WWE SmackDown live results: King & Queen of the Ring semifinals set
Tonight’s live WWE SmackDown returns to the U.S. with all eyes on the road to Night of Champions.
After failing to take the WWE title away from Cody Rhodes at Clash in Italy, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther will choose the stipulation for their impending rematch.
In an interesting fatal four-way in the Queen of the Ring tournament, former WWE Women’s Champions Jade Cargill and Charlotte Flair will be in the ring with current Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca and former champion Lyra Valkyria. The winner advances to the semifinals.
In the King of the Ring tournament, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso joins former Universal Champion Finn Balor, LA Knight and Royce Keys in another intriguing four-way match. The winner also advances to the semis.
A non-title match pits WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige & Brie Bella against Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid of Fatal Influence.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 pm Eastern.
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– We kicked off tonight with a recap of last week’s extracurricular activity between Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Sami Zayn. After that, we cut to Rhodes arriving to the arena as Nick Aldis informed him that we’d hear from Gunther tonight regarding the stipulation. As Aldis left, Rhodes was confronted by the Usos. Despite the friendly fistbumps, Jey Uso reminded Rhodes that if he won King of the Ring, he’d be gunning for his Undisputed WWE Title. Rhodes said that he hoped it was Jey’s decision, and not Roman Reigns calling the shots on Jey’s behalf.
– Jade Cargill was interviewed ahead of her Queen of the Ring fatal four-way which was opening our night. Cargill said that she was coming for Rhea Ripley at SummerSlam if she won.
Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way Qualifier: Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill vs. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria
This match got underway as Cargill struck Flair with a hard elbow to the face. Valkyria, Ruca, and Flair then decided to team up on Cargill. The double suplex by Ruca and Flair got turned into a two-for-one by Cargill, as she followed that with a Fallaway Slam on Valkyria right into Ruca. That only left Cargill and Flair in the ring and the two didn’t waste any time in fighting one another. Chops by flair as she hit a Fallaway of her own on Cargill. Suplex attempt by Flair stopped by Michin and B-Fab, who pulled her out of the ring and stomped on her. That was until Alexa Bliss ran in and went after the Baddies. When the numbers were too much, Tiffany Stratton decided to help even the odds for Bliss. Stratton fought Michin into the crowd as Bliss took B-Fab into the crow, which took us into the commercial break.
Back from the break as Cargill nearly got rolled-up into a pin by Ruca, but she kicked out in time. Ruca chopped at Cargill’s chest, as she went for a crossbodf. Cargill caught her and rolled through it, but Valkyria dropkicked her before she could hit the slam. Suplex by Valkyria to Ruca before Cargill got her for a suplex attempt. Valkyria countered it into a DDT, but it opened her up to Flair’s Natural Selection. The cover, but Ruca broke up the count. In the corner, Flair flipped over and got Ruca with the big boot. On the top rope, but Ruca intercepted her and leapt on the rope. Her move was stopped as Valkyria kicked her aside. On the top now, but Cargill intercepted and hit an unsual powerbomb. Flair managed to kick out of that.
Flair got Cargill with a massive forearm, as she followed that with the walkover clothesline. Figure-Eight, but Ruca got her with the missile dropkick as she kipped up to her feet. She had Cargill in sight, but Valkyria rolled her up for a pin, forcing a kickout. Valkyria knocked Ruca down and wiped out Cargill with a suicide dive. Ruca on the top rope as she took everyone out with a moonsault at ringside. She put Valkyria back in the ring and hit the springboard frog splash. One, two… no! We took another break in the action at this point.
This opening bout returned from the break as Ruca kicked out of a Cargill pinfall attempt. Cargill went to the top rope looking for some high-risk damage at Ruca’s expense, but Flair intercepted her at the pass. Flair looked to have the superplex as Ruca joined her and helped Flair hit the superplex on Cargill. A fresh Valkyria tried to pin Ruca in the wreckage, but she kicked out. Ruca took off on the apron for a springboard lariat on both Flair and Valkyria, but that opened her up to a Cargill pump kick. Cargill then connected with Jaded on Flair. One, two… Valkyria broke it up at two! Night Wing attempt, but Cargill fended her off. That got her wide open for the Sol Snatcher! One, two…. Valkyria broke it up again! Natural Selection by Flair, but that was a kickout! Things quickened significantly as Flair finished this off with a Figure-Eight Leg Lock on Valkyria to advance to the Queen of the Ring Semifinals.
