Tonight, a king will be crowned. Who will walk away, crowned royalty, and will we get a hint at who they will challenge at the biggest party of the summer?
Universe Mode
June 26th, 2016
King of the Ring
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cesaro vs Bad News Barrett- King of the Ring Semi-Finals Match
We opened King of the Ring with the first semi-finals match, and the final match of Smackdown's side of the tournament. Both men were ready to represent Smackdown as King of the Ring, trading high impact moves, Cesaro with an uppercut and Barrett with a Winds of Change. Cesaro took control, and nearly took Barrett out with an impressive superplex to the floor. Barrett got back into things quickly, dropping Cesaro with a Bull Hammer, which wasn't quite enough for victory. Both men threw everything they had at each other, neither staying down for the count. It was Cesaro who capitalized, with a second wind, and dropped Barrett three times with deadlift german suplexes to put the Bringer of Bad News away.
Winner and advancing in King of the Ring: Cesaro
Nikki Bella(c) vs Natalya vs Brie Bella- Steel Cage Match for the Women's World Title
Both sisters went at it from the moment the bell rang, and Natalya sensed her opportunity, nearly escaping the cage in mere minutes before Nikki pulled her back. Natalya made a few more escape attempts, but quickly found that her strategy wouldn't work. All three women exchanged offense and all three tried desperately to escape the cage. Nikki got the farthest, getting to the top, but Brie scaled the cage and brought her back in as both sisters fell back to the canvas. Natalya would also reach the top of the cage before Nikki made the save. It was the champion's constant escape attempts that would prove to be key, as Nikki finally made it up and out of the cage, escaping with her belt once more.
Winner and still Women's World Champion: Nikki Bella
Kane vs Triple H- King of the Ring Semi-Finals Match
The Raw half of King of the Ring concluded as the monster Kane took on the devious Triple H. Kane dodged the Spinebuster from The Game early on, frustrating Triple H. Kane fought back into the match, growing in confidence as he dismantled Triple H. The Big Red Monster couldn't find the killing blow, as Triple H showed his resilience in surviving two chokeslams. Kane, despite his obvious anger, knew that he had one more weapon left, and prepared to hit the Tombstone piledriver. Before he could, though, the lights went out. A gong sounded and smoke filled the arena. Then, the lights came back on, and Kane, distracted, was caught by Triple H with the Pedigree for a shocking three count. Kane just sat in the ring, muttering to himself, as fans wondered what on Earth was going on.
Winner and advancing in King of the Ring: Triple H
Randy Orton(c) vs Batista- WWE Title Match
The Age of Orton was just beginning on Smackdown, and could end just as soon as it started, as The Animal Batista looked to topple The Viper, Randy Orton. The match started with a brawl, as both men went at it, before Batista got control, slamming Orton off the barricade and smashing his head off the ringpost multiple times. Orton attempted to get back into the match several times, but it was obvious to all watching that Orton was not prepared for this onslaught. Batista said that he could defeat Orton, if given the chance, and he proved it, as the champion looked to be in major trouble. Orton finally got out of the Animal's clutches, and appeared to be getting back into the match, before he ran right into a massive Spear, that nearly ended his title reign. Orton was not WWE Champion for nothing, and nearly put Batista away with his elevated DDT. The Animal, ready to prove his dominance, nearly crushed every bone in Orton's body with a massive Batista Bomb through the announce table. Orton fought back again, showing his heart, and tried to put Batista away with a punt kick, but The Animal rolled out of the way. Batista then went for another Spear, and the ref caught the worst of it, nearly knocked unconscious. Batista then connected with the Batista Bomb, but there was no ref. As The Animal tried to wake the official, he turned back around, right into an RKO from the champion. The referee got up in time to count the pinfall, as Orton retained under dubious circumstances.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Randy Orton
CM Punk(c) vs John Cena- Intercontinental Title Match
We were scheduled to see CM Punk meet John Cena in a rematch for the IC Title, however news broke that Punk was not in the building. Punk said simply that Cena didn't deserve a rematch, and he was refusing to wrestle in this match. As a result, the match was cancelled. More on this subject on Raw tomorrow.
Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre
This was a very important match, as the winner would receive a World Title Match on the first show after King of the Ring. It was McIntyre who struck early, nearly putting the Celtic Warrior away with a Claymore knee. Sheamus, still dazed, fell victim to the Future Shock DDT, which almost put the match away. McIntyre was too confident that he had Sheamus out, and was taught a lesson when Sheamus floored him with a Brogue Kick, and it was McIntyre's turn to just kick out. McIntyre, though, learned no lesson, and continued to feel he had the match in hand. Sheamus showed him otherwise, nearly kicking his head off with a second Brogue Kick to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Title tomorrow on Raw.
Winner: Sheamus
Bray Wyatt(c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin- World Heavyweight Title Match
But who would be World Heavyweight Champion? This match between Bray Wyatt and Steve Austin would determine the future of Raw. Wyatt suffered a concussion in his match with CM Punk on Raw, and Austin targeted the head right from the start. A series of lefts and rights busted the champion open, and the Texas Rattlesnake nearly won the World Title right then and there, as he connected on a Stunner, but Wyatt had the intelligence to roll out of the ring. Wyatt grew quickly desperate, going for cover after cover, with none being effective. Austin, for his part, focused on the head and the open wound, covering his own fists with Wyatt's blood. More rights and lefts, and the ring was coated with blood from the champion. Austin looked to put it away with a second Stunner, but Wyatt just got out of the way. Wyatt nearly retained, striking with a Sister Abigail, but Austin's foot found the bottom rope. More rights, more lefts from the challenger, and Wyatt's face became the "crismson mask". The ref stepped in, intending to stop the match, but Wyatt shoved him away, wanting to fight on. Austin then dropped Wyatt with a Stunner, then another one for good measure, as the ref slowly counted to three. Austin celebrated as the fallen champion lay on the mat, covered with his own blood. Bray chose to fight this match, and he paid the price.
Winner and the NEW World Heavyweight Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Triple H vs Cesaro- King of the Ring Finals
Our main event saw the crowning of a new King of the Ring, as Triple H took on Cesaro. The Game, desperate to gain the early advantage, jumped Cesaro while the latter was making his entrance, which began a massive brawl between the two men. Cesaro established his wrestling superiority, and nearly put the Raw finalist away with two straight lifting uppercuts, as Triple H just kicked out before three. Cesaro dominated the match, but Triple H hung around and caught the Smackdown finalist with a Pedigree that wasn't quite enough for victory. With both men exhausted, in their second match of the night, Cesaro decimated Triple H with the Neutralizer, and it seemed to be all over until The Game got the shoulder up, just in time. Triple H back on his feet, then hit Cesaro with a second Pedigree, and nearly lost his mind when Cesaro just got the shoulder up. They battled back and forth, two warriors battling for the ultimate prize. Cesaro punished the Game with power move after power move, but Triple H continued to get up, continued to fight. Cesaro seemed to gain respect for Triple H as he kicked out again and again, and simply watched as Triple H got back to his feet. In one last act of defiance, Triple H refused help, and told Cesaro to finish it. He did, hitting a second Neutralizer and being crowned the new King of the Ring. The Smackdown roster better be on the look out for the "King of Swing".
Winner and the NEW King of the Ring: Cesaro
Cesaro is the new King of the Ring, and will face the WWE Champion in the main event of Summerslam. But who will that be? On July 17th, Smackdown will host The Great American Bash, and whomever exits that event as WWE Champion will face the King of Swing as the summer's biggest event.
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