WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Dec. 27

WWE SmackDown finished off its steamrolling of Raw in 2016 with a tremendous episode.

High stakes and high-octane matchups powered the show. AJ Styles defending the WWE Championship against Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler, SmackDown women's champ Alexa Bliss clashing with Becky Lynch and The Wyatt Family's attempt to outlast three teams to remain titleholders made Tuesday's SmackDown feel like a mini pay-per-view. 

Dubbed the "Wild Card Finals," the final SmackDown of 2016 welcomed back John Cena and effectively marched toward the Jan. 29 Royal Rumble PPV.

SmackDown has spent the second half of the year beating out Raw in terms of storytelling and in-ring action. It did so again, knocking it out of the park in Chicago.

The following is a look at SmackDown's latest victory, breaking down the highs and lows of the blue brand's 2016 sendoff.

John Cena Returns

Cena talked about being grateful to be back, saying nothing compared to WWE. He goofed around with the fans before hyping the night's lineup.

Cena said he wasn't done, and he wants to challenge whoever won the WWE Championship match between Styles, Corbin and Dolph Ziggler at the Royal Rumble.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Let it rain! I miss the hell out of this."—Cena to the crowd.
• Fans chant for Undertaker.
• "It's not the New Era; it's the 'my time is now' era."—Cena.

Grade

A

Analysis

An electric, succinct promo was an excellent way to kick off the show and reintroduce Cena. He laid out his goals in emphatic fashion.

And few guys work a crowd like the powerhouse.

Cena also showed flashes of his old Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick. He turned off his corny side in favor of a more intense one. That's always a welcome sight. 

It's clear Cena will make a major impact on SmackDown as 2017 kicks off.

Four Corners Elimination Match (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

The Wyatt Family vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. The Usos vs. American Alpha

The Usos clobbered Rhyno early on. The Wyatt Family, meanwhile, stepped back and let everyone beat up on each other. 

Jimmy Uso's superkick eliminated Slater. Chad Gable rolled up Jey Uso to oust the twins. Luke Harper then pounced on American Alpha. 

Bray Wyatt watched on as his followers took control in the ring. Randy Orton punished Jason Jordan for a long stretch. He and Harper then stomped all over Gable.

Jordan charged back. Orton inadvertently bumped into Harper, leading to American Alpha double-teaming him for a three-count. The Wyatt Family bickered after the bell.

Result

American Alpha wins via pinfall to become tag team champs.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Gable hits a northern lights suplex on Rhyno.
• Gable and Jordan hit suplexes in stereo on The Usos.
• "Nothing like showing these college wrestling boys a boot in the mouth."—John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
• "Stay down!"—Wyatt to Gable.
• Gable hits a cannonball onto Harper from the ring apron.

Grade

B+

Analysis

A dominant Wyatt Family and a gutsy American Alpha made for a thrilling final chapter of this bout. The action picked up once the field shrunk to two.

WWE tried to sell us on a story of American Alpha overcoming a juggernaut team, but it rushed it. The Wyatt Family's short reign hurt the power of the babyfaces' victory. Gable and Jordan's NXT title win was more memorable as a result.

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

Lynch outwrestled Bliss in the match's opening moments. The challenger managed to counter everything Bliss threw at her. 

Bliss recovered, slowing the bout's pace and turning up the viciousness. She kept Lynch down temporarily, but The Irish Lass Kicker went on a frenzied flurry.

Someone dressed as La Luchadora emerged, distracting Lynch. Bliss drove her foe's head into an exposed turnbuckle to score a three-count.

Result

Bliss wins via pinfall. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You're nothing, Becky!"—Bliss.
• Lynch yanks Bliss' arm backward and slams it onto the canvas.
• Bliss shoves her dislocated elbow back into place.
• "I don't understand anything that just happened."—JBL.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Neither champion nor challenger was as crisp as she normally is. Their chemistry was off at several points, but it was still a fun match.

Bliss played a stellar heel as usual, delighting in torturing her opponent.

The ending was a bit bewildering, but created intrigue moving forward. Bliss may have someone working for her, which would be a compelling direction to take this story.

Dean Ambrose Ambushes The Miz

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz refused to speak with announcer Dasha Fuentes. He demanded to talk to Renee Young who slapped him last week.

Maryse and Young shared a tense moment before The Miz shooed away security. The intercontinental champ got in Young's face. 

Moments later, Dean Ambrose slipped into the frame, dressed as a security guard. He walloped The Miz and bowled over the security guards.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "2017 will be the year of The Miz."—The Miz.
• Ambrose announces "all clear" into the security walkie-talkie.

Grade

B

Analysis

An effective and efficient segment moved the feud along. And it showcased a quirky-but-intense Ambrose.

The Miz now has to come back with a vengeance. 

WWE is smart to focus more on The Miz and Ambrose here, too. Young can be a valuable background player, but in the end, the wrestlers should be the show's stars.

AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (WWE Championship)

Corbin clocked the competition early. Outside the ring, he slugged Styles. Inside the ropes, he ran over Ziggler.

The Phenomenal One looked to blindside Corbin, but his foe proved too quick and powerful.

Styles and Ziggler teamed up on The Lone Wolf to neutralize him temporarily. They left the big man in a pile of splintered wood before focusing their offense on each other.

The Showoff managed to escape a Styles Clash attempt and land a Zig-Zag, but it wasn't enough to win.

Styles waited for his two opponents to stun each other to leap into the fray. He hit a Phenomenal Forearm to put away Ziggler.

Cena rushed down to the ring. He shook the champ's hand before the two stared each other down.

Result

Styles wins via pinfall to retain the WWE Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Some of the most fun moments of my life are chalked up to bad decisions."—Ziggler.
• Corbin describes Styles and Ziggler as "two little men about to meet the end of days."
• Corbin punches Styles out of the air.
• Ziggler and Styles jump on Corbin to smash him through a table.
• Ziggler superkicks Styles in midair.
• "What a thriller to close out 2016!"—Mauro Ranallo.
• Corbin hits End of Days on Corbin as Ziggler hits The Lone Wolf with a Zig-Zag.

Grade

A+

Analysis

Corbin has never looked better. He was an absolute beast in this match, and it couldn't be clearer that he belongs in the main event scene moving forward.

Ziggler, Corbin and Styles delivered one of SmackDown's best matches all year—a full-tilt, well-told thrill ride with the brand's top prize on the line.

And the announcers did a stellar job talking up what a great year Styles has had. They sold this win as the finishing touches on a historic run, which is a reality-based narrative WWE should have been playing up more beforehand.

Cena vs. Styles is going to be great, just as their previous encounters have been. But the dynamic will much different this time. Styles won't be out to prove himself as much as cling tight to his crown.