WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has spoken about the controversial finish to the 2024 King of the Ring tournament.
At WWE King And Queen Of The Ring, GUNTHER claimed the crown in the Men’s Tournament finals with a hard-fought win over Randy Orton. GUNTHER made it to the finals with wins over Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso before dispatching of the Viper in Jeddah.
The match ended in controversy as Orton’s shoulder was not fully on the mat during the decisive pinfall. On Twitter, Levesque addressed the questionable result.
“I was out there. My vantage point was very difficult to see. Coming back here and seeing it back, I saw what everybody saw. Didn’t even seem very controversial to me, just seemed like Randy Orton’s shoulder wasn’t down. But I’ll say this, referee’s decision is final and GUNTHER is your King of The Ring.”
While GUNTHER’s victory is final, the Game added that he would love to see the two face off again to ensure there is a clear winner.
“Randy Orton deserves to have another shot at that and I think GUNTHER will want to have another shot at that to take the controversy out, to take the asterisk off the page where it says King of The Ring.”
With his (albeit controversial) victory, GUNTHER has earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE SummerSlam on August 3. Currently, the Austrian is expected to face either current champion Damian Priest or Drew McIntyre, depending on who wins their title match at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship reign continues to go strong after retaining the title against Logan Paul in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The American Nightmare and the Maverick met in the main event of WWE King And Queen Of The Ring. The two were easily matched before Paul took the lead with a pair of brass knuckles supplied by a member of the PRIME Hydration Station.
Paul’s action would outrage Michael Cole as Paul had previously vowed to not use any brass knuckles. A confrontation between the commentator and the Maverick allowed Rhodes to take control.
The two would continue to trade control with Paul targeting the injured ribs of the American Nightmare. The fight would go to the outside again and Rhodes would hit the ‘Cody Cutter’ on the table.
Rhodes had the match won at this point but stopped the referee’s ten-count as he wanted Paul to ‘learn.’ Capitalizing on this, Paul would recover and hit a splash on Rhodes through the Arabic announce table, but a second splash in the ring garnered only a two count.
During one spot, the referee was taken out and Paul wasted no time in going for the brass knuckles again. As he went to use them however, guest ring announcer Ibrahim Al Hajjaj stopped him and Rhodes would deliver three Cross Rhodes to put the Maverick down for the three count.
The American Nightmare triumphed in Jeddah.
What’s to Come?
With another successful title defense to his name, Rhodes’ attention will turn towards WWE’s next Premium Live Event WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. The event will be WWE’s first PLE in the UK since Money in the Bank 2023 where Rhodes defeated ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio. WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will take place on June 15 in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena.
The 2024 Queen & King of the Ring in Saudi Arabia was a newsworthy event throughout the show. We saw many unexpected moments, but we already knew a new queen would be crowned. Now, Nia Jax is the new Queen of WWE.
The winner of the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament is guaranteed a match at SummerSlam against the champion on their respective brand. That gave Lyra Valkyria and Nia Jax even more to fight for.
The finals of the Queen of the Ring was certainly a David vs Goliath match for the women’s division. Lyra fought on, as she took a ton of punishment from the Irresistible Force.
In the end, Nia Jax’s force was just too much for Lyra, and she secured a clean pinfall. To her credit, Valkyria put up an incredible fight, as Corey Graves and Michael Cole sang her praises after the match. Now, Jax will take on Bayley in Cleveland at SummerSlam, provided the former Hugger maintains her championship status.
After the match, Triple H got in the ring with the Queen of the Ring crown, and he placed it on Jax’s head. This was followed by a heel promo from new queen.
Triple H le otorga la corona de Reina a Nia Jax de manera muy emotiva. Y Michael Cole recordando lo mal que lo ha pasado Nia estos años. #WWEKingAndQueenpic.twitter.com/1QdT0IVXJb
Lyra Valkyria, a former NXT Women’s Champion who took the title from Becky Lynch, was recently drafted to RAW as part of the 2024 WWE Draft. She is new to the main roster and quickly rising with this opportunity.
Nia Jax, was released from WWE in 2021, but she returned when Triple H took over creative control. She has steadily worked her way back up the roster with strong booking. Her imposing presence was evident when she told Bayley to prepare her WWE Women’s Title for SummerSlam.
King & Queen of the Ring took place in Saudi Arabia, and WWE included another cryptic QR Code during the event.
The latest QR Code appeared during WWE King and Queen of the Ring. A QR Code surfaced ahead of the WWE Intercontinental Championship match at WWE King and Queen of the Ring, leading to a new video.
The new video shows a connection being established and someone playing WWE 2K24 with Bianca Belair and Bayley. The person approaches a door and says “hello” as an image reflects on the window. The feed then cuts off, and the connection is lost.
WWE has been hinting at plans involving Uncle Howdy. Vignettes have interrupted Twitch streams and other broadcasts for weeks with QR codes, all leading to cryptic images and videos. These clues suggest a new stable is on the way.
Currently, four names are expected to join Uncle Howdy’s new faction: Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan. The former Wyatt Family member was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center, and Dexter Lumis is now sporting a much different look, with a beard and longer hair, in preparation for this new role.
WWE started a cryptic campaign leading up to WrestleMania 40. The first teaser for Bo Dallas’s return appeared at the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. Since then, QR codes have been appearing for fans to scan, and an ominous tune titled “Nightbird” has been playing before and during WWE live events.
Liv Morgan is now the new WWE Women’s World Champion, but her victory over Becky Lynch came in a controversial manner.
WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring event took place in Jeddah, where it was 92 degrees outside the Jeddah SuperDome and in the mid-70s inside the arena. Despite the cooler temperatures inside, Morgan’s revenge tour was on fire.
