[intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Cole] This is France's third largest city.
Welcome to Lyon.
This is the largest gate of any arena show in WWE history.
[Corey] Backlash in Lyon, France, here we go!
[hip-hop music playing]
[Cole] The bell hasn't even rung!
[speaking French]
[Corey in English] It's a street fight!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Tonga Loa!
That's Tama Tonga's brother!
Bloodline rules!
It's The Kabuki Warriors,
put the gold on the line against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] What a display of athleticism!
Jaded! K.O.D.!
New Tag Team Champions!
A Triple Threat Match.
The first woman to gain pinfall or submission will win
the WWE Women's Title.
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Bayley got her! -[bell rings]
[Cole] The "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
going against AJ Styles for the first time ever.
[crowd singing] ♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪
♪ I am my Kingdom ♪
[cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] How deep will Cody Rhodes be able to dig?
[Corey] Cody Rhodes may now lead us fearlessly into the new era.
[crowd cheering]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[crowd singing]
[Corey] I've never felt anything like this.
[crowd singing] ♪ Day one ish It's just me, Uce ♪
[Corey] It's like the walls are moving. This is nuts!
The onus is on the Champion Damian Priest
to set the tone for what his title reign will mean to WWE.
Oh, look who's here.
What are you doing here?
-[Corey] Finn Bálor. -[Cole] The Judgment Day is here.
Spear
Top rope!
Uso Splash!
Oh, my goodness!
JD McDonagh just saved the Championship.
This is three-on-one out here.
South of Heaven from the ropes!
Damian Priest retains.
[crowd booing]
[Corey] And Damian Priest has been adamant
"I want to do this on my own."
But in the end,
a show of solidarity.
["The Other Side" playing]
[Cole] Welcome, everybody to Monday Night Raw.
[fireworks crackle]
[announcer] Please welcome JD McDonagh,
Dominik Mysterio,
Finn Bálor,
and the World Heavyweight Champion,
El Campeón, Damian Priest,
The Judgment Day!
[Cole] Hello again. I'm Michael Cole, joined by Pat McAfee at ringside
in a historic night tonight
as the World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest kicks us off.
It is round number one
of the of both the Queen and King of the Ring Tournaments.
First off, let's take a look at the Queen of the Ring.
This is the Women's Tournament.
There will be three first-round match-ups here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
The fourth will take place over the weekend at a live event.
Of course, SmackDown will host its own first-round Tournament match-ups
on Friday.
Also tonight, three first-round match-ups in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Another will take place at the live event this weekend,
However, Drew McIntyre,
we have breaking news for you tonight.
Drew McIntyre will not be a part of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce earlier today,
saying that Drew is not medically cleared to compete in tonight's events.
[McAfee] I'm bummed out about that.
Bummed out.
But so be it.
Let's find some royalty.
[crowd booing]
"Main Event" Jey Uso.
[McAfee] Yeet!
You guys love him, huh?
[McAfee] Yeet!
Well, it seems to me
that the entire country of France loved him too.
But in the end,
that didn't matter because I'm still your World Heavyweight Champion.
So all rise for el campeón!
[McAfee] A lot of people still seated.
Now I feel the need to speak
about what went down with The Judgment Day at Backlash.
Listen, big man.
I'm sure we went over this a hundred times.
Look, when me and JD apologized after Backlash, we meant it.
We're sorry.
We're good.
I get the apology. We're fine. But that's not what I'm talKing about.
I need to address what went down after the match.
I need everybody to know.
I want to do this publicly because what went down after the match,
that was on me,
I lost my cool.
You guys were there to help me,
support me, make sure I stayed Champion, and I am.
So for that…
Like it or not, I am.
[crowd booing]
And for that, guys, sincerely,
I'm sorry and thank you.
JD,
I do appreciate you, man.
And, Finn,
you're my brother, dawg.
[crowd booing]
[McAfee] Oh, great.
Great.
All right, all right. Enough.
Back to business.
Because I'm still el campeón.
We're still the most dominant faction in this entire damn business.
And Finn Bálor is your next King of the Ring.
Oh, yeah.
And seen as poor old Drew McIntyre isn't medically cleared tonight,
guess who gets their first-round bye in the King of the Ring Tournament?
And Me!
[laughing]
And, boys, you know what that means?
You know what that means?
That's the first step in the prince becoming a King.
-[laughs] -Bow down to the King.
Yeah. So, Samantha, I need you to stand up.
-I need you to walk over here-- -[man] Hold on, hold on.
-Hold on, hold on, hold on. -What?
Who is that?
What are you doing here?
Finn, I feel like you might be confused.
Yes, Drew McIntyre is out of the Tournament,
but you are not getting a first round bye.
-[Finn] What? -[McAfee] Okay.
[crowd cheering]
[Adam] You don't like it? Well, that's too damn bad,
you don't run Monday Night Raw, I do.
Being crowned King of the Ring is one of the biggest honors in WWE.
So if you're going to win it,
you're damn sure going to earn it.
So Judgment Day, clear the ring,
because what happened at Backlash will not happen tonight.
Finn Bálor, your match is next,
and your new opponent…
is "Main Event" Jey Uso!
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -[McAfee laughs] Yes!
We're Yeeting early, Hartford!
Yeah, Cole!
[Cole] Thank God you're back. I don't have to do it tonight.
[McAfee] You look good Yeeting, Cole.
First time you got that Yeet!
[Cole] I still got it even at my age.
[McAfee] Yeah, dawg!
You bulldog!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
Whoo!
[Cole] Great move by our general manager,
making sure Finn Bálor doesn't get a first-round bye.
[McAfee] I didn't get the French Yeet,
but I'll American Yeet every Monday night, baby!
"Main Event" Jey Uso will kick off
the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament
against Finn Bálor.
[McAfee] We're yeeting all over Judgment Day in Hartford.
[Cole] Hey, that human Funko Pop, JD McDonagh,
was just telling you to sit down, Pat.
[theme music continues]
[McAfee] Hell yeah!
Lotta Yeeting here, huh?
Oh!
[Cole] Incredible scene tonight in Hartford.
"Main Event" Jey Uso, Finn Bálor, first-round King of the Ring Tournament,
live, next!
[McAfee] You earned it, Jey!
[Cole] And we are back live on Monday Night Raw.
This is the start of the 23rd King of the Ring Tournament.
Finn Bálor, "Main Event" Jey Uso
kick off the first round.
Drew McIntyre was supposed to be a part of this match-up.
A quick roll-up and a kick-out.
McIntyre, though, not physically able to compete, so Jey Uso takes his place.
[McAfee] The world rejoiced whenever they heard the Yeet machine
come out here to start Monday Night Raw and the King of the Ring Tourney.
[Cole] Jey Uso off a spectacular Backlash…
Cover, and a kick-out.
…against Damian Priest before Judgment Day would get involved,
ensuring that Priest would remain the World Heavyweight Champion.
[McAfee speaking French]
[in English] …jealous that you got to experience Backlash
over there in Lyon as you're French Yeeting all over the place.
[Cole] Just an incredible event, an incredible atmosphere,
incredible audience,
as Jey Uso now rolls up, Bálor's shoulders down
trying to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament, and a kick-out.
Uso knocked off Finn Bálor a couple of weeks ago, Pat.
So mentally, Uso could be in Bálor's head.
[McAfee] But Finn Bálor attacked him after the bell
just a couple of days ago in France,
so there's a lot of different ways you can heal it,
we'll have to find out as the match goes on.
Jey obviously went through a hell of a battle with el campeón
just 48 hours ago, so…
[Cole] The King of the Ring Tournament started way back in 1985.
Hall of Famer Don Muraco,
the first ever King of the Ring.
[crowd yells] Yeet!
[Cole] Uso, Bálor would love to follow in those footsteps.
Uso up over the top, lands on his feet!
A big right hand to Bálor, and down goes Finn.
[crowd yells] Yeet!
[McAfee] Perfectly timed Yeets in Hartford.
[Cole] Pat, did you buy into the love fest for The Judgment Day
as we kicked off the show tonight, considering their issues
after the match-up on Saturday?
[McAfee] It seems like they always
got to have a kiss and makeup situation with them.
[Cole] Cover by Bálor off the basement dropkick,
and a kick-out by Uso at two.
[McAfee] A lot of Alpha attitudes in Judgment Day.
[Cole] Except for Dom.
[McAfee] Yeah, exactly. That's…
I mean, it could all-- All roads lead back to Dom,
like, the worst one.
But there's no way they're going to be able to stay on the same page.
They've been fighting for months, seemingly, within.
And after the match, they attack each other. They're just…
You can hang tonight but it might be over by the end of the evening.
I mean, that's Judgment Day football.
[Cole] Bálor looks like he hasn't eaten a carb in months.
[McAfee] That's the thing. His taste buds are the most miserable,
but his body looks damn good.
[Cole] And now the chinlock applied to Jey Uso,
wrestling him down to the mat.
[McAfee] Finn's been a World Champion before.
Definitely worthy of becoming a prince to a King.
[Cole] Yeah. First ever Universal Champion, Finn Bálor.
[McAfee] Oh, could you imagine King Yeet? What a Kingdom that would be.
[Cole] Better than King Tut.
[grunting and groaning]
[Cole] Who also had his own song back in the day.
[McAfee] I just thought we were bringing up that King Tut is dead.
Breaking news.
[Cole] Finn Bálor now, controlling Jey Uso.
And this is wise by Bálor.
Ground Uso, don't allow him to pick up the pace
and dictate the pace in this match.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Uso!
[Cole] And the WWE fans firmly in the corner of Jey Uso
at the XL Center in Hartford tonight.
Oh! Chop by Finn Bálor.
A body punch by Bálor as well.
[McAfee] Bálor dropping the champ out of this place,
the XL Center here in Hartford.
Jeez!
[Cole] Cover by Bálor.
Looking to advance in the Tournament.
and Jey's got a kick-out at two.
[McAfee] He's trying to bop the Yeet out of Jey. That's the case here for Finn.
[Cole] Indeed.
[McAfee] Bopping all over, trying to overpower him, strike him down,
beat him down.
Knows he went through a battle with el campeón.
But becoming a King is not easy.
Bring up King Tut, obviously.
In WWE, you can win your way to becoming a damn King.
[Cole] King of the Ring Tournament, of course, is where Austin 3:16 was born.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
a former King of the Ring Tournament winner,
As Bálor is sent outside the ring,
and Uso looking to build some momentum here.
Jey, suicide dive! Down goes Bálor!
[McAfee] The Cerebral Assassin, The King of Kings' also a former
King of the Ring winner.
Jey Uso would love to be King Yeet.
[Cole] Bálor trying to fight his way back to his feet.
[crowd chanting] Yeet!
[Cole] The Yeets echoing throughout the arena.
And Bálor, gonna…
[McAfee] Smart. He's intelligent.
[Cole] …roll out of the ring and look to take a breath.
Some people might say, you know, uh, cowardice,
but it is intelligent, even if Jey--
[Cole] Here comes Uso! Caught right in the midsection by Bálor!
[McAfee] Big time right.
[Cole] And now Bálor,
sending Jey Uso into the post!
And Bálor now…
And Uso, right over across the announce table.
And Finn Bálor has taken over.
[crowd booing]
[McAfee] Look at the little baby-stroking Yeet he's got there.
