Tag: king of the ring

Date: May 6, 2024
Location: XL Center in Hartford, CT 

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Show Recap —

There was a recap of Backlash that very much played up the crowd in France. Perhaps because this aired on Raw, Damian Priest’s win over Jey Uso was shown last (instead of Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles).

Michael Cole said that three first round matches would take place tonight for the King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments (instead of all four). The fourth for each will take place at a “live event” over the weekend. Cole also announced that Drew McIntyre was out of the tournament because he was not medically cleared. 

Judgment Day entered to start the show. Priest said everyone loved Jey Uso but it didn’t matter because he was still el campeón. Priest wanted to address what happened after his match with Judgment Day. Finn Bálor apologized but Priest said he was the one that needed to apologize. Priest appreciated their help and he was still champion thanks to them.

Priest said he appreciated JD McDonagh and he called Bálor his brother. He hugged them. Dominik Mysterio was just standing there so he joined the hug.

Priest said Bálor would be the next King of the Ring. Bálor said he got a first round bye because McIntyre wasn’t cleared and this was the first step toward the Prince becoming a King. Bálor wanted Samantha Irvin to announce it now.

Before she could, Adam Pearce entered to inform Bálor that he was not getting a bye. His opponent was Jey Uso. 

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King of the Ring – First Round: Jey Uso defeated Finn Bálor (13:36)

Bálor cut off Jey’s comeback attempts before and after a break. Jey fought back with right hands and a flying crossbody for two. Bálor cut him off again with a clothesline but Jey came back with strikes and a superkick. Bálor dodged a splash and hit a dropkick. Jey dodged a Coup de Grace and hit a spear for a nearfall.

Drew McIntyre marched through the crowd which distracted Jey. Bálor applied a schoolboy for two before hitting a slingblade. Jey cut him off with another spear for the pinfall win.

— McIntyre (who got “CM Punk” chants) entered the ring but Jey bailed and celebrated with the fans.

This was an ordinary match where each guy did their signature moves until one guy won.

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Ivy Nile and Zoey Stark were shown warming up. Becky Lynch was shown arriving. She has an interview with Cole tonight. 

There was a video package of Gunther’s win over Sheamus at Clash at the Castle in 2022.

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CM Punk segment

In the back, McIntyre complained to Pearce about being replaced by Jey Uso of all people. Pearce said this wasn’t about Jey, this was about McIntyre’s arm. Nobody knew McIntyre was hurt until he said something, so he had medical check him out and he wasn’t cleared. McIntyre was pissed and he left in a black Corvette. (The screen glitched as he left.)

As soon as McIntyre’s car disappeared out of the garage, CM Punk pulled up in a 1980 Camaro. Punk asked Pearce where McIntyre was and Pearce said he just missed him. Punk was disappointed but asked Pearce to play his music.

The camera followed Punk as he made his way through the back. He took a dig at Jackie Redmond over the Toronto Maple Leafs losing. Chad Gable was nearby berating Alpha Academy.

Punk entered the ring. He mentioned being stuck at WWE headquarters and said he was let out just a few hours ago. He planned on picking a fight with McIntyre tonight. Punk cut a quick promo last week but he was willing to stick around to give McIntyre enough time to turn his car around.

He asked everyone to Tweet at McIntyre to let him know that Punk was waiting. Punk wanted to fight McIntyre on top of the same ice that Gordie Howe skated on for the Hartford Whalers.

Punk said McIntyre didn’t end his WrestleMania dreams, he only postponed them. Punk called himself a five-tool player but McIntyre was just a tool. McIntyre picked a fight with the pettiest man on the roster. Maybe even on earth. McIntyre was a hater who hated everything about Punk. But all McIntyre did was talk about him. Punk wondered if McIntyre hated him or if he hated himself.

Punk broke McIntyre’s elbow and the next time he showed up, Punk would break his face. He would also break his heart. Punk kept looking at his watch as he awaited McIntyre who never showed and Punk said McIntyre must be afraid of him.

(Punk is a great promo but this was just ok. The point of this promo was that Punk was killing time for McIntyre to return. Unfortunately, it really felt like Punk was killing time.)

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Cathy Kelley interviewed Ricochet about KOTR. Ricochet was ready to define a legacy for himself. Braun Strowman showed up to embrace Ricochet. Strowman wanted him to remind everyone why he was called King Ricochet.

