WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 3

The main roster stars of WWE made their penultimate stop on the Road to WrestleMania Tuesday night on SmackDown Live.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura were forced to set aside their differences as they teamed up to battle Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan made up, putting their tumultuous last few months behind them as they focused on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 34.

Charlotte and Asuka had one last confrontation, the four men who will do battle over the United States Championship came to blows and the blue brand's contributions to the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal competed in an Eight-Man Tag Team match.

Find out who emerged victorious, what it meant for them ahead of WrestleMania in New Orleans and whether SmackDown hit its final opportunity to create buzz for Sunday's show out of the park with this recap of the April 3 broadcast.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan Kick Off SmackDown

Daniel Bryan kicked off this week's SmackDown Live, drawing a huge ovation. He wasted little time introducing Shane McMahon, who entered to an equally loud pop.

McMahon announced he has been medically cleared and he will give it his all at WrestleMania.

From there, the discussion turned to Bryan and his actions in recent months. McMahon said, yes, they were inappropriate and favored Owens and Zayn, but he understood where his general manager was coming from.

He apologized to Bryan and even shared a hug with his WrestleMania partner.

McMahon called Owens and Zayn "cancers" and promised he and Bryan would beat the hell out of them Sunday night.

Grade

B

Analysis

It was nice to see Bryan and McMahon wrap up their months-long storyline sensibly, but at the same time, one cannot help but think this is one big neon sign foreshadowing a heel turn at WrestleMania.

Whether it is McMahon or Bryan remains to be seen, but it is difficult to imagine a scenario where fans willingly boo the latter, who is just now making his return from a three-year hiatus.

A solid enough segment to kick off this show but hopefully not the only time we see the authority figures of SmackDown.

Charlotte vs. Natalya

Just days from an epic encounter with Asuka for the SmackDown Women's Championship, titleholder Charlotte battled longtime rival Natalya in singles competition.

Commentators Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves questioned whether Charlotte had made a wise decision in competing in such a physically grueling match.

Late, Charlotte scaled the ropes and tried a moonsault but missed. With both women down, Carmella's music played and Miss Money in the Bank made her way to the ring, eager to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase.

Charlotte booted the briefcase out of her hands, survived a roll-up attempt by The Queen of Harts and tapped her out to the Figure-Eight.

After the match, Asuka made her way to the ring and confronted Charlotte. She tried her "no one is ready for Asuka" catchphrase, but her WrestleMania opponent interrupted and asked The Empress of Tomorrow if she is ready.

Result

Charlotte defeated Natalya

Grade

A

Analysis

The commentators putting over the physical nature of the match and questioning whether it was wise for Charlotte to take on the match put her over as a fighting champion who is not afraid to schedule the toughest opponents close to a big match.

That not only helps her earn the respect of the audience but also further cements her as the face of the women's division.

At least until Asuka dethrones her Sunday.

The question is whether Carmella will figure into WrestleMania, and if so, how. Will she actually beat one of the women or will she unsuccessfully cash in her briefcase?

Only time will tell, but the creative team has done a solid job of piecing together the puzzle in a way that creates genuine intrigue about the championship picture.

Rusev vs. Jinder Mahal

Credit: WWE.com

Bobby Roode watched from ringside as Jinder Mahal and Rusev did battle in singles competition just five days before a massive Fatal 4-Way match for Randy Orton's United States Championship.

Mahal took control of the match, working over Rusev's head and neck. A big running knee to the face earned The Maharaja a near-fall.

Mahal returned to the submission hold, grounding The Bulgarian Brute. Rusev fought out, though, and unloaded with a series of right hands and a kick to the face.

The battle between former tag team partners continued until the de facto babyface delivered his Rusev Kick and scored the clean pinfall over the former WWE champion.

After the bout, Orton came from out of nowhere and delivered an RKO, laying Rusev out. Aiden English attacked, and Roode joined in before the babyfaces cleared the ring and stood tall, uneasily staring each other down to close out the segment.

