WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 5

The Money in the Bank hype train churned along on Tuesday's WWE SmackDown.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, the blue brand zeroed in on the June 17 pay-per-view. Not every segment may have been a hit, but it had a clear purpose related to the event.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura signed the contract for their WWE Championship. Asuka took on two foes to warm up for her SmackDown Women's Championship bout. The New Day scored a win against three men set to battle in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match.

Overall, Tuesday's episode was efficient and entertaining, throwing in the right amount of levity.

Which matches clicked? Which stories stalled? Read on for a full breakdown of the latest SmackDown.

Carmella 'Unmasks' Asuka

Carmella opened the show by claiming Asuka isn't who we think she is.

After an Asuka highlight package aired, Carmella showed fans footage of The Empress of Tomorrow's losses. The SmackDown women's champ mocked her Money in the Bank opponent.

Asuka arrived to confront Carmella, but Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville interrupted. The former Absolution members both wanted a match against the Japanese.

SmackDown general manager Paige offered The Empress of Tomorrow a choice between Rose and Deville; Asuka wanted to face them both.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Let's remove the mask and let's face this horrible truth together."—Carmella.
• "Mella is money, and The Age of Asuka is over."—Carmella.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Spotlighting the mental impact of Asuka's undefeated streak ending is a smart move. It was such a key element of her character, and that remains true even now.

Asuka welcoming the challenge of a handicap match made her look like a warrior. It's a perfectly Asuka thing to do. More moments like this will help her continue to stand out from the rest of the women's division.

Carmella, meanwhile, was solid on the mic here and has grown into her role as champion.

Asuka vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville

Carmella sat in on commentary as the action unfolded.

Deville and Rose tagged in and out, looking to gain an advantage early. Asuka held her own but took a lot of punishment from her foes.

Asuka went on a flurry, although distraction from Carmella allowed Deville and Rose to take over. The Empress of Tomorrow was able to outwork Deville on the mat and caught her in the Asuka Lock for the win.

After the bout, Carmella blasted Asuka with the SmackDown women's title.

Result

Asuka wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I should just take your job. I'm way better than you at it."—Carmella to Byron Saxton.
• Asuka flips Rose over with a missile dropkick.
• Asuka and Deville knock each other down with simultaneous head kicks.

Grade

B+

Analysis

A fun showing from Asuka showcased her as a gutsy, dangerous babyface. Deville was impressive here, as well.

This is the kind of win Asuka needed, reminding the audience of how foes should fear her.

WWE has done fairly well to create quick animosity between Carmella and Asuka ahead of Money in the Bank. This is no blood feud, but Tuesday's events upped the level of bad feeling.

Harper vs. Karl Anderson

Harper overwhelmed Karl Anderson. He pounded him with strikes and pushed him around.

Anderson, though, was able to roll up the big man for an upset win.

Result

Anderson wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "They have effectively served as the black cloud over the tag team division."—Saxton on The Bludgeon Brothers.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The match was no thriller. It did, however, manage to make Harper look dominant and make it feel like Anderson and Luke Gallows have a shot against the tag champs at Money in the Bank.

Even so, there is barely a spark ahead of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship bout. The tag division has become a low priority on the blue brand. That's a shame considering the talent it boasts.

Jimmy Uso and Naomi vs. Lana and Aiden English

Aiden English introduced his partner via song before the action kicked off.

In the ring, Naomi and Jimmy Uso had their opponents reeling. A distraction from English allowed Lana to take down Naomi, however.

Things got chaotic as all four Superstars got involved before Uso nailed English with a superkick to end the bout.

Result

Uso and Naomi win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "This is the moneymaker, Uce!"—English after Uso chopped him in the throat.
• Naomi dives out of the ring onto both English and Lana.

Grade

C+

Analysis

A fun energy did well to mask some of the match's sloppy moments. Lana's offense was awkward at times, which isn't unusual for her.

Uso and Naomi teaming up outside of the Mixed Match Challenge is a good move, as the real-life married couple have obvious chemistry.

Lana and English's pairing, meanwhile, didn't get nearly the reaction it has in the past. Whether that's a sign of the audience cooling on them or thanks to Corpus Christi's famously low-energy crowd remains to be seen.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura Contract Signing

Paige oversaw the contract signing between Styles and Nakamura.

The King of Strong Style delayed signing, claiming the pens were out of ink. That enraged Styles, who had to be held back by WWE officials. The champ slapped Nakamura.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You know straight up, you can't beat me."—Styles.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The best part of this segment is that it was backstage and felt more official than other contract signings. In that way, it harks back to the days of Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant.

There was a unique vibe, and the segment didn't overstay its welcome.

The tension between Nakamura and Styles was not great, though. They didn't quite feel like rivals who have been at each other's throats for the past two months.

Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

Credit: WWE.com

Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch approached each other warily to begin with.

They stuck to mat wrestling for a stretch, and the competition remained civil.

The friends went back and forth. Flair and Lynch were able to counter each other's big moves—until The Irish Lass Kicker put her foe in the Dis-Arm-Her, which forced The Queen to tap out.

After the bell, the two Superstars embraced.

Result

Lynch wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Flair hits a Gory Special-like backbreaker.
• "I am The Queen!"—Flair.
• Lynch counters a Flair moonsault with knees to the gut.

Grade

B

Analysis

Flair and Lynch were clearly holding back to leave something for a bigger match between them. This was an enjoyable tease of what's ahead for these two allies.

Lynch getting the win was quite the surprise, as she hasn't been booked as a contender of late. A clean victory over The Queen could be a key step to changing that.

Big Cass Interview

Credit: WWE.com

Renee Young spoke with Big Cass about his match against Daniel Bryan at Money in the Bank.

Cass dismissed The Beard due to his size and called Bryan's WrestleMania XXX victory a fluke. The big man promised to hurt his Money in the Bank opponent.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "What is he, an inch taller than you?"—Cass to Young.
• "Daniel Bryan has never been in the ring with a star of my magnitude."—Cass.

Grade

D

Analysis

Cass wasn't at his best here; much of his delivery was robotic.

This rivalry has been a one-note song at times, focusing on the size difference between the men.

His feud with Bryan is a potential star-making opportunity, but Cass hasn't consistently seized it.

The New Day vs. The Miz, Rusev and Samoa Joe

Backstage, The New Day asked The Miz to help them decide which member would enter the Money in the Bank ladder match. He was supposed to pick a name out of a hat, but the trio tricked him and The Miz put his hand in pancake batter.

Once the match began, The Miz struggled to make Xavier Woods pay. Big E, Woods and Kofi Kingston took turns pounding on him.

Thanks to Samoa Joe, the heels took control by focusing on Woods.

Kingston led a rally for his team, but Rusev and Joe teamed up to stun Big E. The match's pace picked up as The New Day's high-risk offense proved powerful.

Infighting led to The Miz facing The New Day alone, a disadvantage he couldn't overcome. Midnight Hour put The A-Lister away.

Result

The New Day wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Anyone unfortunate enough to be WWE champion will be a marked man."—Joe.
• Rusev hurls Big E into the ring steps.
• Kingston springboards backward into Joe.
• The Miz accidentally throws pancakes at Joe and Rusev.

Grade

A-

Analysis

Electric action capped off a solid night.

Everyone had a chance to shine. The match mixed comedy and drama quite well. Superkicks and pancakes apparently make for a good combo.

The Miz and The New Day's rivalry heading into Money in the Bank has been a strong subplot.

WWE wisely allowed Rusev and Joe to avoid the sting of defeat. They retreated rather than lose, making sure they didn't lose any momentum en route to the PPV.