WWE SmackDown live results: King & Queen of the Ring go-home show

One day before the first WWE Saudi Arabia Premium Live Event of 2024 is held in Jeddah, the final King & Queen of the Ring semifinals will take place tonight on SmackDown.

In the King of the Ring semifinal, Randy Orton will square off against Tama Tonga. The winner of the match will meet Gunther in the KOTR finals on Saturday.

In the Queen of the Ring semifinal, Bianca Belair will go one-on-one with Nia Jax to determine who faces Lyra Valkyria in the Queen of the Ring finals on Saturday.

WWE has confirmed that both tournament winners will receive title shots at SummerSlam.

Also set for tonight, Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul will have their final confrontation before their Undisputed WWE Championship match at the PLE.

After a confrontation backstage last week, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley will take on Chelsea Green.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– Corey Graves welcomed everyone into the show as shots of Jeddah aired.

– Bianca Belair and Nia Jax were shown walking into the building from earlier in the day. Footage of Paul Levesque announcing that the KOTR & QOTR winners will receive title shots aired. Bianca Belair’s music hit and Belair made her entrance for the first match.

Niz Jax defeated Bianca Belair to advance to the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament [11:15]

A very good opening match. It makes sense that Jax went over, but in the meantime, Belair showed great fight. The fact that they told the story of Belair’s knee throughout the tournament gave Belair somewhat of an out. Either way, this was a good win for Jax and I don’t think Belair lost anything in the loss. Plus, Belair got her share of offense in, and played the part of plucky underdog very well. Jax becomes Queen of the Ring, right?

The two locked up early and Jax threw Belair to the mat. Jax threw Belair around until Belair hopped on Jax’s back, but Jax ran Belair into a corner. Eventually, Belair tried to work corner punches, but Jax countered until Belair returned to the top and hammered away at Jax for an early advantage. Jax ran at Belair but Belair moved and Jax ran into a ring post. With Jax outside, Belair landed a springboard cross-body over the ropes as the show went to a commercial break.

Once the show returned, Jax had control and pulled out a tiny crown to put on her head. Jax toyed with Belair and worked Belair’s knee. Jax landed a Samoan Drop for a two-count. Eventually, Belair went to the top and hit a cross-body for a two-count. Belair followed that up with a series of forearms, but Jax took Belair down and went back to work on Belair’s knee. With Jax on the top, Belair lifted Jax for an impressive powerbomb and got a good near-fall out of it.

The crowd chanted “This is awesome!” Belair tried to lift Jax for a KOD, but Jax fought out of it and went back to Belair’s knee. Jax climbed the ropes again, but Belair caught Jax and lifted Jax for a KOD, but this time, Belair’s knee buckled and the women fell. Jax then hit a Samoan Drop and her finisher and got the win.

After the match, Jax was interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Lyra Valkyria was at ringside and Jax told Lyra she was going to buzz through Lyra to become Queen of the Ring on Saturday. Jax said she will be both queen and champion after she starts by buzzing through Lyra.

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– Backstage, Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae were taunting Belair for losing until Jade Cargill walked in and saved the day. Cargill said she was going to go talk to someone about it.

The Grayson Waller Effect with Carmelo Hayes & LA Knight

This was simple, yet effective. Pretty much everything one might hope from a Grayson Waller Effect segment. The insertion of Hayes was fun and him working a program with Knight makes a lot of sense for both guys at this point. I still don’t understand why the Waller Effect isn’t a regular segment on SmackDown because that guy is very good at what he does, but what do I know?

Waller and Austin Theory hosted. The crowd chanted “STD” I think? Theory started to introduce LA Knight, but Carmelo Hayes’s music hit and Hayes walked out. Hayes said it sounded like they were describing Hayes and that’s why he walked out. Hayes called himself the hottest new superstar on SmackDown. Theory looked unhappy about it, but Hayes said “guys like them” should stick together. Waller and Theory agreed that Knight does suck after all. Hayes said they have to be the ones to show the veterans how it’s done. Theory brought up Bobby Lashley and said the only advice he gives is how to lose. Hayes said those guys are jealous and egomaniacs.

