WWE Ring Royalty
Saturday -- Week 4 -- May 2023
LIVE! from London, England
OPENING VIDEO
The opening video for the event highlights some of WWE's famous Kings and Queens over the years. The voiceover reads like a royal proclamation and declares that tonight, a new King and Queen of WWE will be coronated. | 61
KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT -- RAW FINAL: AUSTIN THEORY |VS| MONTEZ FORD
Theory wins a really good opening match. He and Montez hit one another hard and Theory leaves with welts on his chest and Theory ends up with a bruise under his eye from an errant heel kick. Ford makes a comeback and goes for a big splash but Theory gets his knees up and then quickly rolls over and pins Ford for the win. Ford kicks out immediately after the pinfall and is up on his feet to offer Theory a handshake after the match. Theory turns around and heads to the back without shaking Ford's hand.
WINNER by pinfall: WWE United States Champion Austin Theory (13:25) | 78
KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT -- SMACKDOWN FINAL: NICK ALDIS |VS| CHAD GABLE
Another good match with two guys who know how to work a realistic style. Aldis uses his size and to his advantage early but Gable survives an early onslaught and kicks out of a couple pin attempts. Aldis misses a lariat and Gable gets a waistlock and hits a German suplex to begin his run on offense. Aldis comes off the second rope for an axe handle smash but Gable moves. Aldis lands on his feet but grabs at his knee and falls to the mat. Gable goes for a half crab on Aldis' hurt knee but Aldis powers out of it and sends Gable into the ropes. Gable bounces off the ropes and Aldis catches him and hits Tormentum and covers Gable for the win. Once again the loser kicks out immediately after the pinfall, indicating that both Ford and Gable are still going to get a push. The English crowd seems to have been cheering for Gable over their fellow countryman but that would change later when Aldis was a huge babyface in the KOTR finals against Austin Theory.
WINNER by pinfall: Nick Aldis (12:02) | 78
A REGAL ANNOUNCEMENT
SmackDown GM William Regal is in his office to make a special announcement. He says that Candic LeRae was not medically cleared to compete tonight so Charlotte Flair has earned a spot in the Queen of the Ring finals and will take on the winner of Liv Morgan and Iyo Sky. | 41
QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT -- RAW FINAL: IYO SKY |VS| LIV MORGAN
Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky jump Liv during her entrance. Once it's broken up Iyo is sent to the ring and the medical staff checks on Liv. She refuses to quit and sells her back as she limps to the ring. The match is good and Liv sells her back throughout the entire match. Iyo expertly works over Liv's back and gets a few near falls but Liv keeps kicking out. Eventually the referee catches Dakota trying to interfere and kicks her out. Iyo complains to the referee and turns her back on Liv. Liv pulls herself up using the ropes and spins Iyo around and hits the ObLIVion and then covers Iyo and picks up the surprising victory. Iyo and Dakota jump Liv after the match and leave her laying in the middle of the ring.
WINNER by pinfall: Liv Morgan (7:51) | 71
WWE WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: THE STREET PROFITS (C) |VS| NEW DAY |VS| THE REVIVAL
The first fall was really really good. The Street Profits retained the World Tag Team Titles when Dawkins pinned Dax. The match started slow with both of the babyface teams taking time to go after the Revival. Things started to pick up when Dash hit Woods with a big spinebuster and got a near fall. Kofi broke up the pin and then all six men entered the ring and began to brawl. The referee eventually restored order and Dax hit Montez with Cornette's tennis racket and covered him but Ford got his foot on the bottom rope. Kofi got tagged in and went for a top rope dropkick but he landed awkwardly and seemed stunned but continued on. The Revival went for a spike piledriver on Kofi but Woods superkicked Dax as he held Kofi up and Ford superkicked Dash as he came off the second rope. Dawkins, the legal man, entered the ring and tossed both members of New Day to the outside and then picked up Dax and hit an implant ddt. Montez Ford immediately followed it with a big splash and Dawkins covered Dax for the pinfall.
