- 6/14/2025
#WWE, #Smack Down, #Night Of Champions, #King & Queen Of The Ring, #Fatal 4 Way Match, #Cody Rhodes Vs Damian Priest Vs Andrade Vs Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Smack Down _June 13, 2025 - King Of The Ring Tournament _Round 1 - Cody Rhodes Vs Damian Priest Vs Andrade Vs Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE, Smack Down, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade, King & Queen Of The Ring, Night Of Champions,
WWE Smack Down _June 13, 2025 - King Of The Ring Tournament _Round 1 - Cody Rhodes Vs Damian Priest Vs Andrade Vs Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE, Smack Down, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade, King & Queen Of The Ring, Night Of Champions,
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SportsTranscript
00:00I'm here about to flow, waiting for me to stop the show, I've been trying to light the world from home, whoa!
00:17The following is a total four-way first-round match in the King of the Rings Tournament, scheduled for one call.
00:26Introducing first, from Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 222 pounds, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
00:43It was only 54 days ago in Vegas, this would have been the furthest thing from Cody Rhodes' mind.
00:49The idea of needing to find a way to a world championship opportunity.
00:54But here he is, willing to do whatever it takes, and that means this big task.
01:00King of the Ring, first-round tournament, fatal four-way with the American Nightmare.
01:05It's been a spectacular night here in Lexington, and then next Friday, Friday Night SmackDown, Wade goes to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
01:25And King and Queen of the Ring Tournament, it heats up again.
01:29Yeah, we saw earlier on tonight, last year's losing finalist, Randy Orton punches his ticket to the semi-final.
01:36He goes head-to-head with Sami Zayn off the grabs, a place at the final of the King of the Ring Tournament at Night of Champions.
01:45We just had a spectacular finish in our first-round fatal four-way.
01:50The result was that Alexa Bliss advance, so Alexa Bliss is in the semi-finals.
01:57That match, we'll wait to see who fills in that slot, is next Friday from Grand Rapids.
02:02Now get this, these two men met recently at Saturday night's main event.
02:08I would never call this a rematch, as it is a very, very different R-True to what we've seen before after a number of assaults here on SmackDown.
02:18Next week, John Cena gets a chance to go, even as he goes head-to-head with R-True.
02:25Last time we saw Shinsuke Nakamura using the thrilling Money in the Bank Triple Threat qualifier that LA Knight was able to take.
02:43Let's get Nakamura who has won it all in WWE except, of course, the King of the Ring Tournament and a World Championship.
02:55He will get the opportunity to make headway into that stat right here in this King of the Ring quarter-final.
03:02This is a win.
03:17The King of the Ring.
03:20.
03:26.
03:27And their opponent, Ram Gómez Colacio Durango, Mexico.
03:57Weighing in at 230 pounds, Andrade!
04:06Wade, you, Pat and Cole, were excellent on the call, Money in the Bank.
04:10But one of the wow moments, I think he nearly jumped out of your seat ringside,
04:14was Andrade when he hit that sunset flip powerbomb off the ladder on El Grande Americano.
04:19Yeah, that was a devastating move.
04:21But earlier in the night, Andrade took a ladder to the Wedding Tackle out on the floor.
04:27That's cold steel.
04:28I'm sorry.
04:28The Wedding Tackle, you know what I'm, every man on planet Earth knows what I'm saying there.
04:32Nothing terrified me more during Money in the Bank than that particular impact on the softest region.
04:39The British slang that I don't...
04:41Wedding, Wedding Tackle, um...
04:42I don't know how to say it more politely than that, Jotess.
04:46I'm trying here.
04:47You're backing me into a corner.
04:48You're going to be fired if you carry on like that.
04:51You're going to be fired if you carry on like that.
05:21And their opponent, from New York City, playing in at 249 pounds, Damian Priest!
05:39Priest understands the value of winning King of the Ring from the other side.
05:45Last year's winner was Gunther.
05:47What a little topple in here.
05:50This is Priest's first time in competing in the King of the Ring tournament.
05:54Damian Priest has had a 12-month ruin by a combination of the Judgment Day and indeed,
05:59Drew McIntyre.
