Finally, the Radiant Team has come back to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania!
Tonight, we're welcomed inside the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza — a perfect battleground to spark new rivalries and continue the Queen and King of the Ring tournaments. I'm seriously hyped to see who will rise to challenge Cody Rhodes, what chaos the Bloodline's new expansion will bring, and how the new Tag Team Champions plan to celebrate. There's a storm of exciting events waiting on the Blue Brand, so let’s dive into this mess! 💥
Cody Rhodes Will Face Another Champion in the King of the Ring!
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis had bad news to deliver — Bobby Lashley is injured and out of the tournament. He’ll be replaced by Angelo Dawkins. That’s already another twist in a tournament full of surprises and injuries. 😬
But that wasn’t all. Aldis invited the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes to the ring — suited up like a Gotham white knight in designer drip. With Aldis focused on the tournament, he already lined up Cody’s next challenger... and you’ll never guess who it is — The Maverick, Logan Paul!
Yes, the United States Champion is coming for Cody’s world title, looking to do what Seth Rollins once did by holding two major belts at once. Cody didn’t seem thrilled, but Logan? Oh, he came in cocky and full of himself, bragging about being smart, rich, and unbeatable. Typical.
Cody wasn’t having it. He called Logan a “dumbass” and took shots at his lack of backup, reminding everyone that Logan can’t win a match without brass knuckles. The champ looked serious and focused — clearly done playing the nice guy.
This rivalry could get ugly fast. But hey, I'm all in for The American Nightmare putting Logan Paul in his place.
Queen of the Ring – 1st Round: Naomi vs. Nia Jax
Looks like everyone from Backlash is now chasing royalty. Tonight, Naomi faces her biggest threat yet — literally — The Irresistible Force, Nia Jax. Honestly, Naomi’s been amazing lately, but I had my doubts she could stop this human wrecking ball. My pick was Jax going in.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Naomi can be seriously impressive in the ring — and that Frankensteiner absolutely flattened Nia!
As expected, Jax dominated early with raw power and sheer size. But Naomi didn’t back down — she fought with heart, launching herself with suicide dives, precision strikes, and trying to outlast Jax in a battle of stamina.
And it almost worked. Naomi stunned Nia with a huge enziguri, nailed a gorgeous moonsault, and even pulled off a jaw-dropping top-rope hurricanrana that sent Jax crashing hard! She even landed multiple superkicks that rocked the giant…
But still, Nia Jax survived it all. After all that, she hit the Annihilator and crushed Naomi’s dreams of advancing. Tough loss for Naomi, but what a fight. She brought the energy — just not enough to stop this unstoppable monster..
King of the Ring – 1st Round: Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes
Baron Corbin returns to SmackDown and… wait, what? I almost forgot he still existed in WWE! 😅 Once one of the most annoying guys on the roster, Corbin’s back from NXT claiming he’s finally found his true self. Tonight, he faces Carmelo Hayes, and I was curious to see how much has really changed. I leaned toward Hayes for the win, but kept my eyes on Corbin.
Surprisingly, Corbin looked great! He came out strong, hitting power moves like a Death Valley Driver and a brutal brainbuster variant that left Hayes rattled. His confidence, ring presence — even the fans — felt different. People were cheering for him. Like… seriously? 🤯
Hayes stayed smart, targeting Corbin’s legs and trying to outpace the bigger man. Corbin almost had it after landing a nasty standing cutter, but just as he went for End of Days, Hayes countered into a slick roll-up and stole the win!
Carmelo Hayes advances, but man — Corbin looked the best he has in years. That was a statement performance, even in defeat.
Randy Has a Message
Backstage, Byron Saxton caught up with the Legend Killer himself. Yep, Randy Orton is officially part of the King of the Ring tournament—wau, what an unexpected but dangerous twist! 😈 Randy made it crystal clear: he’s gunning for AJ Styles tonight, and he's just itching to strike The Phenomenal One with an RKO outta nowhere! But that’s not all The Viper had to say.
With Kevin Owens injured after last week’s brutal clash with The Bloodline, Randy had a chilling promise: "Tama Tonga… I'm coming for you. And you will see these three dangerous letters coming. That’s right. RKO. Consider yourself warned!"
Queen of the Ring - 1st Round: Jade Cargill (C) vs Piper Niven
Honestly, I don’t know why champions are competing in this tournament—but maybe Jade Cargill just wants more WWE ring time to sharpen her claws. Tonight, she faces someone way more formidable than Chelsea Green—Piper Niven. I expected this to last longer than Jade vs Chelsea, maybe five minutes max, but the real question was: Can Jade actually hit the Jaded on someone the size of Niven? The match kicked off with a heavyweight clash of power, and on the third shoulder block, Piper finally went down. But Jade didn’t get to gloat for long—Piper came back with a huge senton that flattened the champ. Just when Jade started firing up again, Chelsea Green made the biggest mistake of her life by slapping Jade in the face outside the ring. Girl…
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Poor Jade — that Senton looked absolutely brutal. I’m not sure I’d still be breathing after that!
