WWE King & Queen of the Ring: Full card, match results, date & time
YouTube: Official WWEThe latest rendition of the King of the Ring — and Queen of the Ring — tournament is now under way in the WWE.
This year’s tournament began on the May 6 episode of Monday Night Raw and will continue until the premium live event on Saturday, May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It marks the 23rd King of the Ring tournament in WWE history and the second version of the Queen of the Ring tournament, which debuted in 2021, also in Saudi Arabia.
The men’s field this year is littered with former world champions, including the likes of Sheamus, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Rey Mysterio.
As for the women, there is no shortage of contenders for the crown. Natalya and Iyo Sky both represent the Raw brand in the tournament as former world champions, while the same is true for Bianca Belair on the SmackDown side of the bracket.
Here is everything you need to know about the ongoing King and Queen of the Ring tournament.
What is the King & Queen of the Ring tournament?
The King of the Ring was first introduced in 1985 as a non-televised event that put some of the best wrestlers against each other in a tournament-style, last-man-standing format.
That remained the case until 1993, when the WWE capitalized on the tournament’s growing popularity by giving it its own pay-per-view card.
The King of the Ring PPV was considered on the same tier as the company’s “big four” events — Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series — until it briefly disappeared from WWE programming in 2002.
It returned in 2006, though the tournament was held across multiple episodes of SmackDown and culminated in a final match at that year’s Judgment Day PPV rather than its own event.
After two underwhelming tournaments in 2008 and 2010, both held as special episodes of Monday Night Raw, it once again went on hiatus.
The tournament popped back up in 2015 for a one-off appearance, as the company used it as a way to promote the recently formed WWE Network.
Then, in 2021, with a more prominent focus on the women’s division, WWE introduced the first-ever female version of the tournament — Queen of the Ring, originally known as the Queen’s Crown.
Upon the success of the 2021 installment, WWE announced its intention to bring back the King of the Ring as well. It was officially rebranded as King and Queen of the Ring ahead of the 2024 event.
When is WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring?
The King and Queen of the Ring tournament began on the May 6 episode of Monday Night Raw and will conclude at the May 25 premium live event.
| Round | Date |
| First Round | May 6-12 |
| Quarterfinals | May 13-19 |
| Semifinals | May 20-24 |
| Finals | May 25 |
The first three rounds of the tournament take place on Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Live. Then, the two remaining superstars in the men’s and women’s divisions — one each from Raw and SmackDown — will duke it out at the May 25 King and Queen of the Ring PLE.
| Event | ET | PT | GMT |
| King & Queen of the Ring Pre-Show | 11 AM | 8 AM | 4 PM |
| 2024 King & Queen of the Ring Main Card | 1 PM | 10 AM | 6 PM |
Where is the King & Queen of the Ring tournament?
The inaugural King and Queen of the Ring PLE will take place at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia. This event marks the 11th partnership between WWE and Saudi Arabia after the company brought two PLEs to the country in 2023.
How can I watch King & Queen of the Ring?
The King and Queen of the Ring will stream exclusively on Peacock in the United States, but it requires a premium or premium-plus subscription to access. Internationally, the tournament will be available to viewers on the WWE Network.
Tournament brackets and live results
Monday Night Raw Bracket (Men’s)
| First Round Matchup | Result |
| Jey Uso vs Finn Bálor | Uso wins via pinfall |
| Ilja Dragunov vs Ricochet | Dragunov wins via pinfall |
| Gunther vs Sheamus | Gunther wins via submission |
| Kofi Kingston vs Rey Mysterio | Kingston wins via pinfall |
| Quarterfinal Matchup | Result |
| Gunther vs Kofi Kingston | Gunther wins via submission |
| Jey Uso vs Ilja Dragunov | Uso wins via pinfall |
| Semi-Final Matchup | Result |
| Gunther vs Jey Uso | Gunther wins via submission |
Gunther and Jey Uso dominated the early rounds of the King of the Ring tournament, setting up the two superstars for a collision during the May 20 episode of Monday Night Raw.
‘Main Event Jey’ mounted a strong charge, even hitting a spear and an ‘Uso Splash’ on Gunther late in the match to shift momentum heavily in his favor.