WINNERS by pinfall and STILL WWE World Tag Team Champions: The Street Profits (14:05) | 82
WWE UNIVERSAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: THE STREET PROFITS (C) |VS| NEW DAY |VS| THE REVIVAL
This fall was shorter than the first and wasn't quite as good but the finish set up future challengers for the Universal Tag Team Championship. The Revival won the Universal Tag Team Championship when Dash rolled up Montez Ford and pinned him after going for an old school O'Connor roll and Cornette hit Ford in the head with his tennis racket. This one started with a really cool opening sequence with a frenetic series of finishing moves from all six men. That sequence ended with all six men down in the ring. Kofi was the first one to his feet. He tried for something off the top rope but Dash popped up out of nowhere and crotched Kofi and went for a superplex. Dawkins hit a low blow on Dash and pulled him off the turnbuckle. Dawkins tried to replace Dash for the superplex but Dax low blowed him and then tried to do the same until Montez Ford hit Dax with a low blow and then set up a superplex for himself. This time Xavier Woods hit a low blow on Ford and then climbed up like he was going to superplex Kofi but instead Kofi picked Woods up and dropped him down onto Dash for a near fall. Dash kicked out and Woods rolled off of him. Kofi went for a senton but Dax pulled Dash out of the ring and Kofi hit hard. The Street Profits sent New Day to the outside with clotheslines and the Revival snuck back in the ring behind the Street Profits and attacked them from behind. This is when Dash went for the O'Connor roll on Ford and got the win. After the match the New Day was pointing out that they hadn't been pinned in either match as they headed to the back.
WINNERS by pinfall and NEW WWE Universal Tag Team Champions: The Revival (10:21) | 76
KOTA IBUSHI |VS| ONA LEAGA
The match was supposed to be Ibushi vs Jey Uso and it appeared like it was going to be at first but after Jey and Ibushi got into the ring, Leaga attacked Ibushi from behind and Jey announced that he wasn't cleared to wrestle. Leaga beat on Ibushi and wouldn't let him get started but eventually Ibushi turned the tide and hit a Pele Kick that stunned Leaga enough to allow Ibushi to take control. Ibushi started to get going and ramp up when Jey Uso slid a chair into the ring and Ona blasted Ibushi in the back with it and was immediately disqualified. Leaga continued to assault Ibushi with the chair until Jey told him to stop.
WINNER by Disqualification: Kota Ibushi (6:28) | 63
WWE UNIVERSAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: SASHA BANKS (C) |VS| PIPER NIVEN
Before the match we got an exceptional hype package for Piper Niven. It broke down her career and a bit about her early life. Then we got some quick interviews with Piper's friends and family talking about how proud they were of her win or lose. It really set things up to look like it was Piper's night to take the title but that was not the case. Piper came out on fire, pumped up by a crowd that was chanting for her. Sasha played the heel role to start as she was stalling and working hard to take the crowd out of the match. Piper got the advantage again and used her size and strength to toss Sasha around the ring. Piper had Sasha in the corner and charged. Sasha moved and Piper hit her shoulder on the steel ring post and started selling her shoulder being injured. Piper kept fighting through it and hit a Samoan drop for a near fall. Piper forgot her shoulder was hurting and tried to throw a lariat but collapsed to one knee and held her arm in pain. Sasha stopped and asked the referee to check Piper. The medic was brought over but Piper was cleared to continue. Sasha went on the attack but Piper hit a headbutt and staggered her. Piper kicked Sasha and went for a one-armed powerbomb but Sasha slid down her back and hit a back cracker but Piper didn't go down. Piper stood back up like a monster and Sasha wasn't sure what to do. Sasha ran off the ropes and Piper charged her. Piper went for a spear but Sasha caught Piper's arm in an armbar and Piper quickly tapped out.