You're embarrassing yourself, Finn!
[Cole] King of the Ring first round continues.
-We are back live on Monday Night Raw. -[crowd chanting] Yeet!
[Cole] Round one Tournament match-up for the King of the Ring.
It is Jey Uso and Finn Bálor, and Jey has turned things around, Pat,
during the commercial break.
Oh! Had turned things around before Finn Bálor capitalized.
[McAfee] Finn's face was taking a pummeling and somehow he flips it on…
Uso's head.
[Cole] A night of King and Queen of the Ring Tournament
first-round match-ups.
Big chop by Bálor, snapmere takedown of Jey Uso,
and now Bálor has him where he wants him!
Basement drop kick again.
For the win by Bálor.
Cover, hooks the leg.
Kick-out of two near fall.
This was earlier on and how Finn Bálor turned this one around.
[McAfee] Dropping him right on his face on the top of the turnbuckle.
That's the veteran savviness from Finn Bálor.
A lot of years in the ring right now.
[Cole] And punishing Jey Uso who went through a grueling match-up
just 48 hours ago in Lyon, France, against Damian Priest
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[McAfee] He was also attacked by Finn and JD McDonagh,
but all of Hartford is looking for him to get going.
[Cole] Crowd firmly in Uso's corner tonight.
[McAfee] Seems like that's gonna be the case no matter where WWE goes
in the entire world.
Finn Bálor doesn't care about any of that.
[Cole] Uso, able to block and catch Bálor with a right hand.
Another one.
[crowd chanting] Yeet!
[Cole] Now Jey, firing back.
[McAfee] Ooh.
[Cole] Starting to feel it.
[crowd yells] Yeet!
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] Finn Bálor is in a blender right now.
[Cole] Oh, and Bálor sends Jey out to the apron.
Jey Uso catches him with a kick.
Jey up top. Top rope.
Crossbody lateral press to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament!
And a kick-out at two, near fall for Uso.
[McAfee] And remember, Jey Uso had no idea he was going to be in this match.
Now he's half a second away from moving on to become the King of the Ring.
[Cole] Bálor can barely make it-- couldn't even make it to his feet.
They're stumbling all over the place.
[McAfee] I mean, he just got Yeeted in the mouth.
[Cole] He's about to get a mouth full of something else.
[crowd chanting] Yeet, Yeet, Yeet!
[Cole] Trying to back it up, and Bálor exploding out of the corner
and intercepting Jey Uso.
[McAfee] Maybe three to four too many Yeets there.
Finn, he felt it coming, obviously, a little telegraphed.
[Cole] Yeah. The veteran Bálor taking over and now stomping away on Jey Uso.
[McAfee] He has this ruthlessness about him.
-[yelling] -[crowd booing]
I don't hear none of you now!
[McAfee] You hear his Irish accent. You see he's super handsome.
But this guy will do whatever it takes to get to the top.
[Cole] And Bálor raked the eyes of Jey Uso.
Is this enough to put him away?
And another near fall.
And Bálor, beginning to get frustrated that he hasn't been able to put Uso away.
[McAfee] Yeah, he thought he'd just advance
because Drew McIntyre had to withdraw.
Instead, he gets Jey Uso in the first round.
[Cole] Went for the sling blade, Jey Uso able to intercept.
Jey Uso now, ducks underneath.
Went for the kick. Caught him.
There's the uppercut.
Superkick, knocks down Finn Bálor.
[McAfee] Perfectly positioned.
[Cole] Jey, going up top!
Went for the Uso Splash, has to roll through.
Bálor drives him into the corner.
-[McAfee] Now look where Jey Uso is. -[Cole] In the drop zone.
[McAfee] "Anything you can do I can do," says Judgment Day's Finn Bálor.
[Cole] Bálor looking for the Coup de Grace,
and Jey rolls out of harm's way.
Spear!
Cover!
[crowd] One, two--
[Cole] Bálor kicks at two!
[McAfee] He's a tough Irishman, isn't he?
A near fall, almost advancing in the Tournament
was "Main Event" Jey Uso as we take another look.
And now-- Oh, look who's here.
Drew McIntyre, who was pulled out of this Tournament
because he wasn't medically cleared, has now marched his way down to the ring.
And it's got to be-
Oh, Bálor from behind, trying to steal one off the distraction here.
And Jey's got a kick-out.
Sling Blade!
McIntyre's got to be irate that of all people,
Jey Uso, who's been a problem for him for months,
has replaced him in this Tournament.
Oh, spear by Uso!
Almost cut Bálor in half,
-and Jey Uso advances! -[bell rings]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
"Main Event" Jey Uso!
[Cole] And things continue to fall apart for "The Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre.
That backfired on McIntyre as Jey Uso advances
into the second round of the King of the Ring Tournament.
A man with a chip on his shoulder.
He was very angry on The Pat McAfee Show last week
[McAfee] Drew McIntyre certainly said a lot of things about a lot of people,
but I don't think anybody's disappointed
that Jey Uso moves along in the King of the Ring Tournament.
What the hell is Drew doing here, though?
[Cole] Doesn't like Jey Uso. He's made that very clear.
[McAfee] How could you not like Yeeting?
[Cole] The Queen of the Ring Tournament will kick off tonight.
There is "The Pitbull" Ivy Nile
with the biggest opportunity of her career,
with standing in Ivy Nile's way,
the very unpredictable, the very aggressive Zoey Stark.
Zoey Stark, Ivy Nile square off
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament tonight.
["Born To Be" playing]
[Cole] And the World Champ's here!
[McAfee] The Man has come around to Hartford
for a one-on-one interview with Michael Cole!
Can't wait!
[Cole] Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the capital of Connecticut,
Hartford,
the home tonight of Monday Night Raw,
which is presented by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
only in theaters, Friday.
Our main event tonight, a first-round match-up
in the men's King of the Ring Tournament,
the renewal of a tremendous rivalry between Sheamus and Gunther.
[McAfee] That's to come.
[Cole] Two of the most physical men to ever grace the WWE ring.
Gunther and Sheamus for the Intercontinental Title.
This is going to be a war!
Slamming him on the steps!
And now Sheamus has Gunther where he wants him.
The back gave out as he went for the Brogue.
Powerbomb!
Gunther with a wicked lariat!
The Ring General still reigns as your Intercontinental Champion.
One of the most physical battles I ever witnessed.
And tonight, they renew the rivalry.
Gunther, Sheamus, first-round match in the men's King of the Ring Tournament,
live, tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Jey Uso of all people.
You watched Punk screw me at the number one tender match
and took advantage of it. You're going to reward them,
putting them in my spot.
It's not about Jey Uso. It's about your arm.
I don't care about my arm. I told you that.
I'm going to tape it up like a real man
-unlike Punk and push forward. -Stop!
Everybody thought you were fine until you told the world you weren't.
So I have medical check on you, and I'm the bad guy?
No, your arm is not fine, and you are not medically cleared to compete.
It's that simple.
You know what, screw you.
-I'm sick of this BS going on around here. -You're welcome.
[engine revs]
[crowd cheering]
You're late.
-I know, I know. -That way.
-It's been a weekend, -I bet.
Uh, where's Drew?
Are you serious?
You just missed him, thank God.
Yes.
All right. Um, can you do me a favor?
You tell the truck to play my music. I got something to say.
I think I can do that.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, thank God, Punk got out of Headquarters.
[McAfee] Trapped. He's trapped up there, 48 hours.
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
-[Gable yelling] -How about those maple leaves, Redmond?
[yelling continues]
["Cult Of Personality" playing]
Take it easy. Take it easy.
♪ Look in my eyes, what do you see? ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
♪ I know your anger, I know your dreams ♪
♪ I've been everything you wanna be ♪
♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality… ♪
-It's… -[crowd yells] …Clobberin' Time!
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
CM Punk!
[Cole] Can you imagine when Drew McIntyre finds out that he missed Punk
by about three seconds?
[McAfee] Same exact story as last week for Drew McIntyre chasing this man,
CM Punk, who's trapped in WWE Headquarters
over the weekend and now he's got something to say
per ush.
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] Arm looks good.
Body looks good.
Spirits look high.
[Cole] Did a great job on the Backlash Countdown Show
this weekend, along with Big E and Jackie Redmond.
[theme music continues]
[music stops]
[crowd chanting] CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk!
Is it good to be alive on a Monday night in Hartford, Connecticut or what?
[crowd cheering]
My apologies for showing up a little bit late.
I've had… I've had a weekend.
I got locked inside Headquarters
in Stamford, and by the time I got out, which was just a few short hours ago,
it dawned on me that we were in the XL Center.
So I drove straight here to be with you beautiful maniacs.
[crowd cheering]
I also drove here to get into a fight with Drew McIntyre,
but apparently he has left the building.
[crowd booing]
So, Pat McAfee, last week you recall I said, just to get under Drew's skin
as he sat in the cheap seats,
I said, "I can do my business in a shorter amount of time
than he was World Heavyweight Champion," which is…
five minutes and 46 seconds. Right?
[McAfee] Bingo. Bingo.
Not that I'm trying to make that a thing or anything,
but five minutes, 46 seconds.
Since I came to pick a fight, and since he left,
this is not going to be a popular decision,
but what if today we go over time?
What if I stay here long enough
for Drew to come back?
Because, you know, you know,
he's at a red light right now. He just left.
And you know, he's not texting his wife.
He's scrolling through Twitter.
So please, get your phones out,
-take your pictures. You too, Pat. -[McAfee] Yep, got you. I'm gonna do it.
Tweet at him right now that I am live
and in living color right here!
And if he's not a coward,
and I know that's a big ask,
if Drew McIntyre is not a coward, he will turn around
and he will come back to this building.
And in this ring, on top of the ice
that Gordie Howe skated on for the Hartford Whalers…
[crowd cheering]
…he can catch the beating that he deserves!
-[Cole] Are you really tweeting? -[McAfee] Yeah, I just tweeted him…
The service isn't as great here
as you would hope for in this type of situation, but…
[crowd chanting] CM Punk!
I mean what I say, ladies and gentlemen, I will hold this show hostage.
So… I would ask you guys what you want to talk about to kill some time,
but that's somebody else's deal.
So…
I'll ask you this. Can I tell you a story?
[crowd cheering]
All right.
It's a little bit of a recap, if you will. Back in January,
inside the Royal Rumble,
Drew McIntyre DDT'd me so hard that I posted my arm
to prevent the brunt of the damage going to my neck,
and I tore my tricep off the bone.
And I was heartbroken.
You were too. Thank you.
I thought…
Drew ruined my WrestleMania dreams.
But I had a good cry about it.
I had a great surgery.
I picked myself back up and I realized that Drew McIntyre didn't ruin anything.
If anything, he postponed my WrestleMania dreams.
Maybe delayed is a better word.
Because in baseball, they call me a five-tool player.
I can do everything.
I can do commentary, and that's what I did at WrestleMania.
Five-tool player, Drew McIntyre just a tool.
[commentators chuckling]
And we're waiting
For weeks that turn into months,
I have to tune in to this show that I was excited to be back on,
and listen to this guy run his mouth about how he prayed
for me to be injured, and he's proud that I'm injured.
But he prayed for this.
He picked a fight. He picked a very personal fight
with the pettiest man on the roster.
[McAfee laughs]
Maybe even on Earth.
And I said last week I'd make his life a living hell.
