The May 24 edition of SmackDown went live from the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The show’s highlight was the semifinals of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Logan Paul and Cody Rhodes came face to face. WWE Women’s Champion Bayley was in action. Let’s look at everything that happened on the show in our WWE SmackDown May 24 Results.
Bianca Belair vs Nia Jax
The show opened with the semifinal of the QOTR tournament, where Nia Jax faced Bianca Belair. Jax and Belair won their respective matches on WWE SmackDown May 17 Episode. Jax quickly slammed Belair to the mat, followed by a splash in the corner. Bianca tried to fight back, but Nia slammed her from the top rope to the mat using The EST’s braid. Belair fought back with a splash to the outside, taking down The Irresistible Force.
Back in the ring, Nia delivered a Samoan Drop for a two-count. Bianca landed a cross body from the top for a near fall. Belair’s knee was hurt there. Nia started to climb the ropes. Bianca caught her and hit a powerbomb for another near fall. Jax targeted Bianca’s knee and landed a senton. Jax dragged her in the right position and delivered the Annihilator for the win.
Winner: Nia Jax
Grades: B
Analysis: A decent opening match. Nia Jax got the win. She will face Lyra Valkyria in the finals.
The Grayson Waller Effect
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory had a special Grayson Waller Effect with Carmelo Hayes as the guest. All three talked trash about multiple superstars from the blue brand. Theory said that Bobby Lashley taught Street Profits how to lose. Hayes called Corbin and Lashley as egomaniacs. Then they targeted LA Knight. Carmelo said Knight has achieved nothing and wants to talk all the time.
Waller introduced Knight as a guy who can’t win big ones. Out came LA Knight, who began with his catchphrase, “Let me talk to ya.” Knight told Hayes that he was knocking on a mean dog’s door who would bite him. As Knight was leaving, Melo attacked him from behind. Waller and Theory joined, too. The Street Profits came out to save things for Knight.
Grades: C
Analysis: It felt like a filler segment. It was just booked to set up the upcoming six-man tag team match.
LA Knight and Street Profits vs Carmelo Hayes and A-Town Down Under
Montez started against Carmelo with a dropkick. Dawkins joined and landed a face-buster. Waller and Theory tried to double-team Knight, who fought back with a clothesline. Dawkins hit Waller with a corkscrew elbow and a splash in the corner. Theory landed a dropkick on Dawkins that sent him to the outside.
After the commercial, Knight slammed Waller and hit a jumping elbow. Carmelo delivered the First 48 on Knight. A brawl broke out with all the six men involved. Knight delivered a BFT on Grayson. Knight took out Hayes on the ringside. In the ring, Ford landed a splash on Waller for the victory.
Winners: LA Knight and Street Profits
Grades: B-
Analysis: A fun six-man tag match. WWE found a way to book Knight on the show. It looks like Knight’s upcoming feud will be against Hayes.
Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul face-to-face
Cody Rhodes arrived in the ring. Logan Paul came out, talking through his course on the ramp. He said he would be walking down the ramp in Saudi Arabia for the third time, chasing a championship. Paul told Cody he was smarter, more athletic, and a better performer than The American Nightmare. Logan also told Cody that he wouldn’t use any cheap tactics as he gave his brass knuckles to Michael Cole.
Cody called Logan a scared kid and a fraud. He also called him a YouTuber trying to be a WWE wrestler. Cody said that he has seen how good Logan is in the ring. Rhodes said that Paul has imposter syndrome and will likely have other brass knuckles somewhere. Rhodes told an official to check Logan. The official first checked Cody, who was clean. The brass knuckles were found in Logan’s pocket. Logan gave them to Cody and said he doesn’t need them tomorrow.
Cody told Logan that he believes him as a WWE Superstar, but he won’t be the Undisputed WWE Champion until he becomes a full-time performer and respects the ring. Rhodes called Logan a kid and vowed to beat him at tomorrow’s King and Queen of Ring premium live event. Cody raised his championship in the air.
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a solid promo segment between Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul. They have protected the physical altercation for the actual match. Logan has genuinely improved on the microphone.
Bayley vs Chelsea Green WWE SmackDown May 24 Results
Chelsea began with a big kick followed by a top-rope dropkick. Green hit the Rough Ryder for a near fall. Bayley slammed Chelsea and delivered a Rose Plant for the win. Piper Niven hit a splash and three back-to-back sentons on Bayley.
Winner: Bayley
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a short match, and Bayley was the obvious winner. Niven’s attack after the match suggests that Bayley’s title reign is getting dull soon as they have no mega feuds for the Role Model.
Backstage: AJ Styles approached Nick Aldis in the office. He demanded another Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity. Aldis said that he can personally give Styles a chance every day, but professionally, Styles has to earn it which will take time. AJ said that he doesn’t have time. Aldis replied that he couldn’t help him with that.
Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman were backstage. Heyman told Sikoa that Tonga Loa was not here because he didn’t pass the background check. Heyman told Solo they are dangerous people, so they weren’t brought to the Bloodline earlier. Heyman wanted to share something about Tama Tonga, but Tonga arrived. Tama said that the King would be in the Bloodline tomorrow, according to the orders of the Tribal Chief.
Randy Orton vs Tama Tonga
Tonga started with right hands and a headbutt, but Randy replied with a fallaway slam. At ringside, Randy slammed Tama onto the commentary table. Tonga drove Randy into the ring post. After the break, Orton went for his signature DDT, but Tonga escaped and targeted Orton’s leg.
The Viper bounced back with some clotheslines and a snap power slam. Tonga escaped the DDT again, but Randy slammed him onto the commentary desk at ringside. Back in the ring, Orton successfully hit the draping DDT on Tonga. Orton was ready for RKO, but Solo stepped up to the apron for the interference.
Orton knocked out Sikoa and hit RKO on Tonga for the win. Solo attacked Randy after the match. Kevin Owens made the save.
Winner: Randy Orton
Grades: B
Analysis: Randy Orton got the obvious win and advanced into the King of the Ring tournament finals. Kevin Owens returned after a short hiatus and is back against the Bloodline.
Overall, it was a fun SmackDown show from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The finals for the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are set.
