Who Are the Favorites to Win the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments?
The King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments officially started last night on Raw. Just like last year, the winners of these respective tournaments will get world title matches at SummerSlam. The field is loaded and stacked with perennial superstars and stars looking to get their first major victory in the WWE. Both Sami Zayn and Roxanne Perez have already advanced to the Semifinals, but who else could advance and etch their names into the historic lore of being named King and Queen of the Ring? Let’s dive in.
Looking at the bracket, one of the favorites in the King of the Ring Tournament is Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare is the undisputed face of the WWE, and by winning this tournament, he will get a shot to reclaim the WWE Championship that he lost at WrestleMania. Another favorite is the “Viper,” Randy Orton. Orton has not been seen since losing to John Cena at Backlash. With both Rhodes and Orton on opposite sides of the bracket, a potential “Legacy” matchup between mentor and mentee could be on the horizon. This is a matchup that Rhodes has been pushing for since he made his return to the WWE. Sami Zayn has to be considered a favorite as well because of his ties to where the tournament finals will be held. The finals of both tournaments will be held at the Night of Champions Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia. Zayn is of Syrian heritage and can connect with the audience through his Arabic language and cultural background. The three-time Intercontinental Champion gets some of the biggest pops of the night every time the WWE goes to Saudi Arabia, so I could see WWE pulling the trigger on the crowd favorite and giving Zayn a moment he has worked so hard for. The former undisputed tag team champion is also on a journey to become a world champion for the first time in his WWE career. By winning the King of the Ring tournament, Zayn would be one victory away from achieving his goal. There is also one more spot in the tournament that is open, and whichever superstar fills that spot could be a favorite as well. Maybe it's “Main Event” Jey Uso, who just lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Gunther. Uso has been one of the most popular stars since leaving the Bloodline, and winning the King of the Ring tournament will add another accolade to his already Hall of Fame resume.
The Queen of the Ring tournament is stacked with a plethora of superstars who could win it. It is hard to predict who could emerge as the Queen of the Ring, but looking at the bracket, one of the favorites has to be Jade Cargill. The former TBS Champion has been showcased as a dominant presence in the women’s division, but she has not gotten that big major singles win on her resume. Winning this tournament and going on to SummerSlam and winning a world title would show that WWE officials are ready to push Cargill to the moon and usher her in as one of the leaders of the women’s division. Reports have already surfaced that the WWE is going to be giving the two-time women’s tag team champion a significant push, then by becoming Queen of the Ring could be the very start of the push for Cargill. Another favorite is Charlotte Flair. This goes without saying, but her nickname is the Queen, so it would make sense for her to win this tournament just by the nickname alone. Flair is the most decorated star in the women’s division, but she has never won the Queen of the Ring tournament. Winning this tournament would set up a WrestleMania rematch between her and Tiffany Stratton, and I don’t think that WWE officials would let Flair lose to Stratton twice. Other popular choices are Stephanie Vaquer and a returning Asuka; unfortunately, they will meet each other in the first-round Fatal Four-Way match on the June 16th episode of Raw. Vaquer already looks like a future star in the women’s division. The former NXT Women’s Champion has carried her momentum and popularity from the Silver and Black brand onto the main roster and has already earned the big PLE spotlight by competing in the Women’s Money in the Bank PLE last weekend. It would not surprise me if Vaquer made it to the finals, where she would be under the PLE spotlight again. The Empress of Tomorrow will make her return after a year-long absence due to a knee injury on the June 16th episode of Raw. Fans have been waiting for Asuka’s return for a long time, and now that time has come. The longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion is known for her aura and her unique style in the ring. Her presence alone makes the women’s division stronger than it has been and has generated more excitement for the Queen of the Ring tournament. However, by being in the same match as Vaquer, it is too early to kill the momentum that Vaquer has generated. Asuka’s popularity may propel her back into world championship contention, but with mid-card titles in the women’s division now, Asuka could find herself challenging for championships she has not yet won in her WWE career.
Overall, the field for both tournaments is loaded. This is a testament to the WWE roster, the development of the superstars that the WWE machine has made, and the work each superstar has put in. It is hard to predict who will come out victorious in both of these tournaments, but fans will be tuned in as the road to the WWE’s second biggest show of the year is underway. The only questions left are, who will emerge as the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring, guaranteeing their spot at the Biggest Party of the Summer?
