The revered King and Queen of the Ring tournament is making a comeback with an exciting new format. Announced during Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce revealed that the tournament’s victors will earn a world title shot at WWE’s unique two-night SummerSlam event.
Participants in both the men’s and women’s divisions will compete in a series of intense matches, starting with a total of sixteen superstars engaged in four brand-specific Fatal Fourway bouts—two for “WWE Raw” and two for “SmackDown.” The winners from these initial rounds will move forward to the semifinals. The finals of the tournament will take place during the Night of Champions, which is set to broadcast live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28. Subsequently, both the King and Queen of the Ring will be granted title matches against their brand’s world champion during SummerSlam, scheduled at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium from August 2 to August 3.
While the participants for the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments have yet to be announced, the matches are anticipated to kick off on the upcoming episodes of “Raw” and “SmackDown” on June 9 and June 13. It remains unclear whether the title matches will be held on the first or second night of SummerSlam.
The tournaments have garnered increasing recognition within WWE in recent years. Notably, Nia Jax, the 2024 Queen of the Ring, claimed the WWE Women’s Championship from Bayley at SummerSlam 2024, while GUNTHER, the 2024 King of the Ring, triumphed over Damian Priest for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the same event. Additionally, even those who reached the finals have found success; for instance, Lyra Valkyria, a finalist in 2024, became the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
This revival of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments not only honors a storied WWE tradition but also highlights the significant opportunities it presents for participants, fostering a sense of competition and excitement among fans and wrestlers alike.