Charlotte Flair def. Lyra Valkyria, Jade Cargill, & Sol Ruca via submission to advance to the Queen of the Ring Semifinals
Terrifically fun fatal four-way match to kick us off tonight. Sol Ruca, in particular, looked especially great in this one, especially in the latter stages of the bout.
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– Backstage, Tiffany Stratton was interviewed just as B-Fab and Michin was about to ambush her. That was until a very angry Chelsea Green, brandishing a kendo stick, yelled a whole bunch and fended off the Baddies in the process.
– Jacob Fatu was told by Jimmy Uso that Jey Uso was gonna handle business on his own later tonight. Fatu said that they can do that, while he had some other business to attend to.
– Carmelo Hayes was shown paying a visit to the New England Patriots’ training camp, as the majority of the team were shown in the crowd afterwards.
– A vignette for Blake Monroe where she focused on Charlotte Flair was shown. Monroe said that true stars shined alone as friends was something she didn’t bother with. She was still supposedly coming soon despite having shown up backstage three weeks ago.
– Nick Aldis was confronted by Gunther, who said that for Cody Rhodes’ title defense next week, he couldn’t trust Aldis’ officials, so he was going to make the pick himself later on.
– Finn Balor was interviewed until R-Truth interrupted and said that Judgment Day was back together again, until Damian Priest showed up. Balor still felt uneasy about Priest and left. We learned that Priest and Truth were going to defend the WWE Tag Team Titles against the M.F.T.s next week. Priest said that he only needed him and Truth.
Brie Bella & Paige vs. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reed & Fallon Henley)
Henley went after Brie to start, but she was met with a flying clothesline from the veteran. Side Russian legsweep by Brie into a quick cover attempt. Paige tagged in as the Women’s Tag Champs hit a double bulldog on Henley. Running knee by Paige to Henley seemed to keep things under control for the champs, but Reid tagged in as Brie hit her with the kicks to the chest. Henley tried to help but got hit with dropkicks. Reid flattened with the “YES!” Kicks as Paige battered Henley with knees on the apron. Jacy Jayne tripped up Brie with the ref’s back turned as Reid pounded on Brie.
Fatal Influence kept Brie isolated for a bit, as Henley struck her with a hard rib shot to the gut. Brie with the tag to Paige, but Reid kept the ref distracted, which invalidated the tag. Fatal Influence maintained their control as we took a commercial break.
Back from break as Brie attempted to fight out of enemy territory. Reid attempted a suplex from the apron, but Paige blocked it. She slid underneath both Reid and Henley and tagged in Paige. Snap German suplex by Paige to Reid. She applied the P.T.O. on Reid, which forced Henley to break the hold. Henley got thrown out as Paige connected with Rampaige. One, two… Henley broke up the count. Dropkick by Brie Bella to Henley, but Reid hit her with the knee. Roll-up by Paige, but the referee waas slightly distracted. Brie Bella was unintentionally distracting the referee once more, just as Paige had the P.T.O. locked in on Henley. Jacy Jayne pulled Henley but was caught in the referee’s view. As Jayne was being ejected, Henley had the rollup on Paige, but Brie turned it into a pin for Paige behind the referee’s back. The cover, and the win for the Women’s Tag Champs.
Paige & Brie Bella def. Fatal Influence via pinfall
This was an alright match. Paige and Brie Bella using veteran instinct to outsmart the Fatal Influence was a neat finish.
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– Sami Zayn was again lamenting his fate with Johnny Gargano and he resolved to talk wtih Cody once and for all.
– Danhausen was in his lab as Los Garza begged him to uncurse the San Antonio Spurs ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals Tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kit Wilson asked Danhausen to revert The Miz, who has apparently just been left in a state of reciting his catchphrases endlessly. Wilson tried to shut down Danhausen’s experiments, but got electrocuted for his troubles. Danhausen just casually walked off, leaving a charred Wilson down and out in the lab.