Rhea Ripley was WWE Women’s World Champion, but she was put out of action by a backstage attack from Liv Morgan after WrestleMania XL. After that, Morgan’s Revenge Tour intensified, as she went after the now-vacant title. The whole time, Dominik and Morgan have found a reason to cross paths, and these interactions have proven pivotal.
The event began with the Women’s World Title match between Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan. The match had an unexpected ending when Dominik Mysterio got involved, assisting Morgan in securing the win and the title.
During the match, Becky and Liv went back and forth, with a couple of near-falls along the way. Then Dominik appeared at ringside, initially causing a distraction that did not immediately help Morgan win. However, a few moments later, Dominik slid a chair into the ring, which Morgan used to her advantage by hitting a DDT on it while the referee was distracted.
With the referee’s attention back on the match, Morgan executed her Oblivion finisher and secured the pinfall victory. Following the match, Morgan and Dominik celebrated with fireworks in Jeddah, marking her controversial win.
For weeks, some eagle-eyed fans have noticed hints about a connection between Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. This development has sparked interest among the WWE Universe, especially since Rhea Ripley’s injury, leading to speculation about Morgan and Dominik’s alliance.
Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio seen together AGAIN ?
During an appearance on The Masked Man show, Dominik addressed the fan theory about him and Morgan. He used the “innocent until proven guilty” way to get out of the question.
“I think at the end of the day, everyone is innocent till proven guilty. And I’m just (…) I’m here protecting Mami. And I’m trying to make sure she’s good when she comes back and that everything is all set in order. She comes back straight to the top. Take her title back, no harm no foul.”
Although Dominik initially said that he was in Saudi to make sure Liv didn’t win the title, the opposite happened instead. Now the discussion among fans who were shipping Dominik and Morgan for a while has only intensified.
Liv Morgan: What are you doing here?
Dominik: You know what I'm doing here, I flew all the way from America so you don't get your hands on Mami's championship.
Introduced in 1985, The King of the Ring was a staple of WWE programming for over 15 years. The tournament and the event didn’t just deliver many iconic matches. It provided the opportunity for WWE to turn participants into generational Superstars.
The birth of “Austin 3:16”, Brett Hart’s back-to-back wins, Triple H’s vindication (albeit a year late), and many more incredible tournament matches were made possible by this event. After the 2002 edition of the tournament, the fan-favorite event was sunlit. However, after over 20 years, WWE will host its King & Queen of the Ring PLE in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Get the latest breaking news, rivalry analysis from a panel of experts, and so much more on the Countdown to #WWEKingAndQueen of the Ring!
While the King of the Ring tournament did continue in various forms after 2002, it never quite recaptured the same magic. While the WWE Universe was treated to fun reigns from the likes of Booker T and William Regal, these were the exceptions rather than the rule. The reward for winning King of the Ring became nothing more than bragging rights, and over time, along with weaker barracks and underhyped tournaments, the King of the Ring theme lost its luster.
Things changed in 2021, with WWE bringing back the tournament and introducing the women’s version of the contest called “The Queens Crown.” The 2021 King of the Ring and Queens Crown finals would take place at that year’s Crown Jewel event; this marked the first time since 2006 that the tournament finals were held on a major PLE. While imperfect, this 2021 iteration was certainly a step in the right direction.
During Night 2 of WrestleMania 40, WWE announced the long-awaited King & Queen of The Ring PLE date. WWE had originally planned for the event the previous year. However, the company ultimately decided to revive Night of Champions instead.
Who will seize their destiny and become the next King and Queen of the Ring?
While the initial rounds would take place on Monday Night RAW and SmackDown, the Finals would culminate at the event’s namesake PLE. The first time WWE has done so since 2002. This is not just in any venue but inside the Jeddah Superdome, which instantly propels the importance of each tournament.
2024 King & Queen Tournaments:
The brackets also saw a massive upgrade in overall quality, consisting of a strong mix of young up-and-coming talent and established stars. This combination created a fun tournament, notably because of the tournament’s unpredictability.
Fans saw multiple potential outcomes to the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments for the first time in years. Off the bat, Superstars Gunther, Tiffany Straton, LA Knight, Jade Cargill, Iyo Sky, and Carmelo Hayes were flagged by fans as tournament favorites.
Unfortunately, during the initial round of the tournament, several Superstars in both the Men’s and Women’s tournaments were replaced due to various medical reasons:
On May 23rd, WWE’s CCO Triple H announced that the winners of each tournament would receive a championship match. This again helps set this year’s tournament apart from others that came before it.
Despite these changes and substitutions, each tournament’s 16 participants, all had their opportunities to shine, even if their time in the tournament was short-lived. While every match had its highlights, there were certainly several that stood out above the rest.
1) Gunther vs Sheamus (Round 1) – This match was the first time these two had shared the same ring since WrestleMania 39, but as expected, their chemistry was incredible. The match was an intense and hard-hitting affair and even included an additional layer of story with The Celtic Warrior battling self-doubt. As expected, the bout was a certified BANGER.
In the end, Gunther defeats Sheamus and, eventually, finds his way into the finals of the tournament.
2) Ilja Dragunov vs Ricochet (Round 1) – Here, we found one of the many matches where the WWE Universe was sincerely unsure of what direction WWE would go in. Illja Dragunov had just been called up to the main roster and was coming fresh off a historic NXT Championship reign. However, Ricochet was the newly-crowded WWE Speed Champion and had just begun to gain momentum on his own.
The high-flying style of Ricochet beautifully clashed with Dragunov’s stiff ground-and-pound approach. The Mad Dragon would emerge the victor, but the duo’s match certainly had everyone on Monday Night RAW talking.
3) Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton (Quarterfinals) – Following some social media controversy from earlier in the week, Tiffany Stratton looked to put the past behind her as she squared off against Bianca Belair on the May 17th edition of SmackDown. The two women are widely considered some of WWE’s most talented female stars, setting up for an interesting bout, to say the least.
In the end, Belair’s raw power was too much for Stratton. However, the exciting match had the WWE Universe buzzing. “Tiffy Time” is truly getting closer and closer!
4) Iyo Sky vs Lyra Valkeryia (Semifinals) – Iyo Sky had just been WWE Women’s Champion going into WrestleMania 40, with the Genius of the Sky proving that she belonged in the main event seen as the face of Damage CTRL. It seemed only fitting that WWE would want to push her to the finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament, however she would find a major roadblock in recent NXT call-up, Lyra Valkeryia.
Many WWE fans considered their match to be the best women’s match in the tournament, with the two giving it all they had. In the end, Valkeryia would secure the surprise win. Leaving Iyo Sky shocked that she allowed the NXT stand out to best her.
Fun fact: Lyra Valkeryia and Iyo Sky’s match time was a little under 20 minutes, more time than EVERY match in the 2021 Queen’s Crown tournament combined.
5) Jey Uso vs Ilja Dragunov (Quarterfinals) – This bout between Jey Uso and Ilja Dragunov certainly came with lively debate amongst the WWE Universe. It was one of several scenarios where fans were sincerely split on who should win. Truly a Yeet or No Yeet conundrum.
Based on the tournament’s bracket layout, fans noted that there was an opportunity for WWE to have Dragunov clash with Gunther. The Mad Dragon’s sworn enemy since the days of NXT UK and a match that the WWE Universe has been begging to see on the main roster since the moment Dragunov arrived.
However, no one could deny the unmatched wave of momentum that Jey Uso had been riding. Even in defeat by World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest at WWE Backlash, fans only remained high on Main Event Jey Uso.
Would WWE give Jey Uso a much-needed win following his setback in France? Or would they seize the opportunity to push Ilja Dragonuv?
Ultimately, WWE decided to save a clash between The Mad Dragon and The Ring General for a bigger moment. Instead, giving Jey Uso one of the most impressive single wins in his entire career. The match was phenomenal, with the fans on the edge of their seats for every move and pinfall attempt.
Our New King and Queen of the WWE Realm:
After two excellent matches at Saturday’s King & Queen of The
Ring, we now have our 2024 King and Queen of the Ring: Nia Jax and Gunther!
In a true David vs Goliath match-up, finalists Lyra Valkyria and Nia Jax went one-on-one to decide who the 2nd Queen of the Ring in WWE history would be. The story of the match was what you would expect: Jax used her strength to brutalize Valkeryia, while Valkeyria’s resilience and speed were showcased. In the match’s final moments, Valkeriya made a fatal mistake, allowing herself to get stuck in a corner. Thus allowing Jax the opportunity to hit her Annihilator, with the ring vet picking up the 1,2,3 moments later.
While Nia Jax is far from being “beloved” by the WWE Universe, her dominance since returning full-time in September 2023 cannot be denied. Picking up victories against some of the biggest names in WWE, including Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Raquel Rodrigez, and Jade Cargill. It was a cool moment to see Triple H crown Jax as Queen, with Michael Cole reminding everyone how much Jax had gone through over the past several years.
In the co-main event, a significant match in the history of the King of the Ring unfolded, featuring the future Hall of Famer Randy Orton against WWE’s rising star Gunther.
The match itself was everything fans of both men could ask for, with Chops and RKO’s coming in from every direction possible. Ultimately, Gunther’s vicious assault on Randy Orton’s back and knee was too much for The Viper to overcome, with The Ring General becoming the KING General in a nearly 30-minute classic.
The match did have some slight controversy, as fans online noted that Randy Orton’s shoulder was definitely up during the roll-up pinfall. Whether this leads to any additional storyline developments down the road is not clear at this time.
Overall, Gunther and Nia Jax were the correct choices for the PLE. Now, both will get to reign as King and Queen, eagerly awaiting their guaranteed upcoming championship matches at Summer Slam in Cleveland, Ohio.
Way Too Early 2025 Predictions
Following two epic and memorable tournaments, the WWE Universe is already thinking about the future Kings and Queens that may rise.
In WWE, a year into the future might as well be millions of lightyears away, as change is as common in WWE as dropkicks. However, given everything we know about the current state of WWE, we can make some educated guesses on potential favorites.
As WWE did this year, one should think of a good mix of rising stars, established names, and fresh new arrivals. The picks above check all those boxes, with Flair, Belair, and Rollins serving as the well-established names who are more than deserving of royal recognition,
The Montez Ford pick may seem surprising to some, but it’s made with sound reason. WWE has shown a clear interest in making Ford a bigger star, well beyond his role as one-half of The Street Profits. The multi-time tag team champion oozes with both in-ring talent and charisma, even getting his own show on HULU with real-life wife Bianca Belair. The King of the Ring tournament could be perfect for Ford to have his breakout moment.
Carmelo Hayes and Tiffany Stratton represent the future. The two are young blue chip stocks with tons of upside potential. Fresh out of NXT, they are ready-made for the WWE main roster. Seeing either of them with a crown on their head one day would surprise no one.
WWE SmackDown’s Randy Orton hopes to be the next King of the Ring, but regardless of what happens in Jeddah, he will break a three-year streak.
The Viper will compete in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament against Monday Night Raw’s GUNTHER. Orton secured his place in the finals with tournament victories over AJ Styles, Carmelo Hayes, and Tama Tonga. GUNTHER earned his place in the match with wins over old rival Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, and ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso.
