WWE SmackDown live results: The 2024 draft begins
The 2024 WWE Draft kicks off on tonight’s SmackDown at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both brands will draft twice per round for a total of 16 picks between SmackDown and Raw.
NXT wrestlers will be eligible while WWE’s champions (except for the Women’s Tag Team Champions) cannot be drafted and will remain on their respective brands. The second night of the event is slated for Monday on Raw.
Plus, Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles will sign the contract for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match that’s taking place at Backlash. Styles defeated LA Knight last week to earn the shot at Rhodes.
The LWO’s Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee vs. Legado del Fantasma’s Angel & Humberto is also set. It’s Lee’s first televised match since suffering a backstage attack the night before WrestleMania 40.
We are also slated to find out what’s next for Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga after they attacked Kevin Owens on last week’s episode.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
– The show began with video of Cody signing weight belts backstage. Shots of AJ Styles walking outside the building followed that. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair walking backstage was shown. From there, the show went to the arena, where a draft podium was set up. Corey Graves then went over the draft rules.
– Kayla Braxton was backstage with Paul Heyman, who said Roman Reigns has withdrawn from eligibility from the 2024 draft. Heyman said it’s not a negative; it’s a positive. Heyman then ran down all of Reigns’s accomplishments and asked why he would hog the No. 1 draft pick spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future. Heyman said the pressure is now on Nick Aldis and Heyman is intrigued.
– From there, the show went to Jackie Redmond, who was in Orlando at the WWE Performance Center. The crowd in Orlando was loud as NXT wrestlers sat in chairs. Redmond asked “Who’s next?” and threw it back to SmackDown. Corey Graves was in the ring.
The Cody Rhodes/AJ Styles contract signing
This was refreshing. No fighting. No nonsense. The trash talk was a little weak, but at least it didn’t follow the tired pro wrestling contract signing formula. It didn’t heat up the match, but it didn’t damage it, either. The Cody/Carmelo match set for later in the show was a fun surprise and it should be a good way to showcase Hayes to an audience that might not know him all that well. This was a solid first half-hour of SmackDown, and that’s not always promised.
Cody and AJ sat at different tables. In the middle was a mantle with the Undisputed WWE Championship. The crowd was hot. Styles stood up and said before he signs the contract, he wanted to point out that two Georgia boys will be mixing it up for the first time for the biggest prize in the game. Styles talked about how he got his composure back after WrestleMania and he earned the right to face Cody. Styles then said he respects Cody because they’ve been down the same roads and they had to prove themselves outside WWE. The crowd gave Styles the “What?” treatment.
Styles mentioned Dusty Rhodes and the crowd broke into a “Dusty!” chant. Styles said he learned a lot from Dusty and that Dusty was a good man. Styles said Dusty taught him how to carry himself and how to carry the weight of being a champion. Styles said the weight of the title isn’t just leather and gold and at Backlash, he wants to see if Cody can carry it. Styles then signed the contract. Graves picked up the contract and placed it in front of Cody at Cody’s table.
Cody started by saying, “Cincinnati, what do we want to talk about?” Cody noted how he said Styles is the modern day excellence of execution. Cody said all their respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. Cody said Styles implied that Cody couldn’t carry the weight of the championship. Cody said it isn’t about winning the title; it’s about keeping it. Cody said he respects Styles’s familiarity with his last name, but at Backlash, it will be a level playing field and it won’t be a dream match for Cody. Rather, Cody said it will be a must-win. The crowd chanted “Cody!” and Cody stuck out his hand to shake.
Styles said it was a beautiful thing to see Cody finish his story and win the title, but it will be a shame that Cody’s title reign will end at Backlash. Styles then shook Cody’s hand and Styles left the ring. Cody picked up his title and raised it as his music played. Cody left the ring to end the segment. As Cody walked up the walkway, Triple H’s music hit and Triple H walked out.
Round 1 of the 2024 draft
– Triple H welcomed everyone into the first round of the 2024 draft. Hunter was flanked by Cody at the podium. Hunter talked about the GMs for Raw and SmackDown and said Cody will be staying on SmackDown. From there, Cody announced the first SmackDown pick, which was Bianca Belair.
– Triple H announced that the second pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Main Event Jey Uso. The crowd chanted “Yeet!”
– Cody announced the third pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was Carmelo Hayes.
– Triple H announced the fourth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
– Carmelo Hayes made his entrance with a microphone. Hayes said when they talk about who’s next up and who’s the hottest out, they call him Carmelo Hayes. “Whoop that trick” chants broke out. Hayes spoke to Cody and said when Hayes shoots, he doesn’t miss and as a first-round draft pick, he couldn’t think of a better way to shoot his shot than to shoot it against Cody. Hayes set his microphone down. Cody picked the microphone up and played with the crowd about the possibility of him wrestling tonight. Cody accepted the challenge for later in the show.
