Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for May 10, 2024

General Manager Nick Aldis welcomes everyone to tonight's show, then brings out "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Aldis congratulates Cody for retaining against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles at Backlash, then brings up King and Queen of the Ring and tells him that his next challenger has been determined. He then introduces that challenger: Logan Paul. Logan Paul makes it clear he wants to win the Undisputed WWE title to truly kick off the "Logan Paul Levesque era," and Cody says that he likes the challenge, then Logan toots his own horn about being the longest reigning champion in WWE, among other things. After addressing a fan's sign saying it is their birthday, Logan also mentions Cody winning the Royal Rumble before saying that people remember his collision with Ricochet more than his Royal Rumble win. He says that while Cody Rhodes became champion at WrestleMania, everybody was still talking about his match and his moments, and also mentions how he and Cody showed up in WWE at the same time. Logan says he has been the rocket fuel for the spaceship that is WWE, then asks how Cody can finish his story when it is not even his story before proclaiming that he will walk out as Undisputed WWE Champion. Cody says that people stand across from Logan and assume that he is a dumbass, then says that he has gotten a sense of who Logan Paul is from his other accomplishments. Cody says that if he were to win the United States Championship, that would make him a Grand Slam Champion. He also says Logan is disrespectful, self-centered, delusional, reliant on brass knuckles and takes credit for stuff he should not take credit for. He then says that Logan Paul will find out where he stands at King and Queen of the Ring.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. Styles says he had "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes on the ropes and head him beat, and says the crowd distracted him enough to cause him to lose. He says he should be next to Logan Paul, and says that he will beat Cody next time and earn a shot at his title, and that winning the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament will be a step in the right direction.

Nia Jax beats Naomi to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Another QR code is shown before the match.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Baron Corbin. He says that he was lost before heading to NXT and figuring things out, and now he is going to do things as himself. He is then met by Carmelo Hayes, who tells him that he will be running circles around him tonight.

We see a vignette for #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), who are coming to SmackDown.

Carmelo Hayes beats Baron Corbin with an inside cradle to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Bayley, who is interested in how far Jade Cargill will go in the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven show up, and Chelsea says that the French air has made Bayley forget about them and that Piper will beat Jade in the tournament.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Randy Orton. Orton says he has accomplished a lot in WWE, but he has never become King of the Ring. He says that everyone knows how great AJ Styles is, but it felt phenomenal hitting AJ Styles with an RKO out of nowhere. He also brings up Tama Tonga taking out Kevin Owens and says that the two of them will cross paths, and that when they do, he will make sure Tama Tonga sees the RKO coming.

Jade Cargill beats Piper Niven to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Afterwards, Bianca Belair heads to the ring for the next match.

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura, who aims now to compete but to conquer those he gets in the ring with, because he is here to claim the pinnacle of SmackDown. He says that no one is safe now that he is here, as he plans not just to rise, but to reign supreme. He tells everyone to watch closely, as everything on SmackDown is about to change, and it will never be the same again.

Bianca Belair beats Candice LeRae to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament despite Indi Hartwell weakening Bianca's left knee on the outside.

Backstage, Paul Heyman meets Solo Sikoa privately. Solo is irritated that Paul Heyman's lie got The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa) drafted in the third round and cost him and his family money, and also thinks that Heyman wanted Jey Uso to help him. He says that he gets what Paul Heyman is trying to do and knows that Heyman has not been able to speak to Roman Reigns, then says he has spoken with Roman and that until Roman comes back, he calls the shots with Paul as his wise man under Roman's orders. Solo Sikoa then hugs an astonished Heyman.

We hear from Andrade, who says that his destiny is in WWE and that "The Era of Andrade El Idolo" has begun.

Tama Tonga beats Angelo Dawkins to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament after Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga lay out Montez Ford in responds to Dawkins and Montez taking out Solo Sikoa on the outside. (Bobby Lashley was supposed to be in this match, but was injured during training and is replaced by Angelo Dawkins.) After the match, Solo hits Dawkins with a Samoan Spike.

We hear from Blair Davenport, who says that she has been unfairly labeled, and that in order to succeed, one has to send a message. She says she has done just that and that she plans to break her opponents. Blair says that anyone can be appreciated and respected, but she plans to be feared.

Randy Orton beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament after countering the Styles Clash with an RKO.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Carmelo Hayes! Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill! Nia Jax!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!