WWE SmackDown Live Results 5/17/24: King And Queen Of The Ring Tournament Quarterfinals

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s coverage of Friday Night SmackDown on 5/17/2024 live from Vystar Veterans Memorial in Jacksonville, FL!

The King of the Ring tournament continues with the SmackDown bracket. Tama Tonga will face off against LA Knight. Tonga used The Bloodline ways to advance over Angelo Dawkins. Knight defeated Santos Escobar at a live event last weekend. Carmelo Hayes looks to get the upset of the veteran Randy Orton. Hayes defeated Baron Corbin while Orton beat AJ Styles to advance.

Over on the women's side of the bracket, Tiffany Stratton will look to keep her momentum going against one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair. Stratton defeated Michin over the weekend at a live event. Belair defeated Candice LeRae. The other half of the tag team champions, Jade Cargill will take on Nia Jax. Cargill advanced by defeating Piper Niven. Jax got the victory over Naomi to get to the quaterfinals.

Logan Paul was announced as Cody Rhodes' opponent at the King and Queen of the Ring PLE. The Champion vs. Champion match will be made official with a contract signing live in the ring. Will the two keep things civil before their match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 25?

Bianca Belair and Tiffany Stratton kicked off the show. Belair forced Stratton into the corner twice. They shoved each other and Stratton slapped in the face and pulled her to the mat by her ponytail. Belair slapped her back and took control of the match. Stratton took Belair by the ring by her hair. Stratton got away and got in some offense before Belair hit a moonsault. In the corner, Belair hit her in the face several times. Stratton once again used the ponytail before sending her into the steel steps.

After the break, Stratton was working Belair's knee. Belair kicked Stratton in the stomach. Stratton went to the outside and tried to wrap her knee around the ringpost. She kicked her away. Belair did a roll away slam, but was still shaking her leg. Belair went for a double underhook, but Stratton countered and rolled her up. Stratton landed on her feet after a KOD attempt.

Stratton did cartwheels into the corner, but got suplexed for two. Belair's knee continued to be an issue. Stratton raked Belair's eye and hit her in the knee before a sliding clothesline. Stratton was going for a moonsault when Belair pushed her down. Belair won with the KOD.

Winner: Bianca Belair

Tama Tonga was accompanied by The Bloodline and "The Wise Man". LA Knight took Tonga down early. Tonga clotheslined Knight and Knight returned the favor. Knight launched Tonga overheard and then followed up with stomps in the corner. Solo Sikoa and Tanga Loa tried to distract Knight. Tonga hit him from behind and sent him shoulder first into the ringpost. Tonga did a forearm of the steps to take Knight out on the outside.

After the break, Tonga was still in control of the match until he went up top and Knight rolled away. Knight took Tonga down with a crossbody. Knight slammed Tonga's against the apron. Knight with a pop up powerslam. Tonga struggled to get to his feet. Loa pulled Tonga out of the ring and Knight did a baseball slide into Loa. Tonga hit a sidewalk slam for a pin.

Winner: Tama Tonga

Logan Paul was flanked by numerous people for some reason. Rhodes and Paul had their own table to sit at with Nick Aldis at a podium between them. Paul ripped up his contract and pulled out one of his own. He demanded Aldis make his contract the official one. He doesn't want to put the U.S. Title on the line.

Aldis was angry and said the contract wasn't legit. Rhodes dismissed Aldis to handle Paul himself. Paul believes that Cody hasn't done anything to deserve a shot at the U.S. title. After some back and forth, Rhodes signed Paul's contract. Paul was going to hit Rhodes with his title, but Rhodes ducked and knocked him out of the ring.

Jax took Cargill down twice as soon as the bell rang, but Cargill returned the favor. Cargill was talking to her daughter at ringside when Jax hit her from behind and yelled "your mommy sucks!" Cargill took Nia down, but Jax hit Cargill again in front of her daughter. This only fired Cargill up.

Jax sent Cargill over the barricade where the ring bell is. Jax had a chair, but Cargill took it and hit her in the back. The bell rang and Cargill was announced as being disqualified. Cargill was livid that Jax advanced and the two continued brawling. They had to be separated, but continued to fight up the ramp.

Winner: Nia Jax

Gargano started off with Berto. They took turns working the other's arm. Berto went for a pin early. Berto suplexed Gargano. Gargano back elbowed Berto and hopped on his shoulders. He took Berto down and DIY double teamed him. Angel was tagged in. DIY took their opponents out with stereo suicide dives. Legado del Fantasmo double teamed Ciampa and sent him to the floor.

After the break, Gargano was pulled down off the apron so he couldn't be tagged in. Angel hit the Garza Special on Ciampa and Berto went for the pin. Ciampa and Berto did seesaw suplexes with Ciampa getting the actual suplex. Gargano tagged in and cleaned house.

Gargano speared Berto and Ciampa took Garza out on the outside. Gargano went up top. The ref was distracted by Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez took Gargano. Ciampa and Gargano ran at the same time. Ciampa hit him with a knee and Gargano kicked Berto. Gargano got the pin.

Winner: DIY

Following the break, they moved back to the ring and Hayes was in control. He continued focusing on the veteran's knee. Hayes used the ropes to place Orton's leg over it and kick it. An angry Orton began to mount his offense briefly. Orton powerslammed Hayes, but only got the two count.

Orton put Hayes over the ropes, but Hayes kicked him in the knees. Hayes did the First 48 and then punched Orton's knee several times. Hayes went up top, but Orton moved and spiked Hayes on the mat. Vintage Orton.

Hayes dodged the RKO and rolled him up, but Orton countered with an RKO out of nowhere for the win.

After the match, The Bloodline came out. Tonga is Orton's next opponent. Orton said he wasn't going to be intimidated by them and reminded them who he is. 

Winner: Randy Orton