed as the warriors all slugged it out.

Slater inadvertently ousted his own teammate. Chad Gable eliminated Viktor, Jason Jordan took out Aiden English and Breezango tossed Rawley out of the bout. 

Tyler Breeze and Konnor worked together to beat down Zack Ryder and Slater. Prince Pretty tried to turn on his partner but ended up getting speared to the floor.

Ryder hung on to take out Konnor to secure the win.

Result

The Hype Bros win after Ryder last eliminates Konnor.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Gable locks Viktor in an armbar between the ropes.
• Jordan hurls English into the air off the ring apron.
• "Smart strategy. Form an alliance. Then stab the guy in the back."—JBL

Grade

B-

Analysis

The spotlight pointed at much of the tag team division in a single bout.

Jordan was one of the match's stars, as he bowled over a number of foes. Slater looked good as the resilient underdog staving off elimination longer than expected. And this was the most powerful Konnor has looked in a long while.

The Vaudevillains, though, can't seem to get out of the tag division's cellar.

The Hype Bros will make quite the intriguing set of foils for The Wyatt Family. WWE is likely going to have Wyatt and Orton feast on those two. That will save the champions' first real challenge for a bigger event.

Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch (SmackDown Women's Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

Alexa Bliss refused to fight Deonna Purrazzo. The champ dismissed her as inferior competition before blasting her with a forearm.

Becky Lynch came out to challenge Bliss, who tried to duck The Lass Kicker.

McMahon emerged to admonish Bliss. He ordered her to defend her title. 

Once the bell rang, Lynch went for a Dis-Arm-Her immediately. Becky Balboa then outwrestled the titleholder, leaving Bliss reeling.

Bliss feigned a knee injury and made no effort to return to the ring before the referee counted to 10. Lynch bashed Bliss after the bell.

Result

Lynch wins via count-out, allowing Bliss to retain the championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Unlike Becky Lynch, I don't do charity work."—Bliss
• "Who do you think you are? Jane Ellsworth?"—Bliss
• Bliss limps dramatically after looking just fine moments prior.

Grade

B

Analysis

Bliss' heel game has been fantastic. Her verbal undressing of Purrazzo was excellent.

Adding an impromptu women's title match gave the show a jolt, even if the match was too short to get going. This was more of a setup of what's to come than WWE's attempt to satisfy the audience.

The more Bliss slips away like this, the more compelling Lynch's chase will become. That's Pro Wrestling 101.

The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper (No. 1 Contender)

Credit: WWE.com

Styles joined the commentary team as his four potential challengers went to battle.

Harper tore through the competition early. The Miz tried to shake his hand, but Harper tagged him with a right cross instead.

The Miz recovered and nailed Ziggler with a flurry of kicks. Harper went on a rampage. Ambrose dished out clothesline after clothesline. 

Ambrose rolled up The Miz to eliminate him. It took both a Ziggler superkick and a Dirty Deeds from Ambrose to take out Harper.

The Miz returned, distracting The Showoff. He then held Ambrose's foot, which led to The Lunatic Fringe taking a kick to the jaw from Ziggler. That was enough to assure Ziggler the win.

Result

Ziggler wins by last pinning Ambrose.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "What a tope suicida from the bearded brawler from the backwoods!"—Mauro Ranallo
• Harper clocks Ambrose with a big boot on the outside.
• The Miz tries to steal a win by pinning everyone after Ambrose laid them out.

Grade

A-

Analysis

A lengthy, high-octane match served as Harper's coming-out party. He benefited from WWE finally treating him like a beast. Hopefully this isn't a blip but a sign of things to come.

Ziggler is an interesting option for Styles' next challenger.

The Showoff was hard to take seriously as a viable threat when he challenged Ambrose over the summer. He's since garnered more momentum but will still be looked at as a long shot. He's sure to flourish opposite Styles regardless.

A strong main event capped off a taut show—one where everything mattered. That's been SmackDown's MO in 2016.