- 6/24/2025
#wwe, #wwe raw, #night of champions, #king & queen of the ring, #main event jey uso, #jey uso, #cody rhodes, #american nightmare, #king of the ring semi finals, #cody rhodes vs jey uso
WWE Raw _June 23, 2025 - Cody Rhodes Vs Jey Uso _ King Of The Ring Semi Finals Match
WWE Raw _June 23, 2025 - Cody Rhodes Vs Jey Uso _ King Of The Ring Semi Finals Match
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00:00They are pumped up and fired up for man of that, Jey Uso.
00:24They are about to eat in Columbus.
00:43Jey knows what to stake Corey, the quickest way to get back in the hunt for the World Heavyweight
00:50championship is to win King of the Ring and get the champ at SummerSlam.
00:55I caught up with Jey earlier this afternoon and he told me that in spite of losing his title
01:01back to Gunther, Jey feels a new sense of freedom.
01:05He says he knows exactly what it takes to make it to the top of the mountain and he thinks
01:09the next time is going to be even better than the first.
01:16What a seed in front of 13,000 in Nationwide Arena.
01:31The following is a semi-final match in the King of the Ring Tournament.
01:37Introducing first from San Francisco, California, bring in at 242 pounds, main event, Jey Uso.
01:50I want to remind everyone, Raw Recap comes your way tomorrow.
01:53Sam and Megan, special guest, Jade Cargill.
01:57Get better at that each and every week.
02:03Come on, give me my props.
02:06Main event, Jey Uso.
02:08Massive opportunity tonight as he heads into the ring with a man who has been a rival,
02:14a man who's been a friend, they've been tag team champions together, Jey and Cody one-on-one.
02:27We can bet on one thing, the tag team championship reign, all of the moments they've spent together
02:32traveling up and down the road, that all has to live in the past tonight.
02:37You fight your friends in this business the hardest.
02:40Winner picks up the beer tab at the end of the night.
02:43And here's the brackets for the King of the Ring Tournament.
02:46Of course, Randy Orton knocked off Sami Zayn this past Friday on SmackDown to advance
02:50to the finals for a second straight year.
02:53He'll take on either Cody Rhodes or Jey Uso on Saturday.
02:58Look at the potential history between Orton and Uso and Orton and Rhodes.
03:01There's no shortage there.
03:03The showdown for the ages with the King of the Ring crown on the line.
03:07Yeah, quite the rivalry here tonight as well.
03:09Remember, Jey and Cody started things off not on the right foot.
03:14Remember, Jey Uso could be blamed for Cody Rhodes not finishing his story the first time around.
03:21Let's not gloss over that, Cole. I know it's been a while, but Jey Uso was the reason on more than one occasion that Cody was unable to get the job done.
03:30Yeah, but then they put, of course, when Jey Uso saw the light, left Roman Reigns.
03:34He was brought to Monday Night Raw by Cody Rhodes.
03:36They became friends and partners, once won the tag team titles together.
03:40In fact, they've been teammates 13 times in their career.
03:50Columbus wants to run it back.
04:08Columbus wants to run it back.
04:13You can stay seated, Cole. I don't know if you've got two rounds in you.
04:15There's no way.
04:17I still gotta call the main event.
04:21You can stay seated.
04:25Quite the love affair that has developed between the WWE fans and Jey Uso over the past year.
04:31Let's go!
05:48You know, we talked about the need of Jey Uso to win King of the Ring and get back to an opportunity to exercise his demons with Gunther at SummerSlam.
06:04The same goes for Cody Rhodes. Cody wants to win King of the Ring to get to SummerSlam to perhaps take on John Cena or CM Punk.
06:13Either way, a main event more than worthy of the biggest party of the summer.
06:18But right now, Cody's focus has to be singular.
06:21He has to be focused on Jey Uso and Jey Uso alone.
06:25I asked Jey Uso at the SummerSlam kickoff event at Fanatic's Fest this past Saturday who he'd rather face, Gunther or Goldberg for the world title at SummerSlam.
06:37He said, I just want an opportunity, but I want another craft at Gunther.
06:42You take my freedom.
06:44You just change the game.
06:46I better, better play.
06:48I built my kingdom.
06:50Now you fell to me.
06:54You're a dream without my name.
06:56You follow me until the end.
07:00I am my kingdom.
07:02You try to tell me what.
07:05One last reminder, special start time, Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
07:096 o'clock on the East Coast, 3 o'clock West here in the States next week.
07:14Live from the Steel City.
07:16They've been on opposite teams.
