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Your announcers are Wade Barrett and Corey Graves.
We begin with a look back at highlights from Backlash.
Nick Aldis is in the ring and he welcomes everyone to Smackdown. He says there are some big matches tonight, but he wants to bring out Cody Rhodes.
Nick congratulates Cody on his victory over AJ Styles at Backlash. Nick says we need to turn our attention to King and Queen of the Ring. He says he knows Cody quite well and he knows that Cody is a fighting champion and he wants to face the best as often as he can. Nick says he wanted to tell Cody his next challenger has been determined. There is no better time to introduce him than now.
Logan Paul makes his way to the ring.
Cody asks Logan what does he want to talk about.
Logan says they are going to be main eventing the show in Saudi Arabia to open up the Logan Paul Levesque Era.
Cody says Champion versus Champion is a challenge he likes.
Logan says people don't care about his feelings and neither does he. He says he has some facts. Logan says he is the longest reigning champion in the WWE. He says he is the greatest attraction in this company. He had the greatest rookie year of all time. Logan says he is a superstar. Logan tells a fan in the crowd that he just met a superstar and wishes him a Happy Birthday. Logan says Cody is a superstar too. You won the Royal Rumble in 2023, but what do they remember? The mid air collision with Ricochet. You won at Wrestlemania but what was everyone talking about? Him and his brands.
Look who is taking all the credit. Three years ago, we debuted at Wrestlemania.on the same night. Since then, he has been the rocket fuel for the space ship that is WWE. His question for Cody is how can you finish the story when it isn't even your story. He wants to talk about him knocking out Cody on top of his logo and walking out of Saudi Arabia as the champion.
Cody says he bet a lot of people stand across from you and assume 'what a dumbass'. As fun as that would be he won't call him an influencer or an outsider or that this is a fad for you. Cody says he knows that Logan went toe to toe with Floyd Mayweather. Fourth or fifth match, you won the US title? Cody says if he beat Logan for the US title, he would become a Grand Slam Champion.
Cody says he is not done. In addition to the positive things he said. You are disrespectful, self centered, and delusional. You cannot wait to use your brass knuckles. You take credit for something that isn't isn't theirs. It is a team. At Queen and King of the Ring, you will find out where you stand on the team.
We go to Kayla Braxton with AJ Styles in the back. She asks him about his match with Randy Orton.
AJ says he wants to talk about how he had Cody on the ropes and he had him beat. He knows it, AJ knows it, Lyon knows it. Their little sing alongs and chants distracted him. It should be him facing Logan Paul. AJ tells Cody the next time they meet, he will beat you. He says he will earn a chance for another title match. That starts tonight by winning King of the Ring. That will be a phenomenal step in the right direction.
Match Number One: Nia Jax versus Naomi in a First Round Match in Queen of the Ring
Nia pushes Naomi and Naomi slaps Nia. Nia with a body block and she slams Naomi's head into the mat. Nia with an Irish whip that sends Naomi into the corner and she connects with a splash and follows with a biel. Nia with a splash into the corner. Nia with an elbow drop Nia kicks Naomi in the back. Nia sends Naomi into the turnbuckles and Nia misses a boot in the corner. Naomi kicks Nia in the hamstring in the ropes and then she hits a bulldog into the turnbuckles. Naomi avoids a shoulder in the corner and Nia hits the ring post. Naomi with a suicide dive and punches. Nia sends Naomi into the apron and hits a Samoan drop on the floor.
We go to commercial
We are back and Naomi with a jaw breaker and punches. Naomi with a knee and forearms. Nia with a head butt. Nia drops Naomi on the top rope and sends her to the floor. Nia suggests that the ref count Naomi out. Naomi gets to the apron and she drops Nia on the top rope and goes for a sunset flip but Nia does not go over. Nia misses a seated splash when Naomi moves. Naomi with forearms. Nia misses a clothesline and Naomi with a twisting back elbow and a springboard round kick. Nia catches Naomi on a springboard move but Naomi gets to the apron and she kicks Nia and hits Last Train to Clarksville. Naomi with a split legged moonsault for a near fall.
Nia sends Naomi into the turnbuckles when Naomi goes for a bulldog. Nia misses a splash. Naomi with a splash and she gets Nia on the turnbuckles. Naomi goes to the turnbuckles as well and hits a Frankensteiner for a near fall. Naomi with a thrust kick and a second one. Nia avoids a round kick and Nia with a power bomb and a leg drop to the back. Nia puts Naomi in the corner for the Bonsai Drop and the three count.
Winner: Nia Jax (advances to face winner of Jade Cargill versus Piper Niven)
Baron Corbin is ambushed by Byron Saxton and Byron asks how has Baron changed since the last time he was on Smackdown.
Baron says he went back to NXT to find out who he was and that he is himself.
Carmelo Hayes says he must have missed Baron being called up.
Hayes says Baron should have done what Bobby did and pull out of the tournament because he is going to run circles around Baron.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a video for DIY.
Johnny says it is a matter of time before they become tag team champions.
Match Number Two: Baron Corbin versus Carmelo Hayes in a First Round Match in the King of the Ring Tournament
Hayes avoids Corbin and Corbin blocks a punch. Hayes spins around Corbin and tries for an O'Connor Roll but Corbin holds on to the ropes. Hayes with a drop kick to the knees and a spinning kick to the head. Hayes chops Corbin in the back of the head. Corbin with punches and a punch to the midsection. Corbin with a back elbow or two. Hayes lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex and Corbin with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Corbin punches Hayes on the turnbuckles and Corbin goes for a superplex but Hayes cuts under and hits a springboard clothesline. Hayes with La Mistica and he gets a near fall. Corbin gets Hayes on his shoulders but Hayes with elbows to get to his feet. Corbin goes for Deep Six but Hayes escapes. Corbin with a Death Valley Driver followed by a brainbuster for a near fall. Corbin puts Hayes on the turnbuckles and punches him. Hayes with a Codebreaker off the turnbuckles and a flying knee to the chest. Hayes goes up top and misses Nothing But Net. Corbin with a choke slam into the turnbuckles and a clothesline.
Corbin with a suplex into a cutter for a near fall. Hayes escapes End of Days and Hayes with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes (advances to face winner of Randy Orton versus AJ Styles)
Kayla is with Bayley and she asks who is the favorite.
Bayley says she is excited to see how far Jade Cargill will go.
Chelsea Green says that Bayley must have forgotten about Piper Niven, who is going to eliminate Jade.
We see Jade Cargill walk in the back.
We go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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