Breaking the Streak
While Orton is predominantly known as a singles competitor, you wouldn’t know it based of his Premium Live Event appearances in recent years. The upcoming match will be the Viper’s first singles PLE match in over three years. Before his showdown with GUNTHER, Orton’s previous one-on-one match at a PLE saw him defeat ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 37 in April 2021.
Over those three years, Orton was teaming with Matt Riddle and the popular RK-Bro tag-team would hold the Raw Tag Team Championships (now the World Tag Team Championships) on two occasions. Orton’s time with the Original Bro ended in May 2022 as a severe back injury forced the Legend Killer off of TV.
Since returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, Orton has been part of multi-man matches. The November PLE saw him enter WarGames as part of Team Rhodes. At the Royal Rumble event, Orton competed in a four-way before being one of six men in February’s Elimination Chamber Match. WrestleMania 40 saw The Viper in a triple-threat match and Backlash France saw Orton and Kevin Owens lose to The Bloodline.
Orton will face GUNTHER in the King of the Ring finals.
What’s to Come?
Should Orton win the King of the Ring crown then he will soon find himself in another one-on-one match at a Premium Live Event. The victors of both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will receive championship matches at WWE SummerSlam on August 3.
It’s a new era for women’s wrestling in WWE and a ‘fun fact’ about this year’s Queen of the Ring tournament shows exactly how far we’ve come: one match from this year’s tournament lasted longer than the sum of all of the matches in the entire 2021 competition.
Since taking over WWE from Vince McMahon, Triple H has made significant strides in advancing the company, particularly the women’s division. While McMahon’s era initiated the Women’s Revolution, Triple H has amplified its momentum. The 2024 Queen & King of the Ring tournament exemplifies this progress, capturing fans’ attention.
This week on WWE RAW, fans witnessed an intense match where IYO Sky faced Lyra Valkyria. The bout was a highlight, as Lyra emerged victorious, setting her up to face the winner of Bianca Belair and Nia Jax on SmackDown for the Queen of the Ring crown.
The match between IYO Sky and Lyra Valkyria captivated audiences and achieved a significant milestone. It was longer than all the matches from the 2021 Queen of the Ring tournament combined. The IYO Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria match lasted approximately 19 minutes, surpassing the 18 minutes total of the 2021 tournament matches.
2021 Queen of the Ring
In the 2021 Queen of the Ring tournament, Zelina Vega emerged victorious over Doudrop, celebrating her win after a 5:55 match with a crown and scepter. She also briefly adopted a British accent. Unfortunately, Vega couldn’t participate in the 2024 tournament due to injury. However, the current tournament reflects a renewed focus on the women’s division, providing more time and spotlight than ever before.
This renewed emphasis on the women’s division under Triple H’s leadership is evident. The 2024 Queen & King of the Ring tournament showcases the talent and potential within the division, promising an exciting future for WWE’s female Superstars.
2021 Queen of the Ring tournament bracket via Wikipedia
Actor Ibrahim Al Hajjaj will make his return to the world of pro wrestling with an appearance at the upcoming WWE King And Queen Of The Ring event.
During the May 24, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was announced that Al Hajjaj will be a part of the Premium Live Event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The show will kick off later today from the Jeddah Superdome and will be the eleventh PLE to be held in the country.
An appearance by Al Hajjaj was promoted on WWE SmackDown.
WWE King And Queen of the Ring won’t be Ibrahim Al Hajjaj’s first time appearing for the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. At WWE Crown Jewel in November 2023, the popular actor was a guest on Miz TV. After he and WWE’s resident A-Lister were interrupted by Grayson Waller, Al Hajjaj would hit a People’s Elbow on the Aussie Icon.
Celebrities In Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim Al Hajjaj’s involvement with WWE King And Queen Of The Ring is just the latest example of celebrity influence on the promotion’s endeavors in Saudi Arabia. At WWE Crown Jewel 2019, Boxing star Tyson Fury earned a count-out victory over Braun Strowman. That same night, UFC legend Cain Velasquez unsuccessfully challenged his old rival and then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.
In 2022, social media star Jake Paul appeared in support of his brother Logan when the Maverick challenged then-Undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns. It’s hardly a surprise that WWE brings huge celebrities in for these events given how much the Saudi Sports Authority pays as part of this deal. Saudi Arabia also benefits from celebrity appearances at WWE events as these shows are part of ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ a government program with the goal of diversification economically, socially, and culturally. The program was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.
WWE SmackDown took place in Saudi Arabia this week, setting the stage for the 2024 King & Queen of the Ring event. The premium live event will take place on Saturday, starting at 1:00 PM EST, with an hour-long kickoff show prior to the event.
The 2024 King & Queen of the Ring event is available for streaming on Peacock, but requires a premium or premium-plus subscription. International viewers can watch the event on WWE Network.
Triple H announced that the winners of this year’s tournaments will earn title matches at SummerSlam, raising the stakes significantly and adding more intensity to the competition.
SmackDown in Saudi Arabia opened with Nia Jax defeating Bianca Belair to secure her spot in the Queen of the Ring finals. Jax will now face Lyra Valkyria for the crown.
After her win, Nia cut a fierce promo, where she promised to roll through Lyra on Saturday.
Despite her loss to Jax, Bianca Belair will still compete at King & Queen of the Ring, teaming with Jade Cargill to defend their titles against Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. This match was set up quickly after LeRae and Hartwell taunted Belair, prompting Cargill to arrange the title match. Interestingly, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark had just won a #1 contenders match for these titles on RAW.
In the main event, Randy Orton faced Tama Tonga for the final spot in the King of the Ring finals. Orton emerged victorious, and following the match, he had a tense stare-down with GUNTHER, setting up their clash in Jeddah.
