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The SmackDown Rundown: Queen of The Ring Round 3

Queen of the Ring Round 3 Tiffany Stratton vs. Bianca

Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bianca beat Tiffany to advance in Queen of the Ring Round 3. The tournament. However, this was not a one-sided affair. Iron sharpens Iron, and the women put each other to the test and learn something about each other. Bianca learned that even though Tiffany acts like a spoiled brat who has never had to work hard for anything in her life, she is an elite competitor. Bianca found out that Tiffany is the truth. However, Tiffany learned that there are levels to this. Tiffany has been dominant for most of her time in WWE. However, Bianca showed Tiffany there are levels to this. Tiffany did everything she was supposed to do to beat Bianca, but she still lost. Hopefully, this will be the first of many matches these two will have.


LA Knight and Logan Cross Paths

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.3

LA Knight Logan Paul staredown

LA Knight was coming out of Nick's office, and Logan Paul was coming in. They had a staredown with no words exchanged. It was electric. One moment showed everyone how much they still want this match.


Jade and Bianca Tease Fight

Mattered⭐️⭐️⭐️.1

Jade Bianca flex

Jade is getting better on the mic. She said she heard a lot about Nia, but to her, Nia was just in her way—great line by Jade. Bianca made sure to let Jade know that if Jade won, Bianca would be ready for her. The idea that Bianca and Jade could face off built up a lot of excitement for the Queen of the Ring.


Carmelo & and LA have a War of Words

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

LA Knight Carmelo Cathy Kelly

Carmelo interrupted LA's interview to brag about being the number-one pick. LA Knight reminded Carmelo that nobody remembers who the number-one pick was when Brady was drafted, and he's Brady. Carmelo said he was going to be replacing RKO with HIm, and LA told him to go play because he had a match. Carmelo and LA Knight are very good together. I'd love to see more from these two.


King of the Ring Tonga vs. LA Knight

Mattered ⭐️⭐️

Bloodline 2024

This match was pretty boring. LA Knight dominated until a distraction from Solo cost him the match. Tonga was already not very impressive in this match, but LA Knight losing like that didn't fully do justice to his character.


Carmelo Returns

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Carmelo Hayes NXT

After his loss, Carmelo was waiting in the back to make fun of LA Knight. I love that Carmelo decided he had time to be petty. LA Knight didn't like it as much, and some pushing and shoving occurred. This rivalry has been pulled out of thin air on this week's SmackDown, but I'm enjoying it.


Logan & Cody's Contract Signing

Mattered: ⭐️.5

Cody Rhodes Logan Paul

This matters because it was an important update to the Cody vs. Logan match. However, everything else was bad. Firstly, Logan backing out of defending his title at the last moment was a pretty lame way to get out of the WWE setup for the champion vs. champion match. Plus, it took a lot of the wind out of the sails of this match. If WWE wasn't gonna deliver on the promise of such a chaotic stipulation, why even bring it up? Also, Cody only getting to beat up Logan's goons instead of Logan himself felt weak as well. Ultimately, this whole segment would have been better if it were an announcement tweet.


Nia Jax Interview

Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nia Jax Mic

Nia is confident, too. She praised Jade and said that she is everything people say she is except the future Queen of the Ring. I love that Nia basically said I don't dislike you. In fact, I even respect you, but I'm better than you.


Queen of the Ring Round 3: Jade vs. Nia Jax

Mattered: ⭐️.5

Jade slams Nia

This mattered because it was part of the tournament, but the quality-wise, it was terrible. After all that teasing about Bianca vs. Jade, the match ends in DQ. Not only was it a DQ, but it was an idiotic one. Nia went right up to Jade's daughter and told her that her mom sucks. It would have made sense if Jade had gone into a fit of rage and been disqualified for flying off the handle and breaking the rules.

Nia Jax Cleavage

However, that is not what happened. Nia grabbed the chair and swung it at Jade, which was stupid as hell. Jade caught it(barely), but if that hits, Nia loses everything. Jade then takes the chair and hits Nia like everything is going to be okay like it's her first wrestling match ever. She gets disqualified and loses. Just like the Cody segment, it's a stupid cop-out to avoid the stakes WWE set up. This is the worst SmackDown so far.


DIY vs. Legado

Didn't Matter ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

DIY jumps on Legado

It's interesting that there have been quite a few bad moments that mattered, and now there is a passable moment that doesn't matter. This match had no consequences. It didn't start a new feud or get anyone anything tangible. In addition to that, the match was just okay. Elektra and Santos tried to interfere, and DIY capitalized instead of Legado. DIY won, but the match wasn't good enough to overcome the lack of stakes. It's skippable.


AJ's Ominous Words

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

AJ Styles Promo

Saxton interviewed AJ, and he seemed utterly defeated. When asked what's next for him, he said he would go to Nick Aldis next week to see what's next for him. The way he said it made it seem like it could be anything from changing brands to retirement. I like that he is feeling down because it shows that the wins and losses mean something and that the development his character has gone through is building towards something.


Bayley Feeds the Trolls

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bayley Smackdown

Bayley was being interviewed, and then Piper and Chelsea Green interrupted her. They called her boring and said that Bayley's bad juju messed up Piper's chances of winning Queen of the Ring. Bayley said she would do her talking next week in the ring. When Bayley left, Piper and Chelsea celebrated, getting the champion to challenge them. Chelsea knows how to use her annoyance factor to her advantage. Can she take advantage? Has Bayley walked into a trap and bit off more than she can chew?


King of the Ring Round 3: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes

Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Carmelo Hayes entrance

This was a great match to end SmackDown. Carmelo Hayes has been talking smack all over SmackDown, and I have to give him his credit. Carmelo didn't back down from anybody. Melo's ego might have been his downfall against Randy. He spent too many moments talking to the crowd and posturing because he had a genuine chance to beat Randy. He literally and metaphorically walked in and slapped Randy in the mouth. Carmelo actually reminded me a lot of Randy Orton. Melo is arrogant, brash, and so damn fluid and good in the ring. He proved he belonged with the top dogs once again. He made me want to see him win.

Randy Orton Taunt

However, Randy Orton had other plans. Randy Orton made sure to pop Carmelo's big head every time it got too big for his shoulders. I think Randy saw a little of himself in Carmelo, and it pissed him off. Randy got even more aggressive than normal, with Carmelo spiking him into the table repeatedly and into the ring post repeatedly, and even when it seemed like Carmelo was in control, Randy caught Carmelo off the second rope with an RKO and sent him to Viperville. This match was a very good match, but I hope these two can work on the same side one day.


Final Grade 7.5/100 C

Santos Elektra

This SmackDown dipped below its normal standard because many of the things set up the week before ended up being the worst part of this week's SmackDown. Most of SmackDown was average to bad, with a few exciting moments like Tiffany vs. Bianca, Randy vs. Carmelo, and LA and Carmelo that saved the show. My biggest piece of advice to make a show like this better is to deliver on your promises. Find a way to deliver on the stakes you have set up.

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