The WWE universe continues to buzz with excitement following the WWE Backlash in France. The show crowned new women’s tag team champions amidst thrilling matches. WWE RAW and SmackDown stars are now in contention for spots in the upcoming King and Queen of the Ring tournament qualifiers this week.
WWE RAW showdown: King and Queen of the ring tournament starts with thrilling bouts
This week’s WWE RAW takes place at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, following the Backlash fallout and the start of the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament. The episode promises a lineup of captivating matches, including the first round of the tournament bouts.
- WWE Queen of the Ring first round matches:
- Zoey Stark vs. Ivy Nile
- Shayna Baszler vs. Zelina Vega
- Lyra Valkyria vs. Asuka
- IYO SKY vs. Natalya
- WWE King of the Ring first round matches:
- Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor
- Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio
- Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov
- Gunther vs. Sheamus
WWE RAW features eight intense matches to determine qualifiers for the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. The tournament boasts a stacked lineup of superstars from the red brand. It’s intriguing to see who will advance to the second round.
At WWE Backlash, World Heavyweight Champion Damien Priest successfully defended his title against Jey Uso, who has won the championship a number of times. Due to interference from members of The Judgment Day, specifically Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, Priest managed to retain his title. However, after the match, Priest pushed Balor and McDonagh, who had attacked Jey Uso, reiterating his stance of not wanting help from The Judgment Day.
Last week on WWE RAW, Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch was confronted by Liv Morgan, who stated she’s next in line for a title shot. It will be interesting to see when Lynch and Morgan will face off for the championship.
WWE US Champion Sami Zayn faces challenges from two stars – Chad Gable and Bronson Reed. Gable, who turned on Zayn after their RAW match a few weeks ago, has been targeting him consistently. In a recent match, Gable interfered in Zayn and Reed’s bout, leading to Reed attacking Gable.
WWE SmackDown showdown: Who’s next for Cody Rhodes & Bayley, The Bloodline’s surprising addition
This week, SmackDown takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The show will showcase the fallout from WWE Backlash, although matches are yet to be announced. Fans anticipate that the upcoming days will see announcements for upcoming matches.
At WWE Backlash, Cody Rhodes defended his WWE Undisputed Championship against AJ Styles in a hard-fought battle. Rhodes emerged victorious in his title defense, sparking curiosity about his next challenger. Rhodes hinted at facing LA Knight in the WWE Backlash post-show press conference, but Knight has announced his participation in the King of the Ring tournament on SmackDown.
WWE Women’s Champion Bayley successfully defended her title against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton at Backlash. Bayley secured the victory by pinning Naomi, sparking curiosity about a potential singles match between Stratton and Bayley for the title.
WWE Backlash featured an intense opening match as Kevin Owens and Randy Orton faced The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga in a street fight. The match took a surprising turn when Tanga Loa, brother of Tama Tonga, interfered, costing Owens and Orton the win and aligning himself with The Bloodline. With this new member in the faction and Solo Sikoa as the leader, the unfolding drama in this saga promises to be captivating.
As WWE RAW gears up for the King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches, fans await the upcoming week’s announcements from WWE SmackDown regarding its match lineup for the tournament.