WINNER and STILL WWE Universal Women's Champion: Sasha Banks (12:18) | 64
POST-MATCH ANGLE
After the match was over Sasha was handed her title and Piper was on her knees in the middle of the ring, holding her arm and weeping. Sasha walked over to her and helped her to her feet and embraced her. Sasha told Piper she was sorry and seemingly offered her another title shot. Sasha held Piper's arm up and pointed at her but Piper turned on Sasha and hit a short-arm clothesline and then a big splash. Piper grabbed the belt and looked at it and then threw it down on Sasha and stormed out, holding her arm the entire way as the crowd was now seemingly split with about half still cheering Piper and the other half booing for being unsure what to think. | 66
IMPERIUM PROMO
Imperium is backstage. Ludwig Kaiser does most of the promo as he talks about Bobby Lashley being the next to learn why Gunther is the greatest professional wrestler in the entire world. Kaiser said that Gunther was going to make an example out of Lashley as no one should be able to come in off the street and demand a title shot. Gunther then said that tonight will be a lesson for the entire WWE roster to learn -- don't bother going after the Intercontinental Championship because it will be the property of Gunther until he decides he no longer wants it. | 74
WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: GUNTHER (C) |VS| LASHLEY
These two beat the hell out of each other. Lashley represented Gunther's toughest challenge to-date as he showed enough strength to be able to lift Gunther and do whatever he wanted with him. This lead to Gunther being on the defensive for portions of the match which was a new dynamic for Gunther's matches. Some big high spots in this one made it seem like a truly big match. Lashley hit a powerslam for a near fall and then tried for the Hurt Lock but Gunther's height advantage won out. Gunther powerbombed Lashley for a near fall and then tried to powerbomb Lashley from the top rope but Lashley reversed it into a back body drop. Lashley went for the Dominator but Gunther used his long arms to grab the top rope and pull himself down. He hit a disgustingly loud sounding lariat on Lashley and then picked him up for another powerbomb but Lashley fought out of it. Lashley speared Gunther to the floor and both men rolled around outside. Gunther seemed to be contemplating taking the countout loss but Lashley rolled him back in. Kaiser and Vinci decided to interfere. Vinci took the ref while Kaiser grabbed a chair and tried to attack Lashley with it but Lashley speared him. Lashley climbed back in the ring and ate a big kick to the head as he climbed in. Gunther hit three consecutive short-arm lariats before Lashley fell to his knees. Gunther powerbombed him and Lashley kicked out at two again. Gunther was stunned. He ran off the ropes and booted Lashley in the head. He lifted Lashley up into the air but staggered backwards into the corner and Lashley ended up sitting on the top turnbuckle. Gunther turned around and Lashley hit a flying shoulder tackle that knocked Gunther into the ropes. Lashley grabbed Gunther and whipped him across the ring. Lashley speared him and covered him for a near fall. Lashley got to his feet and Vinci was up on the apron. Lashley took him out. Then Kaiser tried it. Lashley pulled him into the ring and whipped him into the corner. Lashley hit a running clothesline and took Kaiser out. While the referee tried to restore order, Ilja Dragunov started down to the ring. Vinci was commanding him to interfere. Ilja hopped up onto the apron and Lashley stopped to talk to him. Gunther charged and hit a flying knee to Lashley's back and Lashley collided with Dragunov. Dragunov fell to the arena floor in front of Vinci and Lashley staggered backwards into the clutches of Gunther who hit an Austrian suplex and then held on and lifted Lashley and hit a gutwrench powerbomb and covered Lashley for the win.
WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther (15:30) | 87
SHINSUKE/SAMI HYPE VIDEO
As Gunther celebrated in the ring we got a hype video for the Sami Zayn/Shinsuke Nakamura match that was coming up next. The video spotlighted their match in NXT and then their career trajectories on the main roster leading up to this moment. A voiceover from Sami said that he had to win this because if he didn't his legacy would be the guy who won the Universal title as a fluke and then lost it quickly. Shinsuke responded by saying Sami wasn't a fluke but he doesn't have what it takes to withstand Shinsuke's onslaught. | 59
WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SAMI ZAYN (C) |VS| SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
This match felt like it went too long and like they were trying too hard to make it an epic title match but Shinsuke just couldn't keep up. They started off trading strikes in the center of the ring but that ended with Shinsuke kicking Sami in the leg and dropping him to one knee. Shinsuke went for the killshot early with a Kinshasa but Sami ducked it. Shinsuke hit the corner and Sami quickly hit an arm-trap German suplex. Sami waited for Shinsuke to get to his knees and then kicked him and went for a ddt but Shinsuke drove Sami into the corner and then lit him up with some strikes. Sami covered up and the referee forced Shinsuke to back away. More striking as both men try to feel the other one out. The commentators mention each man taking a cautious approach, afraid of making a mistake. Eventually they lock up and we get a more standard match. Sami gets a side headlock and Shinsuke stomps on Sami's foot and then hits a side suplex. Sami rolls to the ropes and Shinsuke charges but Sami back drops him. Shinsuke grabs onto the top rope and lands on the apron. Shinsuke picks himself up and Sami goes after him and eats a kick to the side of the head. Sami