WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights After Backlash 2024
Doc-Chris Mueller@@BR_DoctorFeatured Columnist IVMay 10, 2024WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights After Backlash 20240 of 7
Randy Orton and AJ Styles.WWE
Welcome to Bleacher Report’s live coverage of WWE SmackDown on May 10.
The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continued this week with a handful of matches from both brackets.
Here is a look at what WWE advertised for Friday’s show:
Randy Orton vs. AJ StylesAngelo Dawkins vs. Tama TongaBianca Belair vs. Candice LeRaeJade Cargill vs. Piper NivenNaomi vs. Nia JaxDawkins replaced Bobby Lashley due to The All Mighty not being medically cleared to compete. Let’s take a look at what happened on this week’s SmackDown.
Naomi vs. Nia Jax1 of 7
Naomi and Nia Jax.WWE
After a recap video showing the events from Backlash, Nick Aldis introduced Cody Rhodes. Aldis informed him that his next challenger would be Logan Paul. The social media star made his way to the ring and had an exchange with Rhodes that ended with no violence.
The first match of the night saw Naomi take on Jax in a first-round QOTR bout. After both women threw some punches, Jax took Naomi down and began controlling the pace.
Most of this bout was Jax dominating the action with occasional brief comebacks by The Queen of GLOW. After a split-legged moonsault and top rope hurricanrana failed to secure the win for Naomi, Jax hit The Annihilator for the win.
This was a relatively uneventful bout that was highlighted by a couple of big spots from Naomi.
Result: Jax defeated Naomi
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
For a show with six matches, the opening segment went longer than expected. Alicia Taylor made her debut as the new SmackDown announcer this week. Naomi’s suicide dive looked great. The hurricanrana looked good but took too long to set up. Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes2 of 7
Baron Corbin and Carmelo Hayes.WWE
After they had a brief exchange backstage, Baron Corbin and Carmelo Hayes met for a KOTR bout.
Hayes used his speed to hit a couple of kicks early on, but he turned his back on the former Golden Gloves fighter and paid for it.
These two worked very well together and did a lot of things to make each other and themselves look good along the way.
Even though he lost, Corbin probably impressed a few people who missed his recent NXT run with this performance. Hayes scored the win with a rollup to advance in the tourney.
Result: Hayes defeated Corbin
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
The way Hayes got into position for a suplex slam from Corbin was so quick and helped make the move look great. Hayes’ springboard clothesline was about as perfect as it gets. Jade Cargill vs. Piper Niven3 of 7
SmackDown.WWE
The next matchup featured one-half of the women’s tag team champions in action when Cargill took on Niven in another QOTR bout.
This was the first time Cargill took on someone who could match her for power in WWE, so they began by trading shoulder tackles to see who could take the other down first.
This contest had a very simple layout and moved along at a slow pace during the first half, but there were some standout moments like Cargill picking Niven up for an impressive slam.
Cargill managed to get Niven up for Jaded and scored the win to advance in the tournament. This was quick but made the winner look great. Bianca Belair came out and celebrated with her as she came out for the next match.
Result: Cargill defeated Niven
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Chelsea Green should be the Employee of the Month. Green looking surprised at how hard she slapped Cargill was funny. Bianca Belair vs. Candice LeRae 4 of 7
Bianca Belair and Candice LeRae.WWE
Belair and LeRae competed in the third QOTR match of the night. Indi Hartwell was at ringside while Belair was solo.
The EST managed to keep the upper hand despite interference from Hartwell early on, but the knee that was targeted gave out on her after a backflip, so LeRae pounced on it.
After only a couple of minutes, Belair hit the KOD for the win. Everything they did was solid, but they barely had enough time to do much at all.
Result: Belair defeated LeRae
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
The way Belair swung LeRae into the barricade looked good. Belair having a shorter match than Cargill was kind of surprising. Angelo Dawkins vs. Tama Tonga5 of 7
Angelo Dawkins and Tama Tonga.WWE
The Bloodline had a quick segment backstage that made it clear Solo Sikoa would be turning on Paul Heyman soon before they came to the ring for Tonga’s KOTR bout against Dawkins.
Tonga was caught off guard by Dawkins and ended up taking a lot of damage. When Sikoa got on the apron, Dawkins slapped the taste out of his mouth and Montez Ford took him and Tonga Loa out with a dive.
As Dawkins watched Loa and Sikoa take out his partner, Tonga was able to hit his finisher for the win. The two minutes of action we got was great, but there wasn’t nearly enough of it.
Result: Tonga defeated Dawkins
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
Dawkins got the jobber entrance, unfortunately. Wade Barrett said there was a time when WWE management wouldn’t touch Tonga Loa or Tama, which is actually true. AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton6 of 7
The main event of this week’s show was the first-round KOTR match between Orton and Styles. They had the last 20 minutes of the show to work, so they took their time during their entrances.
The two veterans did a great job making this feel competitive while highlighting what individually makes each one special.
Orton sold a knee injury like he was never going to walk again, and Styles was bumping all over the place for The Viper.
This was easily the best match of the night because they had enough time to do everything they wanted to do without rushing it.
After a long struggle, The Viper hit his patented RKO to score the win and advance to the next round.
Result: Orton defeated Styles
Grade: B+
Notable Moments and Observations
We need Styles’ old music back. This new song just feels wrong. Styles leaping from the barricade to the announce table felt so unnecessary but led to a fun sequence. Orton only walking on his toes on his injured foot really added to his selling. The Final Word7 of 7
This week’s SmackDown featured six matches across the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, but it still had enough time for a few non-wrestling segments.
The Bloodline drama continues to be a focal point on the blue brand, but WWE has done a good job pivoting the story away from the world title so Rhodes can have some new challengers.
Having an even split of three men’s and three women’s matches this week was great, but the women’s bouts all could have benefitted from a bit more time.
The Match of the Night was definitely Styles vs. Orton, but it should be noted that Hayes and Corbin also put on a fun performance.
Cargill has improved by leaps and bounds since joining WWE, so it will be interesting to see how far she makes it in the tournament.
Grade: B
