KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING  2024

Jeddah Super Dome
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
May 25, 2024

“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

Michael Cole does an advertisement for the accomplishments of Saudi Arabia’s architecture.

Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes is shown arriving at the arena earlier today. United States Champion Logan Paul is shown arriving separately. Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch will defend her title against Liv Morgan. Both are shown coming to the Jeddah Super Dome.

Video: King and Queen of the Ring hype video.

We go live into the Jeddah Super Dome to see a big pyrotechnics display.

Women’s World Championship
“The Man” Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan

Mike Rome handles the ring introductions. They have the 8K camera to showcase the challenger and the champion.

The bell rings, and a “Becky” chant picks up. Morgan wags her finger at the crowd. They lock up and tussle into the ropes before shoving each other off. They get into a big shoving match before the referee steps between them. They circle the ring, and Morgan grabs a waistlock. Lynch does a standing switch and takes her down. Morgan fights up and does a standing switch, but Lynch quickly turns it on her. Morgan pulls her into the ropes to get Lynch off. Morgan stuns her with a few right hands. Lynch reverses a whip and big boots her down. Lynch hits the ropes, but Morgan follows her in. Lynch stops the momentum by hitting a shoulder tackle. Morgan quickly rolls out of the ring to regroup. Lynch follows her out and punches her before bouncing her off the apron. Lynch bounces her off the apron and the barricade. Morgan quickly blocks another shot and bounces Lynch’s face off the apron before rolling her into the ring. Lynch attacks her as she comes into the ring and hangs her on the second rope. Lynch goes to the second rope for a diving leg drop, but Morgan pulls her off and picks up a two-count.

Morgan has Lynch in the corner and stomps away at her. Morgan charges, but Lynch sidesteps her and kicks her in the face. Lynch goes for a second kick, but Morgan blocks it and clotheslines her down. Morgan gets Lynch tied in the ropes and stretches her. Morgan releases before being disqualified. Morgan hits a basement dropkick to the spine for a two-count. Morgan kicks at her and slaps her in the face. Morgan sends her into the ropes, but Lynch holds on and boots her back. Lynch elbows her back and goes to the second rope, but Morgan rips her down again. Lynch hits the turnbuckle face-first before hitting the mat. Morgan covers 1… 2… Lynch kicks out. Morgan applies an overhead wristlock and cinches it in. Lynch fights up and arm drags Morgan off. They trade punches before Lynch reverses a whip to the corner. Morgan rolls her into the turnbuckles and covers for a two-count. The kick-out sends Morgan into the turnbuckles hard. They then wipe each other out with stereo clotheslines.

Lynch gets to her feet and punches her. They slowly exchange right hands before progressively picking up speed. Lynch connects with a pair of clotheslines and a calf kick. Lynch pops up and is fired up. Lynch hits a running forearm in the corner, followed by a Bexploder. Morgan quickly rolls out of the ring. Lynch flattens her with a baseball slide and goes to the apron. Lynch comes off the apron with a flying clothesline and gets her challenger in the ring. Lynch heads to the top rope, but for the third time, Morgan cuts her off. Morgan climbs and starts punching at her. Lynch shoves her down to the canvas and catches her with a missile dropkick. Lynch covers 1… 2…, and Morgan kicks out. Lynch grabs the arm for a Dis-Arm-Her, but Morgan counters with a roll-up for a two-count. Lynch tries again, but Morgan stuns her with a right hand. Morgan springboards off the second rope with a codebreaker for a near fall.

The crowd is definitely into this match. Morgan charges Lynch in the corner, but Lynch sidesteps her. Lynch takes her down for a two-count. Lynch goes to the top rope and lands on her feet when Morgan moves. Morgan quickly heads up the ropes and connects with a missile dropkick for a two-count. Morgan sizes her up and goes for Ob-Liv-ion, but Lynch counters into a reverse DDT off the second rope for a near fall. The crowd is clapping and stomping, making the camera shake. Lynch goes for a Manhandle Slam, but Morgan counters into a roll-up. Lynch rolls through, but Morgan quickly gets out. Morgan takes her down with a leaping knee for a near fall. Morgan is near tears in frustration at her inability to put The Man away. Morgan jabs away at Lynch and smiles. Lynch ROCKS her with a slap to the face. Morgan fights back and punches her.