Alas, ‘The Ring General,’ savvy as ever, saw an opening to attack Uso’s injured arm. He crept up like a snake, locked in an arm triangle, and Jey passed out.
The referee called the match in favor of Gunther, and after three impressive submission victories, the Austrian brute is now only one win shy of seizing the King of the Ring crown.
Friday Night SmackDown Bracket (Men’s)
| First Round Matchup | Result |
| AJ Styles vs Randy Orton | Orton wins via pinfall |
| Baron Corbin vs Carmelo Hayes | Hayes wins via pinfall |
| Angelo Dawkins vs Tama Tonga | Tonga wins via pinfall |
| LA Knight vs Santos Escobar | LA Knight wins via pinfall |
| Quarterfinal Matchup | Result |
| Randy Orton vs Carmelo Hayes | Orton wins via pinfall |
| Tama Tonga vs LA Knight | Tonga wins via pinfall |
| Semi-Final Matchup | Result |
| Randy Orton vs Tama Tonga | Orton wins via pinfall |
Randy Orton won a brutal matchup over Tama Tonga on the May 24 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, clinching his spot in the King of the Ring final.
Orton entered the matchup vs Tonga as a heavy favorite, as the grizzled veteran has accomplished virtually everything in the WWE besides winning the King of the Ring tournament.
As the opening bell rang, Orton took control of the fight, beating up on Tonga until the Bloodline enforcer rallied by attacking The Viper’s injured left knee.
Alas, the comeback effort fell short as Orton found a way to land the lethal ‘RKO,’ even with interference from Solo Sikoa in the final moments.
After emerging victorious against Tonga, Orton now gets the honor of facing Raw’s representative — Gunther — for the prestigious title of ‘King of the Ring.’
King of the Ring Final Round
| Final Matchup | Result |
| Gunther (Raw) vs Randy Orton (SmackDown) | Gunther wins via pinfall |
Off the back of a brutal assault from the Bloodline, Randy Orton entered the King of the Ring finale with a severely injured left knee. Given how long it took him to get to the ring, it clearly was a factor for the match.
As Gunther waited in the ring, he noticed Orton’s injury, and once the bell rang, ‘The Ring General’ immediately zeroed in on the damaged limb.
Still, ‘The Viper’ found a way to change the tide multiple times in the match. He hit an ‘RKO’ out of nowhere midway through, but Gunther wisely rolled out of the ring to avoid the pin attempt.
Later, Orton hit another ‘RKO,’ leading to something WWE fans are not used to seeing. Gunther, after taking a second finisher, miraculously kicked out.
Not only that, but he instantly rolled Orton up for a three-count, giving Gunther the prestigious honor of being the 2024 King of the Ring.
The victory didn’t come without controversy, however, as the replay clearly showed Orton’s shoulder off the mat during the three-count.
Alas, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque awarded Gunther the crown, setting up a matchup against the World Heavyweight champion at SummerSlam in August.
Monday Night Raw Bracket (Women’s)
| First Round Matchup | Result |
| Ivy Nile vs Zoey Stark | Stark wins via pinfall |
| Dakota Kai vs Lyra Valkyria | Valkyria wins via pinfall |
| Iyo Sky vs Natalya | Sky wins via pinfall |
| Maxxine Dupri vs Shayna Baszler | Baszler wins via submission |
| Quarterfinal Matchup | Result |
| Iyo Sky vs Shayna Baszler | Iyo Sky wins via pinfall |
| Zoey Stark vs Lyra Valkyria | Valkyria wins via pinfall |
| Semi-Final Matchup | Result |
| Iyo Sky vs Lyra Valkyria | Valkyria wins via pinfall |
Former world champion Iyo Sky challenged recent NXT call-up Lyra Valkyria to determine the red brand’s finalist for the Queen of the Ring tournament.
After a spirited back-and-forth match, Sky looked to be closing in on a victory when Valkyria hit her with a reversal and cinched in a roll-up cover.
That was enough to earn the three-count, as a stunned Valkyria gazed at the crowd in disbelief. Now, she sits a victory shy of being named ‘Queen of the Ring.’