Result

Rusev defeated Jinder Mahal

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match itself was rather one-dimensional and bland, with the exception of a strong back-and-forth finishing sequence.

The meat of this segment was the exchange after the bell and Orton's big RKO to Rusev.

Yes, The Bulgarian Brute has a ton of momentum on his side after suddenly being added to the mix, but this still feels very much like an Orton-Roode story with Mahal and Rusev sprinkled in to give the relatively high-profile heels something to do.

It was all but confirmed with the tense staredown between the babyfaces that wrapped the segment up.

Eight-Man Tag Team Match

Credit: WWE.com

Mojo Rawley, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin and Primo battled Tye Dillinger, Zack Ryder and Breezango in an Eight-Man Tag Team match hyping the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Back from the commercial break, Mojo targeted Dillinger, who ducked out of the way and made the hot tag to Fandango.

The action quickly broke down, with all eight Superstars taking turns tossing one another over the top rope to drive home the emphasis on Sunday's battle royal.

Corbin tossed Breeze over the top rope and onto a mass of Superstars and then pinned Fandango following End of Days.

Result

Corbin, Primo, Ziggler and Rawley defeated Dillinger, Ryder and Breezango

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was a whole lot of nothing.

A match that consisted more of guys throwing each other over the top rope than anything even remotely constructive or productive, it was a waste of time designed to get over a match that a chunk of the fanbase could not possibly care less about.

Corbin got the win because he is the only guy other than Ziggler to enjoy anything resembling a push over the last year.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Invade SmackDown

Credit: WWE.com

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn came from out of nowhere to invade SmackDown Tuesday, grabbing microphones and standing atop the announce table.

The villains mocked Bryan's return, even using Brie Bella in doing so. They said they deserved the WrestleMania opportunity and vowed to dismantle Bryan and McMahon Sunday.

Backstage, the general manager and commissioner watched before sending security and referees after the duo. Their microphones were cut, and Zayn and Owens made their way through the crowd.

McMahon and Bryan made their way to the stage and vowed this will be the last time fans see their antagonists.

Grade

C

Analysis

Owens and Zayn came through the crowd and cut a lengthy promo, only to have their mics cut after five minutes? 

Really? No one in the entire building recognized Owens and Zayn, and no security possibly stopped them on their way in?

If there isn't a storyline development of some sort at WrestleMania, presumably by way of a heel turn, this made zero sense.

And it did nothing to generate any more excitement for Bryan's in-ring return or the culmination of this feud, which has lasted what feels like an eternity.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable

Credit: WWE.com

WWE champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura were forced to set aside their differences ahead of their WrestleMania match for the top prize in WWE as they teamed up to face the capable duo of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable.

Gable wasted little time shooting the leg, taking Nakamura to the mat and applying an armbar. The King of Strong Style countered out of it and applied one of his own. The babyfaces rolled heading into the final commercial of the night.

Nakamura worked the majority of the bout, covering up for the injured Styles. At one point, he fell prey to a nasty moonsault from Gable but managed to kick out at two.

The heels isolated Nakamura as Styles watched from the apron.

When The Phenomenal One tagged in, he unloaded on the opposition and finished Gable off in short order with the Phenomenal Forearm.

After the match, Benjamin jumped Nakamura from behind. Styles took his time making the save and nearly blasted Nakamura with a Phenomenal Forearm of his own but stopped and then patted his top contender on the head.

Result

Styles and Nakamura defeated Benjamin and Gable

Grade

B+

Analysis

The arrogance with which Styles is approaching his WrestleMania showdown with Nakamura will be interesting to track. Will his own hubris get the best of him, rendering him vulnerable to The King of Strong Style, or will it fuel him to another successful title defense?

The match itself was as basic as it could be, probably to ensure the health and wellness of the two competitors in Sunday's title bout.

Given the scares regarding Styles' knee, it was the smart move on WWE Creative's part.