WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 10

WWE SmackDown wasn't about to let the buzz from WrestleMania 34 die down. Tuesday's show followed up on the marquee pay-per-view with a barrage of big moments.

By the end of the night, SmackDown had a new general manager, women's champion and a fresh pair of talents in the women's division.

Paige, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay all joined Team Blue. Fans in New Orleans also witnessed Carmella's coronation and Daniel Bryan's first TV match in years. The roster shifts and plot developments left SmackDown surging with possibilities.  

Next week's Superstar Shake-up will further tweak SmackDown, and perhaps the recently lagging show has found the cure for its recent blues.

There's plenty to dig into from the most recent SmackDown. Read on for a full look at the show, from the opening segment to the main event.

Paige Takes Over as the New SmackDown GM

SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon kicked off the show by thanking fans who watched WrestleMania. He announced Bryan had resigned as GM before revealing Paige would replace him.

Paige got right to business, booking Bryan in a match against WWE champion AJ Styles.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Seeing Daniel Bryan in action was something magical. And he was born to do this."—McMahon.
• Fans chant "This is your house!" to Paige.

Grade

A-

Analysis

Paige is perfect for this role. What a smart way to make use of her charisma and presence after injuries forced her to retire from in-ring competition early. She's going to infuse SmackDown with a fresh energy.

Hopefully, she gets a lot more mic time than Shane-O-Mac. McMahon has been underwhelming as a talker throughout his tenure as commish.

WWE didn't wasting any time with Bryan, giving us a first-class matchup right away against Styles.

The Usos vs. The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Titles No. 1 Contender's Match)

The winners of this bout would go on to face The Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in Saudi Arabia. 

The Usos clobbered Xavier Woods momentarily, but Big E shifted things in The New Day's favor. Woods and Big E dominated for a long stretch afterward. 

Jimmy Uso eventually played the cavalry and flew at his foes with a relentless attack.

The match morphed into a fast-paced slugfest. The Usos came out on top thanks to a diving splash on Woods. The Bludgeon Brothers emerged to stare down their new challengers.

Result

The Usos win via pinfall to become No. 1 contenders for the SmackDown tag team titles.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Woods lifts Big E on his shoulders and drops him on Jey Uso.
• Big E misses a splash and hits the ring apron.
• "Get up!"—Woods to Jey.
• Big E and Woods hits a uranage/Codebreaker combo.

Grade

B+

Analysis

While not nearly as good as anything from their stellar series of last year, this was a high-quality TV match with tons of energy toward the end.

It was a smart move to establish clear stakes here and have The Usos earn their rematch. They will flourish against The Bludgeon Brothers, against whom they have excellent chemistry.

It's worth noting the announcers talked about the possibility of these teams splitting up via the Superstar Shake-up. That feels highly unlikely, but the company is at least teasing that path.

Naomi vs. Natalya

Backstage, Naomi celebrated her women's WrestleMania Battle Royal win. Natalya interrupted her interview to gripe, and their brief confrontation led to a match.

Naomi knocked Natalya around once the bout began. The Queen of Harts soon took control, though, slowing down the match and punishing her foe. Natalya's power moves had Naomi reeling.

The babyface withstood Natalya's best, though, and rode high-flying offense to a three-count.

Result

Naomi wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Don't you know neon is so seventh grade?"—Natalya.
• Naomi hits a slingshot leg drop on Natalya, who was caught up in the ropes.
• Natalya hits a spinning powerbomb.
• "Do your job!"—Natalya to the referee.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Lots of intensity and hard-hitting exchanges made for a solid match. The more of this aggressive, focused Naomi, the better.

How WWE continues to make use of Naomi's momentum from her Battle Royal victory is something to keep an eye on. The company has largely failed to do much with the winners of the men's match in the past.

Charlotte Flair Meets The Iconics; Carmella Cashes In

Credit: WWE.com

Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are now members of SmackDown.

Flair thanked Asuka for the tough test she provided at WrestleMania. Royce and Kay from NXT interrupted, stepping up to the champ.

The heels played down Flair and Asuka's match. Royce and Kay mocked The Queen, cracking themselves up in the process.

A fight broke out—one that saw Flair take a major beating.

Carmella took advantage, cashing in her Money in the Bank contract. A single kick earned her the title against a wounded champion.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "There was something different about that night. It was special. It was magical."—Flair on WrestleMania.
• "It's out with the old and in with The Iconics."—Royce.
• Royce and Kay fling Flair over the announce table.
• The Iconics powerbomb Flair on the floor.
• "I'm the champ, baby!"—Carmella.

Grade

A+

Analysis

Royce and Kay have been killing it on NXT. They will make great additions to SmackDown, providing compelling heels to oppose the brand's do-gooders. 

Their introduction was done extremely well. They not only got to show their personalities, they were also able to look like powerful villains and legit threats to The Queen.

The referee's comically delayed response hurt the moment some, but Carmella's long-awaited coronation was electric. Like Dolph Ziggler, she cashed in with a buzzing post-WrestleMania crowd adding to the scene.

Now SmackDown has all kinds of options with its women's title scene.

Randy Orton vs. Bobby Roode vs. Rusev (U.S. Title No. 1 Contender's Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Rusev and Aiden English.

The winner of Tuesday's contest would earn the right to face Jinder Mahal for the United States Championship.

Rusev put the boots to both Randy Orton and Bobby Roode. The Viper, though, took over with his trademark methodical offense.  

Roode went on a flurry but couldn't keep Orton down.

As the crowd chanted for him, Rusev blasted both foes. He looked to have the bout won, but an RKO to Roode secured Orton the victory in the end.

Result

Orton wins via pinfall to become No. 1 contender.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Orton pulls Rusev to his feet by his beard.
• Orton suplexes Rusev onto the announce table; Rusev later returns the favor.
• "There's a lot of contempt festering in the soul of Randy Orton."—Byron Saxton.

Grade

C+

Analysis

It's hard to understand why WWE would revisit the Orton vs. Mahal rivalry. It was often dreary and disappointing. Why not turn Rusev and let him chase the champ?

The Lion of Bulgaria was a big part of this match's highlights. His energy bolstered the action. And he would do the same for future U.S. title clashes.

AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan

Credit: WWE.com

In a backstage interview, Shinsuke Nakamura failed to explain why he attacked Styles at WrestleMania.

In the ring, Styles and Bryan traded the advantage on the mat. Kicks from Bryan left The Phenomenal One on the defensive.

Styles left Bryan favoring his left knee, opening the door for the WWE titleholder to battle back.

The two wrestlers looked to put each other away with submission holds. Neither was able to force their foe to tap out. Nakamura inserted himself into the action and laid out everyone. He gloated over a fallen Styles after delivering the Kinshasa.

Result

The match ends in no-contest.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Nakamura pretends he doesn't speak English to avoid questions from Renee Young.
• Styles hits a flying forearm on Bryan outside the ring.
• Bryan transitions a hip toss into an armbar attempt. 

Grade

A

Analysis

A great pace and smooth, crisp wrestling gave us a hint of what Styles and Bryan could do with more time and hype. This was an even match, one that seemed set to catch fire before the interference.

There's an added oomph to all of Bryan's offense, too, which makes it easy to get excited about what's ahead for him. 

Nakamura already looks energized thanks to the heel turn. He's poised to reach his full potential now his fangs are out.