Friday Night SmackDown Bracket (Women’s)
| First Round Matchup | Result |
| Naomi vs Nia Jax | Jax wins via pinfall |
| Jade Cargill vs Piper Niven | Cargill wins via pinfall |
| Bianca Belair vs Candice LeRae | Belair wins via pinfall |
| Tiffany Stratton vs Michin | Stratton wins via pinfall |
| Quarterfinal Matchup | Result |
| Nia Jax vs Jade Cargill | Jax wins via disqualification |
| Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton | Belair wins via pinfall |
| Semi-Final Matchup | Result |
| Nia Jax vs Bianca Belair | Jax wins via pinfall |
Nia Jax tricked Jade Cargill into hitting her with a steel chair, which gave Jax the win via disqualification in the quarterfinals on the May 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
Jax’s villainous actions against Cargill and her daughter lit a fire under Bianca Belair heading into the pivotal semi-final matchup. However, that emotion couldn’t help her overcome a severe leg injury.
While attempting to hit her ‘KOD’ finisher, Belair’s knee collapsed under the weight of Jax, leaving the nearly 300-pounder to land a match-clinching ‘Annihilator.’
Queen of the Ring Final Round
| Final Matchup | Result |
| Lyra Valkyria (Raw) vs Nia Jax (SmackDown) | Jax wins via pinfall |
The ‘Irresistible Force,’ fresh off an impressive victory, met Raw’s breakout star, Lyra Valkyria, with the Queen of the Ring crown on the line.
Valkyria came to the ring with a confident demeanor, sporting a set of wings to honor her namesake. But that joy quickly faded when the bell rang.
Nia Jax dominated the contest from start to finish with only a few brief moments of hope for Valkyria. The former NXT champion hit a couple damaging ‘DDT’ attacks on her opponent but couldn’t secure the pinfall.
Jax appeared to be in trouble as Valkyria tried to lift her off the second rope for a ‘Powerbomb.’ However, the 270-pounder reversed the rookie and hit a brutal ‘Annihilator.’
The ref counted to three as Jax celebrated in the ring. Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque strolled to the squared circle and presented the 2024 Queen of the Ring with her diamond-covered crown.
Thanks to Levesque’s orders before the premium live event began, Jax is guaranteed a championship match at the Aug. 3 SummerSlam card in Cleveland, Ohio.
Now, Jax is on a collision course with WWE Women’s champion, Bayley. That is, if Bayley is still holding the title come SummerSlam.
Results for the remaining matches
The rest of the matches on the King and Queen of the Ring card are included in the table below.
| Match Card |
| Champion vs Champion: WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes vs United States Champion Logan Paul Winner — Cody Rhodes via pinfall |
| Women’s World Championship: (c) Becky Lynch vs Liv Morgan Winner — Liv Morgan via pinfall |
| Intercontinental Championship: (c) Sami Zayn vs Chad Gable vs Bronson Reed Winner — Sami Zayn via pinfall |
| Women’s Tag Team Championship: (c) Bianca Belair & (c) Jade Cargill vs Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell Winners — Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill via pinfall |
Cody Rhodes thwarts Logan Paul’s upset attempt
A champion vs champion clash took center stage as WWE Universal champion Cody Rhodes squared off with the reigning United States champion Logan Paul in the Jeddah Super Dome.
Although Paul’s belt wasn’t on the line in this match, Rhodes’ coveted prize was up for grabs, which added an extra layer of drama to the main event bout.
Paul entered to a loud pop from the passionate Saudi Arabian crowd, although the boos ended up drowning out the cheers for WWE’s polarizing heel.
When Rhodes’ music hit, there was no mistaking how the audience felt about him. ‘The American Nightmare’ approached the ring to a deafening reception.
Paul got off to a quick start against the undisputed champion, but Rhodes routinely answered the bell every time it looked like ‘The Maverick’ had the upper hand.
The two men traded insults while beating one another up, and to the surprise of no one, Paul found a way to sneak in another set of brass knuckles.
