WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul downgraded at King and Queen of the Ring

The champ vs. champ showdown has a disappointing new stipulation

Two champions will walk into the main event of WWE King and Queen of the Ring in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. Unfortunately, only undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes will have his title on the line thanks to foul play by Logan Paul.

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis had planned for Rhodes and United States champion Paul to stake their respective titles in a blockbuster main event. A contract signing on Friday's episode of SmackDown brought about an unexpected change that's sure to sour some fans.

Speaking of King and Queen of the Ring, four matches took place on Friday to determine SmackDown's semifinalists in both the men's and women's tournaments.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida

Paul weasels out of champ vs. champ stipulation

SmackDown promised a contract signing for a match staking the undisputed WWE and U.S. championships. Paul had other plans for the King and Queen of the Ring main event. The social media influencer shook up the match in an unpleasant way. Paul and his lawyer presented Aldis with a revised contract stipulating that only Rhodes' championship would be at stake. Aldis contested but Rhodes agreed to sign the amended contract. A war of words preceded a short brawl. Rhodes clotheslined Paul out of the ring before powerbombing a member of his entourage through a table.

Earlier in the evening, Paul and Knight had a tense staredown outside  Aldis' office. Knight eyed Paul's U.S. championship, planting the seeds for a hot future rivalry.

I have mixed feelings about the updated champ vs. champ match. It's wise to keep both titles in rotation by not crowning a double-champ, but why bother teasing it in the first place? It's cheap heat for Paul but he's already detestable. You're probably more annoyed with the creative team than Paul if you know professional wrestling is scripted. The change also crushed any minuscule doubt about the outcome. Rhodes is making another successful title defense. The segment itself was well executed but we need a more interesting storyline for Rhodes soon. The chase was wonderful but his heroic title reign runs the risk of growing stale quickly. After all, we just saw a contract signing between Rhodes and Styles a few weeks ago. Not the most inspired angle. Grade: B-

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Bianca Belair def. Tiffany Stratton via pinfall after hitting KOD. Belair advances to the Queen of the Ring semifinals.
• Solo Sikoa told Paul Heyman he speaks to Roman Reigns "all the time" when asked by the Wiseman.
  
• Tama Tonga def. LA Knight via pinfall thanks to a distraction by Solo Sikoa. Tonga advances to the King of the Ring semifinals.
• Nia Jax def. Jade Cargill via disqualification after Cargill hit Jax with a steel chair. Jax swung with the chair first but Cargill caught it and delivered the final blow. Jax advances to the Queen of the Ring semifinals.
  
• #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) def. Legado del Fantasma (Angel Garza and Humbert Carrillo) via pinfall after hitting Meet in the Middle on Carrillo.
• Randy Orton def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall with an RKO. Orton advances to the King of the Ring semifinals.