That's exactly what I plan on doing.
But his bitching and complaining went from,
"I injured CM Punk" to "CM Punk ruined my WrestleMania plans."
"CM Punk ruined my title aspirations."
"CM Punk broke my elbow."
He's a hater. He hates the way I look.
He hates the way I walk.
He hates the way I talk.
But when I tune in, all he does is talk about me.
All he does is sit in the ring like me.
All he does is try to speak like me.
He tries to be me.
And it dawned on me
that, Drew McIntyre,
do you hate me
or do you hate yourself?
[McAfee] Ooh!
Because you're a choke artist.
Not like how I'm a choke artist, Pat.
[chuckling] Two very different things.
[McAfee] Guillotine. Yeah.
Drew McIntyre prayed for this.
I am the unforgiving consequences to his actions.
Drew,
you prayed for this and I broke your elbow.
And if you show up now,
or the next time I see you,
I'm gonna break your face.
[crowd cheering]
And then I'm going to break your heart.
[McAfee] Aw.
And all this praying you do,
I don't know if you're a God-fearing man,
but the fact that you haven't shown up yet
tells me that there is one thing that you fear.
One name, three syllables,
CM…
[crowd yells] Punk!
["Cult Of Personality" playing]
[McAfee] Hell yeah.
I will find you.
If you make me go to Glasgow, Scotland,
I'm gonna be hiding in a bowl of haggis,
and I'm pop out and I'm gonna break your face.
[Cole] CM Punk continues to live in Drew McIntyre's head.
[McAfee] Drew might have got stuck in traffic.
He might not have seen it.
But in CM Punk's eyes,
The Scottish Warrior no-showed him tonight in Hartford.
Big tweet.
I'm here with Ricochet, who has been on an absolute tear
in singles competition as of late.
Tonight, you have a King of the Ring qualifying match
against Ilja Dragunov.
What will be your biggest challenge in facing him for the first time?
You know, that's very interesting because although I am very aware
of Ilja Dragunov and everything that he accomplished in NXT,
this is King of the Ring.
Tonight is my chance.
Tonight is the first step to defining a legacy for myself--
[man] Ricochet, hey.
-[laughs] How are you, brother? -What's up?
Good to see you, my friend. Good to see ya.
I'm glad to have you back.
It's good to be home.
Excuse me. Braun, while you're here, I wanted to ask you,
why did you interject in Judgment Day's business last week?
Because I always will be the one that stands up for the little guy.
I can't stand bullies.
This isn't about me. This is about him right now,
going out there and reminding everyone why they call you "King" Ricochet.
-Go get em, kiddo. -Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Braun.
[Cole] Ricochet and Dragunov later on tonight.
Meanwhile, we kick off the…
["Tokyo Shock" playing]
[Cole] …Tournament for the women.
The Queen of the Ring.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a first-round match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament!
Introducing first, representing Damage CTRL,
from Tokyo, Japan,
Iyo Sky!
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, the WWE Draft takes full effect tonight.
Iyo Sky and Damage CTRL are here.
Iyo Sky, Natalya, first-round match-up in the Queen of the Ring Tournament,
live, next.
We are back live on Monday Night Raw. Iyo Sky, the former WWE Women's Champion,
first-round match-up in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
["New Foundation" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And her opponent from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
Natalya!
[Cole] The veteran Natalya set to take on Iyo Sky here tonight
in this first-round match-up.
Ladies and gentlemen, tickets for WWE SummerSlam
at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday,
August 3rd go on sale this Thursday via Ticketmaster.
Use exclusive code SUMMER24
to access pre-sale tickets starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Eastern.
[McAfee] SUMMER24 is the code.
[Cole] Natalya, very emotional social media earlier today,
talKing about this first-round match-up.
[McAfee] Yeah, she's dedicating this to her favorite King of the Ring,
whose birthday would be tomorrow, Owen Hart.
-[bell rings] -[McAfee] Said this is, uh,
extra special, obviously, in the Queen of the Ring tourney,
picKing on Iyo who's a dream match, and…
be a dream title to win, the Queen of the Ring.
[Cole] Yeah. First time these two have ever met one-on-one in the ring.
Iyo Sky, the former WWE Women's Champion, of course.
Former Money in the Bank, would cash in to win the title, and then,
lose that Championship to Bayley at WrestleMania.
Congratulations to Bayley. Successful in the Triple Threat
at Backlash this weekend.
Cover by Natalya and a kick-out by Iyo Sky.
[McAfee] Iyo Sky, former Champion. Natalya, obviously,
world record holder multiple times in here.
Both tacticians in the ring would both be great Queens of the Ring.
First and only Queen of the Ring
won the Queen's Crown Tournament back in 2021, Zelina Vega.
Nice take down by Natalya to Iyo Sky.
[McAfee] It's such a smooth roll into a leglock.
Always constantly putting pressure on you, Natalya.
[Cole] We saw Damage CTRL at ringside,
now a part of Monday Night Raw.
Taken by Raw on the Draft that takes effect tonight, officially.
[McAfee] Some menaces have joined Monday Night Raw
in the form of Damage CTRL.
But they're great in the ring.
[Cole] And now Natalya,
gonna soften up Iyo Sky, perhaps, look for the Sharpshooter.
[McAfee] Yeah, that would be…
pretty iconic, obviously.
[Cole] Made famous by, of course, the two-time King of the Ring winner,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
[McAfee] So many legends have won
this ring royalty Tournament.
[Cole] Well, you cannot forget about King Booker and Queen Sharmell.
Oh, and big right hand by Iyo Sky,
dropping Natalya back middle of the ring.
Natalya now, baseball slide to the floor.
Iyo fighting back and the Genius of the Sky.
[McAfee] Iyo called an audible there mid-flight to read Natalya
as she moonsaults!
[Cole] Nobody home as Natalya moved out of harm's way.
Iyo landed on her feet, however, and Natalya is going to capitalize,
driving Iyo into the ring apron,
oh, and a kick to Iyo as well.
[McAfee] The power of Natalya, bending Iyo Sky over the side of the ring.
[Cole] Natalya into the ring. Cover now on Sky, hook of the leg!
Iyo's got a kick at two.
[McAfee] What was that French chant after two?
[Cole] I couldn't figure any of it out.
[McAfee] Me neither, but it sounded awesome.
And I think they were stating, "This is awesome."
[Cole] It was so loud in the building in Lyon.
-[McAfee] You're deaf and you're saying-- -[Cole] Oh!
More deaf tonight.
Natalya, hung up on the second rope.
Dakota Kai,
cheering on Iyo.
Iyo, springboard!
[McAfee] That's Damage CTRL for you.
[Cole] Off that missile dropkick, Natalya kicks at two!
First-round match-up continues on Raw.
First round match-up, Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Natalya, Iyo Sky, one-on-one here live on Monday Night Raw
from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL at ringside, looking on.
Iyo, the former WWE Women's Champion.
Natalya! Great move. Michinoku Driver.
Is it enough to put her away? Hook of the leg now.
And a kick-out by Sky at two.
Watch this.
-[yelling] -[Cole] There's the power of Natalya.
[McAfee] Last graduating class of the Hart Dungeon, Natalya,
would love to be the Queen of the Ring.
[Cole] Iyo, heading up to the top rope, Natalya, gonna meet her there.
The veteran Natalya
[McAfee] Huge rights.
[Cole] Two-time Champion, one-time Tag Champ.
[yelling]
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] Doing this for Owen Hart.
[Cole] Natalya, top rope, superplex!
Into the cover to advance in the Tournament
And a kick-out!
[McAfee] What a superplex by Natalya.
Top rope!
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] That's a long way down!
[Cole] Critical point in the match-up as Dakota Kai looks on.
Iyo Sky, still smarting from the superplex delivered by Natalya moments ago.
[McAfee] They're going to do anything to get the crown.
[Cole] Capacity crowd here tonight in Hartford.
And Iyo Sky, looking for a submission on Natalya,
trying to turn it around here.
Natalya, in trouble, center of the ring!
[screaming]
[Cole] Will Natalya tap out?
[McAfee] What a reversal.
[Cole] Natalya trying to fight out of this, but nowhere to go!
Deep, deep trouble!
Iyo Sky, locking it in, and Natalya, trying to make it back to a vertical base.
[McAfee] Good power from Natalya getting out of the STF.
Whoa.
[Cole] Shoulders. Oh, Iyo with a stomp!
[McAfee] Roll through stomp.
[yelling]
-[McAfee] Natalya-- -[Cole] And Sky!
Drop kick to the face of Natalya.
Cover now by Sky. Hook of the leg.
Kick-out by Natalya at two.
[screaming]
[McAfee] Iyo Sky thought she had it.
I think Hartford did too.
[screaming]
[McAfee] What's she thinKing now, Cole?
[Cole] Trying to hook Natalya here, who's able to counter.
Shoulders down now. Nice roll through.
A counter. Another counter.
[McAfee] Wait a second…
[Cole] Oh, pick the legs, did Iyo Sky.
[McAfee] Wait a minute.
-[Cole] Oh, look at this. -[Iyo Sky screaming]
[Cole] Natalya, powering into a sitout powerbomb!
Cover for the win,
and a kick-out by Sky!
What a move by Natalya, almost putting Iyo away!
[McAfee] Counter, counter, counter, powerbomb!
[Cole] Look at this.
[McAfee] Sitout powerbomb! Deep hook!
[yelling]
[McAfee] Somehow Iyo Sky gets out.
[Cole] And now, Natalya realizes she's got the momentum in this match-up,
Bringing Iyo to the corner, setting her up top rope now.
Iyo, roll through, shoulders down now, and Natalya, stomp.
Natalya moves out of harm's way. Iyo may have hurt her knee.
Roll-up by Natalya again. Iyo grabs the ropes.
Dakota Kai now, on the apron.
Natalya telling Dakota to stay out of it.
[McAfee] "Sit down," she said, "Birthday girl."
Sharpshooter time. Iyo, great counter
driving Natalya neck first into the turnbuckle.
[McAfee] That was brilliant.
[Cole] And Iyo Sky with the double knees!
And Iyo says, "That's it."
And the Genius of the Sky.
Up to the top rope!
Moonsault!
-Cover! -[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Iyo Sky advances! -[bell rings]
[McAfee] Help from Damage CTRL.
-["Tokyo Shock" playing] -[announcer] Here is your winner,
Iyo Sky!
[Cole] Great match-up, first time ever between Iyo Sky and Natalya.
But in the end, the former WWE Women's Champion with the win.
A thing of beauty.
[McAfee] Absolutely. Picture perfect Moonsault to put Natalya away,
and Damage CTRL, the newest members of Raw,
are undefeated here.
[Cole] As we update the Queen of the Ring Tournament brackets,
with Iyo Sky advancing now to the second round.
Again, we've talked all night long about the prestige of being named
both the King and Queen of the Ring.
Hall of Famers
have won this coveted title over the years.
Two years ago,
we took over Raw when we took out Becky Lynch.
And now we're back
to put everyone on notice.
Iyo just dominated her match tonight for the Queen of the Ring Tournament,
and I will stand in for Asuka, who's unfortunately injured,
to take on the "Bird Lady" Lyra.
[crowd yells] What?
What? What? What?
[crowd yells] What?
If you suck, say what?
[crowd yells] What?
[McAfee laughs] She did get them.
