WWE SmackDown from Madison Square Garden advertised The Bloodline and its newest member Jacob Fatu in an Acknowledgment Ceremony. SmackDown also advertised three Money in the Bank Qualifying Matches: Tiffany Stratton vs. Candice LeRae vs. Jade Cargill; LA Knight vs. Logan Paul vs. Santos Escobar; and Naomi vs. Blair Davenport vs. Indi Hartwell.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown garnered 2.336 million viewers.
WWE SmackDown Results | June 28, 2024
- Tiffany Stratton def. Candice LeRae and Jade Cargill | MITB
ITB Qualifier - LA Knight def. Logan Paul and Santos Escobar | MITB Qualifier
- Naomi def. Blair Davenport and Indi Hartwell | MITB Qualifier
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- June 28, 2024 | 2.336 million
- June 14, 2024 | 1.959 million
- June 7, 2024 | 2.207 million
- May 31, 2024 | 2.310 million
- May 24, 2024 | 2.147 million
WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales
- WWE SmackDown Venue: Madison Square Garden (New York City, N.Y.)
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 19,701
- Available Tickets: 0
WWE SmackDown Winners And Grades
Cody Rhodes, Team RKO Brawl With Bloodline In MSG
SmackDown from Madison Square Garden opened with Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens brawling with Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. No sign of Jacob Fatu just yet.
The babyfaces brawled with The Bloodline right into the commercial break, but not before Kevin Owens paid homage to Kofi Kingston in MSG with a Swanton Bomb over one of the Tongans through a table.
There was still chaos coming out of the break with Nick Aldis and security trying to calm things down. Fans went even crazier as Randy Orton hit an RKO on a security guard and the babyfaces ran wild on security.
Rhodes, Orton and Owens cut spirited promos on The Bloodline, whipping NYC into a frenzy. Aldis returned, this time with the NYPD. Fans booed as the babyfaces finally exited peacefully. An awesome opening segment.
MSG Opening Segment Grade: A
Tiffany Stratton Def. Candice LeRae and Jade Cargill
Fans were into Jade Cargill, particularly when she put on an impressive display of strength at the expense of Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae. Of course, they were most into Tiffany Stratton.
Nia Jax hit the ring but Bianca Belair evened the odds. Unfortunately for Jade, Indi Hartwell shoved Cargill into the ring post and knocked her out. This opened the door for Stratton to pin LeRae with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to a huge pop.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Candice LeRae and Jade Cargill Grade: B
LA Knight Def. Logan Paul And Santos Escobar
In a perfect example of long-term trolling, Tyrese Haliburton (who appeared in the crowd Monday night on WWE Raw in Indiana) appeared as Logan Paul’s guest. The two in MSG got enough heat to continue the nationwide heatwave for the rest of 2024.
Fortunately for the Kicks faithful in MSG, Jalen Brunson was in the crowd, suggesting an inevitable showdown between the two.
Haliburton tried to supply super heel Logan Paul with a pair of brass knuckles, but was nullified by Jalen Brunson to a huge pop. This led to an LA Knight rollup of Paul for the win.
Haliburton was booed every time he was shown on television. Fans even had to be bleeped for chanting “F—k the Pacers!”
After the match, Haliburton teased hitting LA Knight with the brass knuckles, which brought out Haliburton with a steel chair. A great modern-day New York moment in a modern-day WWE.
LA Knight vs. Logan Paul and Santos Escobar Grade: B+
Naomi Def. Indi Hartwell And Blair Davenport
The story of this match was Indi Hartwell looking tentative, like she was overthinking her next move. At first, it seemed like Corey Graves was just burying Hartwell’s wrestling ability.
Toward the end of the match, Jade Cargill walked down to the ring to get her get-back against Hartwell for costing her the Money in the Bank qualifier earlier in the night. Graves exclaimed that this is why Hartwell seemed tentative, because she knew Cargill was lurking.
Jade Cargill rammed Hartwell’s face into the post, then Naomi beat her with a kick. The potential of Naomi cashing in on BFF Bayley is very enticing.
Naomi vs. Indi Hartwell and Blair Davenport Grade: C+
Bloodline Acknowledgment Ceremony
During a backstage segment, Solo Sikoa told Paul Heyman Jacob Fatu was not in the building. Fans booed, but once again, I think Solo was lying.
Of course, Jacob Fatu did, indeed, show up to MSG and he got the red light treatment for his entrance.
Sadly, the main event angle saw The Bloodline destroy Paul Heyman. He'll either return with the O.G. Bloodline and/or turn on the O.G.'s shortly after.