WWE SmackDown’s latest episode was aired live from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on Friday night.
The show began with the brand’s manager Nick Aldis revealing Cody Rhodes’ opponent for next month’s premium live event WWE King & Queen of the Ring.
Afterwards, a series of qualifying matches were held for the same pay-per-view with Nia Jax and Naomi starting the action. In men’s competition, wrestling stars including Baron Corbin, Tama Tonga, Angelo Dawkins and Carmelo Hayes also fought on the night. In the main event, The Viper Randy Orton went one-on-one with The Phenomenal AJ Styles.
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Rhodes gets a new opponent for King & Queen of the Ring
This segment began with SmackDown manager Nick Aldis welcoming Cody Rhodes in front of the crowd. He congratulated Rhodes for a successful title defence and revealed his new challenger for the upcoming premium live event King & Queen of the Ring. Logan Paul’s music played as the superstar made his way to the ring. Logan then said that he would be looking to face the American Nightmare at the upcoming event in a champion vs champion match. The two men then held up their titles, staring each other down.
Carmelo Hayes mocks Baron Corbin before beating him
During a backstage confrontation, Carmelo Hayes mocked Baron Corbin for being drafted to SmackDown off-air. He then claimed that Corbin’s original opponent Bobby Lashley was ducking him. Following this brief exchange, Corbin and Hayes faced off in a King of the Ring first-round match. Corbin was unable to stay focused in the match as Hayes countered an End of Days into a small package to seal a win.
Randy Orton beat AJ Styles in King of the Ring First Round
The Viper Randy Orton took on AJ Styles in the main event of SmackDown last night. Styles headed into the match with a heartbreaking loss against the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes at WWE Backlash held last week in France. After some back-and-forth action in the match, Styles was able to hit the Apex predator with a Phenomenal Forearm. However, Orton ensured that he got his foot on the rope to break the pinfall. He then hit Styles with an RKO to seal a victory in the King of the Ring match.
Here are the results of all the fights on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown:
- Nia Jax vs Naomi in a Queen of the Ring first-round match – Nia Jax defeated Naomi via pinfall after hitting her with the An-Nia-Lator.
- Carmelo Hayes vs Baron Corbin in King of the Ring first-round match – Hayes rolled up Corbin in a counter manoeuvre to seal a pinfall victory.
- Jade Cargill vs Piper Niven in a Queen of the Ring first-round match – Cargill finished off Niven with Jaded for a win by pinfall.
- Bianca Belair vs Candice LeRae in a Queen of the Ring first-round match – Belair planted LeRae with the KOD for a victory.
- Tama Tonga vs Angelo Dawkins in King of the Ring first-round match – Dawkins got distracted by Solo Sikoa, allowing Tonga to capitalise with his finisher to pick up the win.
- AJ Styles vs Randy Orton in King of the Ring first-round match – Orton finished off Styles with an RKO out of nowhere.