WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 7

WWE Raw was not quite ready for the invention of the Wild Card Rule, which allows four wrestlers from SmackDown Live to appear on the red brand each week. Conversely, four wrestlers from Raw can appear on the blue brand.

While the long-term implications may be the complete end of the brand split, right now it has set up potentially exciting or unnecessary moves each week. This is only the beginning of a fascinating experiment.

While no one knew who from Raw would appear on SmackDown, it was announced which stars on the blue brand would make an impact this week. Kevin Owens was set to respond to Kofi Kingston's attack on him from last week.

Shane McMahon promised to reveal the new SmackDown tag team champions after The Hardy Boyz were forced to vacate the titles because of Lars Sullivan's brutal attack on Jeff Hardy.

Two big matches were also expected, with Ali taking on Andrade, and Charlotte Flair teaming with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville to face Bayley, Ember Moon and Carmella.

With exciting setups and major question marks looming over the brand, the May 7 edition of SmackDown felt surprisingly make-or-break for WWE.

Kofi Kingston Offers AJ Styles and Sami Zayn a WWE Championship Opportunity

AJ Styles was the first wrestler to cross brand lines, followed quickly by Sami Zayn, who called out The Phenomenal One for his toxic ego.

Kingston interrupted to challenge Styles to a match, even putting his WWE Championship on the line, but Zayn wasn't having it.

The Underdog from the Underground wanted that title shot instead. The New Day leader stated he would fight either man for his title.

Backstage, KO said he had decided not to make an appearance on SmackDown this week. Instead, he was leaving to celebrate his birthday. It was then announced that Kingston would fight Styles and Zayn in a Triple Threat.

Grade

B

Analysis

The talent involved elevated a fairly flat opening segment. Everyone talked a bit with nothing resolved to set up a match later in the night. While the idea of Kingston vs. Styles vs. Zayn was promising, this continues to show WWE breaking its own rules with Raw stars competing for the SmackDown world title.

The problem with the Wild Card Rule was also displayed, as WWE chose not to go with a scheduled appearance by Owens, relying on Raw stars instead.

Ali vs. Andrade

Ali talked about the opportunity of finally getting back to the top of WWE in a pretaped interview. Zelina Vega and Andrade taunted him on their way to the ring.

The two athletic stars went back and forth in the match, only for Randy Orton to run in and ruin the contest, causing a disqualification when he attacked Ali. He hit RKOs on both men and stood tall.

Results

Ali def. Andrade by disqualification

Grade

C

Analysis

This was a fantastic match for a few minutes. More of it happened during the commercial break than on air, and The Viper's interference cut off Ali and Andrade before they even got close to a climax.

Hopefully, we will eventually get to see these two go all-out, but it was not here, if for no other reason than WWE not wanting to give more time to actual wrestling on this show.

The Usos vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships

Credit: WWE.com

A video package was shown for Roman Reigns, putting over the career highlights of The Big Dog from his debut with The Shield to his return from leukemia and move to SmackDown Live.

His primary rival on the blue brand, Shane McMahon, then came out to crown the new SmackDown tag team champions.

McMahon announced Daniel Bryan and Rowan would be the new champions, but The Usos interrupted to state they wouldn't stand for the heels not earning the titles.

Shane-O-Mac decided the former champions were right, and he would have The Usos fight Bryan and Rowan for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

While Jimmy and Jey pushed the new tag team, Rowan took this match with the Iron Claw for the win.

Results

Bryan and Rowan def. Usos by pinfall to become the new SmackDown tag team champions

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was the best way this situation could have gone. The tag team championships are now on a recognizable team in an otherwise disappointing division, and the new champs should help elevate the talent around them until certain teams are ready to take the next step.

The Usos had a good match with Bryan and Rowan that showed the new heel team will work well together as a unit.

This was as good as Rowan has looked since returning.

The Miz Attacks Shane McMahon Once Again

Shane McMahon tried to make another announcement involving the Money in the Bank ladder matches. However, The Miz arrived to attack him from behind.

He sent Shane-O-Mac reeling until The B-Team got involved and distracted The A-Lister long enough for McMahon to lay him out.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This feud has more heat than any other rivalry in WWE right now, and it's a shame that the company is just ruining it by repeating the same segment over and over again. At this point, the whole angle is just Miz repeatedly attacking McMahon as he runs away until we get to Money in the Bank on May 19.

The segment worked out for the most part, but it would have helped more if McMahon's involvement with the SmackDown tag team division tied into this second segment.

If The B-Team had been named champion or McMahon and Elias were announced as champions, Miz's attack would have had more impact. It would have been worse for the blue brand long term, though, so it's good WWE avoided that angle.

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville vs. Carmella and Ember Moon

Credit: WWE.com

In another switch from the originally announced segment ahead of SmackDown, Ember Moon and Carmella fought Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in a match where the heels looked far more in sync throughout.

The Golden Goddess took the win over The War Goddess with the Bed of Roses.

Afterward, Paige announced Kairi Sane and Asuka would run through the women's tag team division by first taking down Rose and Deville next week.

Results

Rose and Deville def. Moon and Carmella by pinfall

Grade

C

Analysis

It's clear more than ever why WWE refuses to announce matches and segments ahead of time, as the booking changes repeatedly. This was an odd move, as the two biggest stars in the match were taken out, leaving a short and unexciting bout for the night.

Rose and Deville are a better tag team than they are individual stars at this point in their careers, and it's good to see them picking up wins as a unit in a division that needs challengers. However, they may quickly lose steam to give Asuka and Sane momentum.

WWE Champion Kofi Kingston vs. AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn

Credit: WWE.com

Sami Zayn took over this match by playing the other two faces against each other, but AJ Styles and Kofi Kingston refused to stay down.

They fought back into this match. The Phenomenal One injured his knee but still fought through to attempt to capture his third world title.

After Kingston hit Styles with a Trouble in Paradise, Kevin Owens sneaked up on Xavier Woods and attacked him to set up The Underdog from the Underground to hit a trio of Blue Thunder Bombs on the WWE champion for near-falls. However, the New Day member caught Zayn with a Trouble in Paradise to win.

Kingston promised there would be "hell to pay" for Owens at Money in the Bank.

Results

Kingston def. Styles and Zayn by pinfall to retain the WWE Championship

Grade

A

Analysis

Commercial breaks can hamper even the best matches, but Kingston, Styles and Zayn made the most of their spotlight. This Triple Threat was excellent from start to finish and really did wonders for the champion and Zayn as a legitimate challenger.

Kingston has already elevated himself with his performances and has so far been the biggest beneficiary of the Wild Card Rule. He is coming off as an all-star world champion, the best titleholder in the company right now.

Meanwhile, though Zayn was embarrassed on Raw, the blue brand allowed him to stand out as a legitimate top heel, as he should be given his talent.