The highly anticipated King and Queen of the Ring tournaments got underway this week on WWE RAW, but the excitement was short-lived as two major substitutions had to be made due to injuries. The opening match of the night saw Jey Uso step in to replace Drew McIntyre, who was forced to withdraw from the competition, and subsequently defeat Finn Balor. However, the injury woes didn’t stop there.
In a shocking revelation, Dakota Kai announced that Asuka, a member of the Damage CTRL faction, would be sidelined and unable to participate in the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Asuka’s absence meant that Kai would have to take her place in the competition, setting her up against RAW newcomer Lyra Valkyria in the process. This marks Valkyria’s first match on the red brand since being called up as part of the recent WWE Draft.
The exact nature of Asuka’s injury remains unknown, but it is understood that she will not be participating in the Queen of the Ring Tournament, which is scheduled to conclude in Saudi Arabia on May 25th. This news comes on the heels of Asuka’s recent outing at Backlash, where she and Kairi Sane lost their Women’s Tag Team Championship to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair in a dramatic match that saw Asuka take a nasty KOD onto her own partner.
The WWE Universe is left wondering what the future holds for Asuka and her injured status. Will she be able to recover in time for future events, or will this setback keep her on the sidelines for an extended period? One thing is for certain – her absence will be deeply felt in the Queen of the Ring Tournament, where she was considered a top contender for the crown.
As the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue to unfold, WWE fans will be keeping a close eye on the action and hoping that the remaining superstars can avoid any further injury setbacks.
With the conclusion of the tournaments just around the corner, the stakes have never been higher. Will the substitutes be able to rise to the challenge and claim the coveted titles, or will the original competitors find a way to overcome their injuries and reclaim their spot in the competition? The world is watching, and only time will tell.