But now that we're here,
I'm gonna give a warning for free.
Jade, Bianca, enjoy those tag titles while you still have them.
And as for you, Becky,
once you're done with your charity case, Liv Morgan,
we will be back to take everything whether you like it or not!
[Cole] Again, Asuka's hurt, so Dakota Kai will replace her
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
See, Kairi Sane, they're not in a good mood
after her and Asuka were defeated by Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
for the Women's Championship, Tag Team Championship
this past Saturday at Backlash.
Yeah, and obviously, Backlash was alive, as is the King and Queen Tournament.
What an honor it is to be here.
The next first-round match-up coming your way
in the King of the Ring Tournament features this man, The Mad Dragon.
Oh.
[solemn music playing]
[Ilja] There is no pain
you can inflict that I haven't already consumed within…
myself.
[intense music playing]
I drink from the chalice of suffering…
until hell…
feels like…
home.
I am…
Ilja Dragunov.
["Death Waltz" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Moscow, Russia,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Ilja Dragunov!
[Cole] Pat, Triple H called this man an enigma.
Quote as dedicated and intense competitor to ever enter the squared circle.
In response, Dragunov said this,
"I'm not intense. I am intensity."
[McAfee] That hell feels like home?
Got a symphony of chaos
accompanying him to the ring.
I'm excited to watch this.
-Now, here's the Monday Night Highlight. -["It's About to Go Down" playing]
[Cole] The Highlight of the Night!
♪ It's about to go down ♪
[fireworks crackle]
[announcer] And his opponent from Las Vegas, Nevada,
weighing in at 207 pounds,
Ricochet!
[Cole] This is gonna be a barnburner.
Ricochet and Dragunov, first-round match-up,
King of the Ring Tournament.
And Ricochet, celebrating.
As the first WWE Speed Champion.
Incredible picture sent out by Triple H on X congratulating Ricochet.
New season of Speed begins this coming Wednesday on X.
[McAfee] There's no better champion or representative
of WWE Speed than Ricochet.
I'm excited to watch him fly around
with Ilja Dragunov's ground and pound,
-big strike mentality. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Ricochet said, "This is the King of the Ring."
"My opportunity, my chance for my legacy."
Against Ilja Dragunov, who joins Monday Night Raw
after being drafted from NXT last week.
[McAfee] "Hell feels like home."
[Cole] Ricochet lands on his feet.
Dragunov the former NXT Champion.
Missed with a kick. Ricochet, oh, runs into a chop by Dragunov.
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] Kip-up from the Speed Champion.
Yep, you're going to be dealing with a lot of that, Ilja.
[Cole] Oh! And what a chop,
stopping Ricochet in his tracks.
[McAfee] Wow.
[Cole] Now, waistlock and Ricochet with an elbow of his own.
This will be a fast-paced match-up.
Step-up enzuigiri by Dragunov.
And Ricochet! You hear that impact?
[McAfee] Flying knee to Dragunov's jaw!
[Cole] First-round tournament match-up, King of the Ring continues.
First-round King of the Ring Tournament match-up.
Ricochet and Ilja Dragunov here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Been hard-hitting, been fast-paced, much like advertised.
Ah, Ricochet, with a kick now on the face of Dragunov.
[McAfee] Our Speed Champion…
-[Cole] Ah, what a leap. -[grunting]
[McAfee] …hitting a different gear.
[Cole] Crossbody by Ricochet, taking down Dragunov.
Here's the cover now by Ricochet on that standing Shooting Star,
and a kick-out by Dragunov.
Again, look at Ricochet just exploding off the top rope,
catching Ilja with a flying clothesline.
[McAfee] He's so comfortable in the sky.
Standing Shooting Star Press
almost ending this King of the Ring Tournament Match.
[Cole] Dragunov with a kick to the face.
As physical and rough as they come. German suplex!
[McAfee] From the Russian.
[Cole] And keeps the arms locked around the waist.
And another one to Ricochet.
Look at the intensity in the eyes of Dragunov.
[McAfee] Ricochet needs to find a way to get out of the grasp of the Russian.
-[Cole] That's one way to do it. -[yelling]
[McAfee] Absolutely. Just out power him.
[Cole] Ricochet fighting out of it.
Elbow to the face.
[McAfee] Was gonna say, could have started there for Ric.
[Cole] Ricochet caught.
And Dragunov…
Ricochet lands on his feet.
[McAfee] Finds a moment to gather himself. Bait's Ilja!
[Cole] Sent out to the apron.
Ricochet, second rope kick!
Dragunov, driven down to the floor.
[McAfee] Ricochet will do.
He'll use every part of the ring to kick your ass.
He'd be a great king.
[Cole] Out to the apron, measuring his man.
Second rope moonsault. Dragunov moves out of harm's way,
and drops Ricochet on his face!
[screaming]
The Mad Dragon, kicking it into another gear.
[McAfee] Ricochet had him right where he wanted.
[Cole] And now Dragunov.
Top rope!
Saying goodbye!
Oh, goodness!
Cover on Ricochet for the win and to advance!
Ricochet gets the shoulder up at two!
[McAfee] Here's Ilja moving out of the way.
And then catching Ricochet with a lethal German suplex
into a springboard missile dropkick,
sending Ricochet off the ropes.
[Cole] And now Dragunov.
Ricochet in trouble. Ilja Dragunov now,
going to climb up to the top rope.
Dragunov, trying to put Ricochet away!
[McAfee] Ilja just went up into the airspace that Ricochet owns.
[Cole] And now Ricochet, high-risk top rope.
[McAfee] Welcome to Ricochet's sky, Ilja Dragunov.
[Cole] Ricochet, just trying to hold on.
[McAfee] Ricochet dangling as Dragunov…
seems to be eyeing it.
[Cole] What are they going to do here? Now Ricochet, leaping to the top rope,
grabs his balance.
Huricanrana from the top by Ricochet!
Dragunov wisely, wisely rolling out of the ring!
-[McAfee] You see what Ricochet just did? -[Cole] Maybe not!
Ricochet, suicide dive!
Dragunov, stumbling and bumbling all around outside the ring.
Not, sure, he knows where he's at.
Ricochet again, driving Dragunov into the barricade!
Dragunov still up, now finally collapses!
[McAfee] Two-piece American dive!
Want to make this a three-piece and a combo?
[Cole] Ricochet flies!
Corkscrew plancha takes out Dragunov!
First-round match-up continues in the King of the Ring!
[crowd cheering and chanting]
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
This has been an incredible battle between Ilja Dragunov and Ricochet
in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament.
[McAfee] The infallible Ilja Dragunov.
[Cole] And Ricochet, on his shoulders, lands on his feet,
Dragunov bounced head first off the top turnbuckle.
Ricochet now, with a waist lock.
Dragunov, well-placed elbow.
Few more to the ear.
Dragunov spins through. Calls that the Constantine Special
Cover by Dragunov!
And a kick-out by Ricochet at two!
[McAfee] Wow!
The agility, the power,
the ring IQ, everything on display in one move
for Ilja Dragunov.
And The Mad Dragon to the top rope.
Looking to put Ricochet away.
Oh, my goodness!
Cover now on Ricochet.
And Ricochet, shoulders stacked.
Two count, kick-out.
[McAfee] It's almost like Ricochet let him hit him that deep
so that he can utilize his own momentum to kick out here.
[Cole] Senton by Dragunov.
[McAfee] There's no way Ricochet…
wanted to deal with a fallen Russian like that.
Chop after chop after chop by the former NXT Champ.
Just chopping Ricochet to the mat.
[McAfee] This has been an impressive performance here
from The Mad Dragon.
[Cole] Ricochet, back to his feet.
He's been impressive as well.
Dragunov, collapsing right onto the shoulders of Ricochet,
who now lifts the man up. Dragunov, back to his feet.
Kick to the face, Ricochet with a kick of his own.
How are these men even standing?
[McAfee] I have no idea, but I love it.
A King of the Ring Title's on the line.
[Cole] Ricochet rolls through.
[yelling]
Second rope, moonsault connects.
Cover, to advance to the next round of the King of the Ring!
Kick-out by Dragunov at two!
[McAfee] That guy's confused.
We all are, pal.
Look what Ricochet is able to do.
Dumps Ilja
Lionsault to perfection.
[Cole] Both these men leaving it all out there.
Understand what winning the King of the Ring Tournament
can do for your career.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] Indeed it is.
[chanting continues]
[Cole] Ricochet now, heading up to the top rope.
Capacity crowd looks on tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Roll through by Ricochet. Dragunov meets him with a knee.
Oh, and a running knee again!
Dragunov, lifting Ricochet up.
Ricochet lands on his feet.
Missed with a back fist.
Ricochet-- Oh, goodness!
Turning Dragunov inside out!
[McAfee] Can Ricochet put him away?
[Cole] Oh!
Dragunov sends Ricochet across the ring!
H-Bomb!
[screaming]
[Cole] And I don't believe he's done yet.
[yelling]
Looking for Torpedo Moscow!
Into a counter! Into a Recoil!
Cover! And a kick-out by Ricochet!
Ricochet almost had Dragunov who kicked out at two.
And now Ricochet, headed up to the top rope!
Dragunov will meet him there.
Was going for the Torpedo Moscow headbutt,
Ricochet turned it into Recoil.
-[McAfee] Instant classic on Monday night. -[Cole] Dragunov, able to kick out.
And now superplex to Ricochet!
And The Mad Dragon,
gathering himself.
[crowd cheering]
[yelling]
[Cole] Another H-Bomb!
-Cover! -[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Dragunov advances. -[bell rings]
["Death Waltz" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
Ilja Dragunov!
[Cole] What a performance by both of these men.
But Dragunov will advance to the next round
of the King of the Ring Tournament.
That was the Torpedo Moscow countered by the Recoil.
Somehow, Dragunov would kick-out,
and then following the superplex,
a second H-Bomb.
Pat, watch this impact.
[McAfee] This is brutal.
I mean, absolutely brutal.
-[crowd] One, two three! -[yelling]
[bell rings]
[Cole] Dragunov advances into the second-round match-up,
where he will go toe to toe with "Main Event" Jey Uso.
Tremendous sportsmanship here tonight.
[both yelling]
[McAfee] What a match.
[indistinct conversation]
[Cole] Ilja Dragunov has arrived
on the scene on Monday Night Raw in style,
advancing to the next round of the King of the Ring.
So with that, Ilja Dragunov advances to the next round
of the King of the Ring,
which is exactly what you're looking to do tonight, Sheamus,
when you step into the ring with one of your biggest rivals,
Gunther.
How have you been able to prepare for tonight's main event?
Well, you see, what people may not know is that I've undergone medical procedure
after medical procedure
on my neck just to get back into a WWE ring.
Now, it's no secret I do not like Gunther,
and he likes me even less.
I mean, that man gets under my skin like nobody I've ever faced
in my entire career.
Can you imagine, King Gunther?
Unbearable, yeah?
Now, everybody knows at Clash at the Castle,
we had a banger.
At WrestleMania, we had a banger.
Banger after banger.
But tonight, I'm finally going to kick his ass.
Go on and become a two-time King of the Ring
and claim the moniker as we used back home in Ireland, an Ard Ri,
the High King.
Thank you, Sheamus.
[upbeat music playing]
From Bologna, Italy, what's up?