is staggered. Shinsuke climbs back in and starts back at Sami with strikes, knocking him into the corner. The match slows down from there with some rest holds and eventually the action ramps back up again. Sami hits a flying clothesline and gets a near fall and then picks Shinsuke up and dropkicks him into the corner. Sami pops up and goes for the Helluva Kick but Shinsuke hits a running knee instead. Nakamura covers but only gets a two count. Nakamura picks Sami up and drapes him over the middle rope and starts choking Sami with his shin on the back of Sami's head. Shinsuke backs up and charges. He leaps into the air but Sami dodges and Shinsuke goes flying to the arena floor. Sami hits a tope and both men are laid out. Eventually Shinsuke is up to his feet first. He whips Sami into the steel steps and then rolls him into the ring. Shinsuke climbs back into the ring. Shinsuke works over Sami's arm until Shinsuke charges him and Sami hits a spinning heel kick. Blue Thunder Bomb gets a two count and then Sami gets to his feet. Shinsuke is slow to get up and Sami shoves him into the corner. Sami hits the Helluva Kick and covers Shinsuke but only gets a two count. Sami can't believe that Shinsuke kicked out. He picks Shinsuke up by the hair but Shinsuke hits a chinbuster and a spin kick to Sami's head. Shinsuke hits the Kinshasa but Sami kicks out at two. Shinsuke puts Sami on the top turnbuckle and climbs up. They exchange punches and Sami shoves Shinsuke off the turnbuckles. Shin lands on his feet and Sami leaps off the turnbuckle for a flying ddt but Shinsuke catches him with a knee to the face. Sami is stunned and falls back into the corner. Shinsuke grabs him and goes for a bulldog but Sami tosses Shinsuke away and Shinsuke takes a bump on his backside. Shinsuke stands up and Sami kicks him in the midsection and then hits the Blue Thunder Bomb again but Shinsuke kicks out again. Sami whips Shinsuke into the corner and hits the Helluva Kick. Sami immediately covers and this time he gets the win.
WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Sami Zayn (21:51) | 63
QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL: LIV MORGAN |VS| CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Liv's still selling her back from earlier as she gets to the ring. Charlotte goes after Liv's knee at the opening bell. Charlotte kicks Liv in the left knee and then goes to work. Charlotte then starts targeting Liv's back. This is the story of the match as Charlotte keeps wearing down an already hurting Liv Morgan. But to Liv's credit she keeps kicking out of pin attempts despite being in pain. Charlotte changes her tactics and starts going for the submission by applying various moves designed to target Liv's back but Liv fights back. Liv gets a rush of adrenaline and goes on the offensive and hits a Thesz Press followed by a ddt. Liv goes to the second turnbuckle and leaps off for an elbow drop but Charlotte moves. Liv lands hard on her back and arches her back and screams in pain. Charlotte stomps Liv's midsection and then kicks Liv until she rolls onto her stomach. Charlotte drops a knee on Liv's back and then locks her in the surfboard but Liv gets to the ropes to break the hold. Charlotte picks Liv up and hits a back suplex. Liv sits up and Charlotte hits the Natural Selection and then covers Liv but Liv kicks out again. Charlotte is mad that Liv won't stay down and picks her up but Liv hits a chinbuster. Liv tackles Charlotte and fires right hands but Charlotte covers up. Liv gets to her feet and waits for Charlotte to start to get up. Liv hits a running swinging neckbreaker on Charlotte and then when Charlotte starts to give up Liv goes for ObLIVion but Charlotte shoves her away, kicks her in the midsection and then powerbombs Liv and covers her for the pinfall victory.
WINNER by pinfall and 2023 Queen Of The Ring: Charlotte Flair (13:25) | 69
CORONATION
Charlotte celebrates in the ring and then walks up the aisle to the special set off to the side of the stage where they have a throne set up. Charlotte is handed a scepter and a crown along with a cape. She puts them on and Byron Saxton steps up and tries to interview her but Charlotte only says "ALL HAIL QUEEN CHARLOTTE!" | 65
KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL: AUSTIN THEORY |VS| NICK ALDIS
This one was pretty good and the crowd was really into Nick Aldis. The match started slow and they built on the action as they went along. Theory stalled a lot to start and then cheated with an eye rake for the early advantage. Aldis turned things around when Theory charged him and he hit a scoop powerslam for a near fall. Aldis had all the momentum and he beat Theory all over the ring. Theory sold well and bumped like crazy to make Aldis look great. But Theory was able to turn things around when Aldis missed a clothesline and Theory dropkicked him to the arena floor. Theory threw Aldis into the steel steps. He rolled Aldis into the ring and went for a ddt but Aldis shoved Theory into the corner. Aldis picked Theory up to set him on the top turnbuckle but Theory headbutted Aldis and then kicked him. Theory leaped off the turnbuckle and went for a ddt but Aldis turned it into an inverted atomic drop. Theory went into the corner and Aldis charged him but Theory pulled the referee in front of him and Aldis squashed the referee and Theory. With the referee down, Dabba Kato climbs up onto the ring apron. He distracts Aldis and Aldis swings at him. Dabba Kato catches Aldis' punch and goozles him for a chokeslam but Aldis fights out of it and knocks Dabba Kato off the apron. But Austin Theory grabs the US Title that Dabba Kato set on the ring apron earlier. Theory waits for Aldis to turn around and Theory charges and slams Aldis in the face with the US title. Theory covers Aldis and the referee counts, 1--------2------------3!!