The Superstars of WWE have been having fun in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ahead of the WWE King And Queen Of The Ring Premium Live Event.
The May 25 event will be WWE’s latest event in Saudi Arabia as part of the lucrative decade-long deal between the two parties. The show will also serve as the first Premium Live Event bearing the name of the tournament since WWE King of the Ring 2002. In addition to the King And Queen of the Ring event, the May 24, episode of WWE SmackDown will also take place in Jeddah, which will be a first for WWE.
WWE Superstars in Jeddah
With two stacked nights of WWE programming to come, the Superstars have already arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On Twitter, the official WWE account shared several videos of the Superstars making their arrival.
WWE SmackDown Superstar Chelsea Green shared what her day has been like in Saudi Arabia so far. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion will face Bayley at WWE SmackDown.
Woke up this morning in beautiful Riyadh! Ate my high protein breaky, brushed my luxurious extensions & headed for a lift that @itsBayleyWWE could NEVER complete! Life is so good when you’re me ????? See you in 2 days Bad juju Bayley. xo pic.twitter.com/Lhrp1R9IdW
Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, alongside Liv Morgan and ‘Michin’ Mia Yim were having fun in the sun at Oia Beach ahead of this weekend’s festivities.
WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque tweeted his excitement for the SmackDown and King And Queen of the Ring shows, alongside a photo of himself boarding the WWE jet.
We here at SE Scoops will have all the news and results from WWE SmackDown and WWE King And Queen Of The Ring so keep checking in for all the latest updates.
During the May 17, edition of SmackDown, Rhodes spoke of his desire to capture the coveted ‘Grand Slam’ and is only missing the U.S. title from his collection. Despite these teases, it was confirmed during the contract signing later in the night that the upcoming match would ONLY be for Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.
Why WWE Teased Title For Title
WWE never had any intention of having both titles on the line, despite what was being teased on TV and social media, Dave Meltzer reports. The reason behind the teases is that it was WWE’s way of getting extra ‘heat’ on Paul. The idea is that after fans were led to believe both titles would be on the line, Paul ‘backtracking’ by ensuring he wouldn’t be at risk of losing his gold would rile up the fans against him. On SmackDown, it was made clear that Paul’s lawyers had drafted the contract that means only Rhodes’ title will be on the line.
What’s Next?
Paul and Rhodes will face off this weekend at the WWE King And Queen of the Ring PLE. The show will be Rhodes’ second title defend his title at a Premium Live Event after defeating AJ Styles at Backlash France. The match will also be Paul’s second World Championship opportunity after facing then-Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2022.
This week’s episode of WWE RAW was broadcast live from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The May 20 episode featured quarterfinal matches in the King and Queen of the Ring tournament, determining the red brand’s representatives in the semifinals.
IYO Sky and Lyra Valkyria competed in a semifinal match. Before the match, Becky Lynch spoke to Lyra backstage, and Lyra expressed her readiness to prove herself. In the end, Lyra secured a roll-up pin to defeat the former Women’s Champion, earning her a spot in the tournament finals.
GUNTHER and Jey Uso faced off in a highly physical main event. The Ring General dominated most of the match, countering Jey’s every offensive move with powerful responses. Jey managed to hit a spear, but the referee was incapacitated and unable to make the count. In the end, GUNTHER applied a chokehold until Jey was out cold, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
The 2024 King & Queen of the Ring event is scheduled for May 25, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the Jeddah Super Dome. For viewers in the USA, the event will start at 1:00 p.m., with a Countdown Show beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals:
Iyo Sky defeated Shayna Baszler
Lyra Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark
Jade Cargill lost to Nia Jax via DQ
Bianca Belair defeated Tiffany Stratton
Queen of the Ring Semifinals:
Bianca Belair vs Nia Jax
Lyra Valkyria beat IYO Sky
Queen of the Ring Finals:
Lyra Valkyria vs winner of Nia Jax vs Bianca Belair
King of the Ring Quarterfinals:
Gunther defeated Kofi Kingston
Jey Uso defeated Ilja Dragunov
Tama Tonga defeated LA Knight
Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes
King of the Ring Semifinals:
Tama Tonga vs Randy Orton
Gunther vs Jey Uso
King of the Ring Finals:
Gunther vs winner of Tama Tonga vs Randy Orton
WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:
King of the Ring Tournament Final
GUNTHER vs. SmackDown bracket winner
Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
Lyra Valkyria vs. SmackDown bracket winner
Women’s World Championship Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (Singles match)
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed (Triple threat match)
WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Cody Rhodes is on top of the world as he prepares for his second title defense. ‘The American Nightmare’ will put his gold on the line against WWE United States Champion Logan Paul at WWE King and Queen Of The Ring this Saturday, May 25.
Since the matchup was announced, Rhodes has expressed interest in becoming a Grand Slam Champion, a bucket list goal he’s only one win from achieving. Rhodes has held every championship in the company except for the WWE United States and World Heavyweight Championships. Fans expected both titles to be up for grabs, with Rhodes teasing the stipulation on social media. However, in the storyline, Paul issued a new contract excluding his title from being defended. Despite ‘The Maverick’s’ underhanded tactics, Rhodes signed the deal to make his title defense official for the upcoming premium live event.
Rhodes appeared on Busted Open Radio on Monday morning, where he shared that he was surprised by Paul’s move to have his lawyer issue a new deal ahead of their match. Despite this, he is fully prepared to defend his championship and hopes to become a WWE Grand Slam Champion before he retires.
“…Normally, I think anybody would be frustrated because we’re all chasing titles. We’re all chasing accolades, but this is the top of the pyramid for WWE. Just objectively, this is what sits at the top, and everything else is beneath it,” said Rhodes.