Queen of the Ring – First Round: Iyo Sky (w/Dakota Kai & Kairi Sane) defeated Natalya (10:24)

Pat McAfee mentioned that tomorrow would have been Owen Hart’s birthday.

[SECOND HOUR]

Natalya hit a superplex after a break for two. She fought out of a crossface but Sky followed with a double foot stomp and dropkick for two. They traded reversals until Natalya hit a sit-out powerbomb for two.

Natalya applied a Sharpshooter but Sky quickly countered and drove her into the bottom turnbuckle. Sky followed with a Meteora in the corner and a moonsault for the pinfall win. This was pretty good for the TV time they had.

— After the match, Dakota Kai announced she was taking the place of an injured Asuka against Lyra Valkyria. Kai issued a warning to Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Becky Lynch because Damage CTRL were coming for everything.

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There was a video package for Ilja Dragunov. 

King of the Ring – First Round: Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet (16:34)

After a break, Ricochet tried a moonsault off the apron but Dragunov caught him and hit a release German suplex on the mats. Dragunov followed with a springboard dropkick for two. Ricochet hit a hurricanrana off the top, consecutive suicide dives and a flip dive.

After a second break, Dragunov hit a leaping senton off the top for two. Dragunov followed with chops but Ricochet hit a superkick. They traded kicks until Ricochet hit a Finlay roll and Lionsault for two. Dragunov responded with a running knee strike but Ricochet hit a poison-rana. Ricochet tried another Lionsault but Dragunov knocked him out of mid-air with an uppercut.

Dragunov hit an H-Bomb and went for Torpedo Moscow but Ricochet countered with a Recoil. Ricochet went to the top but Dragunov brought him down with a superplex. Dragunov hit one more H-Bomb for the pinfall win. This was a strong match.

Dragunov shook hands with Ricochet after the match. He will face Jey Uso in the next round.

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Redmond interviewed Sheamus. Sheamus mentioned going through several medical procedures just to return to the ring. He didn’t like Gunther. They have had banger after banger but tonight, he planned on kicking Gunther’s ass. 

Queen of the Ring – First Round: Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile (5:19)

Nile hit a delayed vertical suplex early on, which is a good power spot for someone who happens to be smaller than her opponent. Stark came back with a springboard dropkick for two. Nile hit a bulldog off the top for two. Stark hit a sliding kick for two. Stark knocked Nile off the top, hit a reverse suplex and Z-360 for the pinfall win.

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R-Truth did some comedy with Miz and Dan Hurley – head coach of the UConn Huskies. Truth thought the NCAA was a small wrestling promotion.

Bron Breakker approached Pearce. Breakker wanted to know why he wasn’t in KOTR. Pearce said they could speak in his office.

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Priest told Bálor he didn’t need to apologize for losing to Jey Uso. It was only one match. McDonagh said Bálor probably wasn’t 100% after Strowman attacked them. Priest said McDonagh could take care of Strowman.

Dom and his mustache entered with Carlito. Priest was pissed because Carlito cost him his moment at Backlash in Puerto Rico a year ago. Carlito said if he scratched their back, maybe they could return the favour. Priest didn’t care what Carlito had going on and told Dom to get him out of there.

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Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed ended in a disqualification (1:42)

They rushed to show off some power moves and you could tell why they were rushing. Sami Zayn quickly ran in to attack Gable for the DQ. They traded some spots until Reed laid them both out.

Pearce confronted Reed in the back. Reed didn’t care about Gable or Zayn, he only cared about the IC title. Reed said Pearce knew what he had to do.

This was weak.

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There was a video package for Lyra Valkyria.

[THIRD HOUR] 

Gunther said he didn’t care about putting on bangers. He wanted to be the greatest of all time. He would have no problem exposing Sheamus as a weak-minded people-pleaser. Sheamus would be no obstacle for the Ring General.

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Becky Lynch sit-down interview 

Cole interviewed Lynch in the ring. He first asked Lynch about the big hat she wore to the Kentucky Derby and they showed a picture. I think this was meant to bring some levity to the segment before moving on to the real stuff but the crowd didn’t care about this at all.

They moved on to the championship. Lynch put over Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Kiana James and Lyra Valkyria. Lynch droned on about whatever until Liv Morgan interrupted.