[crowd yells] What's up?
[cheering]
[crowd yells] Yeet!
[cheering]
[crowd singing Cody's theme]
[crowd chanting] Gunther!
[Corey] The highest-grossing SmackDown event in WWE history.
[Cole] And Europe, we're coming back.
Combo tickets for Friday Night SmackDown and Clash at the Castle
at Ovo Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland on Friday, June 14th
and Saturday, June 15th are on sale now via ticketmaster.co.uk.
Individual event tickets go on sale this Wednesday
at 10 a.m. BST.
[McAfee] Come back to Europe.
Meanwhile, Queen of the Ring Tournament continues with first-round action.
The very intense Zoey Stark ready to go.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a first-round match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament!
Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada,
Zoey Stark!
Earlier tonight, Iyo Sky advanced into the second round
with a win over Natalya.
Which one of these two women will join her?
["Diamond Discipline" playing]
[announcer] And her opponent from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ivy Nile!
[Cole] The Pitbull with a very important match-up here tonight.
Monday Night Raw
on the USA Network is presented by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
only in theaters on Friday.
[McAfee] How is The Fall Guy?
[Cole] It was awesome.
[McAfee] Can't wait for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
And also, these two women are absolutely jacked.
We're talking about Queen of the Ring. Let's go.
[Cole] And again, important match-up to advance to the next round
of Queen of the Ring. You could really
make your career here in WWE
as Zoey Stark takes the fight right to Ivy Nile.
Two very intense competitors here tonight.
Tremendous in-ring conditioning,
and really, it could be a breakout moment for one of them here on Monday Night Raw.
-[McAfee] Oh. Oh. -[Cole] Zoey landed hard.
[McAfee] Yeah, but it was a nice little get out of the way there by Zoey.
[Cole] Now the power of Ivy as she lifts Zoey up onto her shoulders.
[McAfee] She goes by The Pitbull in WWE.
And The Pitbull just got told to take a seat!
"Sit, sit," is what Zoey Stark said.
[Cole] Ivy Nile's still stinging from that, trying to fight back as well.
[McAfee] Little power game in the ring for the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
[Cole] Ivy with a shoulder tackle. Down goes Zoey.
Great move by Nile.
Saw it coming and able to take control.
[McAfee] Okay.
-[Cole] Zoey. -[McAfee] Wait a second.
[Cole] Rolls through, counter.
[McAfee] Counter, counter, counter.
Kind of jostling right now.
[Cole] Ivy trying-- Look at the power now of Ivy Nile.
Vertical suplex.
[McAfee] Holy hell!
[Cole] Going up there a long time.
Ivy Nile showing off here.
[McAfee] It's about to become Tuesday Morning Raw!
[Cole] Oh!
[McAfee] Thought she'd hold her all night.
Let's go!
[Cole] The Pitbull fired up.
[McAfee] Big kick to the mouth. Step-up enzuigiri.
[Cole] Drops Zoey out to the apron.
An important match-up showcase of these two talents here tonight
on Monday night, and Zoey Stark, great move to take over.
[McAfee] That's what the Queen and the King of the Ring are all about.
[Cole] Dragging Ivy right into the ropes, and now, Zoey catches her with a knee.
[McAfee] Like any March Madness Tournament,
the person who gets hot has a chance to change their entire lives.
[Cole] Missile dropkick. Just like a sniper is Zoey Stark.
Takes out Nile. Cover now, hook of the leg and a kick-out
by The Pitbull.
[McAfee] The precision of the missile dropkick,
could put it in a keyhole.
A sniper!
Like accuracy,
like that, Cole.
[Cole] Zoey Stark's been very impressive
she's arriving on the scene here in WWE.
Ivy set up to the top rope.
[McAfee] I listened to the lyrics of Zoey Stark's entrance music,
and I learned a lot about her quick.
She wants to really do damage.
And why not? She's built to be a Superstar.
What the hell is she doing up there, Cole?
[Cole] Whatever it is, it's high risk. It's dangerous.
Ivy fighting back, though, looking to counter.
[McAfee] Zoey slipped there down on the second rope.
[Cole] Now Ivy, able to turn things around. Ivy now,
up top.
[McAfee] Ivy, measuring Zoey Stark.
-Getting the power of Hartford. -[yelling]
[Cole] Oh, and that bulldog from the top!
Cover by Nile to advance in the tournament!
Zoey kicked a near fall!
[McAfee] The Pitbull with a super bulldog here in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
[Cole] Watch the impact!
[McAfee] Face the canvas off the top rope. Almost ends this.
[Cole] Oh, Zoey with a right.
[McAfee] It's almost just like the…
natural instinct to throw a bomb back.
[Cole] Didn't get all of that.
Zoey, able to swat it away just at the last moment.
That kick will catch Ivy, though.
And here comes Zoey Stark.
Cover now on Nile to advance in this tournament.
A kick-out by Nile at two, and now frustrated is Zoey Stark.
[McAfee] Zoey wants this to be over, assumes it should be. And now she's,
you know, throwing a little tantrum but not bad punter.
[Cole] And pound and ground.
-More ground and pound. -[McAfee] Yeah.
[mumbles]
Good for the gander. It's good for the goose, pal
[Cole] She was already pounding when she was on the ground.
[McAfee] Yeah. Yep. Yep. Absolutely.
Yep.
Sky and fly in here. Maybe big thighs in here.
Big slap from Ivy Nile.
[Cole] Nile making Stark pay.
[McAfee] Both of these powerhouses would be phenomenal Queens of the Ring.
As you're watching, so many deserve it.
[chuckling]
[Cole chuckling] Did you hear that?
[McAfee] I almost talked over it. Slap to the midsection.
[Stark groaning]
[Cole] What's Ivy looking to do here?
Zoey stepping through.
Now slipping underneath.
Oh, face first off the turnbuckle.
[McAfee] Such a good reversal when you're up there.
[Cole] And Zoey, turns Nile inside out.
[yelling]
[McAfee] She said it's over, Cole.
She might be right.
It may well be. Z-360!
-Cover! -[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Zoey Stark advances. -[bell rings]
["Cut Above The Rest" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner
Zoey Stark!
[Cole] Great battle between these two women,
but in the end, Zoey Stark advances. Says, "It's my time."
She heads to the second round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament
[McAfee] That Z-360 can get her all the way to the crown.
[Cole] Zoey faces the winner of the match-up later on tonight,
Dakota Kai and Lyra Valkyria.
Congratulations to Zoey Stark.
Okay, look, it's a good idea for our next title defense.
-Champion versus champion. -I like the way that sounds.
You like that? Now, allow me to introduce to you
the 2023, 2024 Champions
-are the back-to-back Champions. -Okay.
UConn head coach, Dan Hurley.
Come on in here, Dan. [yelling]
See that? Yeah. [laughs]
-Truth. -Yes
Coach.
It's an honor.
Truth, first off,
please talk to me first
-before you agree to another title match. -Okay.
Awesome Truth cannot face UConn.
Why Awesome Truth can't face UConn?
Look, I'm sorry guys.
Look, Miz, Coach here is a part of a small wrestling promotion.
Independent.
They're called NCAA.
You don't say, they small-time, but they the dogs!
You know what I'm saying?
-Truth, I told you we're the Huskies. -Right.
Truth, we cannot fight the Huskies.
-Why we can't fight the Huskies? -Because they're a basketball team!
A sport's a sport!
And in trying times like these,
I'm sure we all can agree.
-Pearce. -Yeah.
I'll get back to you about our next title defense, okay?
-Thank you. -Truth, we need to talk.
-Let's talk, dawg -Coach, shall we?
My bad.
I need a drink.
[man] Yo, Pearce.
Bron Breakker.
Good to have you on the red brand. Welcome to the flagship.
What can I do for you?
What can you do for me? [chuckles]
You want to explain to me
why I'm not
in the King of the Ring?
[both] Hmm.
Yeah, I thought you might want the answer to that question.
Why don't you join me in my office and we'll talk about it?
["Shoooosh" playing]
[Cole] Pearce better figure out what he'll tell Breakker.
[McAfee] I feel like Breakker's gonna bark at him,
especially in the home of the Huskies, the back-to-back national champs.
Coach Hurley looking good.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing Alpha Academy,
from Minneapolis, Minnesota, weighing in at 202 pounds,
Chad Gable!
[Cole] Bronson Reed believes Chad Gable cost him
the Intercontinental Title last week,
so Bronson Reed wants to make Chad Gable pay
in our match-up presented by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
It's only in theaters on Friday.
It is "Big" Bronson Reed and Chad Gable one on one.
And speaking of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
there's a special look at the movie that is only in theaters Friday.
[McAfee] Wow.
[Cole] It is our main event, Gunther, Sheamus,
for the Intercontinental Championship.
And this will not be for the weak of heart here tonight.
Will this be The Celtic Warrior's night?
And now Imperium.
Gunther with a shillelagh that was handed to him by Kaiser!
One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Gunther survives!
And the epic rivalry continues tonight.
First-round action in the King of the Ring Tournament,
Gunther versus Sheamus in our main event
on Monday Night Raw.
["Born To Be" playing]
Boys, I feel like I'm apologizing week after week after week.
I should have got it done tonight. It was Jey Uso. I should have handled it.
-You don't have to apologize -Yeah. For nothing.
You're good. It's one loss. You're still The Prince. We rise.
-You know how it goes. Relax. -Thank you.
You know what, you probably weren't even 100% anyway,
after that big dope Braun Strowman came out last week.
He needs to be taken care of.
He will be. Actually, speaking of which, he's going to get taken care of by you.
[Dominik] Hey, what's up guys?
[Damian Priest] Bro!
-I know you guys have your history-- -Stop.
Oh, I'm glad you're here.
One year ago to the day
you cost me my moment in Puerto Rico.
And I'll never forget that. You understand?
I don't know what's up with you and Rey, but if you're looking for friends…
[speaking Spanish]
[in English] There's no friends here.
Look, that's the past.
But look, you guys are The Judgment Day, and now you rule Raw,
and that's cool.
All right, look…
I need help with the LWO.
And from what I can see,
you guys have problems that you need help with.
You know how this works.
You scratch my back,
[speaking Spanish]
[in English] Yeah, got it.
Get him out of here.
He'll come around. Don't worry.
What were you saying about Strowman?
[Cole] Dominik brings in all the strays.
[McAfee] Nobody's scratching anybody's back over there
no matter where the back is located.
["War Ready" playing]
[McAfee] Speaking of back.
[announcer] And his opponent from Black Forest, South Australia,
weighing in at 330 pounds,
"Big" Bronson Reed!
[Cole] So this is why Bronson Reed is upset.
Take it back to last week Monday Night Raw.
Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, for the Intercontinental Championship.
Sami Zayn, after the Helluva Kick,
may have been looking to retain the championship
-before Chad Gable got involved. -[bell rings]
Chad, still incensed that he wasn't
able to win the Intercontinental Title from Sami Zayn, would take out Sami.
Bronson Reed, obviously, ticked off after how all this went down.
[McAfee] Yeah, Bronson Reed would hit the Tsunami.
Then he would beat the hell out of Chad Gable,
and there'd be one man standing
at the end of the night holding the Intercontinental Title.
It's the 360 pounder.
[Cole] So tonight's about retribution and revenge.
-Gable, Reed, one on one. -[bell rings]
Chad Gable, new attitude and all.
