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.
Baron Corbin vs Carmelo Hayes
Brought to you by The Iron Claw. #KOTR #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kMXHI63Wkl— Balor Club Guy (@TheBalorClubGuy) May 11, 2024
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.
JADED! ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TMXmn0OQ4X
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024
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.
Tama Tonga's Entrance ???#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GwxXxrq2SG
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024
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.
ring awareness pic.twitter.com/cxzfFzEuOn
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024
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)
- Undisputed WWE Championship Match
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (Singles match)