Piper capitalized with a series of brutal short-range clotheslines and a corner cannonball, nearly putting Jade down for good. But then, boom —Jade summoned her freak strength and slammed Niven hard into the mat. Even Chelsea’s attempt to interfere got her blasted with a forearm for her trouble.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Cargill remains undefeated on SmackDown and just stormed her way into the second round!
Finally, after a signature punt kick, Jade pulled off the impossible: she lifted Niven and nailed the Jaded! One, two, three. The tag champ advances. A hard-fought, physical win—and next round, she faces someone even more terrifying: Nia Jax.
Queen of the Ring - 1st Round: Bianca Belair (C) vs Candice LeRae
Jade didn’t even have time to leave the ring before her tag team partner Bianca Belair made her entrance for the next tournament match. Both champs are in it, which makes me wonder—what happens if they face each other in Round 3?
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Candice's dirty tricks don’t stand a chance against someone like Bianca.
As for tonight, Candice LeRae was clearly outmatched, but that didn’t stop her from trying some dirty tricks. Indi Hartwell attacked Bianca’s knee from behind before the bell even rang, setting Candice up with a real chance to exploit the injury. And for a moment, it worked—Bianca’s signature backflip off the top rope saw her land awkwardly on that knee.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - A devastating KOD sends Belair to the next round.
But still… it’s Bianca Belair. Once she powered through the pain, Candice couldn’t keep up. KOD, and it’s lights out. Another champ moves forward, and both tag partners are now in Round 2.
Solo Is In Charge—By Order of the Tribal Chief
Backstage, Paul Heyman pulled Solo Sikoa aside for a little “private conversation.” But Solo wasn’t exactly feeling the Wise Man's vibe. He said he was disappointed with some of Paul’s recent actions—but still sees him as an adviser to Roman Reigns and part of the family. Then came the shocking part: Solo revealed that he actually spoke to Roman after WrestleMania XL, and Roman gave him direct orders to run everything in his absence.
Heyman looked stunned—like he just saw a ghost—but forced a warm hug on the new enforcer anyway. Yeah… that wasn’t just a hug. That was a warning. And I’m officially nervous about Paul Heyman’s fate. 👀
King of the Ring – 1st Round: Angelo Dawkins vs Tama Tonga
With the leader of The Pride injured, it was time for Angelo Dawkins to step up and take his place. Not a bad replacement… but not great when you're going up against the new Rough Bloodline. Honestly, I had little doubt that Solo and his crew were going to make this a must-win match for Tama Tonga. The Samoan Mafia were swarming the ring in slick suits, carrying that cold, dangerous aura. Tama looked absolutely unhinged, and Loa Tonga—even scarier, calm and calculated.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Angelo held his own against Tama and honestly had a solid shot at winning… if it weren’t for the Bloodline’s ringside presence.
The match began with ruthless aggression from Tama, and Angelo just couldn’t keep up at first. But give him credit—Dawkins smartly used Tama’s aggression against him and started gaining momentum. That is, until Solo tried to interfere... but Montez Ford came in hot, taking out both Loa and Solo with absolute style. Crowd popped hard for that—because let’s be honest, everyone hates this new Bloodline even more than the old one. 😤
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Solo Sikoa’s actions speak louder than words: he’s stepping up as the new head of the Bloodline.
Unfortunately, Dawkins got distracted. Solo and Loa took out Montez with a vicious Samoan Spike, and Tama sealed the match with a brutal Flatliner. Once the bell rang, the ring turned into a shark tank. All Bloodline members surrounded Dawkins, ready to punish him with a Samoan Spike of his own. That cold, merciless energy? Yeah, it’s starting to terrify Paul Heyman…
King of the Ring – 1st Round: Randy Orton vs AJ Styles
This was a big-time main event—The Phenomenal One vs The Legend Killer for a shot at Tama Tonga in Round 2 of the tournament. Honestly, Randy seemed more motivated than ever, and that alone had me worried the Bloodline might try to ruin his night.
Before we even get into the match—can we take a moment to appreciate how Randy connects with the audience? That man knows how to make people feel like their ticket was worth every dollar. Thank you, Randy!
You could feel it—Backlash took a toll on AJ Styles. In the early stages of this match, he couldn't land a single move, and eventually got slammed onto the commentary table. Classic Randy Orton, ladies and gentlemen! And because he's a man of the people—he did it again, just for the crowd. Love that guy.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - The Phenomenal Forearm connected cleanly and came dangerously close to scoring a victory for AJ Styles.
But AJ adapted quickly. He targeted Randy’s knee, using vicious chop blocks and laser focus. We all knew he’d try to lock in the Calf Crusher, and that was the clear strategy here. These two know each other inside and out, countering each other’s signature moves like AJ dodging Randy’s classic powerslam. 🧠
Even with one leg, Randy kept fighting. When AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm, Orton managed to cut him off—but couldn’t stop the Calf Crusher that came next. I thought he might tap. But with the crowd behind him, Randy powered out, and hit nearly every major move in his arsenal, just missing the final RKO.