06:01Those threats seemingly behind the big man now,
06:05focusing back on achieving big things here on SmackDown and Beyond.
06:10Wildly interesting combination of talent in the ring right now.
06:22King of the Ring.
06:23First round of the tournament.
06:25Fatal four-way.
06:27No DQs.
06:28No countouts.
06:29The first to win by pinfall or submission advances.
06:32First, the winner of the King of the Ring gets a championship opportunity at SummerSlam.
06:40That comes away from MetLife Stadium, August 2nd and 3rd.
06:43King of the Ring finals will be at Night of Champions, Saturday, June 28th.
06:47That's streaming on Peacock.
06:49I'll tell you right now, the King of the Ring is a big enough motivator on its own,
06:54but since they added that World Championship or WWE Championship stipulation to the prize,
07:00it just grew bigger and bigger.
07:02And now it is an absolute peak, historically speaking.
07:06You can understand the early feeling out here with these four.
07:10Rhodes and Priest, Andrade and Nakamura makes an exit.
07:14And I love this from Nakamura.
07:17There are no prizes for putting your body on the line early here.
07:23Don't risk anything unless you're...
07:25Oh!
07:26The American nightmare with an early statement as Nakamura exited the ring,
07:33and now Andrade and Priest right in the center of the ring
07:36are the striking combinations from Damian Priest.
07:40Cody had a great idea there, but in the process dropped his own guard,
07:43and unsurprisingly, Andrade capitalized.
07:48Andrade off to a very good momentum-gathering start.
07:52The man with the big dreams.
07:54Cody intercepts and then eats an elbow.
07:57Haven't seen Cody Rhodes in action inside the ropes on SmackDown since February 7th.
08:03Right into the cover by Priest.
08:05Broken arrow connecting early.
08:07I'll tell you what, Andrade was not expecting the heavy artillery this soon.
08:12Cody Rhodes couldn't deliver the elbow, and Priest comes in.
08:17And then goes flying over the top rope, and then pulls down the legs of the recently dethroned
08:23undisputed champion.
08:24Every single competitor here starting out on a 10.
08:28We ain't warming up tonight.
08:29The stakes are too great.
08:30Oh, Nakamura came all the way around the ring, got up on the apron.
08:35He saw an opening against both Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest-Wade.
08:38These are four high-caliber competitors, and unsurprisingly...
08:43Andrade!
08:45Moonsaults right off the top of the post!
08:47All four are laid out, out on the floor!
09:00Incredible start to this fatal four-way.
09:04First-round tournament action, King of the Ring tournament.
09:07Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Andrade,
09:12who came flying, moonsaulting out onto the floor, wait.
09:16All four men going for broke from the off, leaving nothing in reserve.
09:22That's the level of healthy respect these four competitors have for each other.
09:26They know how dangerous their opponents are this evening.
09:29You simply cannot pop the brakes at all.
09:36Nakamura out onto the floor to meet Andrade.
09:39And we might get a flash finish in this one.
09:41These guys are going big from the very beginning.
09:43They really are.
09:43Do not look away.
09:46That running knee comes in.
09:48It has been non-stop offense, to your point.
09:51I'll tell you right now, as a competitor, this kind of match,
09:53you almost have a timer in there, and in the back of your head,
09:55you're thinking, I've got to reserve things,
09:58reserve a little energy for when things get into the deep water,
10:01when guys start getting tired.
10:03We might not even get that far.
10:06Priest hovering.
10:07Over Rhodes.
10:10Just slugging it out with Damian Priest.
10:13It's such a bad move.
10:14A, he's so big and strong, he can probably punch harder than Mo.
10:18Secondly, he has that huge range.
10:21Good example of what it takes to get through a fatal four-way
10:25as Priest thought he was in position against Rhodes.
10:27Next thing you know, he's got Nakamura chopping down at his leg.
10:30I question if anybody in the entire field of this tournament
10:42is more highly motivated than Cody Rhodes to win this thing,
10:48secure the crown, yes, but majorly secure that opportunity
10:51to get back at John Cena at SummerSlam.