Morgan springboards off the ropes for an arm drag, but Lynch flips her over for a cross-arm breaker. Morgan fights it and applies the Rings of Saturn. Lynch tries to roll her over into a pin, but Morgan cinches in the Rings of Saturn. Lynch eventually rolls through and applies a Dis-Arm-Her! Morgan screams in pain. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio appears at ringside to loud boos. Earlier on the Kickoff Show, Mysterio said he flew out to Saudi Arabia to make sure Morgan didn’t get Mami’s (Rhea Ripley’s) championship. Morgan gets a foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Lynch yells at Mysterio to leave ringside. Lynch turns and ducks a clothesline before going for a Manhandle Slam, but Morgan counters into a codebreaker for a near fall.

Morgan sets Lynch up and climbs to the top rope. Lynch pops up and cuts her off. Lynch connects with a superplex. Mysterio slides a steel chair to Lynch. Mysterio distracts the referee. Morgan takes advantage of the distraction to hit Lynch with a DDT on the steel chair! Morgan follows up with Ob-Liv-ion for the win!

Winner by Pinfall and new Women’s World Champion: Liv Morgan

“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio looks disappointed with this turn of events at ringside. The commentators call Mysterio an idiot, saying he “pissed away Mami’s title.” Lynch is furious and holds her head in pain from the DDT on the chair. “Dirty” Dom looks furious. Morgan stands on the ramp and poses with the Women’s World Championship as fireworks go off.

WWE will be at Fanatics Fest in New York City in August.

Video: WWE Intercontinental Championship

Chad Gable comes out to the stage with Otis and Maxxine Dupri. Gable looks at Dupri and angrily sends her to the back. Otis isn’t pleased, but he goes forward down the ramp as Dupri goes to the back.

As “Big” Bronson Reed heads to the ring, another Uncle Howdy QR code flashes on the screen.

Video: WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn’s great personal moments in Saudi Arabia.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring in a kaftan.

WWE Intercontinental Championship
Triple Threat Match
Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. “Big” Bronson Reed vs. Sami Zayn (c)

The bell rings, and the crowd is buzzing. Zayn goes after his personal foe, Chad Gable, with punches. Reed takes him down and avalanches Gable and Zayn. Gable fights at Reed, but Reed chops him back. Reed military presses Gable, but Gable slides off and gets out of the ring. Reed follows him out and throws him. Zayn takes Reed down with a plancha. Gable then takes Zayn out with a club to the back. Gable gets Zayn in the ring and tries to bounce him in the corner, but Zayn blocks it. Zayn hits the ten punches, and the crowd counts in Arabic. Zayn comes off the middle rope with an elbow to the head of Gable. Reed then runs Zayn over with a clothesline. Reed gets Zayn in the corner. Zayn elbows him back. Reed grabs Gable and catches Zayn coming off the second rope. Reed then slams Zayn onto Gable. Zayn landed on Gable’s ankle, which did not look good. Reed charges Zayn in the corner, but Zayn counters with a drop-toe-hold into the bottom turnbuckle. Gable gets on the apron, but Zayn elbows him down. Zayn goes to the apron, but Gable pulls him behind the apron and wildly clubs away at him. Gable goes to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick. Gable punches Zayn in the face and talks trash to him. Gable sends him into the ropes, but Zayn holds on. Gable charges, but Zayn hits a back body drop to the floor. Reed charges, but Zayn sends him out of the ring as well. Zayn hits the ropes and wipes out Reed and Gable with a somersault senton!