I understand that the Alpha Academy, Otis, Tozawa,
and Maxxine have been going through intense training
at the hands of Chad Gable.
Of course, this match-up brought to you tonight
by the new movie, Planet of the Apes.
Oh, and look at that!
[McAfee] That's the power of Bronson Reed.
[Cole] Death Valley Driver.
And a kick-out by Chad Gable.
[McAfee] Gable slipped off his shoulder. He was able to regain the strength.
And then Death Valley Driver to Chad Gable.
This Bronson Reed guy is dangerous. He's big.
But the new mentality of Chad Gable is going to have him…
in the best place he's been.
[Cole] Look at the power of Gable!
German suplex to the 330 plus pounder.
[McAfee] That's what Chad Gable's capable of doing.
He knows it.
The Alpha Academy, going through some remindset training.
-As in-- -[Cole] Headbutt.
And there's the senton finally connecting.
[McAfee] Chad Gable's got this new mentality,
"Big" Bronson Reed also.
This would be a gigantic win for both men.
[Cole] Bronson Reed heading up to the top rope, could be Tsunami time.
Gable, gonna meet him there.
Chad Gable is aggressive as they come.
[McAfee] What are these two thinking?
[Cole] Oh, my God!
Both men down and out after they come crashing to the mat
from the top rope. Watch this impact!
[McAfee] Gable, throwing "Big" Bronson Reed across the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And now, there's the Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn!
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Going right after Chad Gable!
Nobody's going to win this match-up.
The referee calls for the bell.
And now Zayn turns his attention to Bronson Reed!
The Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn,
who's had the hell beaten out of him in recent weeks,
taking it to Reed tonight!
Reed sent over top rope by Zayn.
And now from behind, Chad Gable.
German suplex to the Champion!
[yelling]
[McAfee] This is becoming a familiar image.
Chad Gable throwing Sami Zayn around.
[Cole] Zayn caught Gable. Exploder into the corner.
Sami Zayn, looking for the Helluva Kick, and slammed to the canvas
by Bronson Reed, who now turns his anger to Chad Gable.
[crowd booing]
["War Ready" playing]
[Cole] I'm afraid that things…
aren't quite over between Mr. Reed, Mr. Zayn and Mr. Gable.
[McAfee] Once again, "Big" Bronson Reed is the last one standing.
[Cole] Completely annihilating Sami Zayn
and Chad Gable tonight.
[McAfee] That is a monster.
What's your excuse? None of you guys can control each other?
Can't control yourself every time?
Pearce, I don't care about Chad,
and I don't care about Sami.
All I care about is that Intercontinental Championship.
This is business to me.
If you want control,
you know what you need to do.
[Cole] You know, Pat, Raw General Manager, Adam Pearce, has it coming from all sides.
The Bron Breakker earlier, now Bronson Reed.
Yeah, mid-level executive stooge Pearce has certainly got his hands full,
spending a lot of plates on Monday Night Raw.
King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring Tournament first-round action continues
here on Monday Night Raw.
Our next match-up going to feature a former NXT Women's Champion.
[dramatic music playing]
[announcer] Raw selects Lyra Valkyria!
[all cheering]
Being drafted to Raw is an incredible opportunity,
one that I've worked my whole life for.
But I'm here to show that my name belongs among the very best.
-[doorbell rings] -[crowd cheering]
[Valkyria] As I prepare to add more feathers to my shoulders
and enter a whole new battleground,
I have the honor of entering the Queen of the Ring Tournament,
taking on some of the top stars in all of WWE
for one of the finest prizes the industry has to offer.
I'm ready for the challenge.
But is Raw ready for Lyra Valkyria.
[Cole] Lyra and Dakota later on tonight,
there's the Women's World Champion, Becky Lynch.
She's here live, next, an exclusive interview coming up on Raw.
[McAfee] We're live in Hartford, and tickets for WWE SummerSlam
at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
on Saturday, August 3rd go on sale this Thursday via Ticketmaster.
Use exclusive code SUMMER24 to access pre-sale tickets
starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Eastern.
Gonna be fantastic.
Tonight,
I'm facing Sheamus in the first-round of the King of the Ring Tournament,
and I already heard that Sheamus is very concerned
about putting on banger after banger.
Well, I do not care about bangers.
I care about being the greatest of all time.
And if I need to expose Sheamus again for the weak minded,
people-pleasing person that he is,
so be it.
Because he will be no obstacle for me
to win the King of the Ring Tournament.
Already the General of the Ring.
Soon to be your King of the Ring.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the Women's World Champion,
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[McAfee] The New York Times best-seller is beloved in Hartford.
[crowd cheering]
The Man has come around to Hartford!
[crowd cheering]
Hello, Becky.
Hello.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
As Women's World Champion,
and you've been a multi-time champion in your career,
you understand…
[crowd chanting] Becky, Becky, Becky!
I understand that these people are awesome.
[crowd cheering]
You also understand the importance of representing the WWE
around the world as the Women's World Champion,
including this past weekend.
You were in Kentucky for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, NBC, and Peacock,
and I want you to, first off, explain what this is.
This outfit that you wore at the Kentucky Derby.
Explain this to me.
Well… well, you said it.
Being champion means representing at the biggest events possible
in the biggest hats possible, apparently.
I don't know, I thought it looked all right.
What is it? What… what is that hat?
Is it a hat?
I got it on Etsy. I… I like it.
I… I think it works.
Do we think it works?
-[crowd cheering] -[Becky Lynch] Yeah.
Well, you can sure pull it off, of course.
Uh, let's talk a lot about what's going on in WWE today.
The draft became official tonight.
The Queen of the Ring Tournament is underway.
Many of these competitors, you may have to face
over the next number of months here in WWE.
So let's talk about that.
Who are some of the competitors now here on Monday Night Raw
that you're looking forward to stepping in the ring with?
Yeah, there's… there's that newness in the air.
The winds of change, they're slapping me in the face.
And I can tell you as I sit here and hold this,
a lot of people back there want to slap me in the face.
And I love it, I respect it, I welcome it.
And I came up to Raw
nine years ago,
and I wanted to make a change, and I wanted to make a difference,
and I want it to be a groundbreaker.
And I feel that same energy in that locker room
from these new draftees.
And we got-- Who do we got? We got Alba Fyre,
who was the longest-reigning NXT UK Women's Champion,
which also makes her
the longest-reigning WWE Women's Champion in modern history,
you've got Isla Dawn, her tag team partner, an enigma.
She's got passion.
You've got… you've got Kiana James.
And I've been in the ring with her and she is athletic.
I wouldn't trust her.
I wouldn't trust her, but I would trust Lyra Valkyria.
So, Becky, I'm glad you brought up Lyra because she is competing tonight
against Dakota Kai in the first round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Lyra Valkyria and you have a very interesting history.
Not only are you both Irish and you're from Ireland,
you guys battled it out for the NXT Women's Championship.
We did, and she is the…
the most gifted competitor I have been in the ring with.
And she loves this. She loves this more than anything.
And she's got that fighting Irish spirit, and that's worked out well for me.
And also on Monday Night Raw now, the first ever
Queen of the Ring, Zelina Vega.
Yes. Yeah. And I know she's hungry,
and she's got passion.
So, Becky, let's talk about the past month,
because it's really been bittersweet for you starting at WrestleMania
where you battled Rhea for that Championship.
-You had a strep throat that night. -Yeah, yeah.
No, no, no. Yes. Yes, I was sick, but I'm not making any excuses.
The better woman won that night.
And my… my journey has always been about overcoming the odds no matter what,
and I didn't do that.
But that will haunt me, and that will make me a better fighter,
and it already has, because I was able, two weeks later,
to beat 14 other people to become the new…
-["Watch Me" playing] -…Women's World Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] We have company.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
This girl, that girl, Kentucky Derby, my hat,
and no mention of Liv?
Which I'm actually, kind of, insulted about
because I'm so tired of being overlooked and underestimated here.
In case you forgot, I am a Money in the Bank winner.
Former Women's Champion,
multiple-time former Tag Team Champion.
I beat Nia Jax in this ring just last weekend.
Not to mention, I am the one that took out Rhea Ripley.
You're welcome.
And after all that, the fact that I still can't get
an ounce of respect out of you literally blows my mind.
You wanna talk, talk, talk, talk, talk so much,
well, let's talk about the title match that you promised me last week.
All right, let's talk about it. You didn't let me finish.
In three weeks you got it
at the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament.
And you talk about all those things that you've done, Liv, you never beat me.
-[McAfee chuckles] -[sighs] You know what?
I'm actually glad that you brought that up,
because you're right.
I've never been able to beat you in this ring one on one.
And even after listing all my accomplishments,
it wasn't until just now that I finally figured out
what I've been missing all along.
Purpose.
-Purpose? -And now that I have my purpose,
I know that I could finally beat you.
Because my purpose is getting revenge on Rhea Ripley,
taking everything that she loves,
and then becoming new Women's World Champion.
[crowd cheering]
["Still The Baddest" playing]
Aww.
Look at that. Liv Morgan gets a title shot
that she did absolutely nothing to earn.
But you know what? That's fine. That's fine.
We'll let you guys fight it out. Meanwhile,
we have the Queen of the Ring Tournament on lock.
Iyo, she's already made it to the second round,
and I'm going to do the same.
But we figured we'd come out here
and remind you guys
who really runs Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] A standoff here.
Damage CTRL, Morgan, and Becky.
[McAfee] All of a sudden, Becky and Liv are back to back.
Come on. Come on. Let's go.
[Cole] And Liv, obviously, wants nothing to do with this.
[Liv Morgan] It's not my problem.
It's not my problem. [laughing]
[Cole] Not her problem, Becky is now left alone.
Becky's got a big problem.
Three on one now against Damage CTRL.
[McAfee] Smart move by Liv for self…
[Cole] And now Dakota and Iyo and Kairi beating her down.
["Triumph" playing]
[Cole] But here comes Lyra Valkyria!
Upset over the fact that Morgan abandoned Becky Lynch!
And Lyra's going right after Damage CTRL.
[McAfee] Lyra, ready to make a name for herself on Raw.
[Cole] The former NXT Women's Champion.
[crowd cheering]
["Triumph" playing]
[Cole] Valkyria is in action against Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL.
Coming up.
In case you've been living under a rock…
[The Rock] Professional wrestling is Electrifying once again!
WWE is on fire right now.
And next year, we're bringing the show of shows
to Las Vegas.
["FE!N" by Travis Scott playing]
[Triple H] WrestleMania in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Only question is…
Are you ready?
[Cole] And you can experience the very best WrestleMania XLI
has to offer with an official WWE Priority Pass from on-location.
Place your deposit today to secure premium seating,
pre-show hospitality,
interactions with your favorite WWE superstars, and so much more.
Head to onlocation.com/WWE for details.
Let's head back to the locker room area and our own Jackie Redmond.
Cole, thank you so much.
Sami, I know you're still a little bit worked up,
but this personal issue between you and Chad Gable,
I mean, it intensifies with every passing week,
and now Bronson Reed has inserted himself into the mix.
I mean, where does this end?
Yeah, well, just that, everything you said is totally true.
This is a very personal issue between me and Chad Gable.
And this should have been over weeks ago
when I beat him in the middle of the ring in Montreal.
But here we are, right?
