WWE SmackDown this week featured quarterfinal action from the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. Matches included Bianca Belair vs. Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax, Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight, and Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes. Additionally, a contract signing took place between Cody Rhodes and No. 1 Contender Logan Paul. Last week’s episode of SmackDown had the lowest viewership of 2024, with 2.128 million viewers tuning in.
The results of the matches saw Bianca Belair defeating Tiffany Stratton in the Queen of the Ring quarterfinal, Tama Tonga defeating LA Knight in the King of the Ring quarterfinal, Nia Jax defeating Jade Cargill by disqualification in the Queen of the Ring quarterfinal, and Randy Orton defeating Carmelo Hayes in the King of the Ring quarterfinal. DIY also secured a victory over Legado Del Fantasma during the event.
Ticket sales for the WWE SmackDown event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. showed a total of 9,880 tickets distributed, with 256 available tickets. The winners and grades of the matches were also announced, with Belair receiving a B+ for her performance, Tonga receiving a B-, and the contract signing between Rhodes and Paul receiving a B+.
Nia Jax’s victory over Jade Cargill by disqualification occurred after Jax taunted Cargill’s daughter, leading Cargill to lose her cool and get herself disqualified. DIY also defeated Legado Del Fantasma in a match that received a grade of B. Meanwhile, backstage segments showed AJ Styles hinting at possible retirement after back-to-back losses to Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Carmelo Hayes had multiple segments with LA Knight backstage before his match against Randy Orton, showing WWE Superstars having multiple feuds simultaneously. Orton defeated Hayes with an athletic RKO, setting up a potential upset loss to Tama Tonga in the King of the Ring tournament. The overall grades for the matches ranged from B+ to C, with varying levels of excitement and fan engagement throughout the broadcast.
The WWE SmackDown event continued to showcase the ongoing storylines and rivalries within the wrestling world, setting the stage for future matches and developments. With the King and Queen of the Ring tournament progressing, fans can expect more intense matchups and surprising outcomes as the competition heats up. Despite the recent decline in viewership, the action-packed episode kept fans on the edge of their seats with thrilling performances and unexpected twists.