10:55Should John Cena still be in possession of that WWE Championship
11:00by that point, which is certainly not a given?
11:04We'll see what CM Punk can do at Night of Champions in two weeks,
11:08of course.
11:09Just cannot wait for that one.
11:12Incredibly interesting exchange between CM Punk and John Cena
11:16just moments ago.
11:20Nakamura turns the tables on Rhodes.
11:25And once again, that striking ability of Damian Priest
11:54just knocking all opponents down.
11:57It's too easy for Priest.
11:59But don't take your eye off someone like Shinsuke Nakamura
12:03who knows a thing or two about striking himself.
12:10We're only two weeks away tonight at Champions,
12:13Saturday, June 28th.
12:14The question is, who will be in the finals of King of the Ring?
12:18This is first-round action, and it has been non-stop
12:21since the start with Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Andrade
12:24and Shinsuke Nakamura, who is putting Priest in that
12:28compromised position right in that corner and sliding through.
12:32Well, Nakamura has been so crafty in this one.
12:35He's allowed the other three competitors at time
12:38to burn each other out while laying in wait.
12:42Yes, he's absorbed some punishment himself,
12:44but he's been waiting for this moment, and he has to make it count.
12:53Shinsuke Nakamura, three-time U.S. champion,
12:57coming straight in on Cody, who gets out of the way just in time.
13:01You can't strut.
13:01You can't take that much time against someone the caliber
13:04of Cody Rhodes, arguably number one in this entire industry,
13:09albeit without a championship at present.
13:12Cody looking to advance by submission here in first-round action.
13:16Figure four is locked in against Nakamura.
13:20Off the top rope comes Andrade.
13:22Yeah, you go on the offense with a figure four.
13:25You're just asking for someone to pounce in this kind of match.
13:29That is exactly what happened, and now Priest back to his feet.
13:33Rhodes leaving himself defenseless.
13:34If I was Priest there, I'd have kicked Rhodes out of the ring
13:37and focused on the one-man lap, which would have been Andrade.
13:41Priest has other ideas.
13:42Who am I to educate a former world heavyweight champion?
13:46Damian Priest knows exactly what he's doing.
13:49Looking to get back in position to battle for a world championship.
13:54Off the steel steps, he comes crashing down on Nakamura.
13:59All three men at the feet of Damian Priest.
14:04Priest going up old school.
14:12But here's Cody.
14:14Oh, wow.
14:15Look at this.
14:16Look at Rhodes trying to balance himself before Nakamura gets the best of both of them.
14:21Damian Priest was trying to...
14:23There's a roll by Andrade.
14:24Just over-rotated there, and Shinsuke Nakamura didn't need to be asked twice
14:28to get the hell out of that armbar now.
14:31Locked in.
14:31Their arm is extended.
14:33That armbar is locked in.
14:35Nakamura.
14:37Cody Rhodes saw the danger a mile off just before perhaps the arm of Andrade was snapped.
14:43Oh, there had been a tap out.
14:45Here's Cody.
14:46Who can advance out of this first round and make it to the semifinals of King of the Ring?
14:50Yeah, so frantic in there right now.
14:53Cody Rhodes saw his moment for glory.
14:55Saw his moment for progression.
14:58Didn't quite work out.
14:59And now Cody Rhodes is...
15:00Oh, this crowd's going to go nuts.
15:02Tricks up his sleeve.
15:03This crowd's going to go nuts.
15:04The Slim Jim Table is coming out.
15:09Well, it's a little unorthodox for a fatal four-way.
15:13No DQs.
15:14There's absolutely nothing this referee can do about it.
15:18Cause all the carnage you want, Cody.
15:21Cody's got the table lined up.
15:30Cody says anything it takes.
15:33If this is the path to getting back to a world championship opportunity,
15:38whatever it takes.
15:40As he's got Andrade lined up.
15:42But Andrade's going to lock it up.
15:44Yeah, real smart from Andrade.
15:46He's taking enough abuse already this week.
15:48Thank you very much.
15:49Oh, Priest joins the fray.
15:54And they look at each other.
15:56And they say, why not?
15:57I don't know how this can possibly end well for any of these three men.