Sami Zayn wants to clear the air with Cody Rhodes
The “Last Real Good Guy” came to the ring wanting to talk to Cody Rhodes.
Zayn said that it was a bit of a strange reaction from the Providence crowd. He didn’t want to compare the European crowds to America’s crowds, but the Ride or Dies showed up for him in Europe. Zayn said that the Providence crowd could either sit and be sour or be a Ride or Die with the “Last Real Good Guy”.
Zayn said that he was out here because something was brewing for months and months and he wanted to clear the air with one Cody Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE Champion and self-proclamed made his way down to the ring, three-piece suit and all.
Rhodes promptly asked Sami Zayn “what do you wanna talk about?” Zayn said that he wanted to have an earnest conversation with him, as it was a series of misunderstandings that’s been happening in the past few months. Zayn believed that he was paying the price for helping Rhodes all these months.
Zayn said that Rhodes made him feel like the worst person in the world when he was forced to walk away after Gunther was choking Rhodes out, even though Rhodes deserved it. Last week, he did decide to help, but paid the price for it. All Zayn wanted to know was the truth.
Rhodes said that Zayn needed to have pro wrestling to explain it for him, even though he should know better by now. Rhodes wondered if Zayn was asking to turned it off. Zayn stated that he was there first to help Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, even though he was right to have sour grapes in the processes. He was happy for Rhodes because he was a good guy. He talked about the people listed like Kevin Owens, John Cena, Randy Orton, among others and how many of them were still Rhodes’ friends.
Rhodes said that he wasn’t able to be honest with those names but now he was going to be honest with Zayn. The truth according to Rhodes: the crowd views that Sami Zayn sucks because he’s become whiny and desperate as of late. Rhodes apologized by stating that he had the Undisputed World Title, and that Zayn never will. An angered Zayn slapped Rhodes in the face, as he tried to apologize right away and begged off. The crowd chanted “Sami Sucks” as Rhodes slapped him right back.
“We good?” asked Rhodes as Zayn left the ring to grab a chair. Zayn dropped the chair and promptly left the ringside area.
This was an excellent segment. Lots of tension, and this heel character for Zayn is fantastic work from him. Just good stuff all along.
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– Jacob Fatu approached Solo Sikoa and told him that Roman Reigns needed him to come home. Sikoa refused as he wondered what happened to Sikoa, stating that Reigns has done nothing but embarrass and humiliate him . Sikoa said that how Reigns treated him was not how to treat someone he loved. Sikoa told Fatu said that he can tell Roman to go to hell. Fatu answered by talking about how he stood on business and that if the O.T.C. sent him after Solo, he’ll do it. Sikoa answered by stating that if Reigns wanted him to come home, Roman can do it himself.
AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix (c) vs. Axiom
This match got under way as Fenix got a leaping Axiom with a dropkick. This was followed by an incredible dive through the middle rope onto Axiom outside the ring. Fenix leapt from a springboard position, but Axiom caught hhim . Some crisp action as Fenix and Axiom traded blistering counters back-and-fourth. Suplex by Axiom was followed by a running soccer-style kick to the chest of Fenix. Axiom caught Fenix in a Fujiwara armbar, but the AAA Cruiserweight Champ broke it up by reaching the ropes. Axiom avoided a leap from Fenix as he met him with a dropkick that forced the champion out of the ring. Axiom followed it with a leaping moonsault from the springboard to the outside on Fenix and that was the cue for the commercial after a sports presentation-inspired replay.
We returned from the break as Fenix escaped an Axiom hold momentarily. The leap from the corner, but Axiom caught him in a sleeper hold instead. Fenix fought fire with fire as he hit Axiom with strikes, followed with the feint spinning kick. On the top rope, Axiom intercepted Fenix, but the Spanish Fly attempt was blocked. It left him in position across the top rope for an Adios, Amigo kick from Fenix, followed by the crossbody for the two-count.
