The WWE universe is abuzz with excitement as the inaugural King and Queen of The Ring Premium Live Event approaches, set to take place on May 25 from the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, new details have emerged regarding the tournament plans, sparking mixed reactions among fans and insiders alike.
According to recent reports, the original plans for the King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments have undergone significant changes. The opening round matches, initially scheduled to take place on Monday’s post-Backlash RAW, were unexpectedly pulled and instead will be held at non-televised live events this weekend. This decision was reportedly made due to time constraints, with officials opting to air highlights from these matches on next week’s RAW and social media platforms.
Although the full tournament plans are still subject to change, sources close to the company have revealed that WWE intends to extend the tournaments to non-televised live events. The status of SmackDown’s involvement remains uncertain at this time.
Rey Mysterio will face Kofi Kingston this Sunday in Macon, GA, while Shayna Baszler will take on Zelina Vega on Saturday in Chattanooga, TN. The winner of the Mysterio-Kingston match will advance to the quarterfinals to face Gunther on Monday’s RAW. Jey Uso will also face Ilja Dragunov in the quarterfinals.
SmackDown’s side of the bracket will kick off this Friday, featuring matches such as AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton, Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar, and Bobby Lashley vs. Tama Tonga. RAW will also feature matches including Baszler or Vega vs. IYO SKY and Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark.
Aside from the tournament, WWE has announced two major title matches for the King and Queen of The Ring event. Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch will defend her title against Liv Morgan, while Sami Zayn will put his Intercontinental Championship on the line in a triple threat match against Chad Gable and Bronson Reed. The tournament finals will feature the winners of the RAW and SmackDown brackets, followed by the KOTR and QOTR coronation ceremonies on RAW and/or SmackDown the following week.
WWE fans are eagerly anticipating the inaugural King and Queen of The Ring Premium Live Event, which promises to deliver an unforgettable experience. With just under three weeks to go, fans can expect more surprises and updates in the coming days. One thing is certain – the WWE universe will be watching intently as the drama unfolds in Saudi Arabia.
