WWE SmackDown Notes: Results, Logan Paul Cons Cody Rhodes Out of Title vs. Title Match at King & Queen of the Ring, Tama Tonga & Orton Advance in KotR, Bianca Belair & Nia Jax Advance in QotR

WWE

Steve C.

May 17, 2024

WWE SmackDown Results – May 17, 2024

May 17, 2024
Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Commentary – Corey Graves and Wade Barrett

Quick Match Results

Queen of the Ring 2024 Tournament Quarterfinal Round match – Bianca Belair defeated Tiffany Stratton via KOD (pinfall)
- Near the end of the match, Belair countered Stratton’s Prettiest Moonsault Ever with a shove causing Stratton to crotch herself on the turnbuckle leading to Belair grabbing Stratton and hitting a KOD for the pinfall victory.
King of the Ring 2024 Tournament Quarterfinal Round match – Tama Tonga defeated LA Knight via Leaping Flatliner (pinfall)
- Prior to the start of the match, The Bloodline accompanied Tonga to the ring to be in his corner.
- Near the end of the match, Knight attempted a BFT to Tonga only for Tonga Loa to grab Tonga’s legs and pulled him out of the ring and out of harms way. This led to Knight hitting a baseball slide to Loa sending him crashing into the announcer’s table and engaged in a staredown with Solo Sikoa on the outside. Knight went back into the ring only to quickly get hit with Tonga’s finisher for Tonga’s pinfall victory.
Queen of the Ring 2024 Tournament Quarterfinal Round match – Nia Jax defeated Jade Cargill via Disqualification
- Near the end of the match, Jax and Cargill brawled on the outside leading to Jax grabbing a chair and attempted to strike Cargill with it. This led to Cargill grabbing the chair and struck Jax resulting in the referee calling for the bell.
- Following the match, Cargill and Jax brawled that was broken up after WWE officials and security ran out to put an end to it.
DIY (Tomasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Angel & Berto) via Meet In The Middle (pinfall)
- Prior to the start of the match, Legado Del Fantasma’s Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez came out alongside Angel & Berto to be in their corner.
- Near the end of the match, Lopez got up onto the apron crotched Gargano on the top rope while the referee was distracted. As Lopez got down from the apron, the referee noticed Lopez and tossed her and Escobar out of the match for interfering. This led to Berto being distracted and DIY hitting a Meeting In the Middle and Gargano securing the pinfall victory for his team.
King of the Ring 2024 Quarterfinal Round match – Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes via RKO (pinfall)
- Following the match, SmackDown interviewer Cathy Kelly went into the ring to get some post-match words from Orton only for The Bloodline’s music to quickly interrupt things. The Bloodline came out to the stage but before anything else could happen, Orton proceeded to insult the group stating that they must have forgotten who he is and he is Randy Orton, a 14-time World Champion and soon to be King of the Ring. Orton told Tama that next week he will introduce his foot up his ass and after that he will reintroduce him to the three most deadly, dangerous letter in WWE, RKO.

Logan Paul Cons Cody Rhodes Out of Title vs. Title Match at King & Queen of the Ring 2024, Paul vs. Rhodes Officially Set for Only WWE Title

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show featured one newly updated match for the card of King & Queen of the Ring 2024, which takes place on May 25th at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This newly updated match was an Undisputed WWE Championship match of Logan Paul vs. Cody Rhodes (c).

This match was initially setup during last week’s show to be a United States Championship and Undisputed WWE Championship, title vs. title match of Paul vs. Rhodes.

During tonight’s show, Paul came out to the ring with his entourage and lawyer and was followed by Rhodes who made his way to the ring afterwards for a match contract signing segment.

After some words between Paul and Rhodes, Paul looked at the match contracted and talked about there being something wrong with it. Paul proceeded to tear up the match contract and was handed a new match contract by his lawyer. Paul stated that he never agreed to the terms Rhodes stipulated for their match last week and only agreed for Rhodes’ title to be on the line at King & Queen of the Ring 2024 event.

.@LoganPaul brought his own contract? 👀

Logan Paul only wants @CodyRhodes’ title at #WWEKingAndQueen 😤 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kkFh9JmCEo
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2024

This led to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis responding and berated Paul stating that he has enough of him and his “broccoli head entourage.” Aldis stated that they did not agree to this in his office and they all know it and he won’t stand for it. This led to Paul’s lawyer responding back asking Aldis if he is threatening his client. Rhodes interrupted and first praised Aldis for doing a fantastic job as GM and they got put on the spot by Paul. Cody told Aldis to let them finish the paper work and he will bring it to his office. Aldis proceeded to leave the ring afterwards.

“@CodyRhodes has not done anything to deserve a shot at my United States Championship.”

Those are fighting words, @LoganPaul 😳 #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/HOsdtSYBks
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2024

Paul stated that he signed the contract and the match is made. After some insults-filled words by Paul directed at Rhodes and Mike Tyson, Paul tossed the contract towards Rhodes for him to sign. Rhodes responded stating that the honeymoon with him is over and after their match, Logan will find out exactly who Logan Paul is on the inside. Rhodes then claimed that in eight days, Tyson, a WWE Hall of Fame, will knock his brother Jake Paul out and in Saudi Arabia, a future WWE Hall of Famer is going to beat Logan. Rhodes then signed the contract leading to Paul trying to get a cheap shot attack only for Rhodes to dodge it and clotheslines Paul over the ropes. Rhodes then attacked one of Paul’s entourage and powerbombed him through a table. Rhodes then tossed Paul’s U.S title at him leading to Rhodes’ music playing to end things.

.@CodyRhodes IS ON A RAMPAGE! 😤

Things are getting heated ahead of #WWEKingAndQueen 🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/PbvFpq6uvB
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2024

Current card for May 25th WWE King & Queen of the Ring 2024:

2024 King of the Ring Tournament Finals – TBA vs. TBA
2024 Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals – TBA vs. TBA
Undisputed WWE Championship – Logan Paul vs. Cody Rhodes (c)
WWE Women’s World Championship – Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch (c)
WWE Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat match – Bronson Reed vs. Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn (c)

Tama Tonga & Randy Orton Advances in 2024 King of the Ring Tournament

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two Quarterfinal Round matches for the SmackDown side of the bracket for this year’s King of the Ring tournament.

The first tournament match was Tama Tonga defeating LA Knight.

Tama Tonga beats LA Knight!

Wow!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fhDsYoyKk2
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 18, 2024

The second tournament match was Randy Orton defeating Carmelo Hayes.

RKO RKO RKO

RANDY ORTON DEFEATS CARMELO HAYES#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4NEF7IgVv4
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) May 18, 2024

As a result of their victories, Tonga and Orton advanced to the Finals of the SmackDown bracket of this year’s King of the Ring tournament.

Bianca Belair & Nia Jax Advances in 2024 Queen of the Ring Tournament

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two Quarterfinal Round matches for the SmackDown side of the bracket for this year’s Queen of the Ring tournament.

The first tournament match was Bianca Belair defeating Tiffany Stratton.

Bianca Belair advances in the Queen of the Ring tournament.

WHAT A MATCH#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/yWFF2iTB9B
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 18, 2024

The second tournament match was Nia Jax defeating Jade Cargill.

Come on, Nia Jax 🤨

Nia Jax knew exactly what she was doing when she pulled out that steel chair #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4OKkf7BqSz
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2024

As a result of their victories, Belair and Jax advanced to the Finals of the SmackDown bracket of this year’s Queen of the Ring tournament.