WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 28

Just days before a massive championship defense against Randy Orton at WrestleMania, Bray Wyatt squared off with former follower Luke Harper in SmackDown Live's explosive main event.

Would the former right-hand man of The Reaper of Souls score a major upset or would Wyatt roll through his longtime enforcer and into Orlando for his showdown with The Viper in five nights?

WrestleMania ramifications were also at the heart of Tuesday's contract signing between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon. Ahead of their showdown Sunday, what would the SmackDown Live commissioner and The Phenomenal One have to say to each other?

Would any unexpected contender to the SmackDown Women's Championship make their presence felt? If so, who and what reaction would current titleholder Alexa Bliss have so close to the biggest title defense of her career?

The answers to those questions and more awaited fans as they tuned into USA Network for this week's broadcast.

Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles Contract Signing

AJ Styles and SmackDown Live commissioner Shane McMahon came face-to-face for the first time since last week's show when the boss delivered a flying elbow drop through the announce table that left The Phenomenal One incapacitated.

McMahon expressed respect for Styles, calling him one of the best wrestlers to set foot inside the WWE ring. He would go on to suggest that it was The Phenomenal One's arrogance that cost him his WWE Championship to John Cena and the Number One Contender's match to Randy Orton.

McMahon continued, saying he has made a career of forcing better wrestlers than himself to dig deep within themselves; to pull out their best or risk getting beat.

Styles reminded his boss that Sunday's match is not a gimmick. There are no ladders, chairs or tables. There are count-outs and disqualifications. It is a basic wrestling match and in that setting Styles is untouchable.

The rivals shared a tense staredown before the segment ended with Styles resisting a handshake offer by his superior.

Grade

A

Analysis

The best thing to come out of this segment was the reminder by Styles that Sunday's clash is a straight wrestling match. There is no opportunity for McMahon to mask his weaknesses behind chair use or a gigantic spot that leaves audiences in awe.

The prodigal son will have to stand toe-to-toe with one of the best wrestlers of all-time, something he is ill-prepared for.

Both men were outstanding on the mic, McMahon expressing his respect while criticizing Styles at the same time. Styles was wholly likable, speaking his mind in a way that made sense and never ventured into true heel territory.

The result was an engaging segment that served as a strong follow-up to the physical build that preceded it.

Mickie James and Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss and Carmella

What began as a singles bout between Becky Lynch and Carmella descended into a cluster when Mickie James and Alexa Bliss came to blows at ringside.

In a development that 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Teddy Long would appreciate, the bout was turned into a tag team match as Bliss partnered with Carmella to battle James and Lynch.

The heels controlled the majority of the match, isolating James from her partner. At one point, Natalya interrupted the proceedings, making her way to the ringside area.

A hot tag to The Lass Kicker had the babyfaces rolling until Natalya attempted to interfere, providing just enough of a distraction to take Lynch's attention away from her opposition.

With the referee's focus on The Queen of Harts, James Ellsworth interjected himself, tripping Lynch up. Carmella scored a roll-up for the pinfall victory.

After the match, the heels beat down the babyfaces until Naomi made her return and laid out all three aggressors. She announced her entry into the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania.

Result

Carmella and Alexa Bliss defeated Becky Lynch and Mickie James

Grade

C+

Analysis

This entire ordeal was the perfect representation of the SmackDown women's division as a whole in the lead up to WrestleMania.

It was messy, disjointed and felt thrown-together rather than expertly laid out to create genuine excitement for Sunday's match. 

Naomi's return was nice and allows the hardworking performer the opportunity for a WrestleMania moment in her hometown of Orlando. Unfortunately, it will come as part of the Kickoff Show rather than the main broadcast, a major disappointment taking into account how significant the division has become to the blue brand.

Another 'Lost' Episode of Total Bellas and John Cena Responds

Just days from a huge mixed tag team match at WrestleMania, The Miz and Maryse presented another "lost episode" of Total Bellas. This once centered around Cena family dinner and added disrespect of Daniel Bryan to the mockery.