The crowd is absolutely abuzz with Zayn. Zayn gets Reed in the ring and acknowledges the crowd. Zayn heads to the top rope, but Reed cuts him off. Reed climbs to the second rope and lifts Zayn, but Zayn counters into a sunset flip powerbomb! 1… 2… Reed kicks out! Zayn sizes Reed up for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Reed lives up to his “Big” moniker as Zayn cannot lift him. Reed clubs the back and puts the Intercontinental Champion on the top rope. Gable immediately cuts Reed off with a chop block. Gable climbs the ropes for a superplex, but Reed cuts them off. Reed hits Gable with a powerbomb as Gable hits Zayn with a superplex! Reed sets Zayn up and climbs to the top rope. Reed attempts a MOONSAULT, but Zayn moves! Gable hits Reed with a moonsault and covers 1… 2… Zayn breaks up the pin!

Zayn tries for a Blue Thunder Bomb on Reed again, but he still cannot lift him. Zayn chops him and scales the ropes for a tornado DDT. Zayn covers Reed 1… 2… Gable breaks up the pin and puts Zayn in an Ankle Lock. Reed rolls out of the ring to recover. Zayn screams in pain and looks to the bottom rope. Gable pulls Zayn back and grapevines the leg. Reed approaches Gable, so Gable trips him and puts the big man in an Ankle Lock. Zayn gets up and grabs Gable’s ankle for an Ankle Lock. For a moment, we have linked Ankle Locks! Gable releases the hold as he is in too much pain from Zayn’s Ankle Lock. Zayn lets go of the hold as Reed charges. Zayn then HITS Reed with a Blue Thunder Bomb! 1… 2… Reed barely kicks out! The crowd is going wild.

Zayn limps to the corner and punches Gable. Gable punches back. They trade punches in the corner before Reed sandwiches them into each other with an avalanche. Reed somehow gets them both on his shoulders and hits a stacked Samoan Drop! Unreal! The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Zayn and Gable both roll out of the ring. Reed hits the ropes and takes them out with a suicide dive! The crowd cannot believe it. Reed gets Zayn in the ring and goes to the top rope for a Tsunami, but Zayn moves! Zayn sees Reed getting up in the corner and sizes him up. Zayn charges for a Helluva Kick, but Gable cuts him off and hits two rolling German Suplexes. Zayn elbows out of a third and hits Gable with a pair of German Suplexes. Reed grabs Zayn, but Gable elbows out of Zayn’s grip. Gable does a standing switch on both men. Gable then hits Reed AND Zayn with a double-stacked German Suplex! What?!

All three men are down. Gable shouts to Otis, “Now is the time!” Otis runs over Reed with a clothesline at ringside. Gable throws Zayn out of the ring at Otis’s feet. Otis, who apologized to Zayn on WWE Raw this past Monday for interfering in his match against Gable, looks conflicted. Otis does not hit the Intercontinental Champion. Gable gets out of the ring and yells at Otis. Gable holds Zayn up and orders Otis to hit Zayn. Otis moves to do so, but he puts on the brakes. Gable gets in Otis’s face and shoves him. Otis sneers at Master Gable. Gable calls him an “idiot” and slaps him in the face. Gable tells Otis to wake up. Gable holds Zayn up, and Otis backs up. Otis charges, but Zayn ducks. Otis runs over Master Gable with a clothesline! Zayn gets in the ring and spots Reed getting up! Zayn connects with a Helluva Kick and covers 1… 2… 3! The crowd roars!

Winner by Pinfall and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Sami Zayn

SummerSlam is expanding to two nights in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2026.

Video: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill retained the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship over Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae on the Kickoff Show.

Backstage Interview

Byron Saxton is backstage with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Saxton asks for the secret to their chemistry. Cargill says they have each other’s backs. Belair says they had something to prove and proved it. Cargill says they’re handing out work, so anyone can apply.

Michael Cole mentions that Byron Saxton is supremely uncool.