**********
LWO (Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Humberto & Angel) [5:25]
A five-minute match with a two-minute commercial break in the middle of it. Perhaps those first couple segments ran a bit longer than anticipated. Either way, this was just a vehicle to close the loop on the Dragon Lee attack from a few weeks ago, but with the draft happening this weekend, I see this as being little more than a way to set up Dragon Lee vs. Carlito at Backlash. I could be wrong. That happens a lot. Anyway, the match was fine enough while it lasted for what we saw. As I said last week about these performers, here’s hoping the draft gives everyone involved here something else to do coming out of it.
Humberto and Dragon Lee started the match. Lee had control early and landed a suicide dive on Humberto, who was on the outside. Back in the ring, Lee hit a cross-body and worked a head-lock. Lee was running the ropes and Angel held the top rope, spilling Lee to the outside. The show then went to a commercial break. Back from break, Lee got a hot tag to Mysterio. Angel tagged in as well. Mysterio hit a sitting Senton and Code Red for a two count. Angel lifted Mysterio, but Mysterio countered into a 619. Lee then tagged in to hit Project Dragon for the win.
After the match, Santos Escobar walked out and said he didn’t lie when he said he didn’t attack Dragon Lee before WrestleMania. Escobar cued up tape as to whom attacked Lee. The footage revealed it was Carlito who attacked Lee. In the ring, Carlito attacked Dragon Lee again and ran out of the ring, through the crowd, looking weirdly unsure of himself.
**********
Bron Breakker defeated Cedric Alexander [0:16]
Bron ran at Alexander and Alexander countered briefly because Alexander went for a back springboard move and Breakker caught him with a spear for the win.
**********
– A video chronicling last week’s Bayley/Naomi/Tiffany Stratton developments aired.
– Nick Aldis was shown walking out of his office and he was stopped by Stratton, who asked for a title match. Aldis said that tonight, Stratton will face Naomi again and the winner will face Bayley at Backlash for the WWE Women’s Championship. Stratton asked whose idea that was and Bayley walked into the frame, saying it was her idea. Stratton then invited Bayley to sit at ringside during the match later.
– Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson were shown coming out of separate rooms, walking to the ring to make the next draft announcements with Wilson representing Raw and McCool representing SmackDown.
Round 2 of the 2024 draft
– Michelle McCool announced that the fifth pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was Randy Orton.
– Torrie Wilson announced that the sixth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Bron Breakker.
– McCool announced that the seventh pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was Nia Jax.
– Wilson announced that the eighth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Liv Morgan.
**********
– A video recapping the Bloodline attack on Kevin Owens last week aired.
– Heyman was shown backstage waiting and a car pulled up. Heyman opened the door and Solo Sikoa exited the vehicle. Sikoa asked Heyman if the Bloodline got drafted yet and Heyman said no. Sikoa asked for all the details. Heyman said Reigns withdrew from the draft and nobody knows what they’re getting if they draft the Bloodline now. Tama Tonga appeared from the other side of the car. Sikoa told Heyman to repeat what he said. Kevin Owens ran in out of nowhere and attacked Tonga. Officials instantly rushed in to break things up.
– Kayla Braxton was standing in the entrance way to the ring and brought out Bianca Belair. Braxton asked Belair about the tag match at Backlash between Belair/Cargill and the Kabuki Warriors. Belair said she’s had a lot of history with Damage CTRL and Jade Cargill is the perfect person to help her deal with Damage CTRL. Belair said the Kabuki Warriors won’t have a reason to show up to SmackDown after they win the women’s tag team titles at Backlash. Asuka and Kairi Sane made their entrance and held up their titles. Cargill’s music then hit and Cargill walked out to stand next to Belair. The teams jawed at each other.
In the background, Owens and Tonga brawled out of the entrance way and into the ring. Owens was pummeling Tonga but Sikoa ran out and attacked Owens to give the Bloodline the upper hand. Tonga beat up random security people. Randy Orton’s music hit and Orton walked out to save the day. Orton went for an RKO on Sikoa but Sikoa got out of it. Orton and Owens stood together in the ring and Owens hugged Orton.
– Bubba Ray Dudley was shown coming out of the SmackDown draft room, walking to the ring. D-Von was shown coming out of the Raw draft room, walking to the ring.
Round 3 of the 2024 draft
– Bubba announced that the ninth pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was LA Knight.
– D-Von announced that the tenth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Ricochet.