16:05Nakamura's going to bring down the legs of Andrade.
16:09And deal with him himself.
16:12Oh, right through.
16:15Well, Slim Jim Cablesnap.
16:18Cody Rhodes just fell on his own sword.
16:21And it's Nakamura with all the power now.
16:27Shinsuke Nakamura and Damian Priest.
16:41As he tries to slam down the head of Priest.
16:45But Priest, able to get the best of him.
16:47Priest is too big and strong.
16:49Oh, he turns the favor.
16:51Smashing the top of our announce desk.
16:54This might be a world record for the amount of abuse
16:57as our desk is absorbed in three hours, Joe Tess.
17:00It has been so much.
17:03Oh, and Andrade looking to lay him out and smash Priest down as well.
17:11Hey, why not?
17:12All bets are off.
17:14Clearly with that table's involvement.
17:16Oh, what a big boop.
17:18As Priest is laid out onto the table at this point.
17:22We are reaching a whole new level of pain in this matchup.
17:26And perhaps with it, a whole new level of barbarity.
17:32Oh, they send Priest sliding over the table.
17:35Tasted one of them already tonight.
17:37And I think he may have hurt his left leg badly there.
17:39Oh, and you hear Priest screaming in agony down here.
17:44Not that there's going to be any let-up from Andrade or Shinsuke Nakamura.
17:49Of course, Cody Rhodes laid out a few...
17:53They send him flying into Timekeeper.
18:01Andrade and Nakamura.
18:02And now it's Andrade being turned on by Nakamura.
18:19Nakamura looking to close things out here.
18:23And able to get that right shoulder up is Andrade.
18:26Andrade.
18:32Shinsuke Nakamura driving that knee right into the chest of Andrade.
18:51You hear this audience attempting to rally Cody Rhodes.
18:56He may be done and dusted.
18:57It took a hell of an impact earlier on through that table.
19:00And he's barely moved since.
19:02Andrade.
19:22Andrade.
19:23Climbing up top.
19:25As Nakamura meets him with a big right hand.
19:28teeter-tottering on the top
19:33not where you want to be
19:34that is what is on the line
19:46king of the ring
19:47this is the first round
19:48fatal four-way of the tournament
19:49Andrade and Shinsuke Nakamura
19:51battling right now
19:52as Damian Priest is somehow
19:54back to his feet
19:55he was smashed up and over
19:57our announced desk
19:58and into the timekeeper area
20:00and now he's lining up the razor's edge
20:03as Shinsuke tries to fight him off
20:04yeah you fight tooth and nail
20:06to get the hell out of that one
20:08meanwhile the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes
20:11he went through a table some time ago
20:14and he has yet to recover
20:16Andrade hooks the leg
20:20and he couldn't advance
20:22simply no way out of danger
20:24in this kind of match
20:25there's always someone lurking
20:26ready to bounce
20:27and right now it's Nakamura
20:29with a Pele kick
20:30to the back of the head
20:32of Andrade
20:33all known down
20:35bar one
20:36but how much has been taken out
20:39of Nakamura
20:39as you see Cody Rhodes
20:41trying to get to his feet
20:44Cody went through a table earlier
20:46and now Cody Rhodes
20:48the American Nightmare
20:49trying to advance himself
20:51he wants a world championship opportunity
20:53to regain his status
20:55by Hulk or by Croc
20:58the indefatigable human spirit
21:01of Cody Rhodes
21:02shining through here
21:03Rhodes
21:05getting the best of Priest
21:08and you feel that noticeable jump
21:10in energy
21:11this audience is starting
21:13to believe once again
21:14that is the American Nightmare
21:16setting up crossroads
21:19but instead
21:19Shinsuke
21:20able to counter
21:21Shinsuke Nakamura
21:23looking for Kinshasa