Video: Queen of the Ring Finals

WWE Tag Team Champions A-Town Down Under as shown sitting at ringside. #DIY is also there. The Street Profits are seated with B-Fab as well.

Queen of the Ring Tournament
Final Match
Nia Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria

The winner of this match will secure a championship opportunity at SummerSlam.

The bell rings, and Valkyria cautiously approaches Jax. Valkyria sidesteps her and applies a side headlock, but Jax shoves her off. Jax lifts her, but Valkyria slides for a sunset flip. Jax doesn’t go down and powers her up. Jax whips her, but Valkyria cartwheels to a landing. Jax charges so Valkyria drops down for a drop-toe-hold, but Jax doesn’t go down. Jax grabs her, but Valkyria jumps on the back for a sleeper hold. Jax quickly backs her into the corner to fight her off. Valkyria quickly sidesteps Jax to send her out of the ring. Valkyria hits the ropes and hits a missile dropkick to the outside. Jax quickly backs Valkyria hard into the ring apron and gets her in the ring. Valkyria dropkicks the Irresistible Force as she gets in the ring. Valkyria punches her, but Jax shoves her off. Valkyria quickly rebounds with a tornado DDT attempt, but Jax shoves her off again. Valkyria quickly jumps on the back for a sleeper hold, but Jax slams her off. Jax avalanches her in the corner and punches away at her before throwing her down. Jax hits the ropes and drops an elbow for a two-count.

Jax whips Valkyria hard into the corner and taunts the crowd. Jax drives her boot into Valkyria’s throat for a few moments. Valkyria punches at the midsection, but Jax easily clubs her down. Jax scoops her up and drives her hard into the corner before tying her up in the tree of woe. Jax slings the head back and kicks her in the midsection. Valkyria collapses in a heap on the canvas. Jax applies a surfboard stretch against the ropes. The referee starts a five count, but Jax releases in the requisite amount of time before being disqualified. Jax applies a cobra clutch (ya maggot) in the middle of the ring and grounds Valkyria. Valkyria fights up from the hold and viciously elbows out. Jax rag dolls her and slings her down to the mat. Jax grabs her, but Valkyria stuns her with a jawbreaker. Valkyria strikes away at Jax and brings her down to one knee. Valkyria charges, but Jax catches her with a Samoan Drop for a near fall.

Jax drags Valkyria to the corner for an Annihilator, but Valkyria pulls herself under the bottom rope. Jax redirects and leaps, but Valkyria moves. Jax hits the apron hard with her rear end. Valkyria knocks her off the apron. Valkyria goes for a missile dropkick to the floor, but Jax catches her. Jax goes for a wheelbarrow slam on the floor, but Valkyria counters into a bulldog! Valkyria takes a few moments to recover and gets Jax in the ring. Valkyria knocks Jax to the opposite corner with a missile dropkick. Valkyria follows up with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Valkyria heads to the top rope and leaps, but lands on her feet when Jax moves. Valkyria holds her knee in pain upon landing. Jax immediately hits a Samoan Drop and quickly drags her to the corner for an Annihilator. Valkyria knocks her over, and Jax holds on to the top rope. Valkyria double-stomps her down to the mat for a two-count. Valkyria comes off the top rope with a diving leg drop. Valkyria covers 1… 2…, and Jax quickly kicks out.

Valkyria tries to lift Jax, but Jax is too heavy. Jax shoves her to the corner and avalanches her. Jax gets Valkyria on her shoulders and climbs to the second rope. Valkyria slips down for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Jax holds on and drops down onto Valkyria with an Annihilator from out of nowhere for the win! Incredibly nasty squash on the midsection. Jax crossed her arms a la Yokozuna during the pin.

Winner by Pinfall: Nia Jax

Nia Jax is the Queen of the Ring and will challenge for the WWE Women’s Championship at this year’s SummerSlam!

Paul “Triple H” Levesque gets in the ring with the Queen of the Ring crown and embraces her. Nia Jax, who came back last September after being fired by the company two years prior, cries tears of joy. She bends to a knee, and Levesque puts the crown on her head. Levesque presents the new Queen of the Ring to the crowd.

