This article covers the ongoing updates of the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. The event has kicked off with top WWE superstars competing in matches leading up to the Night of Champions 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which will span two nights for the first time. The winners will earn a shot at the World Title Match at Summer Slam 2025. The tournament is spread over weeks, and results are tracked through to the Night of Champions finale on June 28.
The first round started with a new format—a fatal four-way match instead of single elimination bouts—to involve more wrestlers. Sami Zain advanced first in the King of the Ring, while Roxanne Perez took the early lead in the Queen of the Ring. The tournament began airing on June 9’s Monday Night Raw. In a highly competitive women’s fatal four-way, Roxanne Perez outmaneuvered talents like Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan despite their ongoing rivalries. On the men’s side, Sami Zain benefited from interference to secure a victory against strong competitors including Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio and Bron Breakker.
The first round continued on SmackDown, where notable names like Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s bracket, while Alexa Bliss and Jade Cargill moved forward in the women’s tournament. Highlights included Orton’s win over La Knight and an intense four-way match featuring Rhodes overcoming Shinsuke Nakamura. In the women’s quarter-finals, powerhouses clashed, with Cargill triumphing over Piper Niven and Bliss narrowly defeating Charlotte Flair.
The conclusion of the first-round matches occurred on June 16 during Raw, with Asuka making a triumphant return by winning her match. Jay Uso advanced with some help from interference, setting the stage for fierce semi-final showdowns. The Raw main event featured chaotic action culminating in Uso overcoming Bron Breakker with La Knight’s controversial assistance, showing the intense rivalries at play.
Semi-final matchups now feature Sami Zain vs. Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes vs. Jay Uso for the men, alongside Jade Cargill vs. Roxanne Perez and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka for the women. On SmackDown, Orton and Asuka moved into the tournament finals by defeating Sami Zain and Alexa Bliss, respectively. Meanwhile, the other finalists were decided on Raw, where Rhodes outlasted Uso and Cargill defeated Perez in a power-versus-speed contest.
The final matches took place on June 28 at the Night of Champions. Cody Rhodes triumphed over his former mentor Randy Orton to claim his first King of the Ring title, signaling his intent to pursue the WWE Championship at Summer Slam. On the women’s side, Jade Cargill overcame Asuka, earning her first WWE crown and a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship at the upcoming Summer Slam. This represents a major milestone for Cargill, marking her first title match after five years in the ring.
Fan Take: This tournament shakes up WWE’s landscape by spotlighting rising stars and rekindling storied rivalries, setting the stage for thrilling championship pursuits. Fans can expect fresh matchups and high-stakes battles, signaling significant shifts and exciting storytelling in WWE’s summer events.