He added, “…Logan not taking his title out of the equation did not make me near as mad as it would have had this not been the prize on the line and again, the Grand Slam Championship eludes me, but I got time left on the contract. I can seek it out as I go.”
Rhodes aims to retain his championship against Paul this Saturday at the Jeddah Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While he should be the favorite to win, it’s unclear what ‘The Maverick’ has planned for their match. Paul has shown that he is willing to cheat and involve his friends to secure a victory.
In his most recent match, Paul had famous influencer and streamer IShowSpeed interfere to help defeat Kevin Owens and Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania 40 on April 7. Rhodes must be extra cautious about who is at ringside to keep his championship.
A win for Rhodes on May 25 could put him in line to challenge for the WWE United States Championship. However, he must stay focused on successfully defending his title and be prepared for whatever underhanded tactics Paul has in store.
WWE will get closer to crowning a new King and Queen of the Ring on the May 20 edition of WWE RAW. Tonight’s edition of Raw from North Carolina’s historic Greensboro Coliseum will see a continuation of the men’s and women’s tournaments. If you’re in the area, tickets for the show are still available at Ticketmaster.
The King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments tournaments began on May 6 and will conclude this Saturday at at the Jeddah Dome in Saudi Arabia. This will be the first Premium Live Event to be named after the tournaments since WWE King of the Ring 2002.
On the men’s side of things, GUNTHER will take on Jey Uso for a place in the finals in Jeddah. GUNTHER reached this spot with victories over his old rival Sheamus as well as Kofi Kingston. Jey reached the semi-finals with wins over Finn Balor and Ilja Dragunov.
Jey Uso vs. Gunther in the King of the Ring Semifinals
For the Queen of the Ring Tournament semi-finals, Lyra Valkyria will take on IYO SKY. The recently called-up Valkyria reached this spot in the tournament with wins over Dakota Kai and Zoey Stark. SKY has rebounded from her loss at WrestleMania 40 by advancing with wins over Natalya and Shayna Baszler.
In non-tournament action, we’ll see Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn battle Chad Gable in a non-title match. These two and Bronson Reed will compete for Zayn’s title this weekend.
Other top feuds headed into the PLE include Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. United States Champion Logan Paul and Liv Morgan challenging Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship.
Keep checking back to SEScoops for more coverage of tonight’s WWE Raw, including all the news coming out of the show afterwards.
Catch up on the Top 10 moments from last week’s show:
There are indeed physical crowns at stake for this year’s King & Queen Of The Ring event in Saudi Arabia.
For the past week and a half, WWE Superstars have been clashing in tournament matches to see which four fighters will ultimately compete for the throne and be dubbed the 2024 King and Queen Of The Ring.
Photos have surfaced of what the respective crowns will look like which you can see below. Each one has an ornate appearance and is adorned with the WWE logo
The 2024 Queen Of The Ring crown.The 2024 King Of The Ring crown.
WWE has really made the most of the tournament format on WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown as both the first and second round bouts have been taking place on the programs with several of them also being featured exclusively at WWE live events.
On RAW, GUNTHER advanced to the semi-finals defeating Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso advanced when he defeated Ilja Dragunov. On the women’s side of things, Zoey Stark lost to Lyra Valkyria and Shayna Baszler lost to IYO SKY.
For the SmackDown side of the bracket, the men’s tournament will have Randy Orton will take on Carmelo Hayes while Tama Tonga will battle LA Knight. When it comes to the women, Nia Jax will square off against Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair will go up against Tiffany Stratton.
LA Knight recently made note of how happy he was his opening round match took place at a live event where he defeated Santos Escobar.
With less than three weeks until the WWE King and Queen of the Ring premium live event, the tournaments continue with quarterfinal matches tonight on WWE Raw and this Friday on WWE SmackDown.
The latest round of tournament matches were held over the weekend at WWE’s non-televised live events. Kofi Kingston and LA Knight advanced in the King of the Ring, while Shayna Baszler and Tiffany Stratton took steps closer to the throne on the women’s side. A schedule of this week’s tournament matches can be found below.
WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring PLE takes place Saturday, May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome. In addition to crowning a new King and Queen, WWE has also signed three championship matches:
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (c)
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
Royal Report: Schedule, Injuries & Footsge
Our King and Queen of the Ring Royal Report
This week’s Raw and SmackDown will each feature 4 tournament matches:
WWE Raw – Monday, May 13
KOTR Quarterfinals:
Jey Uso v Ilja Dragunov
Gunther v Kofi Kingston
QOTR Quarterfinals
IYO SKY v Shayna Baszler
Lyra Valkyria v Zoey Stark
WWE SmackDown – Friday, May 17
KOTR Quarterfinals:
Randy Orton v Carmelo Hayes
Tama Tonga v LA Knight
QOTR Quarterfinals
Bianca Belair v Tiffany Stratton
Jade Cargill v Nia Jax
Weekend Results
Results from King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches held over the weekend at WWE live events:
Saturday (Chattanooga, TN):
LA Knight defeated Santos Escoba to advance and face on SmackDown.
Zelina Vega, the current reigning Queen of the Ring, was all set to be in this year’s tournament. Sadly, she will not get to proceed.
WWE SmackDown GM Adam Pearce announced that Vega is out of the tournament. She is not medically cleared, but they did not reveal her injury.
She will be replaced by Maxxine Dupri. The LWO member was set to take on Shayna Baszler in the first round, but now the Alpha Academy representative will take her place at tonight’s WWE live event in Machon, Georgia.
This is not the only change that WWE has been forced to make in this year’s tournament. Xavier Woods, who is the reigning King of the Ring, was replaced by Kofi Kingston in the tournament. Also, Bobby Lashley had to pull out, and he was replaced by Angelo Dawkins.
