The biggest winners and losers of last night's SmackDown (January 31)

Last night's SmackDown capped off the fallout from the previous week's Royal Rumble, and it was an eventful night, with a surprise return, two title changes, and, unfortunately, the reappearance of dog food.

We're now on the fast track to WrestleMania, with the big event in Tampa two months away. All eyes now turn to the final two pitstops on that road, Super ShowDown on February 27th and Elimination Chamber on March 8th, as superstars struggle to get on the card.

Who got closer to a WrestleMania match last night? Who got closer to the dreaded battle royal?

---

Winners: The Miz and John Morrison

The match didn't happen at the Royal Rumble, but in their first attempt, The Miz and John Morrison successfully became the No.1 title contenders for the titles, looking like they've been fighting together all these years during the latter's absence. They gel just as well together as ever.

It was the right decision for them and the titles. If they win, they can be involved in a more interesting story than another repetitive New Day title run, as WrestleMania gets closer and closer. For their part, The Miz and John Morrison will likely go there as the champions.

---

Losers: The women's tag team division

In stark contrast to the men's division, the women's division is in a lot of trouble, as there appear to be no good options to challenge Asuka and Kairi Sane at WrestleMania. This rivalry has been duller than dishwater, and one continually gets the feeling that Sonya Deville has more potential than being the sidekick of Mandy Rose.

Either way, it's time to put this rivalry to bed. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross need to move on to something else. They're the most obvious challengers now, but they still feel like they need to be heated more.

Winner: Braun Strowman

Finally, Braun Strowman has captured his first singles title in WWE. It's astounding that it took this long, but here we are. Shinsuke Nakamura's reign just felt "there," after Survivor Series. Braun Strowman might have a slew of more interesting challengers.

Intercontinental title matches are rarely singles matches if they make the main WrestleMania card, so he'll probably have a triple threat or fatal four way on his hands, but him walking into the biggest show of the year as a champion is a much bigger progression for Strowman than we've seen in years.

---

Winner: Naomi

After her return in the women's Royal Rumble match, Naomi followed up by interrupting Bayley last night and sending her a warning sign that she's coming after the champion and her title.

The former SmackDown Women's Champion won't get her title back, and she'll wind up in the battle royal match at WrestleMania, but at least for her, she's back on TV and competing for the title. That's progress compared to nearly a year ago, when she was last seen.

Loser: Roman Reigns

Please let this be the end.

Please.

One would think that the match at the Royal Rumble would have ended it, but it just had to continue last night. And it involved dog food. You know Vince McMahon had his fingerprints all over that one.

The end result, though, is that Roman Reigns was again dragged into nonsense. One wouldn't think that he was the runner up in the Royal Rumble match again. He's the obvious choice to challenge Bray Wyatt now, given that the winner, Drew McIntyre, has chosen Brock Lesnar.

But instead of gearing up for that challenge, he's playing around with dog food.

This rivalry needs to end. It should have ended a long time ago. King Corbin just has a way of dragging anyone he's feuding with down. It's time for Roman Reigns to look forward to the men's elimination chamber match which he will likely win, and put this storyline behind him.

But there's over a month between now and then, so don't be surprised if this thing carries on for yet a little while longer, much to his own detriment.