And now not only am I dealing with this personal issue,
but now I'm also battling a professional issue in the form of Bronson Reed.
Because Bronson Reed is not coming for me.
He's coming for this. He's coming for the Intercontinental Championship.
So now I'm trying to juggle both
the emotional side and the business side of things.
So how does this end? Well…
to me, there's only one way it can end.
Triple Threat Match at King and Queen of the Ring
in Saudi Arabia.
Because look, I got knocked down tonight.
I got knocked down last week. I've been knocked down a million times.
I'll get knocked down a million more. But here's the thing,
When the pressure is on
and this Championship is on the line in Saudi Arabia…
[speaking Arabic]
[in English] That is when I am at my best.
Mark my words, I will walk out still Intercontinental Champion!
Sami, thank you for the time.
Cole, it sounds like we've got ourselves a Triple Threat Match
in just a few weeks at King and Queen of the Ring.
[Cole] Well, let's make it official.
And tonight, Monday Night Raw is presented by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Only in theaters…
[McAfee] On Friday, this Friday.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
you'd want to be on the chimpanzee side, I think.
[Cole] That's what I said earlier. This is the first-round match-up,
Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Dakota Kai, looking to join her Damage CTRL teammate,
Iyo Sky.
[McAfee] The orangutans are a real problem. Let's not get it twisted.
[Cole] In the next round of the Queen of the Ring, Zoey Stark also
advancing tonight.
Lyra Valkyria, former NXT Women's Champion,
from Dublin, Ireland.
[McAfee] Trying to add a feather to her wing, she said.
[Cole] Refers to herself as a Norse dark angel.
-And guess what, WWE fans? -[McAfee] What?
We've got a quick look at Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
only in theaters, Friday.
[McAfee] No way.
[intense music playing]
Noa.
Hold on!
[Proximus Caesar] You choose humans over apes.
Together strong.
[yelling]
[man] Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, rated PG-13.
[Cole] You don't want to be a human in that whole thing.
[McAfee chuckles] No way. Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, we have opposable thumbs, I guess, which helps us.
But everything else, we're, kind of,
-up a creek without a paddle. -[Cole] Oh!
Valkyria, catching Dakota Kai.
And a big kick. And now Lyra, up and over.
Is it enough?
And a kick-out by Dakota Kai.
[McAfee] If Dakota Kai and Damage CTRL get another spot
in this Queen of the Ring Tournament, they're going to be even louder somehow.
[Cole] Yeah, that beautiful, uh, Northern Lights suplex.
And now, Lyra setting up Dakota Kai, has her hooked.
Oh, Dakota turns it around.
Shoulders down, and a kick-out.
And Valkyria, sent into the corner.
Dakota Kai, who's taken over Damage CTRL as its mouthpiece,
of course, after the ex-communication of Bayley a couple of months ago.
[McAfee] And a shunned Bayley embarrassed her.
Oh, that hurt! Back of the neck!
[McAfee] Getting a feather or two right in the back of the head
from the turnbuckle.
Dakota Kai has got bad intentions!
[Cole] And a mean streak!
Kick to the face. Dakota in control.
Queen of the Ring Tournament continues.
It's Dakota's birthday.
We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
This is a first-round match-up in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Lyra Valkyria on your left, Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL
on your right as Valkyria is battling back.
-[McAfee] Valkyria… -[Cole] Oh!
[McAfee] …former NXT Champion, now appear on Raw,
would love to start her career here with a Queen of the Ring title.
[Cole] A great combination there by Valkyria.
Dakota Kai rolling out of the ring.
[McAfee] Okay.
[Cole] Employs many aerial attacks.
Does Valkyria-- Oh, and down goes Kai.
[Valkyria screams]
One!
[Cole] Again, Iyo Sky has advanced from Damage CTRL tonight,
as has Zoey Stark as well.
[McAfee] Damage CTRL's first night on Raw.
[Cole] Crossbody by Lyra Valkyria, rolls through.
[McAfee] Same with Valkyria, drafted out of NXT up here
to Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] There we go. First German suplex by Valkyria.
Cover now. Is it enough to put her away?
Hook of the leg on Kai and a kick-out.
[McAfee] Tell you what,
Lyra Valkyria is doing it here on Monday Night Raw.
Incredibly talented.
Doesn't seem to be rattled by the big moment at all.
Knows the crown's on the line.
Handling Dakota Kai right now.
[Cole] And Dakota, fighting back, though.
[McAfee] Dakota's always gonna be fiery.
[Cole] Down goes Lyra.
[McAfee] Dakota calling herself a genius, obviously the mastermind of Damage CTRL.
[yelling]
[Cole] Oh, right to the back!
Is it enough? Hooks the leg on Valkyria,
who has to kick-out at two.
[McAfee] How the hell did Lyra kick out of that?
[Cole] Watch the impact.
-Boom! -[crowd exclaims]
[McAfee] Planting Lyra's head.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Lyra!
[Cole] And the "Let's go, Lyra" chants
here on Monday Night Raw. Dakota Kai says it's over.
[McAfee] Raw crowd already done with Damage CTRL.
[Cole] Valkyria rolls out of harm's way.
Cover, kick-out at two.
The fight continues.
Valkyria into the corner.
Building momentum.
Dakota Kai meets her there with a big kick!
Former captain of Team Kick. Cover by Dakota Kai.
Kick-out by Lyra at two!
Very competitive match-up in the first round…
Of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Valkyria, though, has her up on--
-Oh, Dakota… -[McAfee] Oh.
[Cole] …got caught.
Missed with a kick.
-[McAfee chuckles] -[Cole] Kai caught Lyra.
Uh-oh, this one, close to being over!
Lyra calls that the Nightwing,
-and she puts Dakota away. -[bell rings]
["Triumph" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
Lyra Valkyria!
[Cole] Big win in the first round for Lyra Valkyria.
She advances to take on Zoey Stark
in the second round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
So one more first-round match-up for the women,
one more first-round match-up for the men.
Those two matches will take place this weekend at WWE live event.
Shayna Baszler, Zelina Vega, in one of those match-ups,
and the other, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio.
Let's check in now with Kofi Kingston.
["Born To Be" playing]
This King of the Ring Tournament
was supposed to be where Xavier Woods ran it back.
It was supposed to be where Xavier Woods made history
by becoming the second ever two-time King of the Ring.
[screaming]
But Gunther took that away from him.
Because of Gunther, Xavier Woods was unable to compete in this tournament.
And I don't really know when he's going to be back.
But what I do know is that if Gunther advances,
that I can't wait to face him and give him what he deserves.
But first, I got to get through
one of the greatest of all time, the legend, the icon,
the Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio.
Someone who I looked up to so much growing up.
But as much respect as I have for Rey,
I got to put him down unapologetically
as if my name was Kendrick Lamar or Drake.
I have to win this tournament for Woods.
I have to become the next King of the Ring for Woods in his name and his honor,
because after all this time, after all these years,
there's three words that still ring as true now as they did then.
And I think we all know what those three words are.
New Day Rocks.
[Cole] Speaking of rocking,
check out the Cleveland Cavaliers game seven yesterday.
[McAfee] Game seven in Cleveland against Orlando,
and they were Yeeting during the break.
Now, Cleveland didn't have as great a rhythm as every WWE crowd,
but the Yeet's gone global,
and it's even made it to the home of SummerSlam,
Cleveland, Ohio!
[Cole] I mentioned that there was no more first-round match-ups tonight,
there is one. It's Gunther and Sheamus still to come.
But next week, a quarterfinals match in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Jey Uso and Ilja Dragunov.
This should be a good one next week in the King of the Ring.
So Gunther and Sheamus in our main event later on tonight.
The winner of that match, next week,
will take on the winner of the Kofi Kingston Rey Mysterio
first round match-up.
[McAfee] Yeah, a couple of Hall of Famers battling to make it
to the King of the Ring semis, and then…
Valkyria, who just had an incredible debut up here on Raw,
will take on Zoey Stark,
the sniper with the boots in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
[Cole] Also next week in Greenville, South Carolina, quarterfinals,
Iyo Sky will take on either Shayna Baszler
or the reigning Queen of the Ring, Zelina Vega.
I mentioned we have one more first-round match-up
here on Monday Night Raw,
and it is our main event.
It is the renewal of a tremendous rivalry.
That man, "The Celtic Warrior" Sheamus,
who won the King of the Ring back in 2010,
would love to repeat this year, but he's got his work cut out for him.
This man was the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time,
Gunther.
It is Gunther and Sheamus in a clash, first-round King of the Ring match-up,
live, next on Raw.
my name is Mike Thornton. I'm a retired Navy SEAL.
I've always wanted to be a Navy Frogman.
October 1972, we were sent to do a recon.
Tommy Norris was the officer in charge.
We swam to shore, so we're in the wrong place.
Then we saw that we were getting surrounded.
The firefight lasted for almost three hours,
us fighting over 100 guys.
And Tommy said, "We got to get out of here."
As we're retreating, that's when Tommy was shot,
and the bullet, it hit him in the temple.
And I ran back up there and throw him on my shoulder.
Then we got to the water, we swam for approximately three hours
and I saw a junk coming to help pick us up.
Receiving the Medal of Honor is an honor.
He'll always say that he was doing what he was supposed to do.
He was not going to leave Tommy.
[Mike] The medal belongs to all the men and women who never came back.
I can wear this medal for all of them.
I work with pride. I work with honor.
It's everything.
[Cole] The world talking about
what an incredible weekend it was in Lyon, France.
Of course, the premium live event, Backlash, this past Saturday.
We've got new Women's Tag Team Champions, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair.
New wrinkle for The Bloodline as well.
What a night, Pat.
[McAfee] Yeah, I could only watch from home, but all I could do was
stare in amazement about what a fantastic environment
Lyon, France gave Backlash
as Champions remain Champions,
and maybe the Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair era begins.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes with his first televised title defense.
Big victory over AJ Styles at Backlash.
Well, we are in the middle the King of the Ring
and Queen of the Ring Tournament.
I'll say it right. Of course, the finals in a couple of weeks in Saudi Arabia.
This coming Friday night on SmackDown,
first-round match-ups from the SmackDown side of things.
Going to be an exciting night this coming Friday night.
But right now, our main event on Monday Night Raw,
it is a first-round match-up in the King of the Ring Tournament.
A lot of meat.
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[McAfee] A lot of meat.
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament!
Introducing first, accompanied by Ludwig Kaiser,
representing Imperium,
from Vienna, Austria,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
"The Ring General"
Gunther!
[Cole] He's the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
He held the Championship for 666 days
before being knocked off by Sami Zayn at WrestleMania.
He is not in a good mood, and you have to wonder if he'll advance
to the second round, the quarterfinals, of the King of the Ring Tournament
next week when Monday Night Raw gets to Greenville, South Carolina.
[McAfee] He said he's already the General of the Ring,
the King of the Ring seems like the natural progression,
-and I could see it, but… -["Hellfire" playing]
[Cole] He's got a tall task!
[McAfee] Because it's fight night!
[Cole] Oh, I missed that.
[McAfee] …baby!
[fireworks crackle]
[announcer] And his opponent from Dublin, Ireland,
weighing in at 267 pounds,
Sheamus!
[Cole] A man with a Hall of Fame resume.
The only championship he's never held is the Intercontinental Title.
And he had many battles with Gunther over a couple of years back.