SEScoops has updated our comprehensive coverage of the King and Queen of the Ring.
Queen of the Ring First Round
In the first round of the Queen of the Ring tournament, several matches concluded with decisive victories. Iyo Sky defeated Natalya, while Lyra Valkyria overcame Dakota Kai. Zoey Stark secured a win against Ivy Nile, and Bianca Belair triumphed over Candice LeRae.
Jade Cargill emerged victorious against Piper Niven, and Nia Jax defeated Naomi. Tiffany Stratton also won her match against Michin.
In the final match of the first round, Shayna Baszler will face Maxxine Dupri after Zelina Vega was replaced by Dupri.
You can check out the quarterfinal matchups for the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament below.
Iyo Sky vs. the winner of Shayna Baszler vs. Maxxine Dupri
WWE’s search for its next King and Queen of the Ring continued last night with LA Knight and Tiffany Stratton advancing at a live event in Chattanooga.
In the King of the Ring tournament first-round match, Knight qualified for the next round with a victory over Santos Escobar. This is the first KOTR tournament for either man. The crowd in Chattanooga’s McKenzie Arena was unsurprisingly unhappy to see the Megastar get the victory over Escobar.
The May 11, WWE live event happened to take place at ‘Tiffy Time’ as Stratton got the win in her first-round match. The former NXT Women’s Champion earned a victory over ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, who recently set her sights on the new NXT North American Women’s Championship.
With Knight’s victory, the SmackDown portion of the quarter-finals in the King of the Ring tournament has been filled out. The Megastar will face the Bloodline’s Tama Tonga on the May 17, episode of WWE SmackDown. The show will also see Randy Orton take on Carmelo Hayes in the other quarter-final match.
As for Stratton, she will face Bianca Belair on the May 17, SmackDown with a spot in the semi-finals on the line. The show will also see Belair’s fellow Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill take on Nia Jax. Belair, Cargill, and Jax advanced to the quarter-finals on the May 10, episode of SmackDown with respective wins over Candice LeRae, Piper Niven, and Naomi.
The finals of both tournaments will take place at WWE King And Queen of the Ring on May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event will be the first tournament-based PLE since 2002 and will also see a huge Champion Vs. Champion match.
WWE SmackDown took over Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s Mohegan Sun Arena with a sold-out show this week. Those fans witnessed some incredible King and Queen of the Ring Tournament matches take place.
The 2024 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments have begun in WWE, featuring matches on Raw and SmackDown. The finals will go down at a live event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. Thirty-two competitors from the roster are vying for the crown, a title previously held by many notable wrestlers.
On WWE SmackDown this week, they continued their road to King & Queen of the Ring. In the first match of the night, Nia Jax defeated Naomi to advance in the tournament.
Carmelo Hayes, the former NXT Champion, won his match against Baron Corbin to advance in the tournament. Hayes secured the victory with a roll-up pin, which didn’t significantly hurt Corbin’s standing, as he was just call-up from NXT during the 2024 WWE Draft along with Hayes.
Additionally, the match featured sponsorship from “The Iron Claw” on Max, with MAX graphics on the barricades and entrance as Corey Graves mentioned the Von Erich Family biopic post-match.
Jade Cargill also advanced toward the 2024 Queen of the Ring crown as she defeated Piper Niven. It’s hard not to see the former TBS Champion as a favorite in the tournament. Cargill impressed throughout the match, executing a blue thunder bomb on Niven, along with perfect splashes in the corner.
Chelsea Green tried to interfere, but there was no stopping the Storm from coming as she won with a Jaded. This win for Cargill also set up a match against Nia Jax next, and that will be another incredible test for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion.
Bianca Belair made her entrance as her tag team partner, Cargill, was leaving. This gave them a chance to pose as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions before the match kicked off. After a back-and-forth contest, Belair won the match to advance in the tournament.
Tama Tonga picked up the win over Angelo Dawkins to advance this week. Dawkins replaced Bobby Lashley, who had to pull out. Tonga is coming off his brother, Tanga Loa, debuting at WWE Backlash in France, so he wanted to keep that momentum going. Tonga also got to show off his new entrance on SmackDown.
AJ Styles and Randy Orton brought the third and final King of the Ring match of the night. The two veterans continued as Orton developed a leg injury during the match, one he sold to enhance the drama. Orton fought to keep from getting trapped in a Calf Crusher from the Phenomenal One as fans chanted The Viper on.
They fought on, and Orton delivered his signature suspended DDT, but he was unable to capitalize. The Apex Predator was able to kick out of a Phenomenal Forearm and then he hit an RKO outta nowhere to secure the win.
The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will culminate on May 25 at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the finals for both tournaments will take place.
You may find the results for this year’s tournament (so far) in the space below. We have also listed the announced quarterfinal matches.
King of the Ring:
First Round Results:
Gunther defeated Sheamus
Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet
Jey Uso defeated Finn Balor
Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio
Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles
Tama Tonga defeated Angelo Dawkins
Carmelo Hayes defeated Baron Corbin
LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar
Quarterfinals Scheduled:
Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston
Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov
Tama Tonga vs LA Knight
Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton
Queen of the Ring:
First Round Results:
Iyo Sky defeated Natalya
Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai
Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile
Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri
Bianca Belair defeated Candice LeRae
Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven
Nia Jax defeated Naomi
Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin
Quarterfinals Scheduled:
Iyo Sky vs. Shayna Baszler
Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton
WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:
King of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
Women’s World Championship Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (Singles match)
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed (Triple threat match)
Logan Paul already has the WWE United States Championship around his shoulder, but he is after another title for the other side. The Maverick is now set to take on Cody Rhodes at King and Queen of the Ring on May 25.