WINNER by pinfall and 2023 King of the Ring: WWE United States Champion Austin Theory (12:29) | 72
CORONATION OF A KING
Theory walks to the throne set up off to the side of the stage. He sits down and some extras come over and hand him a crown, a cape, a scepter, etc. Byron Saxton is there to interview Theory. He asks what Theory is thinking/feeling and Theory says that he is going to bring prestige back to the role of King in WWE. He mocks previous KOTR winners like Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Edge, and Wade Barrett and says that he is going to be the greatest king of all-time. | 69
MAIN EVENT -- TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: CODY RHODES (C) |VS| LA KNIGHT |VS| SETH FREAKIN' ROLLINS
A really long main event but it delivered for sure. Early on the heels double teamed Cody and wouldn't let him get a moment to breathe as they just continually kept pounding on him. But LA Knight tried to pin Cody and Seth took exception to him trying to win the match and the heels began brawling. The next few minutes of the match were Knight and Rollins brawling while Cody got a breather. Eventually Cody got involved again and we got some fun spots with all three men battling. Cody hit a superplex on LA Knight and Seth immediately dove onto Knight with a frog splash and got a two count that Cody broke up at the last second. Knight rolled to the outside and Cody and Seth battled for a while. Seth hit a flying knee to Cody's face and it connected with Cody's mouth and busted him open. Cody had to stop for the ringside medical staff to check on him so LA and Seth went back at it again. Eventually the action moved to outside of the ring. LA Knight ddt'd Cody on the floor and Seth tried to Irish whip LA into the steps but LA reversed it. LA hit the steps hard and Seth picked up Cody and placed him on the announce table. LA Knight popped up and pulled Cody off the table and Seth went through it on an attempted flying elbow drop. LA Knight rolled Cody into the ring and rolled in and hit his Blunt Force Trauma finish and covered Cody but Cody kicked out at two. LA Knight picked Cody up and whipped him into the corner. Knight charged but Cody moved and Knight hit chest-first onto the turnbuckles. Cody spun LA around and booted him and then hit the Cross Rhodes. Cody covered LA Knight, 1---2---Seth pulled Cody out of the ring. Seth hit a high knee to Cody's face and then rolled into the ring. Seth hit a Falcon Arrow on LA Knight and then waited for LA to start to get to his feet to hit the Stomp but Cody grabbed Seth's leg. Knight got up and crushed Seth in the corner with a charging lariat. Cody rolled in the ring and hit the Cody Cutter on LA Knight and then a Cross Rhodes on Seth. Cody covered Seth and got the pinfall to retain the title!
WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Cody Rhodes (26:30) | 72
FAMILY FEUD?
Cody Rhodes celebrates in the ring as his music starts. Immediately after the voiceover at the beginning "Wrestling has more than one royal family" the music stopped and the lights went out. After what felt like an eternity the first 35 seconds of "Zeal & Ardor" by Zeal & Ardor began to play as some lights began to flicker at the entrance way. After the 35 second mark the music transitioned to "Feed The Machine" by Zeal & Ardor and suddenly a figure walked out onto the stage. A spotlight hits the figure and it's BRAY WYATT! He's in an updated version of his old swamp cult leader attire and he's holding a lantern. He starts laughing and the lights come back on. Cody is standing in the ring looking at Bray and he doesn't see that there's three men standing behind him -- Bo Dallas, Rickey Shane Page, and Sami Callihan. Bray waves at Cody and then points. Cody turns around and sees that he's not alone in the ring and just as the three men take a step toward Cody the lights go back out. When they come back on the men and Bray Wyatt are all gone. Cody is standing in the ring -- ready to fight. He looks confused and Bray Wyatt's laughter is heard over the PA system as the show goes off the air. | 71
OVERALL RATING: 72