Kayla Braxton gets in the ring to interview Queen Nia Jax. Jax tells her to save her congratulations. She knows no one is happy for her, but Jax is happy for herself. She’s going to get a lot happier and they’ll all get a lot angrier as she’ll become WWE Champion and be their Queen of the Ring at SummerSlam! Nia Jax poses in the ring as fireworks go off.

Replay: Liv Morgan defeated Becky Lynch earlier in the show to win the Women’s World Championship after interference from “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio backfired.

Backstage Segment

“The Man” Becky Lynch is furiously walking backstage when Byron Saxton stops her. Saxton says he heard her berating “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. Lynch says she is furious and doesn’t know what’s going on. She has a rematch clause built into her contract. She’s going to find Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and get her rematch for this Monday’s Raw.

Video: King of the Ring Finals

Tiffany Stratton is shown at ringside. Carmelo Hayes is also shown at ringside.

King of the Ring Tournament
Final Match
“The Ring General” Gunther vs. Randy Orton

The winner of this match will secure a championship opportunity at SummerSlam.

The bell rings to start this match. The crowd is absolutely buzzing for Randy Orton. They loudly sang his theme song as he made his way to the ring. The atmosphere is incredible.

They lock up and are in a stalemate. Gunther powers him to the corner and backs up with a clean break. A loud “RKO” chant fires up. They lock up in the center of the ring again. Gunther tries to power him to the corner, but Orton turns him around and shoves away at him before backing up. Gunther is not intimidated by the Viper. Gunther grabs the arm and wrenches it, bringing Orton down to a knee. Orton twists out and wrenches Gunther’s arm, flipping him over. Gunther quickly pops up and backs him into the ropes to break the hold. Gunther backs up and shakes some feeling into his shoulder. The crowd is going wild despite not much happening yet. They cautiously approach each other, and Orton applies a side headlock. Orton cinches it in, but Gunther backs him into the ropes and whips him off. Orton hits a shoulder tackle and follows up with a side headlock takeover. Orton cinches in the side headlock on the mat. Gunther fights up to his feet and backs Orton into the corner to break the hold. Gunther then smacks Orton in the chest with a chop. Orton, who has never faced Gunther before, collects himself after taking his first Gunther chop. Gunther chops him two more times and challenges Orton. Orton shakes off the pain and blocks another chop. Orton punches away at Gunther and uppercuts him in the corner. Gunther stuns Orton with an uppercut. Orton quickly kicks Gunther and uppercuts him down. Orton punches Gunther in the corner and climbs to the second rope for the ten punches. Gunther fights out and throws Orton to the center of the ring. Gunther goes for a Powerbomb, but Orton counters with an RKO attempt. Orton hits the mat hard and grabs his surgically repaired back.

Gunther sees the opening and attacks the surgically repaired back of Orton with some stomps and a nasty club. Gunther shoves him into the ropes and catches him with a forearm to the back on the rebound. Orton fights back with a right hand that knocks Gunther down. Orton hits a few more right hands, but Gunther recovers with a vicious chop that floors the Viper. The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Gunther stomps away at the back before standing on the second rope to taunt the crowd. Orton is making his way to the corner on his knees. Gunther clubs the back again, and Orton is in a lot of pain. Orton drops down to his knees, and Gunther stretches him out with an overhead wristlock. Orton starts to fight out, but his knee starts to buckle. Orton says to the referee that his knee hurts and lets out an expletive. Gunther stretches him. Orton fights up, but Gunther hits a backbreaker for a near fall.