WWE SmackDown kicked off this week with Nick Aldis introducing Rhodes. The American Nightmare made his way to the ring to a thunderous reception, and then the SmackDown GM got right down to business.
Aldis congratulated Rhodes for beating AJ Styles at Backlash, but then he said that his next challenger has already been determined. This is when Logan Paul’s music hit, much to the chagrin of fans in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s sold-out Mohegan Sun Arena.
Logan and Cody had a back-and-forth on the microphone, one where the YouTuber turned Superstar said that winning the Undisputed WWE Title from Rhodes will help usher in the “Logan Paul Levesque Era.”
After securing the WWE United States Title at WWE Crown Jewel last year, Logan Paul has become the longest-reigning champion in WWE history. With his title reign reaching 188 days and still ongoing, Paul was sure to mention this milestone during his segment with Cody Rhodes.
Then Cody Rhodes brought up the fact that if he won the WWE U.S. Title, that would make him a WWE Grand Slam Champion. He then said that Logan is self-centered, but WWE is a team, and at King and Queen of the Ring, The Maverick will learn where he stands with that team.
Cody Rhodes later tweeted out to simply say: “Two belts.” It seems that he has his eye on Paul’s title as well. This may be a winner take all match if they confirm the stipulation.
The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are set to return in 2024, marking the first occurrence since 2021. Matches for the tournament are ongoing, and SEScoops will provide in-depth coverage.
Xavier Woods and Zelina Vega are the current reigning King and Queen of the Ring.
The finals for the 2024 tournaments will be held at a live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 25. The stage for this event was prominently established on SmackDown.
The 2024 King of the Ring tournament will continue on this week’s SmackDown, but will go on ahead without Bobby Lashley.
Taking to social media, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis shared news that Lashley has been pulled from the tournament as he is not medically cleared to compete. Aldis stated that the two-time former WWE Champion suffered a training-related injury but did not share any further details. In his place, fellow The Pride member Angelo Dawkins will be a part of the tournament.
This is a huge setback for Lashley, who has gotten tantalizingly close to being crowned King in the past. In 2006, Lashley made it to the finals of that year’s royal tournament before losing to Booker T.
While this is a blow to Lashley, his removal has provided Angelo Dawkins with a golden opportunity. Known predominantly as a tag-team wrestler, a strong performance in the King of the Ring tournament could put a lot of eyes on the Street Profits member. In October 2022, it was said that Dawkins was impressing a lot of the right people backstage, but a singles push has yet to emerge.
Lashley won’t compete in this year’s King of the Ring tournament.
Tournament Replacements
Lashley is the latest name in this year’s regal festivities to be replaced. Drew McIntyre was scheduled to face Finn Balor in a first-round match before also being pulled. Balor instead faced Jey Uso and lost to the ‘Main Event’ talent in the first round on Raw.
Xavier Woods, the 2021 King, has been replaced by Kofi Kingston as the UpUpDownDown leader is also not cleared to compete. Kingston will face Rey Mysterio on next week’s Raw. Asuka was scheduled to compete in the Queen of the Ring tournament but due to her injuries, has been replaced by Dakota Kai. The Kiwi Superstar was defeated by Lyra Valkyria in the first round.
WWE SmackDown Matches
Dawkins will have a lot to prove on this Friday’s SmackDown, as will the man he faces in the first-round match: Tama Tonga.
In a WrestleMania 35 rematch, AJ Styles will face Randy Orton in what will likely be an epic collision between former WWE World Champions.
The newly-drafted Carmelo Hayes hopes to make an impact after his recent loss to Cody Rhodes when he faces 2019 King of the Ring Baron Corbin.
The Megastar LA Knight hopes to advance but will face to overcome Santos Escobar (and likely interference from Legado Del Fantasma) to do so.
Morgan has made it clear that she believes she deserves to be called WWE Women’s World Champion. After all, it was Morgan who injured Rhea Ripley in an assault that forced Ripley to vacate the title in the first place. Morgan is also the last woman to hold a pinfall victory over the ‘Mami’ of The Judgment Day.
Intercontinental Title Match Announced
Morgan’s title opportunity wasn’t the only match confirmed on the May 6, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. On the show, ‘Big’ Bronson Reed faced Gad Gable in a match that saw interference from Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn. This would ultimately backfire for the underdog, as Reed would lay out Sami and Gable.
In a backstage interview with Jackie Redmond, Zayn said the only way to settle things is a triple threat match for his Intercontinental Championship. This will mark the first Intercontinental title opportunity at a PLE for both Gable and Reed.
SE Scoops will have full coverage of the King & Queen of the Ring event, as well as tournament matches. Keep checking in ahead of WWE’s next Saudi Arabia event.
World Wrestling Entertainment is set to crown a new King & Queen. WWE King & Queen Of The Ring will take place Saturday, May 25 from Saudi Arabia, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.
A King & Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event was initially scheduled for May 2023. That show was ultimately changed to Night Of Champions to reflect Roman Reigns reaching 1,000 days as WWE Universal Champion.
Night of Champion 2023 also saw the re-introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship that was won at the event by Seth Rollins. The Architect defeated AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament at the event.
King & Queen of the Ring
The upcoming Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first King of the Ring event since 2002 and the first ever to feature a Queen of the Ring in its name. The most recent King of the Ring is Xavier Woods who won the tournament in 2021 by last defeating Finn Balor in the finals.
2021 also saw Zelina Vega defeat Piper Niven (Doudrop at the time) to win the Queen’s Crown Tournament. WWE opted not to refer to Vega as ‘Queen of the Ring’ following her victory. At this time, no names have been confirmed for either tournament that will host its finals at the May Premium Live Event.