Styles connected with the Phenomenal Forearm, but Orton grabbed the rope at the last second to stay alive. AJ was about to finish it with the Styles Clash, but he hesitated—gave Randy just enough time to recover… and BAM! RKO outta nowhere! Huge win for The Viper, and now he's got his eyes set on Tama Tonga. Let’s go!
Final Thoughts
🏆 Champion vs Champion in Arabia
Well, we all love it when champions clash — that’s why Clash of Champions and Survivor Series are some of my favorite PLEs. And now, Logan Paul decides to step up and challenge for the main SmackDown title. 🤔 Ambitious move, but let’s be real — if he couldn’t beat Roman Reigns, how the hell does he plan to beat Cody Rhodes? I say Cody should overcome this dumbass and move on to more serious threats. I bet Solo has some championship ambitions himself and wants to bring the gold back to the family. At the very least, I expect a great match between two champs and a high level of entertainment. And just so you know — my support is on Cody’s side this time, which isn’t something that happens often. 😏
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - So Nick Aldis picked Logan Paul to face Cody Rhodes at the PLE? Really? What did Logan do to deserve that shot?
😔 Naomi Once Again Suffers a Loss
Since returning to WWE, Naomi hasn’t really done anything special. Yeah, she can still go in the ring and perform well even against top-tier opponents — but at the end of the day, she just keeps losing. At Backlash, she lost her title shot, and now tonight, Nia Jax eats her alive in the Queen of the Ring tournament. I feel like Naomi is on the verge of breaking down soon, and honestly, that would be really sad. 💔 Jax somehow survived everything Naomi threw at her and ate those superkicks like mosquito bites. She didn’t even flinch. But next week, she’ll be a massive test for Jade.
🐺 Triumphant Return of the Lone Wolf?
Man, I haven’t seen Baron Corbin in a long time. I heard he was tagging with Bron Breakker and even had some title success, but what I saw tonight was 🔥. In the past, I remember all those goofy gimmicks and his bland in-ring work — two or three moves and done. But tonight he proved he’s dangerous, and Carmelo Hayes had to fight for survival and get lucky with a roll-up. That means Corbin didn’t lose by pinfall, and that alone makes him even more legit. I’ll be watching him closely because something really interesting might come from this. 👀
💚 Another One Got Jaded
I have no idea why Nick Aldis put both Women’s Tag Team Champions into the Queen of the Ring tournament. 🤷♂️ I’m sure we have tons of other competitors who would’ve loved that opportunity, but hey — the champs clearly want to stay active. Tonight, Jade Cargill put on a solid match, even if she wasn’t completely dominant. Piper Niven used her size and strength and honestly could’ve pulled off a win, but she was missing something crucial and fell short. Jade keeps climbing. 🐉
💪 EST Consumes Her Opponent
Bianca Belair was on fire tonight, especially after her tag partner Jade got the win earlier. 🔥 Indi Hartwell got in a cheap shot before the match, but let’s be honest — that barely helped. Like I always say, dirty tricks might work on weaker opponents, but when you face someone like Bianca, forget it. This was an easy win, and Bianca now advances to the second round. 👏
🩸 Bloodline Becomes More Powerful
Step by step, Solo Sikoa is taking control of the family, building something new from the ruins of Roman’s empire. But the way he’s doing it? It’s terrifying. Paul Heyman looks absolutely scared for his life. 😨 He knows this new Bloodline has no clue what civilization even means. These guys are dangerous, wild, and totally unpredictable. Honestly, Paul better start praying for Roman to return and save him. 🙏 As for tonight’s match — no mystery there. The numbers advantage and chaotic energy of the Bloodline put the Street Profits in a hopeless position. Two Samoan Spikes later, and that’s your punishment, Pride members.
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - Such a nostalgic sight… I see shades of Roman, Jey, Jimmy, and Sami. The Original Bloodline will always have a special place in my heart.
🐍 Rematch from WrestleMania 35
AJ Styles and Randy Orton have been through wars together, and both came in well-prepared tonight. Neither of them has ever won King of the Ring, but Randy had an extra fire — he wants revenge on Tama Tonga for Kevin Owens. 🔥 Now, he’s stepping into a 3-on-1 situation, and that’s rough. Roman’s Bloodline at least had some honor… but this new version is out for blood. They don’t see opponents — they see victims. Still, Randy managed to overcome AJ Styles and soon he will faces Tama Tonga. I’m not sure he’ll survive, especially with Solo and Loa lurking — but it’ll be damn interesting to watch. 🎯
SmackDown 10.05.2024 - It’s amazing to see legends still in top shape, ready to entertain us at the highest level. Thank you, truly!
SmackDown tonight fully lived up to its name, delivering strong matches, intense promos, and interviews worth paying attention to. 🎤 The blue brand is heading in the right direction, and there are a few big storylines I’m genuinely excited to keep watching. See you soon on Raw for Round 2 of the King of the Ring tournament! 👑🔥
