The biggest winners and losers on SmackDown (October 2nd)

Last night's Friday Night SmackDown saw a renewal of the rivalry between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso, along with some more action starring Money in the Bank winner Otis.

Meanwhile, Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks took decisive steps in their respective ongoing stories. Hell in a Cell is a few weeks away, so who got the most out of SmackDown as the next pay-per-view approaches? Let's take a look.

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SmackDown winner - Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns emerged at the start of the show last night, cutting off Paul Heyman, who read from his lineage in anticipation of being named the Tribal Chief of the family. Reigns didn't want such accolades because Jey Uso wouldn't acknowledge them.

When he confronted Jey, he said that the beating he dished out at Clash of Champions was for Jey's own good. It got him in the main event, after all. He then offered him another shot, but warned that it would involve the "highest stakes" in WWE history.

This is the Reigns we should have been seeing all along. His character evolution is going splendidly and he will emerge out of this feud with Jey as a dastardly monster. Meanwhile, WrestleMania 37 starts to ever-so-slightly appear over the horizon.

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SmackDown loser - AJ Styles

Naturally, SmackDown had to get Jey Uso ready for his rematch with Roman Reigns after taking such a massive beating at Clash of Champions. With that being said, he couldn't just win over a "jobber". AJ Styles came out and talked trash, prompting a match between the two, which Jey won.

Jey defeating the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the past five years is a good way to get him primed up. However, a loss to someone like Jey does Styles no favors. We will have to see how he recovers next week.

SmackDown Winner - Otis

Well, this was at least something. John Morrison continued to work on behalf of his partner, The Miz. on SmackDown. However, Otis defeated him in a relatively quick match this week.

I don't think this story is particularly helping Otis solidify himself in the position he's in. When you think about a potential challenge to Roman Reigns, he looks incredibly lacking.

Then again, Otis is known for his comedic routines above anything else, which might mesh well with the persona that Roman Reigns has taken on. We'll just have to see how such a thing could happen. However, one gets the feeling that this angle on SmackDown will be a relatively forgettable waypoint.

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SmackDown Winners - Alexa Bliss, Kevin Owens, and Bray Wyatt

Rarely does a segment in WWE make everyone involved come out looking like a winner. Such was the case on SmackDown last night, when Kevin Owens interviewed Alexa Bliss, only for him to find out she had "let him in." Who was "him?" "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, of course, who attacked him mercilessly.

If Kevin Owens gets drafted to SmackDown, or Bliss and Wyatt to Monday Night RAW, WWE has put in place a fun feud for the fall season. We'll just have to see what happens.

SmackDown Loser - Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle's involvement with the Lucha House Party still feels out of place and a waste of potential. He can, and should be doing a lot more than he is. As it stands, he's just meandering on SmackDown.

After last night's main event, an opportunity at the WWE Intercontinental Championship opened up. Perhaps Matt Riddle can fill that void?

If so, we didn't see any hint of it. He appears further and further lost in the shuffle, with the Lucha House Party now showing signs of dissension. Will he now be involved in that angle instead of a shot at something higher?

I suppose we will find the answers on a SmackDown to come soon enough, but Riddle's career on the blue brand looks like a waste of potential. Then again, with the WWE Draft coming up, he might just find himself on RAW instead.