Hayes said speaking of egomaniacs … LA Knight. The crowd erupted in “LA Knight!” chants. Waller said Knight can’t win the big one. The three heels took pot shots at Knight and Knight’s music hit. As a result, the crowd went nuts as Knight trotted to the ring. Knight wrecked the Grayson Waller Effect set. After Knight’s music ended the crowd chanted “LA Knight!” Knight did the “Let me talk to ya!” line and said he’d keep it short and sweet. Knight confronted Hayes and said if he keeps knocking on his door, he’ll bite the hell out of Hayes.

Knight went to leave the ring, but Hates attacked Knight, who quickly fought back. Theory and Waller immediately joined in and stomped on Knight. The Street Profits’ music then hit and the tag team ran down for the save. I have a hunch this will turn into a six-man tag.

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– A Blair Davenport vignette aired.

The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated Austin Theory, Grayson Waller & Carmelo Hayes [9:11]

Give the people what they want! Oh, wait. Wrong show. This was a fun six-man tag that was predictable in all the right ways. I’m interested in seeing how Knight and Hayes work together (presuming they still have more left in their program) before Knight (again presumably) moves onto Logan Paul. With Hayes and Knight, it’s one of those programs that could help both guys involved, so hopefully WWE can thread the needle. Time will tell. In the meantime, I can’t name a single city in this world that doesn’t pop hard for LA Knight … still … after all this time … and despite WWE’s best efforts to change that.

Turns out, my hunch was right. Who woulda thunk? Hayes and Montez Ford began the match. Ford had control to begin, but the two traded wrist-locks until Ford hit a dropkick and danced. Dawkins tagged in and Hates gained control by landing a face-buster. Knight and Theory tagged in and the crowd went crazy for Knight. Waller tagged in, but Knight kept the upper hand until Dawkins tagged in and hit a series of moves on Waller. Dawkins tried a splash, but Theory pulled Waller out of the way. With Dawkins on the outside, the heels posed and the show went to a commercial break at about the four-minute mark.

Back from that break, Hayes was working over Dawkins. Hayes went for a springboard move, but Dawkins caught him with a back suplex. On the outside, Knight took out the heels and got on the apron to receive the hot tag. Knight stomped a mudhole in Waller and clotheslined Hayes. Knight landed a flying tackle and pop-up powerslam on Waller. Knight followed that up with an elbow for a two-count. Things broke down and all six wrestlers hit their signature moves on each other. Waller went for a rolling move, but he ran into a BFT. Knight and Hayes fought over the commentary desk. Ford, meanwhile, hit the frog splash on Theory for the win.

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The Cody Rhodes/Logan Paul segment

This was pretty standard, though Cody showed good fire as the segment went home. I can’t find it in me to care much about this match because there’s no way in hell Cody is dropping that belt to Logan Paul a month and a half after he won it, but you can’t fault both guys for trying to turn up the heat on the story.

Paul walked down the aisle with a microphone and called Cody a victim. Paul said he had facts for Cody and said all the bleach much be getting to Cody’s brain. Paul said he’s a better athlete and entertainer than Cody. Paul received the “What?!” treatment. Paul eventually got into the ring and Cody told Paul that his experience would lead him to believe Paul is just a scared kid and that Paul fears that someone will see Paul as a fraud. Cody said he has seen how good Paul is, but Paul has a case of imposter syndrome. Cody said Paul probably had brass knucks on him.

Cody told Paul to prove he’s not a liar. Cody asked a ringside referee to check Paul out to see if Paul has brass knucks on him. The referee first checked Cody and Cody was clean. The referee then checked Paul and the referee found the brass knucks in Paul’s pants pockets. Paul responded by noting the knucks were for his protection and not for the match tomorrow. Paul said he does not need brass knucks to beat Cody. Cody said the knucks were the difference because it was a crutch for Paul. Cody said his title is his whole life and the crowd chanted “Cody!” Cody said he didn’t think of Paul as a You Tuber; instead, Cody said he thinks Paul is a pro wrestler. But until Paul respects the wrestling business, he will never be on Cody’s level. Cody’s music hit to end the segment.