Gunther stands over the legendary Randy Orton. Orton gets up, but Gunther floors him with a scoop slam. Gunther attempts a suplex, but Orton blocks it. They struggle back and forth before Orton finally hits a vertical suplex. Orton gets to his feet, but Gunther ducks a clothesline. Gunther stuns him with a chop and charges, but Orton clotheslines him down. Orton hits a second clothesline and goes for a snap powerslam, but Gunther holds the ropes. Orton holds his knee in pain. Gunther takes Orton down with a clothesline for a near fall. Gunther sets up for a Powerbomb, but Orton backs him into the corner. Gunther charges, but Orton hits a snap powerslam. Orton gets to his feet and is holding his knee in pain. Gunther rolls to the apron. Orton connects with a draping DDT and holds the lower back in pain. If this were WWE 2K24, Orton’s torso and legs would be in the red. Orton gets the crowd going and drops down to the mat to stalk his prey. Gunther shoves an RKO off and hits a scoop slam. Gunther quickly heads to the top rope and nearly loses his balance before hitting a diving splash for a near fall! Gunther goes back to the top rope and leaps, but Orton moves. Gunther charges, but Orton drops him with an RKO! Orton is down on the mat in pain and starts to crawl toward the Ring General, but Gunther rolls to the apron.

Gunther falls to the floor, and Orton goes outside to get him. Orton’s chest is black and blue from the chops. Orton grabs Gunther and hits a back suplex onto the commentary table. The crowd chants, “One more time,” so Orton obliges. Orton gets into the ring to break the count-out. Orton goes outside, and Gunther shoves Orton into the edge of the ring apron. Orton wails in pain. The crowd once again chants, “This is awesome!” Gunther sets up for a Powerbomb on the floor, but Orton counters with all the strength he can muster to hit a back body drop. Orton then hits another back suplex onto the commentary table. Orton gets Gunther in the ring. As he gets in, Gunther hits a nasty dropkick to the knee. Orton falls into the ring. Gunther kicks away at Orton’s injured knee and applies a single-leg crab. Orton tries to fight out, but Gunther keeps it applied. Orton eventually turns over and kicks Gunther away. Gunther grabs the leg and puts the single-leg crab back on. Orton groans in pain and reaches for the bottom rope. Orton touches the bottom rope, so Gunther pulls him away. Orton kicks him away and hits an RKO! Orton crawls over and covers 1… 2… Gunther kicks out! Gunther hit the injured knee as he kicked out. Gunther powers Orton over and covers. Orton’s shoulder lifts off the mat after the count of one, but the referee keeps counting to three.

Winner by Pinfall: “The Ring General” Gunther

Gunther is the King of the Ring and will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at this year’s SummerSlam. During the replays, they try to avoid showing the angle where Randy Orton’s shoulder came up during the final pin.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque gets in the ring and hands Gunther the King of the Ring crown. Gunther holds it up in victory. Randy Orton is shown being helped to the back by referees.

Byron Saxton gets in the ring and asks how it feels to be the King of the Ring. Gunther listens to a light “You deserve it” chant picking up. Gunther thanks the fans. What he does or doesn’t deserve is none of their business. It feels great to be the King of the Ring. It feels even better to beat Randy Orton in the finals. The crowd chants, “You suck.” Gunther says what happened today is the Apex Predator became the prey for the Ring General. At SummerSlam, he’ll become the World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther holds the King of the Ring crown up and poses as fireworks go off.

WWE Crown Jewel is coming to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 2.

Backstage Interview

Kayla Braxton is backstage with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. She mentions that Levesque has breaking news. Levesque congratulates new Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Queen of the Ring Nia Jax, and King of the Ring Gunther. Levesque says Drew McIntyre was cleared earlier today. True to his word, Damian Priest agreed to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against him. Levesque makes the match official. It will be Damian Priest versus Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship on June 15 live from Glasgow, Scotland.

Backstage Segments

Logan Paul is shown running laps in a ring and doing a split to stretch. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is finishing up his wristtape.

Video: Undisputed WWE Championship

Piper Niven and Chelsea Green are shown at ringside. LA Knight is shown at ringside, and he gets a tremendous ovation.

Mike Rome hands off the ring announcing to Ibrahim Al Hajjaj.