– Bubba announced that the eleventh pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was Solo Sikoa, MFT Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman, AKA, The Bloodline.
– D-Von announced that the twelfth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Sheamus.
**********
Naomi defeated Tiffany Stratton via DQ [6:22]
The finish was trash. I really thought we were destined to get Stratton vs. Bayley locked up for Backlash, but maybe a tag match is in the works for the PLE. Either way, it’s a good way to reintroduce Jax to the SmackDown audience and she looked as dominant as ever, which is a good thing. I’m just not a fan of these lazy finishes that does nothing for any of the wrestlers who actually compete in the actual match. Still, the women worked hard and the match, short as it was, was better than expected and probably the best these two looked together in the ring.
Bayley was on commentary for the match. Naomi hit a Thez Press to begin the match. Naomi sent Stratton to the ropes and Stratton stopped herself, going to the outside. Naomi landed a dropkick to the outside and rolled Stratton back into the ring. Naomi went to the top, but Stratton moved and draped Naomi over the second rope, hitting a hip attack. Naomi came right back and landed a modified piledriver and a split takedown on the floor. The show then went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Stratton had control until Naomi hit a back kick and drove Stratton’s head into the mat for a two count. Before long, the two landed the same move on each other, slamming each other down. Naomi came out of it with the upper hand and hit an enziguri. Out of nowhere, Nia Jax showed up and attacked Bayley at ringside. Naomi went to help and Jax attacked Naomi, giving Naomi the DQ win.
After the match ended, Stratton set Naomi and Bayley up, went to the top and for the second week hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Naomi and Bayley. Stratton posed to end the segment.
**********
– Byron Saxton interviewed the Street Profits and B-Fab backstage. Next week, the Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under for the tag team titles. B-Fab said they are going to take the heels down and Austin Theory and Grayson Waller appeared, talking trash. Bobby Lashley showed up and scared Theory and Waller off.
– Teddy Long was shown coming out of the SmackDown draft room, walking to the ring. JBL was shown coming out of the Raw draft room, walking to the ring.
– Karrion Kross was shown backstage and Kross dragged the camera man to show the Final Testament beating up Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.
Round 4 of the 2024 draft
– Long announced that the thirteenth pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was AJ Styles.
– JBL announced that the fourteenth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Chad Gable, Otis, Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri, AKA Alpha Academy.
– Long announced that the fifteenth pick of the draft, which went to SmackDown, was Andrade.
– JBL announced that the sixteenth pick of the draft, which went to Raw, was Kiana James.
**********
– A video package on Kiana James aired. Jackie Redmond interviewed James in Orlando. James said being drafted meant the world to her, but she’s ready to show Raw why James is the One Percent. Shawn Michaels appeared and whispered things into James’s ear. Michaels and James hugged.
– A package recapping Trick Williams winning the NXT Championship on Tuesday aired.
– Braxton interviewed Nick Aldis backstage. Aldis said he felt good about his draft selections. Aldis then announced that Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship will take place at Backlash. Teddy Long then announced that Owens and Orton will take on Sikoa and Tonga at Backlash as well.
– Next week’s SmackDown will feature Cody and AJ going face to face. New Catch Republic will take on AOP. The Street Profits vs. A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championship will also go down. Finally, The RKO Show will commence for the first time ever.
Cody Rhodes defeated Carmelo Hayes [8:41]
Good for Hayes, holding his own after being thrown into the fire on his first SmackDown as an official member of the roster. There wasn’t any mystery when it came to the outcome, but that didn’t mean both guys dropped the ball on their performances. It’s clear WWE is high on Hayes – and rightfully so – and as such, I’m curious to see how his main roster will begin in earnest after this loss. A fine TV main event, if nothing else.
The two locked up to begin things as the crowd chanted “Cody!” Cody landed the dropdown punch early and Hayes came back with a springboard takedown. Cody responded with a clothesline The show then went to its final commercial break. The show returned and Cody had control until Hayes stopped Cody with a chop. The two eventually traded a bunch of chops and Cody back-dropped Hayes, but Hayes came back with a Facebuster and a springboard fadeaway DDT for a two-count.
Before long, Cody hit a Disaster Kick for a two-count. The two, on their knees, traded blows until Cody lifted Hayes and hit a running powerslam for another two-count. Cody landed a Cody Cutter after that for a nice near-fall. Out of nowhere, Hayes landed the First 48 before heading to the top rope. Cody moved and hit a super-lkick. The two attempted springboard moves, but both missed. Cody sold shoulder pain as a result of the missed move, but hit CrossRhodes for the win.
Cody was posing after the win and AJ Styles showed up in the ring out of nowhere. Cody and AJ engaged in a stare down and shook hands to close the show.