Although he connected on a shot to Rhodes’ ribs, and hit a mesmerizing ‘Frog Splash’ off the top rope and through the announcers’ table, it wasn’t enough to put the champion away.
At one point, Paul was about to be counted out of the match by the referee, but Rhodes stopped it. Instead, he chose for the fight to continue so he could teach the social media star a lesson.
Paul mounted one last comeback attempt, but it fell short. Rhodes thwarted his efforts by hitting three ‘Cross Rhodes’ finishers and retaining the WWE Universal Championship.
It was yet another impressive showing by the United States titleholder, but Paul fell just short again. As for Rhodes, he has lived up to the billing of a ‘working champion.’
The next opponent from each man remains a mystery, but their main event clash at King and Queen of the Ring showed that WWE is in good hands with their current slate of champions on SmackDown.
Liv Morgan wins Women’s World Championship
A Women’s World Championship bout is also on the docket with Becky Lynch defending her strap against long-time rival, Liv Morgan.
Lynch had the upper hand going into the King and Queen of the Ring PLE, as ‘The Man’ was still riding a high from her championship-winning performance on the April 22 episode of Raw.
She eliminated Morgan in the battle royal, stamping Lynch’s place as a champion again, while fanning the flames of the growing rivalry between both women.
At the King and Queen of the Ring PLE, Lynch grabbed momentum early, but Morgan would go on to win, thanks to some accidental help from Dominik Mysterio.
After tossing a steel chair to Lynch, Mysterio distracted the referee, which led to Morgan hitting a ‘DDT’ onto the chair. She then landed a ‘Codebreaker,’ securing a three-count vs ‘The Man.’
Now, Morgan reigns supreme as the leader of the women’s division on Raw. But Lynch has already invoked her rematch clause, so expect the two women to run it back soon.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Sami Zayn sneaks out with his Intercontinental Championship
Then, there’s the much-anticipated triple-threat match between Sami Zayn, Chad Gable, and Bronson Reed, with Zayn’s Intercontinental Championship hanging in the balance.
Reed built a strong case for himself early, as the mountain of a man displayed remarkable strength by punishing Zayn and Gable throughout the match.
However, as impressive as Reed was, Zayn and Gable’s feud kept coming to the forefront. They each stole the other man’s finishing move and landed several two-counts as the battle waged on.
The most impressive spot of the match came when Gable hit a suplex on both Zayn and Reed at the same time — a combined weight of 542 pounds.
But that momentum wouldn’t last long. Gable’s ‘Alpha Academy’ partner, Otis, inadvertently clotheslined his faction-mate, leading to a Zayn ‘Helluva Kick’ on Reed.
The ref counted to three, and the crowd erupted with glee. Zayn left the ring the same way he entered it — with the Intercontinental Championship in hand.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill punish Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
After Belair’s devastating loss to Nia Jax in a Queen of the Ring semi-final matchup, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell began picking on the ‘EST’ backstage.
But in the midst of the trash talk, Jade Cargill approached, sending LeRae and Hartwell running away. Cargill then asked SmackDown GM Nick Aldis to make a Women’s Tag Team Championship match at the King and Queen of the Ring PLE.
Neither champion broke a sweat during the title fight, with Belair and Cargill combining for a jaw-dropping finishing move before the ‘EST’ secured a three-count.
Winners: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
For a full breakdown of the King and Queen of the Ring card, check out our five predictions for the upcoming WWE premium live event.
Who has won King of the Ring before?
Professional wrestling legend Bret Hart is the only two-time winner in the event’s history, having won the 1991 and 1993 King of the Ring tournaments.
Other notable winners from the 1990s include ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and Triple H, as both superstars used this crowning achievement to propel them to main event status.
Kurt Angle, Edge, and Brock Lesnar won the first three tournaments of the 2000s, also using the King of the Ring victory to elevate their standing on the card.
Booker T’s 2006 victory opened the door for a new ‘King Booker’ persona, which would follow the WWE Hall of Famer for the remainder of his time as an in-ring talent.
Xavier Woods is the most recent King of the Ring, having won the event in 2021 in an instant classic with Finn Bálor. He won’t have a chance to defend the crown, as Woods was left out of this year’s tournament.