WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 21

Tuesday's WWE SmackDown marched emphatically toward WrestleMania 33, thanks in large part to the blue brand's cast of villains.

A menacing AJ Styles paced the arena looking to spill more blood, Bray Wyatt lurked in the shadows with a cadre of masked men at his side, and The Miz and Maryse roasted their WrestleMania rivals by way of reality-show satire.

This motley collection of heels provided ample highlights, making it easy to get excited about the approach of The Showcase of the Immortals.

WrestleMania remained the show's focus for much of the night. Although, the plans for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at the April 2 pay-per-view are still up in the air. Tuesday's episode did well to escalate a number of rivalries, though.

Where did SmackDown shine in hyping WrestleMania? When did the night sag in terms of storytelling? 

Read on for a full breakdown of Tuesday's show, from Styles' opening remarks to a Carmella match that was over in a flash.

AJ Styles Opens the Show

Styles bragged about beating on Shane McMahon last week, and he accepted the SmackDown commissioner's WrestleMania challenge.

The Phenomenal One promised to meet McMahon in the parking lot to issue a beatdown.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I'm glad I got to put you through something. A car window."—Styles.
• "You thought what I did was bad? It can go from bad to phenomenally worse."—Styles.

Grade

B

Analysis

While not as powerful as the diatribe from last Tuesday, Styles was excellent here as a cackling, arrogant villain. He's clearly having fun with the role.

The segment teased another violent altercation, giving fans a reason to keep tuning in.

It's odd how quickly they brushed over the fact that Daniel Bryan fired Styles. The GM simply noted that McMahon had reversed his decision. That was a missed opportunity for added drama.

American Alpha vs. The Usos (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable outwrestled the challengers early on, flustering The Usos with mat-based offense.

The Usos took control later after zeroing on Gable. The former Olympian struggled to tag his partner in, but their foes managed to keep him on their side of the ring.

Jordan led a comeback for American Alpha before The Usos struck back with a flurry of their own.

Each team landed huge moves, but none of it was enough. It took a low blow and a superkick to score a three-count for The Usos.

Result

The Usos win via pinfall to claim the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jordan and Gable hit simultaneous clotheslines to send an Uso out of the ring.
• Jordan catches Jey in mid-air and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex.
• Gable kicks out after a diving splash.
• American Alpha team up to land a Doomsday Device-like bulldog.

Grade

A-

Analysis

The two teams pumped a ton of energy into this bout, especially in the final third of it. Some classic tag team psychology and a surprise title change aided the action.

The cheap ending with The Usos using the ropes on Jordan's nether region leaves the door open for a rematch, and American Alpha will enter that clash angry and focused. This won't match what the feud could have been had WWE jumped on it sooner, but it's an improvement over the sluggishness the division has gone through of late.

'Total Bellas' Spoof

The Miz and Maryse mocked their WrestleMania opponents in a mock version of Total Bellas.

Maryse played both Nikki and Brie Bella, while The Miz starred in the spoof as John Cena. They joked about Cena not proposing to Nikki.

The couple took a tour of the Bella home, which led to more shots at Cena's backstage influence and teases of a marriage proposal.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I thought I was Brie."—Maryse.
• "I propose you stop breaking rule No. 11 of John Cena's house rules."—The Miz.
• "All of our meals are prepared by servants which we don't show on camera because that wouldn't be relatable."—The Miz.
• "I bought you a Diamond...Dallas Page DVD set."—The Miz.

Grade

A+

Analysis

This feud continues to touch raw nerves, deftly blending real-life issues into the scripted drama. That's usually been done via dramatic promo, but The Miz and Maryse offered a welcome comedic change of pace.  

The Miz's robotic impression of Cena was funny, but Maryse stole the show. She threw herself into this role and flourished as an over-the-top version of The Fearless One.

It's getting to the point where it's disappointing to think this feud may not go on past WrestleMania.

Baron Corbin vs. Randy Orton

Baron Corbin dodged an early RKO, but he couldn't avoid Randy Orton's other hard-hitting offense. 

The Lone Wolf slowed the bout down and barked at his opponent as he beat on him. Corbin and Orton fought outside the ring, knocking over the ring steps in the process.

Dean Ambrose appeared on a forklift, distracting Corbin. Orton took advantage and hit an RKO for the win.

The intercontinental champ stepped into the ring, circling Corbin as he accepted his WrestleMania challenge.