Morgan was bored too and was annoyed that Lynch didn’t mention her. She was tired of being overlooked and overestimated. Morgan reminded Lynch that she was a former MITB winner, women’s champion and tag champion. She beat Nia Jax and took out Rhea Ripley. After all that, Morgan couldn’t believe Lynch still didn’t respect her.

Lynch said Morgan didn’t let her finish. Morgan was getting her title match at King & Queen of the Ring in three weeks. Lynch said Morgan has done a lot but she has never beaten her.

Morgan knew what she had been missing all this time: purpose. Now that she had her purpose, she knew she could beat Lynch. Her purpose was taking everything Ripley loved which meant winning the women’s title.

Damage CTRL interrupted. Kai reiterated what she said earlier and they surrounded the ring like the Shield.

Lynch and Morgan stood back-to-back ready to fight but Morgan suddenly bailed from the ring. She laughed and said this wasn’t her problem. Damage CTRL attacked Lynch until Valkyria jogged out to make the save.

This was another weak talking segment. 

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Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn. Zayn said his issues with Gable were personal, while Reed was all business. Zayn offered a triple threat match at King & Queen of the Ring. Zayn said he was knocked down tonight just like he has been many times before. But when the pressure was on, that was when he was at his best and he would walk out of Saudi Arabia still the Intercontinental Champion.

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Queen of the Ring – First Round: Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai (8:46)

They aired an ad for a movie 30 seconds into the match and went to an actual commercial break a minute or two later.

Lyra was on offence after a break, hitting strikes, a flying crossbody and a fisherman’s suplex for two. With Lyra draped over the middle rope, Kai hit a stomp for two. Kai followed with a running corner kick for two. Kai missed a GTK but hit a scorpion kick. Lyra countered Kai’s next move into Nightwing for the pinfall win.

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Kofi Kingston promo

Kingston cut a pre-taped promo in the back. He said this tournament was supposed to be where Xavier Woods became a two-time King of the Ring but Gunther took that away. Kingston didn’t know when Woods would return. If Gunther advanced, Kingston couldn’t wait to give him what he deserved.

But first, Kingston would have to beat Rey Mysterio — the legend and the icon and the man he looked up to growing up. He respected Rey, but he had to put him down unapologetically like his name was Kendrick Lamar or Drake. He had to win this tournament in honour of Woods because, after all this time, three words still rang true: New Day rocks.

This was good.

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Next week on Raw:

• KOTR quarter-final: Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov
• KOTR quarter-final: Gunther or Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston or Rey Mysterio
• KOTR quarter-final: Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
• KOTR quarter-final: Iyo Sky vs. Shayna Baszler or Zelina Vega

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King of the Ring – First Round: Gunther (w/Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Sheamus (21:00)

They repeatedly smacked each other hard on the chest and Sheamus eventually got the better of Gunther ahead of a break with a tackle off the apron.

After the break, Gunther chopped Sheamus in the back (and sweat went flying). As Gunther held a rest hold, they zoomed in on Sheamus’ back and you could clearly see Gunther’s hand mark on his skin. Sheamus fought back with a backbreaker but Gunther responded with a clothesline for two. Sheamus hit White Noise for two and a powerslam for two.

Sheamus hit ten (seventeen) beats of the Bodhran but Gunther dodged a Brogue Kick. Gunther distracted the referee while Kaiser dropkicked Sheamus’ knee. The referee figured out what happened and tossed Kaiser from ringside. Gunther was happy because the damage was done. The ref checked on Sheamus as they went to break.

Gunther smashed Sheamus’ knee against the ring post during the break and held a leg lock when they returned. Sheamus fought to his feet but Gunther kicked his leg out of his leg. Gunther ripped off Sheamus’ knee pad and continued to target his leg.

Sheamus responded with a clothesline and a great-looking lifting knee strike for two. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick but his knee gave out and Gunther hit a powerbomb for two. (It often looks fake when a wrestler’s knee suddenly gives out but Sheamus sold it well.) Gunther applied a half-crab but Sheamus quickly got a rope break.

Gunther went to the top but Sheamus cut him off and hit a Celtic Cross for two. Gunther hit a German suplex but Sheamus no-sold it, popped up and hit a knee strike followed by a Brogue Kick. Sheamus took too long to make a cover and Gunther kicked out.

Gunther applied a half-crab and pulled Sheamus to the middle of the ring. Sheamus tried dragging himself back to the rope but he tapped out.

They were right up against the clock and the show ended as Gunther got to his feet to celebrate.

This was excellent.