Undisputed WWE Championship
Champion vs. Champion
United States Champion Logan Paul vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c)

Ibrahim Al Hajjaj does the introductions in the ring. Brass knuckles were apparently taken away from Logan Paul during the pre-match checkup.

The crowd is loudly buzzing for this main event match. Rhodes poses for the crowd to a huge ovation. They lock up, and Paul powers the Undisputed WWE Champion to the corner. Rhodes spins the United States Champion around, whose title is notably NOT on the line in this match, and challenges him to bring it. They each do some standing switches out of waistlocks and tussle against the ropes for position. They each give a clean break. They lock up, and Rhodes wrenches the arm. Rhodes uppercuts the arm and cinches in the wrench. Paul reverses the wrench, but Rhodes cartwheels out. Paul sweeps the legs for a one-count. Rhodes tries to sweep the legs, but Paul avoids it. Rhodes picks the leg and takes Paul down, but Paul quickly gets away. They lock up, and Rhodes applies a side headlock. Paul fights out with a wristlock. Rhodes twists out and puts the side headlock back on. Paul whips him off, drops down, and leapfrogs him. Rhodes tries to surprise him by kicking him in the midsection and dropping down for an uppercut, but Paul blocks it and shouts, “I’m Logan Paul, bitch!” Paul slings the hand onto the mat, and the Undisputed WWE Champion is not pleased. Rhodes shoves Paul, so Paul shoves him back. Rhodes rocks him with a forearm. Paul responds with an uppercut. They trade punches before Rhodes pulls him up in a delayed vertical suplex. Rhodes nearly loses him, but he calmly and impressively uses the ropes to bounce him back up and regain control. Rhodes then slams him with a gordbuster! Rhodes celebrates that execution before pinning him for a one-count.

Rhodes applies a side headlock and drops to a knee to get some leverage. Paul pulls him up and backs him into the ropes before whipping him off. Rhodes ducks a pair of clotheslines and goes for a flying cross-body, but Paul splits under it. The momentum sends Rhodes out of the ring. Paul flattens Rhodes with a plancha. Paul sends Rhodes’ midsection into the ring steps and tells Michael Cole to pay attention. He doesn’t need brass knuckles.

Paul gets Rhodes in the ring and hits some body shots to the injured midsection of Rhodes. Paul connects with an alley-oop, which he is calling an Over Bomb, for a two-count. Paul connects with a gutwrench suplex for another two-count. Paul gets to his feet and mounts the champion before punching away at the injured midsection. Paul steps on the midsection and hits a standing moonsault for another two-count. Paul sets Rhodes up and goes to the top rope, but The American Nightmare cuts him off. Rhodes climbs to the second rope, but Paul knocks him down to the mat. Rhodes quickly pops up and hits an arm drag off the top rope.

Both men slowly get up and exchange punches. Paul quickly knees away at the injured midsection before applying an octopus stretch. Rhodes tries to fight out, so Paul redirects into a sunset flip attempt, but Rhodes stays up and drops down with a right hand to the forehead of the United States Champion. Paul soon charges, but Rhodes sends him to the apron. Rhodes connects with a Disaster Kick to send the megastar to the floor. Rhodes is holding his ribs in pain and pounds the mat to rally the fans. Rhodes signals for a suicide dive, but he puts the brakes on when Paul moves. Paul saunters around before turning into an attack from Rhodes. Rhodes punches him and sends him into the barricade. Paul quickly cuts him off and hits a right hand to the midsection. Paul grabs a Prime Hydration Drink from a fan and takes a sip. Rhodes attacks and drives the drink into Paul’s head. This fan was a friend of Paul’s and shoves Rhodes. Rhodes angrily pulls him over the barricade. The referee tries to regain order. Another pal of Paul’s gives him some brass knuckles. Rhodes leaps off the steps, and Paul punches him in the midsection with the brass knuckles! Rhodes collapses in pain!

