WWE King and Queen of the Ring 2024 Review

Gunther v Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes v Logan Paul headline the Saudi show.

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

Solid tag match that solidifies the champions’ run. The heels work on Bianca’s leg and Belair sells it really well because she’s a boss at this shit now. The story of this was Indi/Candice cheating and using heel offense, but it not being enough to stop a super team like Cargill/Bianca. A great spot in the finish saw the faces hit their double team move and Jade looking to flex with a kip-up. But she was in Bianca’s way who wanted to pin quickly to win so Jade gets shoved out of the way in a GREAT teaching moment that could be called back to. The new tag finisher looked great and adds another layer to the team. **1/2

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan for the WWE Women’s World Championship

Decent title match but didn’t hit the next level you’d want for a PPV title match opener. It’s similar to their matches from a few years ago. Liv is desperate to prove she’s on Becky’s level but could she dig deep enough to put Lynch away? They were just hitting a nice spot with doubt starting to creep in when shenanigans started. Dominik, who’s travelled to Saudi to stop Liv from taking Rhea’s title, ended up helping her win. Is he helping Liv on purpose? Is she manipulating him? Either way, Liv beats Becky after a DDT on a steel chair (with Dom distracting the ref) and the Oblivion finishes Lynch to end her run for now. ***1/4

Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Good triple threat match with all three men excelling in their designated roles. Bronson comes into this as favourite as you could sense that Gable and Zayn’s issues could cost Sami with Reed focusing on the gold rather than the personal issues. They had a few great triple threat spots here including Zayn getting a revenge ankle lock spot on Gable but seeing Reed coming and delivering a BIG BLUE THUNDER BOMB. Another great moment was a twist on the Tower of Doom spot with Gable doing the heavy lifting to German suplex both opponents. That was awesome. This became about the Otis of it all and the screwy finish was kind of a sucky way out of it. Gable tried to get Otis to cheat, slapped the big man and ended up eating an accidental clothesline from Otis. That left Zayn one-on-one with Reed and the Helluva Kick helped him retain. I feel like the finish would have been more impactful if Gable took the pin after Otis fucked up and it would have protected Reed for a 1 v 1 against Sami. Still, good match. ***1/2

Jade and Bianca celebrate their win and tell other teams to step up.

Nia Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria

Oh this was great shit. Probably overrated this but man, I loved the dynamic. They’ve done a great job of presenting Lyra as an underdog since her call-up and now she goes up against the biggest, baddest test in Nia. Oh and the stakes are the Queen of the Ring final and a World Title shot at SummerSlam. It started with a solid control segment from Nia but picked up big time when Lyra started to put stuff together and gain momentum. She got on a roll, but could she lift Nia for the finisher? COULD SHE FUCK. Great use of facial expressions to sell the struggle and the announcers did an awesome job to sell the simple giant v underdog story. The finish is INCREDIBLE. Lyra goes to sunset bomb Nia, like Bianca did on Smackdown the night before, but Jax has learnt and just SQUASHES Lyra with a gnarly Annihilator. Damn, that finish and the match before ROCKED. ***1/2

Nia cut a celebratory promo after being handed her crown. She’s coming after the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.

Becky Lynch is having a go at Dominik backstage and wants a rematch with Liv on RAW.

Gunther vs. Randy Orton

King of the Ring final and a bit of a dream match for me. This was a lot of what I’d want out of a match between these two. Randy has all the experience in the world but apart from maybe Brock, he’s not encountered a beast like Gunther and has no real clue what to do with him. Having a guy like Orton selling doubt and caution does SO MUCH for Gunther’s aura to fans. Gunther worked over the previously injured knee and back of Orton, who sold like a champ again. 2024 has been the year of top class Randy Orton limb selling. They smartly used the injuries to tell the story of how Gunther could kick out of the RKO to protect the finisher and Orton slowly deteriorates. After the second RKO, Gunther goes for the kill because he senses danger and hits a dropkick to the injured knee and a crucifix pin gives him the World Title shot. They fucked the finish though as Orton’s shoulders are CLEARLY off the mat which brings this down. Hopefully, they get a rematch and can do even better. Gunther has booked his place in the World Title match at SummerSlam. ****

Triple H confirms that Drew McIntyre has been medically cleared and will get a World Championship match against Damian Priest…. AT CLASH IN THE CASTLE! Saudi fans thought they were getting that HAHAHAHA.

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul for the WWE Championship

We take a pause from the great AJ/Cody feud for this Saudia sideshow. That’s the only reason that Paul is in the spot when he’s got his own shit going on, but it’s a still a fun main event. They start with arm wrestling which is smart as Cody and Logan both have amateur wrestling experience that people sleep on. Logan’s cockiness is ramped up and previously, Cody would have lost his shit but now, he’s composed and not falling for the gameplan as easily. A really simple thing but it does a lot to put him over as better now he’s the top guy. Cody decides to outwrestle him, but Logan does have the advantage with impactful aerial move. Cody sells a rib injury and the usual Logan shenanigans means Cody eats a Brass Knucks shot to the ribs. Here’s where the match runs into a wall though as it lacks focus. There’s a few different story threads (amateur wrestling experience, cockiness v composure, ribs, brass knucks) but none of it is really fleshed out enough to get the most out of it. Logan’s drone camera drive looked fucking sick though. Cody busted out the VERTEBREAKER for a near fall and it takes multiple Cross Rhodes to put Logan away. AJ Styles loses to one finisher, but Logan needs everything but the kitchen sink to lose? BOOOOO. ***1/2