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– Byron Saxton interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton said Tama Tonga is vicious, but unfortuantely for Tonga, Orton is unhinged and tonight, Tonga will get hit with the three most dangerous letters – R, K. O.

– Bayley was shown walking backstage and she walked by Nia Jax, who told Bayley to keep her title clean. Bayley then made her entrance.

– The Street Profits were shown backstage and #DIY walked into the frame. #DIY poured out the Profits’ cups and the show went back to the ring.

Bayley defeated Chelsea Green [4:44]

The match wasn’t much to write home about, considering how it was less than five minutes and split by a long commercial break, but I’m all for it being more of an angle to set up Niven vs. Bayley. It’s about time Niven got some booking love and it’s a lot of fun that it comes against Bayley, who also happens to be the WWE Women’s Champion. While the match was a big load of nothing, it set up some intriguing things for what might be next.

Green knocked Bayley down early. Green went to the top and hit a dropkick from the top rope for a two-count. Bayley came back with a jaw-breaker, but Green countered by kicking Bayley’s head into the ring steps. The show then went to a commercial break at the minute mark. When things returned, Green still had the upper hand and landed a Rough Rider for a two-count. Green ran at Bayley, but that turned into a powerbomb/Rose Plant combo for Bayley to get the win.

After the match, Piper Niven attacked Bayley. Niven stood tall to end the segment after hitting a series of Sentons.

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– AJ Styles was shown in Nick Aldis’s office. Styles said he was one second from beating both Cody and Randy Orton. Styles asked for one more chance – either against Logan Paul or Cody Rhodes. Styles said he needed it. Aldis said he knew Styles wanted to be WWE Champion. Aldis said if it was personal, he’d say yes, but right now, he couldn’t give Styles what he wanted. Instead, Styles had to earn his chance and that takes time. Styles said Aldis knows Styles doesn’t have time. Aldis said he can’t help Styles. Styles then walked out of Aldis’s office.

– A vignette featuring Andrade aired. Andrade spoke in Spanish with subtitles and talked about his destiny. Andrade said he knows who he is and what he wants.

– Backstage, Legado Del Fantasma spoke about the video, but weirdly, as Santos Escobar was speaking, the segment cut off and the show went to the commentary team (or at least this happened during my feed). A video recapping last week’s KOTR matches aired.

– Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga were shown backstage. Tonga yelled at Heyman. Sikoa grinned. Randy Orton’s entrance then commenced. To the main event, we went.

XXX

Randy Orton defeated Tama Tonga to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament [11:09]

If it wasn’t so predictable, this would have been better than good. Still, this was the best Tama Tonga match he’s had since coming to WWE. Good on both Orton and Tonga for that. All told, it was a good match that both guys clearly worked to make stand out. Gunther vs. Orton means for the KOTR final means Gunther wins … unless Cody vs. Orton means a better SummerSlam main event, right? This is fun.

Tonga jumpstarted the match with an attack on Orton. Tonga then walked into a fallaway slam from Orton. Orton followed that up by running Tonga into ring posts, shoulder-first. Orton went to the second rope and worked a series of punches in Tonga’s head before throwing Tonga outside the ring. Orton went to suplex Tonga onto the commentary table, but Tonga countered by chop-blocking Orton. The show went to its final commercial break as Orton favored his knee.

The show returned and Tonga continued to work Orton’s leg. Tonga went for a frog splash, but Orton moved and things reset. Orton teased the draping DDT, but Tonga fought out of it. From there, Tonga kept focusing on Orton’s knee. Tonga worked a sleeper hold until Orton backed Tonga into a corner … but Tonga wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t until Orton hit a back suplex that the hold was broken. Orton landed a bunch of clotheslines and a snap powerslam. Tonga came back by back-body-dropping Orton over the top.

On the outside, Orton suplexed Tonga onto the commentary table. Twice over. Back inside the ring, Orton hit the draping DDT. Orton set up for the RKO and went for it, but Tonga pushed him away. Almost instantly, Orton landed the RKO for the win. After the match, Sikoa attacked Orton until Kevin Owens’s music hit and Owens rna into beat the hell out of Sikoa until Sikoa ran away. The babyfaces stood tall to end the show.