Cody Rhodes vs Logan Paul Announced for King & Queen of The Ring

We now know Cody’s plans for the King & Queen of the Ring in WWE’s twice-yearly visit to the Arabian Desert of Saudi Arabia. The WWE world champ will face off against Logan Paul in a champion versus champion match. This fits WWE’s M.O. in how they book Saudi cards perfectly as you have a spectacle like Cody Rhodes facing Logan Paul and whatever streamers from Kick and Twitch are allowed in the country. Yet, the title will not play a significant role in the match as the champion vs. champion match will not result in a unification for either man, especially Paul.

Paul has received significant opportunities at these shows in the past, as he once took on Roman Reigns in one of the most high-profile matches of that year’s visit to Saudi. So far, Paul has surpassed all expectations, but now that fans have expectations, will the lights be too much to truly deliver with Cody on one of the year’s biggest stages and largest audiences?

Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul jabbed back and forth, and Paul referenced the ‘new era’ in WWE as the Logan Paul-Leveque era (they could call it the Paul n’ Paul Era?). Then Paul directed some harsh realities for the champ. “That’s the thing, Cody, facts don’t care about your feelings, and neither do I,” Paul said in the middle of the ring on SmackDown. “I got some facts for you, champ. I, Logan Paul, not you, [Cody], am the longest reigning champion in the WWE.

“I am the greatest attraction in this company. I had the greatest rookie year of all time, and I am a superstar.”

Paul was in prime fashion, no pun intended, and you can really start to tell that he’s getting comfortable, and that comfort has a direct correlation with how good he’s getting. At one moment, the crowd began chanting ‘Prime sucks,’ a dig at Paul and his beverage company, quickly becoming one of the biggest brands in the space. Paul immediately stopped his promo and slowly reacted to the fans to let the heat build—a tried and true promo technique that even veterans screw up from time to time, and here is Paul delivering the goods like a seasoned pro.

The Not-So-Wise, Man

Heyman spoke with Solo in the back and tried to find empathy in the new Bloodline leadership. Last week, Heyman admitted that he had not spoken with Roman Reigns since WrestleMania, which was odd considering he pulled him from the draft with the claim that Roman had made the decision.

Solo called Heyman out and then admitted he had spoken with Roman, and then he let it be known that he is currently in the decision-making role, and though he did not say so directly, it was the inference in his voice that made his comment seem ‘Tribal Chief’ approved. The segment ended with Solo embracing Heyman in an uncomfortably long hug—the same kind of hug Jimmy Uso received before getting beat down at the hands of his former Bloodline faction.

King of the Ring Matches

1. AJ Styles vs Randy Orton

In a locker room interview with Orton earlier in the evening, Orton reminded everyone that of all the huge accomplishments he’s had in WWE, the KOTR has always alluded him. Randy would typically be a favorite, but he used his KOTR promo to directly address Tonga after he injured Kevin Owens. Even a distracted Orton is a dangerous Orton, but with The Bloodline putting a target on his back, it would be difficult to predict any upcoming career milestones.

This match was actually great despite the TV structure (it could’ve made one hell of a KOTR finals match). As the match continued, the technique took a backseat, and both men started to deliver punishment in any way they could. AJ was close to hitting several of his most devastating moves in his arsenal, but Orton turned ruthless when needed and then had a suplex from the top turnbuckle reversed on him. After missing the ‘Phenomenal Forearm’ a couple of times in the match, he finally landed it, only for Orton to make the rope break. And when AJ tried to hit the ‘Styles Clash,’ Orton reversed it ‘out of nowhere’ to hit his RKO for the win and advancement.

1. Corbin vs Carmello Hayes

Corbin and Hayes exchanged words in the back before their match, and the two are more than familiar with one another since Corbin’s second act in NXT, the brand for which Hayes was recently called up from in the draft. It was difficult to see Corbin as the favorite, but considering that he has won the KOTR crown before, the experience should have given him more than a fighting chance.

But Hayes was impressive, and even when he was on the receiving end of Corbin’s offense, he was always quick to flip the script. Hayes used that very strategy to take the quick, small package pinfall victory off an attempted ‘End of Days’ from Corbin.

1. Tama Tonga vs Dawkins (replacement for injured Bobby Lashley)

Following The Bloodline’s backstage segment, Tonga took his first crack at KOTR glory. It is a bit surreal seeing Tonga competing in the long-time WWE tourney, and even though it is Tonga’s first KOTR, he has plenty of tourney experience after competing in NJPW’s G1 Climax in 2016, 2017, and 2018 where although he has a losing record, Tonga managed some big time wins in the tourney. Tonga defeated Dawkins, and then The Bloodline made an example out of him with an after-match beatdown following Tonga’s advancement to the next round.

Queen of the Ring Matches

1. Naomi vs Nia Jax

Jax worked the ‘big-woman’ role in the match—the powerhouse without the feats of strength move set. Naomi did her best to make the most of her reversals, taking advantage of her speed and flexibility she had over Jax. Naomi hit a springboard moonsault for a near fall but then hit a huge ‘Hurricanrana’ on Jax sitting on the top turnbuckle. Jax eventually took back control and hit the ‘Annihilator’ for the win. She faces the winner of Cargill and Niven.

1. Jade Cargill vs Piper Niven

Cargill and Niven started slow and drew out the heavy shots and stare-downs in an attempt to get Cargill comfortable. Thus far, Cargill has been hidden behind match gimmicks and multi-women tag matches. But she has handed those assignments well and managed to pick up the women’s tag team titles off the leadership of Belair.

Jade showed strength and athleticism, and she managed to neutralize Chelsea Green on the outside, but Piper certainly managed to get some offense of her own—perhaps more than what was expected after she landed a ‘Colossal Cannonball’ on Jade. Cargill took the momentum back, landed her ‘Jaded’ finisher for the win, and advanced to face Jax in the next round.

1. Bianca Belair vs Candice LeRae

Following Jade’s first-round win, her tag team partner and the other half of the women’s tag team champions, Belair, faced LeRae and her recent change in attitude and strategy. LeRae tried focusing on Belair’s knee to keep them on an even level, but Belair caught her opponent after attempting to springboard off the middle rope. After holding her in the ‘torture rack’ for a second or two, she hit the ‘KOD’ for the win.