WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Charlotte Flair and Naomi tear the house down in thrilling main event

Flair vs. Rousey is the end goal, but Flair vs. Naomi stood firmly on its own on SmackDown

Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey is a marquee match-up at WrestleMania 38, but WWE SmackDown zeroed in on Flair vs. Naomi on Friday night. The show's headliners delivered a fun, well-constructed match that closed out the evening on a high note.

SmackDown pooled much of its resources on Friday night to building-up Flair vs. Naomi, weaving together multiple storylines. Flair and Naomi have fought repeatedly in recent weeks. The champion has relied heavily on authority figure Sonya Deville's resentment towards Naomi, picking up cheap victories. SmackDown carried the the Flair vs. Naomi saga forward while progressing Flair vs. Rousey and the Deville-Naomi feuds.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Charlotte Flair and Naomi dazzle in main event title match

Deville opened SmackDown by informing the audience that she put forth a petition to fine and indefinitely suspend Rousey for attacking her last week. Adam Pearce interrupted the segment, delivering a message from Vince McMahon to Deville. According to Pearce, Mr. McMahon cannot stand Deville's abuse of power. Her petition to fine and suspend Ronda Rousey was declined. Additionally, Deville's job security was threatened should she interfere in Naomi's match against Charlotte Flair. Naomi subsequently appeared, mocking and slapping Deville.

SmackDown Women's championship: Charlotte Flair def. Naomi via pinfall after landing Natural Selection to retain her title. Flair and Naomi put on a firecracker of a match that proved Naomi is deserving to be in the title mix. She landed a flashy springboard kick, a thumping blockbuster off the top rope and a plancha to the outside. Flair showed off her power by catching a hurricanrana and chaining it into a powerbomb. Naomi nearly captured the championship with a Rear End finishing maneuver and a deep pin.

After the match, Deville – having met the terms McMahon set – unleashed on Naomi. Flair joined in on the assault, leading to a run-in save by Rousey. The WrestleMania opponents briefly tangled before Flair and Deville bolted. SmackDown went off the air with Rousey's music blaring and her helping Naomi up.

After the match, WWE announced that Naomi and Rousey would team up against Flair and Deville at Elimination Chamber.

Flair and Naomi's tremendous match offsets a predictable conclusion and a low-effort build towards Flair vs. Rousey. Both Flair and Naomi delivered, and hopefully, this serves as a reminder that Naomi is deserving of a title reign post-WrestleMania. The result was never in question. Saving Rousey's previously announced appearance for the end of the show snuffed out any doubt that she would make the post-match save. Grade: B+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Los Lotharios (Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo) def. The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) via pinfall after Garza rolled up Kingston. Prior to the match, Los Lotharios debuted a kiss cam and smooched a planted fan on either cheek.
• The Usos attacked top contenders The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) backstage.
• Michael Cole interviewed Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman backstage. Heyman protested Goldberg's status as an "icon," and Reigns promised to "Goldberg, Goldberg."
• Dungeon Style Match: Natalya def. Aliyah via submission after securing the Sharpshooter. Aliyah made it to the ropes, but the match's stipulations stated the match could only be one via pinfall or submission, nullifying rope breaks. Xia Lee rescued Aliyah from a post-match beat down.
• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson narrated a tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson in celebration of Black History Month.
• Sami Zayn hosted a live podcast edition of In-Zayn. Zayn reacted poorly to Johnny Knoxville shredding Zayn's Jackass Forever parody shirt. Zayn accused his guests, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs, of conspiring with Knoxville against Zayn. The segment ended with Boogs getting electrocuted by a microphone, and Zayn landing the Helluva Kick on Nakamura.
• Happy Corbin def. Cesaro via pinfall after landing End of Days. 
• Drew McIntyre informed Madcap Moss that their match at Elimination Chamber is now a Falls Count Anywhere match.
• Michael Cole interviewed Goldberg backstage. Golberg asserted that he acknowledged Reigns, and doubted that Reigns would "Goldberg, Goldberg."