John Cena and Nikki Bella interrupted the proceedings, responding to weeks of humiliation at the hands of the former intercontinental champion and his wife.

Cena, in typical fashion, unloaded on Miz with a promo that was part-shoot, part-story but 100 percent intense. He told his longtime rival to ball up his fist and take a shot but know if he does, Cena would swing right back.

The franchise star denounced the idea of Maryse stepping in for her man because Bella would slap the botox out of her cheeks.

The babyfaces essentially challenged the heels to step up or step off. Miz and Maryse chose the latter and retreated. Bella added in a few insults of her own before engaging her beau in a kiss to close out the segment.

Grade

A+

Analysis

This was a fantastic final sell for Sunday's match, though it did feel at times as if Cena said things about both Miz and Maryse that the villains would never have been allowed to say about the franchise if the roles were reversed.

Regardless, the rivalry is as hot as any other on the WrestleMania card, something few would have expected at this point in the build.

Leave it to Cena and Miz, two masters of the mic, to do the heavy lifting and ensure people care about their contributions to the most significant card of the year.

10-Man Tag Team Match

The muddled mid-card of SmackDown Live was on full display Tuesday night as American Alpha, Rhyno, Heath Slater, and Mojo Rawley battled The Usos, Tyler Breeze, Fandango and Dolph Ziggler in a 10-man tag team match that served as the final hype for Sunday's Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Chad Gable found himself isolated from the rest of his babyface teammates and at the mercy of the villains. A hot tag to Rawley ignited a furious finish.

There were several over-the-top-rope spots to sell the upcoming pay-per-view clash.

Ziggler caught Slater with a big superkick at one point but wound up on the receiving end of a bone-rattling Gore at the hands of Rhyno.

Breeze, arguably the most underrated star on the entire roster, fell at the hands of a running punch courtesy of Rawley, who scored the pinfall victory.

Result

American Alpha, Mojo Rawley, Heath Slater and Rhyno defeated Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Tyler Breeze and The Usos

Grade

C

Analysis

Why this match needed 13 minutes is a question only WWE Creative can answer.

The misuse of so many of the Superstars involved in here is befuddling. Amerian Alpha is an insanely talented duo, a modern take on The Steiner Brothers...only more athletic. To see them wasted in a throwaway Battle Royal is disheartening, as is the use of Ziggler and The Usos.

All deserve better. All will see their roles wasted in the most insignificant match on Sunday's card.

Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt

Luke Harper proved a tough challenge for WWE champion Bray Wyatt in the final days before the enigmatic titleholder's epic encounter with Randy Orton at WrestleMania.

Harper recovered from an early body block to catch Wyatt with two suicide dives at ringside. He followed up with a somersault senton that nearly finished Wyatt off.

Unfortunately, the connection between former follower and leader reared its ugly head, providing Wyatt a distraction he could take advantage of.

When Harper became entranced by The Reaper of Souls, Wyatt capitalized and delivered Sister Abigail's Kiss for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Orton appeared on the video screen. He was holding the stake that Wyatt had in his possession last week and was knelt over the charred remains of The Wyatt Family compound. He stabbed it into the ground, presumably into the remains of Sister Abigail, and reiterated that he was coming for Wyatt on Sunday at WrestleMania.

Result

Bray Wyatt defeated Luke Harper

Grade

C

Analysis

Is it possible for a feud to lose as much steam in the final weeks before WrestleMania as Wyatt vs. Orton?

The height of the program was Orton's babyface turn and since then, it has descended into a load of C-level supernatural nonsense that has done nothing to create interest in seeing two grown men battle over the top prize on SmackDown Live. 

Harper has spent months delivering the best performances of his career but was treated as an afterthought. For what? So Orton could appear at the last moment and drive a stake through the already-burned remains of a mythical being that fans will never be introduced to?

A disappointing end to an otherwise strong broadcast.