Result

Orton wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quote

• A Corbin forearm leaves Orton wobbly.
• Orton blows a kiss at the WrestleMania sign before planting Corbin with a DDT.
• Corbin counters an RKO with the Deep Six.
• "Hey, Corbin! You busy?"—Ambrose.

Grade

B

Analysis

Corbin and Orton produced a solid match, one that suggested a feud between them could result in some future thrillers. The action ended early to advance the IC title feud with the tired "distraction finish" trope.

The match and post-bout shenanigans accomplished a number of things, though. The Apex Predator got a valuable win ahead of his WWE title bout in the process, while Ambrose got a measure of revenge and pushed his rivalry with Corbin forward.

Bray Wyatt Leads an Attack on Randy Orton

The lights flickered during a backstage interview, leaving Orton looking around worriedly.

A gang of men in sheep masks surrounded him. The masked clan pounced on Orton, bashed him against the wall and held him down.

Wyatt emerged, grinning. 

The Eater of Worlds explained that Orton had changed him and exposed his weakness. He hovered over his enemy.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You exposed my one weakness. Sister Abigail."
• Wyatt sings "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."

Grade

B+

Analysis

The Orton vs. Wyatt rivalry has really hit its stride, and this was the latest example of its creativity at play. It has maintained a dark, unsettling tone, most recently with this efficient segment.

It's been fun to watch Wyatt embrace what makes him different. 

The dialogue was a bit too esoteric, though, not giving the audience enough to snag on. Making the narrative a touch more accessible would do wonders for it. 

John Cena vs. Fandango

Tyler Breeze entered alongside his tag team partner dressed as Nikki Bella. The real Nikki entered to stand in Cena's corner. 

Fandango handed out tickets for fashion violations. He failed to mount much offense against the powerhouse. Cena flattened Fandango as Bella slammed Breeze before the pair hit STFs in stereo.

Result

Cena wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fandango gives Cena a fashion violation for "wearing jorts in 2017."
• "That's gotta be a misdemeanor!"—John "Bradshaw" Layfield on all the tickets flying around the ring.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Much like the recent mixed tag team match against Carmella and James Ellsworth, this was a silly, fun warm-up for Cena and The Fearless One.

WWE could have dragged this out a touch more to deliver a few more laughs, but ending it early is better than having it go on too long.

Breeze's Bella impression would have had more weight had Maryse not done the exact same thing on the same show.

Becky Lynch vs. Carmella

Natalya sat in on commentary as Carmella and Becky Lynch locked horns.

Lynch chased Carmella to the outside, but interference from James Ellsworth slowed her down. The match ended suddenly soon after when Natalya jumped into the ring. Mickie James and Alexa Bliss followed suit, leading to an all-out brawl.

Bliss stood tall at the end of it.

Result

Carmella wins via disqualification.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I come from one of the greatest families that has ever lived."—Natalya.
• Lynch nails Ellsworth with a missile dropkick.

Grade

D

Analysis

What a cheap, lazy way to get all the women on the same stage. Poor logic hurt the brawl. This felt like a last-minute addition to the script.

WWE still hasn't revealed the stipulation for the SmackDown women's title bout at WrestleMania, either. Are we due for a repeat of the Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational?

It's unfortunate that Bliss and the women chasing her title won't have a better foundation to build on. 

Shane McMahon Confronts AJ Styles

Credit: WWE.com

Styles tried to wait for McMahon in the parking lot, but the commissioner slipped by him. McMahon stood in the ring and called out The Phenomenal One.

McMahon derided Styles for attacking him from behind.

Styles emerged with a mic in hand, urging Shane O'Mac to calm down. He apologized for his actions, but McMahon wasn't hearing it. They two traded punches in a brawl that ended with McMahon smashing Styles through a table.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You act like such a tough guy when I'm either not there or when my back turned."—McMahon.
• "All hell is about to break loose."—JBL.
• McMahon hits a diving elbow drop to send Styles crashing through a table.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The payoff clicked, but not everything before it. 

There was a long delay between McMahon calling out Styles and The Phenomenal One actually getting into the ring. Bryan trying to sell the commissioner as a threat to Styles was a bit much.

McMahon's diluted-strength punches aside, the brawl succeeded. The audience got a reminder of Shane O'Mac's fearlessness. The intensity between the men went up a notch. And SmackDown ended with quite the final image.