And tonight, the man who won the King of the Ring Tournament
back in 2010, Sheamus, is looking for a repeat.
[McAfee] Here we go.
This is gonna be physical.
[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Two men who like to beat the hell out of each other.
[McAfee] Similar styles.
Know each other well.
One crown to snag.
[Cole] An elbow tie-up to start things off in this match-up.
[McAfee] It's just a walk-up to start this thing old school
as they try to out-alpha each other here in Hartford.
Ref's sneaking his way in there,
prying his way in between the two meaty men.
[Cole] You saw Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium looking on. No Vinci anymore.
He was kicked out of the group two weeks ago
and then drafted over to Friday Night SmackDown.
Big fight feel and an atmosphere here in our main event tonight.
And there's the first chop.
Sheamus didn't even back down!
Both men exchanging blows!
[McAfee] Toughness check between these two.
[Cole] And Sheamus drops Gunther on the back of his head.
[McAfee] Sidewalk slam to slow things down with another chop.
-[Cole] An uppercut by Sheamus. -[crowd] Oh!
[McAfee snickering]
[Cole] You see Sheamus' eyes light up?
[McAfee] Loves every second of it.
His chest is already beet red from getting beat down from Gunther.
[Cole] Oh, and a big boot!
Driving Sheamus out to the apron,
and Sheamus looking to try to shake the cobwebs out of his head.
And like that, Gunther slows things down and takes over.
What did you ever do to that man that he cannot stand you so much?
[McAfee] Gunther? He's just eyeballing me a little bit.
Getting back in the zone to…
[crowd] One, two, three!
[Cole] Well, usually it's ten beats of the bodhrán from Sheamus,
Gunther able to deliver two before Sheamus with a block.
[both yelling]
[Cole] Not for the faint of heart, this match-up.
Gunther, trying to protect himself and his chest.
[McAfee] Sheamus' trying to do the same damn thing.
[Cole] Oh, goodness.
An impact off the clothesline, stunning Sheamus.
Now Gunther, out to the apron.
[McAfee] Both these lads fresh off a European tour.
King of the Ring Title on the line!
[Cole] And Gunther, back body drop by Sheamus
Gunther dropped on the apron.
Sheamus off the apron, takes Gunther out.
[yelling]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Sheamus in control! King of the Ring Tournament continues.
First round match-up, King of the Ring Tournament,
main event, Monday Night Raw.
Sheamus and Gunther, involved in a brutal, physical battle.
-[McAfee] And the commercial break-- -[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
Sweat going everywhere after that shot by Gunther,
and then trying to twist the head off the shoulders.
[McAfee] Commercial break was just as you thought it was.
A lot of this, a lot of that.
Two men beating the hell out of each other.
[Cole] Oh, God!
There are welts on the back, the shoulders, the stomach,
the chest of Sheamus.
Even Kaiser had to look away at that chop.
One. Two.
Three!
[McAfee] Banger after banger after banger…
is what Sheamus says he creates, especially with Gunther,
and he told no lies.
[Cole] Sheamus missed about eight months of action
with a neck injury, and Gunther has turned his attention to the injured neck,
the surgically repaired neck of Sheamus in this portion of the match-up.
[McAfee] It's a good idea by Gunther. That's why he's The Ring General.
[Cole] And you know, the lost to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania
did not sit well with this man.
[McAfee] It might have just woke him up, you know, remind him of who he was.
Too comfortable as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion?
Easy for you to say.
[Cole] Now just wearing Sheamus down.
Look at the welts on the back of The Celtic Warrior.
[McAfee] Count the fingers. There's the thumb,
pointer finger, middle finger, ring finger,
and pinky finger clear as day on the back of the Irishman.
Jeez, Louise!
[Cole] Sheamus back to his feet, refusing to quit.
Knows what it takes to win this tournament.
He's done it once in his career.
Gunther with another chop,
and Sheamus is begging.
"Give me more. Give me more."
And fighting back!
[McAfee] He loves the fight. It's always fight night.
[yelling]
[Cole] Went for a clothesline,
Sheamus turns it into an Irish Curse backbreaker.
[McAfee] A lot of strikes, not a lot of wrestling moves thus far.
[Cole] Gunther, behind Sheamus and right to the back of the neck again.
Great strategy by Gunther!
Follows it up with a clothesline.
Cover now, to win the match-up.
Hook of the leg. Sheamus at two! A near fall for Gunther.
Little wasted motion, however, by The Ring General.
[McAfee] And Gunther knows what he's in for.
If you get Sheamus reeling, you got to take advantage.
And a two count on Sheamus. But anyways--
[Cole] Looking for White Noise!
For the win!
Kick-out by Gunther.
That's why he can't be wasting time with somebody like Sheamus.
[Cole] And Gunther, realizing he's in trouble, rolls out to the apron.
[McAfee] Blood vessels popped on Sheamus' chest.
He's got a couple of beats of a bodhrán.
[Cole] Hung up on the top rope.
And now Gunther, caught by Sheamus.
Slam!
Cover!
Is it enough to put him away?
Hooks the leg, near fall.
[McAfee] The power of Sheamus is always going to be in his back pocket.
Easy powerslam. He picks up Gunther, obviously a massive man,
slams him on his back, and now he's eyeing The Ring General,
which is German for ring general.
[Cole] We said it would be physical, it has not disappointed.
[McAfee] Pleased to see these two about to fight.
-You know what's coming. -[crowd counting] One, two,
three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen,
fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen!
[Cole] Seventeen beats of the bodhrán.
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] And now Hartford's behind the fella…
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Who could be close to putting Gunther away!
Calling for the Brogue Kick.
Goes for the Brogue, misses.
Gunther.
-But Sheamus… -[Gunther groans]
[Cole] Looks like he was looking for a German suplex, counter by Sheamus.
Now hung up at the top rope.
And Ludwig Kaiser! Kaiser, tying up Sheamus' leg!
Getting him caught in the ropes!
And now Gunther goes on the attack.
[McAfee] Another hand print to the back of Sheamus
[Cole] And Kaiser's not done! Right to the knee!
[McAfee] Oh, this piece of German trash!
[crowd booing]
[yelling]
[McAfee in German] Nein!
[indistinct yelling]
[McAfee] See ya!
[Cole] Rod Zapata, the official, sending Kaiser to the showers!
But the damage has been done to Sheamus.
His right knee has been damaged by Kaiser.
Gunther now in control.
-The Tournament continues. -Don't stop it! Don't stop it!
[Cole] Suddenly, the story of this match has become
the knee of Sheamus.
This is a first round match-up in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Gunther versus Sheamus, as physical as we expected.
But right before the commercial break, Sheamus got hung up at the ropes.
Ludwig Kaiser would attack the knee, doing damage to Sheamus.
The official would ask him if he wanted to quit.
Sheamus said, "Do not stop this match,"
and it has continued through the commercial break.
[McAfee] Yeah, the knee has been a target.
And Gunther is just…
[screaming]
[groaning]
[McAfee] …brutally attacking the knees. Got the…
lock in right now. And Sheamus is powering out.
[Cole] Trying to stay alive somehow, create some separation.
Sheamus has been battling throughout this part of the match-up.
Really on one leg as Gunther again, goes to the knee.
Now, ripping the knee pad off and too much of--
-[yelling] -[Cole] Oh, my God!
So much of Sheamus' offense comes from his lower body,
including the right leg, which he uses for his finish, the Brogue Kick.
[McAfee] Yeah, this is what--
-[Cole] Oh. -[McAfee] This is what The Ring--
This is what The Ring General can do.
[Cole] Sheamus, trying to stay in this,
trying to fight through the pain, but…
the punishment and the torture being delivered by Gunther.
[McAfee] Gunther can sense the blood in the water.
[Cole] Sheamus, somehow trying to lift Gunther up on one leg.
Oh, and it just gave out on him.
Oh, and right back to the knee goes The Ring General.
[McAfee] Twisting, kneading,
you got to wonder how much that knee can take for Sheamus.
[Cole] Oh, and again.
[McAfee] Attacked him in the hamstring. He just chopped his hamstring.
[Cole] This has been a dissection by Gunther.
Sheamus, though, back to his feet, clothesline,
and creates an opening for The Celtic Warrior.
Sheamus, trying to lift Gunther up,
got him up top, looking for the Celtic Cross.
Knee gave out again.
Oh!
Knee connects!
Collapses into the cover! For the win!
Gunther's got a kick-out.
[McAfee] Kneed to the dome
and no one's home!
Gunther was out!
Found his wits and kicked out at two.
[Cole] But, Pat, it was the bad knee that Sheamus used to deliver that blow.
How much more damage did he do?
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Sheamus trying to…
drag himself back to his feet,
use this capacity crowd to his advantage.
Knee gave out, Gunther with an opportunity.
[McAfee] Oh, no.
[Cole] Sheamus, sent down into a powerbomb!
-Cover by Gunther! -[crowd counting]
[Cole] And a kick-out.
[McAfee] Half stack into a half crab!
[Cole] Yeah, on the bad knee. He hooked the bad knee,
now he's got the half crab underneath.
Sheamus trying to drag himself. Does get to the bottom rope,
and it's going to force a break.
[McAfee] Not in Boston, but Connecticut.
A crab works here as well.
[yelling]
[Cole] And right back to the injured leg.
Gunther, just a precise attack.
Gunther fighting through and…
The Ring General, going high risk here.
[McAfee] They say high risk, high reward, no risk it and no biscuit.
[Cole] And Sheamus back to his feet.
-[McAfee] Oh. -[Cole] Uh-oh.
Looking for the Celtic Cross again!
Delivers!
Can Sheamus capitalize?
Can he put Gunther away?
What a win this would be!
Digging down deep!
Gunther gets the shoulder up!
[McAfee] Sheamus couldn't get a full…
pin, just laid his body on top of Gunther.
Both these men giving it all
in the first round of the King of the Ring.
[Cole] Sheamus and Gunther,
the main event on Monday Night Raw.
Sheamus has been battling through much of this match-up,
really on one leg.
Gunther, targeting the knee again.
German suplex release.
-Come on! -[Cole] Sheamus wants more.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] How the hell's he doing this?
Oh, knee!
[McAfee] Slap happy Irishman.
[Cole] Another one! Oh, caught him!
Sheamus caught him!
Both men down!
Sheamus collapsed!
Going for a Brogue and…
collapsed off the contact!
And now dragging himself to the cover!
What a win this would be for Sheamus in the first round.
Cover on Gunther!
And a kick-out by The Ring General!
And now Gunther, just like that,
turns Sheamus around, half crab again.
[Sheamus yelling]
[Cole] Sheamus's knee did not allow him get all the Brogue moments ago.
Gunther was able to kick out.
And now, the attack back on the injured leg, half crab in.
Sheamus, fingertips away, dragged back to the center of the ring,
Gunther locks it in again, sits down onto the spine of Sheamus.
Sheamus, trying to drag his body
and Gunther's body to the bottom rope.
How much does Sheamus have left?
How much does The Celtic Warrior have left?
[McAfee] How much does the King of the Ring mean to Shea--
-[Cole] And he has to tap. -[bell rings]
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner by submission,
"The Ring General"
Gunther!
[Cole] Gunther advances to the quarterfinals.
What an effort by Sheamus.
But The Ring General is still in King of the Ring! Shea--