Michael Cole shouts at Paul, and Paul argues back. Cole calls him a loser, and Corey Graves holds Paul back. Paul turns around, and Rhodes takes him out with a suicide dive! Rhodes bounces him off the commentary table a few times before getting him in the ring for a clothesline. Rhodes avoids a charge in the corner and connects with a snap powerslam. Rhodes is too injured to continue following up. Rhodes gets fired up, and the crowd responds. The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Paul ducks a Disaster Kick. Rhodes ducks some right hands and starts hitting some left jabs, followed by his Hall of Fame father’s Bionic Elbow for a near fall! Rhodes sets up for a Figure Four Leglock and locks it in. Paul screams in pain and reaches to pull Rhodes’ hair, but Rhodes cinches it in harder to keep him away. Paul whines that Rhodes is going to break his leg before clawing for the bottom rope and getting there to break the hold.

Paul pulls himself up on the apron and shoulders Rhodes in the injured midsection. Rhodes avoids a Buckshot Lariat and connects with a Cody Cutter! Rhodes covers 1… 2…, and Paul kicks out! Rhodes punches Paul to the corner and lifts him for a Vertebreaker, but Paul slides out. Paul hits Rhodes with Cross Rhodes and covers! 1… 2… Rhodes kicks out of his own finisher. Paul positions Rhodes near the corner and climbs the top rope. Paul lands on his feet when Rhodes moves. Rhodes connects with a Final Cut and signals for the end. Rhodes grabs him, but Paul backs him to the corner and shoulders away at the injured midsection. Paul dumps Rhodes out of the ring and goes to the apron. Paul goes down to ringside and bounces Rhodes off the commentary table before putting him back in the ring. Paul pulls him back out and bounces him off the commentary table. Paul clears off the commentary table and sarcastically apologizes to Michael Cole. Paul puts Rhodes on the commentary table and gets in the ring to break the count-out. Paul goes to the commentary table and attempts a Pedigree. Paul shouts, “It’s the Logan Paul Levesque Era!” Rhodes fights out and leaps to the barricade before jumping back with a Cody Cutter on the commentary table!

Rhodes gets in the ring. The referee is going to count to ten, but Rhodes stops the count. Rhodes clears the commentary table and grabs Paul. Paul shoves him into the ring steps and knocks him out with a Knockout Punch! Paul’s titanium hand came into play there. Paul puts Rhodes on the commentary table and climbs to the top rope with a Prime bottle in hand. Paul stands on the top rope and drinks Prime before misting it. Paul then CRUSHES Rhodes with a diving splash off the top rope and through the commentary table! Wow!

Paul deadlifts Rhodes back into the ring and goes to the top rope. Paul connects with a Lo Down Frog Splash and covers! 1… 2… Rhodes kicks out! Paul cannot believe it. Paul pulls him up and shouts, “I hate you!” Paul punches away at the midsection and throws him to the corner. Rhodes boots Paul back and is gasping for air. Paul reverses whip to the corner and nearly sends him into the referee. Paul goes for an avalanche, but Rhodes moves. Paul hits the referee! Rhodes connects with a Vertebreaker and covers, but there is no referee! This match would have been over if the referee had been conscious. Rhodes checks on the referee and apologizes to him. Rhodes turns to Paul, and Paul connects with a nasty low blow. Paul takes out the brass knuckles and shouts for Rhodes to get up. Guest ring announcer Ibrahim Al Hajjaj grabs Paul’s ankle. Paul kicks him away and asks who he is.

Rhodes blocks a brass knuckle shot and says, “I’m Cody Rhodes, bitch!” Rhodes hits a trio of Cross Rhodes and pins the United States Champion to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Winner by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Champion: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes celebrates with the Undisputed WWE Championship and shakes hands with Ibrahim Al Hajjaj at ringside. Rhodes stands on the barricade and poses. Rhodes gets back in the ring and kisses the mat.

Video: WWE King and Queen of the Ring highlights


[KING OF THE RING INDEX | MAY INDEX]