Spin kick by Fenix as his springboard was met by Axiom who slid in-between Fenix’s legs for a modified German suplex of sorts. Missile dropkick by Axiom got a near-fall. In the corner, Axiom had Fenix in sight for the Golden Ratio, but Fenix dodged it at the last second as he connected with the Brainbuster for a near-fall. Axiom rolled Fenix through for the cross-armbreaker, but Axiom turned that into a pin attempt. Axiom missed with the kick int he corner, which opened him up to Fenix’ spinning Animo Kick. Fenix got up on the middle rope as he and Axiom dueled until a Spanish Fly from the top nearly had the match won for the challenger. Another spinning Animo Kick by Fenix, followed by one more, which left Axiom wide open for the Mexican Muscle Buster and the three to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Title.
Rey Fenix def. Axiom via pinfall to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship
A solid match that really highlights the need for Fenix to be used more often. This was a heck of a match and I enjoyed every minute of it. Tremendous.
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– Gunther talked to Nick Aldis and said that the decision for guest referee was someone who was the last real good guy… Sami Zayn. This title match for next week was now made official.
Trick Williams holds court on SmackDown
The United States Champion was, of course, flanked by his good buddy Li’l Yachty to a great ovation from the Providence Crowd.
Yachty did his introduction, but Williams cut him short there, stating that he lost last week in the King of the Ring qualifier. He didn’t like it, but it woke up something in him and brought a fire in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. It made him want to level up to bring SmackDown to new heights. Williams said he was the leader of the new school, and the fact that he lost last week pissed him off. It made him want to step up his game, because his name was Trick Williams. He was the United States Champion, Hollywood Trick, Mr. Lemon Peppa Steppa, and “Trick James”.
Ricky Saints interrupted the proceedings, but not before Carmelo Hayes showed up to upstage Saints. Hayes brushed off Saints as he walked down to the ring and confronted Williams. Before he could go on, Saints asked for a mic. Hayes demanded that Williams pick somebody to be a contender for the U.S. Championship. Saints complained that he beat Hayes, which meant he was the one to face Williams. Hayes and Williams kept arguing with one another until Williams told the two to shut up.
Williams said that their bickering didn’t matter because he’d stomp either one of them. He said that until they figured it out, shut up while grown folks are talking. Hayes was pushed into Williams by Saints, as the former U.S. Champ battered his new rival. Williams stormed back in and laid both men out, showing Hayes and Saints who the true champion was.
I do like this feud, but it feels like it’s kind of going around in a circle until the inevitable triple threat match is announced.
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– Royce Keys was approached by Solo Sikoa, who warned him that the Bloodline was around to help Jey Uso to win. Sikoa said that Jacob Fatu was too far gone, and that he apparently didn’t want Keys to be a casualty in Roman’s war.
Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton vs. B-Fab & Michin
Stratton and Michin got things off for this tag match as the legal women. Stratton somersaulted over Michin and hit her with a clothesline afterwards. Stratton avoided Michin on opposite corners before she connected with the floatover cartwheel Alabama Slam. Green slid in for the tag and handled Michin for a bit until B-Fab got the tag. The Baddies hit the double team on Green, who was hit with a double flapjack. Michin took Stratton off the apron with a strike, which left Green alone as we took a weirdly-timed timeout for ads.
Back to this tag match as Green tried to fight back against Michin, but got pushed into the corner instead. Green was on the top rope as Michin hit her with a hurricanrana for the near-fall. Green threw Michin overhead with a Northern Lights suplex, as B-Fab tried to stop Green’s advance to her corner. Green sent Michin out of the ring and B-Fab ran into the ringpost shoulder-first. Just as the tag was made, Jade Cargill pulled Stratton off the apron. This left Green open for Michin’s Styles Clash.
After the match, The Baddies attacked Stratton three-on-one.
Michin & B-Fab def. Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton via pinfall
Although I’m not really fond of The Baddies faction, I have to admit that Michin and B-Fab are getting a bit of shine as a result of this and a Women’s U.S. Title feud for Cargill isn’t a bad place for her right now.
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– Backstage, Giulia confronted Kiana James, stating that she needed James help with English and finding herself, but not being a fighter. Giulia said that James was using her all along. Now that her English was a whole lot bette, Giulia finally had the words to James: a hard slap across the face.
– Cody Rhodes had some concerns with the decision of Sami Zayn being the guest referee for his title match against Gunther next week. Lucky for him, Zayn was right there and he said that he was a wreck and that his emotions were all over the place. He wished Rhodes next week, his intentions still unclear.