21:26connects
21:26hooks the leg
21:28could he advance
21:29Andrade with a last
21:32second save
21:34Cody Rhodes
21:35eyes just rolled
21:36in the back
21:37of his head
21:37nice move
21:39schoolboy
21:39into the buckles
21:41there by Andrade
21:42this one swinging
21:43back
21:44fourth
21:44left
21:45right
21:45up
21:45down
21:46Andrade
21:48who had so many
21:50wow moments
21:51in the Money in the Bank
21:53ladder match
21:53and now just
21:54six days removed
21:55with a huge
21:56career opportunity
21:57in front of him
21:58right here
21:59as he comes in
22:00with the running
22:01double knees
22:01has Andrade
22:03found a new gear
22:04in recent months
22:05that acquisition
22:06of triple A
22:07has fired up
22:08something
22:08inside of this
22:09oh no
22:11watch out
22:13here comes Priest
22:14once again
22:15oh
22:15you saw the
22:17spinning elbow
22:18look at it
22:19deliver the message
22:20Andrade
22:21is this
22:23enough
22:24Shinsuke
22:25Nakamura
22:26fatal
22:27four-way
22:28action
22:28everywhere
22:29where you look
22:31Scorpio
22:35rising
22:35attempt
22:36there
22:36I think
22:37from Shinsuke
22:38Nakamura
22:38certainly did not
22:39catch
22:39Andrade
22:40flush
22:41but it
22:41broke up
22:42the pin
22:42and that was
22:43enough
22:43for now
22:44at least
22:45Andrade
22:46and Nakamura
22:48as Cody's
22:49been damaged
22:50Priest
22:51is laid out
22:52will
22:53these two
22:54determine
22:55this first round
22:56King of the Ring
22:57fatal four-way
22:58Every shot
23:00is so heavy
23:01in this matchup
23:02I'm feeling
23:03every thug
23:04reverberating
23:05through the arena
23:06Here comes Cody
23:08Cody Rhodes
23:10rallying back
23:12Priest
23:16looking to deliver
23:17instead of Razor's
23:20edge
23:20it's Cody
23:22delivering
23:23the Cody
23:25cutter
23:25Oh that one
23:26was as sweet
23:27as I've ever
23:28seen
23:29but it's not
23:30got the job
23:30done yet
23:31He wants it
23:32badly
23:32to get back
23:34into position
23:35Crossroads
23:36on Andrade
23:38Oh but
23:41Nakamura
23:42And he says
23:47I'm ending it
23:48right here
23:49right now
23:50Cody counters
23:51Cody has
23:52counter
23:53Cody Rhodes
23:54Crossroads
23:55counter
23:56hooks the leg
23:57and does it
23:59Here is
24:04your winner
24:05the American
24:07Nightmare
24:09Cody
24:10Rhodes
24:12One step
24:16closer
24:16to redemption
24:18for Cody
24:18Rhodes
24:19What an
24:20epic
24:21matchup
24:22We're going
24:22to find out
24:23who Cody
24:23Rhodes
24:24semi-final
24:25opponent is
24:26this Monday
24:27on Raw
24:28in Green Bay
24:29But what a
24:30journey
24:30connecting
24:31with this
24:33Crossroads
24:34and Cody
24:35Rhodes
24:36makes it
24:36through to
24:37the semi-finals
24:38Well let's
24:39have a look
24:39Wade
24:40because we
24:41have three
24:42of our
24:42four semi-finalists
24:44Cody
24:45Brandy
24:45won tonight
24:46Sammy's in
24:47who will
24:48round it
24:48out
24:48it is a
24:49ride
24:49to
24:50SummerSlam
24:51through the
24:51night of
24:52champions
24:52that's how
24:53it jump
24:53starts
24:54massive
24:55semi-final
24:56action
24:56next Friday
24:58on Smackdown
24:59plus
24:59R-Truth
25:01against
25:01John Cena
25:02we will
25:03see you
25:03then
25:03as here
25:04in Lexington
25:05they roar
25:07for the
25:07American
25:08nightmare
25:09I am
25:13my kingdom
25:14the lights
25:15go down
25:16I'm ready
25:17now
25:17tear this
25:18roof off
25:19for the
25:20town
25:20gonna give
25:22them what
25:23they came to
25:24see
25:24town
25:26here
25:27to be
25:27to be
25:28here
25:28to be
25:30here
25:30to be
Recommended
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