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

While the Raw brand has focused most of its energy on setting up WrestleMania programs, SmackDown Live has taken to hyping the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, a trend that continued Tuesday night on the USA Network.

Headlined by Jeff Hardy squaring off with WWE champion Daniel Bryan in a non-title match, the show highlighted the wrestlers who will compete in the titular match on February 17.

Find out who emerged victoriously from matches such as Mustafa Ali vs. Randy Orton and The Good Brothers vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura with this recap of Tuesday's show.

Charlotte Flair Kicks Off SmackDown Live

Charlotte Flair opened this week's episode of SmackDown Live and wasted little time bringing up Becky Lynch's suspension from Monday. This brought out The Man, who entered from the stands and was immediately greeted by security and producer Adam Pearce.

Triple H appeared and cut a promo on Lynch in which he accused her of being afraid of Ronda Rousey.

This came moments after The Irish Lass Kicker asked, "How's Steph?" referencing the beating she gave The Billion Dollar Princess on Raw.

He called her self-destructive and questioned whether her knee is even injured. He suggested the injury is a way out of an embarrassment at the hands of Rousey.

Lynch responded with a slap to the face of her boss, who engaged her in an intense face-to-face. Satisfied, she walked out of the arena, leaving The King of Kings fuming.

Grade

A+

Analysis

This was awesome.

Triple H and Flair tried trolling Lynch, pushing her buttons and questioning her courage. She responded with a slap to the face of one of wrestling's most powerful men and a "screw you" smirk.

Her facial expressions as The Game threw each insult, each mockery her way was outstanding and really put over the attitudinal persona.

Kudos to Flair for being a great antagonist and then tucking tail and walking out when instructed to do so by Triple H.

A great segment that will only continue to add to Lynch's popularity heading to WrestleMania.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson took exception to Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura's attack on new United States champion R-Truth a week ago, and as a result, The Good Brothers battled the makeshift team of rivals Tuesday night.

Gallows and Anderson wiped out the opposition at ringside, the latter delivering a senton ahead of the commercial break.

The heels took control of the bout during the break, but a hot tag from Anderson to Gallows sparked a babyface comeback. The Good Brothers rolled all the way to what was to be a Magic Killer.

Instead, Nakamura broke up the finisher and blasted Gallows with Kinshasa. Anderson hit The Artist with a running knee, but it was Rusev's Machka Kick that earned the heels the victory.

After the match, Rusev raised his partner's hand in victory, essentially confirming a new team had been formed.

Result

Rusev and Nakamura defeated Anderson and Gallows

Grade

C+

Analysis

The continued use of Anderson and Gallows as doormats in the tag team division boggles the mind. Two immensely talented workers who moved over from New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2016, they have been mishandled and underutilized since day one.

Now, they are used to put over a tag team consisting of two guys who hated each other a week ago. It is shameful and disappointing writing from a creative team that has done more right than wrong recently.

Rusev and Nakamura have potential as a team, but their individual charisma is wasted in this role when either could easily jump to Raw and be a headliner given the lack of depth over there.

Mustafa Ali vs. Randy Orton

A week after Randy Orton and Mustafa Ali were announced for the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on February 17, The Viper and his underdog opponent battled in singles competition.

Orton overwhelmed Ali, sending him over the announce table and delivering a big superplex. The early punishment only kept him down for a count of two, though. The Viper flashed a look of disbelief heading into the break.

Ali fought back, catching Orton with a series of kicks that staggered the third-generation star. He followed up by faking out his veteran opponent on an RKO attempt and delivered a tornado DDT for two. Scaling the ropes, he tried for the 054, but The Viper pulled him off the top rope and into an RKO for the win.

After the match, Samoa Joe hit the ring and choked out Orton with a Coquina Clutch and tossed Ali to the floor before standing tall to close the segment.

Result

Orton defeated Ali

Grade

B+

Analysis

This told an age-old story of the overconfident veteran taking his opponent for granted and nearly losing in a major upset. Orton's facial expressions and body language sold it perfectly, as did his post-match acknowledgment of Ali as a legit contender.

Joe's attack kept him fresh in the minds of fans and allowed him to build a little heat for the upcoming Elimination Chamber PPV.

Daniel Bryan Promo; Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles React

WWE champion Daniel Bryan and Rowan were out next to cut a reactionary promo to last week's announcement that the former will defend his title inside the Elimination Chamber.

Bryan played to the Washingtonians, his home-state people, saying it was a pleasure to get to talk to the people who really understand what he is trying to do as The Planet's Champion.

Rowan recited some Galileo, and Bryan recalled previous Elimination Chamber matches he was in, talking trash on Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Mustafa Ali, AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy. To him they represent men trying to put his title back on leather, and he will have none of it.

Backstage, Hardy and Styles exchanged some digs to set up tension between them.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was a fun little promo from Bryan, who loved every second of performing in front of his home-state crowd.

The rest did nothing to advance his or any other stories involved in the upcoming pay-per-view match, so on that front, it was just a time-filler.

Naomi and Carmella vs. The IIconics vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville

At Elimination Chamber, the first WWE women's tag team champions will be crowned inside the titular match.

Tuesday, SmackDown's contributions to that title bout met in a Triple Threat match, as Naomi and Carmella battled The IIconics' Billie Kay and Peyton Royce and the team of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.

The heels controlled the early portion of the match and through the commercial break, isolating The Princess of Staten Island from her partner. A superkick to Royce allowed her to create separation, but Rose cut off a tag attempt and dragged Carmella back across the ring.

Naomi exploded into the ring and took the fight to anyone who crossed her path, but ultimately she fell to Rose's double underhook facebuster to keep that rivalry alive.

Result

Rose and Deville defeated The IIconics and Naomi and Carmella

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match itself was nothing special, most of it taking place during a terribly timed commercial, but it accomplished what it set out to in that it kept the Naomi-Rose feud hot.

None of the three teams really got to shine, but Deville did some great work in selling Naomi's kicks, staggering around the ring in what appeared to be a page right out of Randy Orton's book from earlier in the night.

Jeff Hardy vs. Daniel Bryan

Credit: WWE.com

The main event of Tuesday's show brought together two of the company's greats, as WWE champion Daniel Bryan battled Jeff Hardy in a preview of the February 17 Elimination Chamber headliner.

The match was very back-and-forth early, with neither man able to grab a sustained control, despite Bryan trapping The Charismatic Enigma in an Indian Deathlock.

A well-timed bit of interference from Rowan allowed Bryan to send Hardy into the steps heading into the final break of the night.

All of the action was for naught, though, as Samoa Joe hit the ring and trapped Bryan in the Coquina Clutch, apparently not finished sending a message to his Elimination Chamber opponents.

At ringside, Rowan neutralized Mustafa Ali, chokeslamming him onto the announce table. AJ Styles joined the fray and stood tall.

Backstage, Bryan vowed no man would beat him for the title because he would be champion forever.

Result

No-contest

Grade

B

Analysis

This was developing into a really solid match before the interference, which was necessary to create the sense of chaos the company was going for.

With the talent involved, the Elimination Chamber match should be damn fine. Hopefully, the hype is not relegated to a couple of big brawls like this so as not to burn out fans before the competitors actually battle in the high-profile main event.