Next Week on SmackDown:
- Undisputed WWE Championship (Sami Zayn as the Guest Referee): Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
- Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes (Winner faces Trick Williams for the WWE U.S. Championship at Night of Champions)
- WWE Tag Team Championships: R-Truth & Damian Priest (c) vs. The M.F.T.s
- Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Charlotte Flair vs. Liv Morgan
King of the Ring Fatal Four-Way: Royce Keys vs. Finn Balor vs. Jey Uso vs. L.A. Knight
Before the match, Knight had his theme play again until Jey hit him from behind as the match got underway. Keys clotheslined both Knight and Jey as he then did the same to Balor. Double clothesline against to Knight and Jey from Balor that sent the two out of the ring. Balor went up and over to take out everyone as we took a timeout.
We came back from the comercial as Balor went after Knight with stomps to the chest before Keys entered the fray and clubbed him with a strike. Suplex by Keys attempted, but Balor escaped. However, Balor ended up running into the brick wall that is Royce Keys instead. Uso tried his hand to take down Keys, but a Spinebuster by Keys put him down. The cover, but Knight broke it up. Jumping elbow by Knight to Keys, followed by stomps in the corner. Knight attempted a running attack, but he got mashed by Keys’ clothesline. The powerhouse powerslam by Keys, but Balor broke up the count. On the top rope, Balor went for a diving attack, but he got caught by Keys for the backbreaker. Keys draped Balor across the top turnbucke to batter him as Knight and Jey got taken down by the big man. Back in the corner, Keys lifted Balor up for the avalanche Top Choice Royce Slam. The cover, but Knight recovered to break the pin up. Outside the ring, Keys drove Knight spine-first into the LED ringpost. Superkick by Jey Uso on Keys, but the dive to the outside was stopped. Jey got yeeted into the apron and steel steps by Keys. Jimmy Uso stared down Keys as Solo Sikoa emerged from the back and we took another commercial break.
This high-stakes main event returned as Balor took down Keys with a shot to the face. However, the dive by Balor was caught by Keys, who slammed him on the apron. Superkick by Jey Uso on Keys, as all four men were caught in the ringside area. Knight and Uso yelled at one another until Balor got them to team up momentarily on Keys. They rearranged the furniture and delivered a Shield-style triple powerbomb on Keys through the announce table!
In the ring, Knight and Jey fought in the ring as they exchanged strikes. Uso won out in that exchange until Balor stepped in and took both men out with neckbreakers. Jey Uso broke up Balor’s pin on Knight and paid for it with a Slingblade. Shotgun Dropkick was met with Jey’s tried-and-tested superkick. Balor answered with one more Slingblade, followed by the Shotgun Dropkick. Balor headed up top for the Coup de Grace, but Knight tried and failed to stop him. Coup De Grace on Jey by Balor. The cover, but Keys pulled him out.
In the ring, Knight hit Keys with an inverted neckbreaker, followed by the “Megastar” Elbow from the middle rope. Keys in position for the B.F.T., but he blocked it. Samoan Spike by Sikoa on Knight led to the Spinebuster from Keys. However, Jey Uso headed up top and hit the Uso Splash and pinned Knight to get the victory. Uso will face Je’von Evans in the semifinals next week.
Jey Uso def. LA Knight, Royce Keys, & Finn Balor to advance to the King of the Ring Semifinals
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An above-average episode of SmackDown buoyed some good in-ring action and a very interesting development as it relates to the main event scene with Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. I’m genuinely interested in ths more than anything else, especially in comparison to the Bloodline stuff, which has gotten weirdly confusing now with shifting allegiances and story progressions that don’t really grab the attention.
Speaking of Cody Rhodes, will he drop the Undisputed World Title next week to Gunther? The Special Guest Referee stipulation does open it up, but more likely, we see something that sets up a Night of Champions triple threat match between Rhodes, Gunther, and Zayn. I’m interested to see how we get there.
The two fatal four-way matches were great, and Fenix vs. Axiom more than exceeded my expectations and was the highlight of the night. Hope we see those two more often.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.