07:19They've been on the same teams over the years.
07:22But for the first time ever, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso go one-on-one tonight.
07:30And so much at stake.
07:36The winner to face Randy Orton on Saturday.
07:40Tremendous history between both of these men and the WWE's Apex Predator.
07:46Remember legacy.
07:47Cody Rhodes is learning under the wing of Randy Orton a number of years ago.
07:55The honor's time, Randy lost in his career courtesy of the bloodline that Jey Uso's.
08:00That's such a pivotal part of, indeed.
08:04Main event, big fight feel here tonight.
08:08An opportunity to get to the finals of King of the Ring.
08:16Sportsmanship and we're underway.
08:17And think about what King of the Ring has meant to many careers over the years.
08:23Corey, a dozen Hall of Famers have won the King of the Ring tournament.
08:27Ten world champions have been King of the Ring.
08:31I just really enjoyed the evolution of the tournament itself.
08:34Once upon a time, it was a one-night event.
08:35It was all about your endurance.
08:36But now it is the best of the best in each and every round.
08:40And now the wiper awaits cover.
08:43And a kick out Randy Orton.
08:45A lot's been said about these two.
08:46But what about Randy Orton?
08:48Corey, who knocked off Sami Zayn on Friday.
08:50Randy with a score to settle as well.
08:53He's knocked off in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament.
08:56Very controversial match last year against Gunther,
08:59who would go on to win the World Championship at SummerSlam.
09:02Orton wants another opportunity to be King of the Ring.
09:04And beyond that, potentially world champion again.
09:08You're absolutely right.
09:09Randy has the opportunity to right last year's wrong
09:11and earn himself an opportunity at gold.
09:14That's what this game's all about.
09:15And Randy Orton's certainly no stranger.
09:18If Orton wins, it would be the undisputed WWE Championship
09:22he'd be going after at SummerSlam, either Punk or Cena.
09:26As they meet at Night of Champions Saturday.
09:29So when your two friends going at each other with so much at stake,
09:32what do you have to do?
09:33Do you get all that out of your mind?
09:35You have to forget all about it.
09:36When you're in the ring, you're maybe a little bit more relaxed,
09:38but at the same time, I find that you used to hit your friends a little harder.
09:42You used to really go out there and it's almost fun to be in a fight with your friend.
09:47I don't know what to do, but you always push yourself a little further.
09:50You always push your opponent a little bit further.
09:52And then afterwards, you go out, you have a beer,
09:55and you let bygones be bygones because it's about competition in this particular instance.
09:59Both delivering a couple of beautiful arm drags and a stalemate in the early going.
10:10It's almost refreshing when you can put something of a bit of trust in your opponent.
10:16You're not worried about them taking a cheap shot.
10:18You're not worried about them taking a shortcut.
10:20It's competition in its purest form.
10:22That's fully what I expect to see here.
10:24Side headlocked by Cody Rhodes, trying to control this matchup.
10:27Rockets crowd here tonight in Columbus, Ohio.
10:37Both men displaying respect off of the opening belt.
10:40No one gets too fancy, just classic.
10:43Match strategy, but Cody looking for the crossroads.
10:45And able to counter is Jey Uso.
10:47Jey with the super kick, and Cody who's out of harm's way.
10:51Now Cody and Jey exchanging some words,
11:09and the pleasantries will go out of the way pretty quickly.
11:12Yeah, no doubt about it.
11:13These guys know what this is all about.
11:15It's about business.
11:16It's about a potential championship opportunity.
11:18It's about a potential classic match with the Viper, Randy Orton.
11:22One of the greatest to ever do it.
11:23You know, Rayad has been very special to Cody as well.
11:26Remember what he did last year.
11:28Became the first ever crown jewel champion.
11:35Cody would love to become king of the ring there.
11:38A number of nights on Saturday.
11:39And what we just saw there, that's what's unfamiliar about competing against someone
11:49that you're very close with.
11:50Cody wasn't afraid to turn his back for a moment, to get the crowd fired,
11:54because Cody knows full well that Jey feeds off the crowd just like Cody does.
11:58You want your opponent at their absolute best.
12:02Jey Uso's a part of Monday Night Raw today,
12:04because Cody Rhodes, a couple of years ago,
12:07bringing him aboard.
12:08Jey now looking to control this battle.
12:14Polk men, former world champs.
12:18Cody's been a seven-time tag team champion.
12:20Jey a ten-time tag team.
12:22Jey argued that he's one of the best tag team competitors in the history of this business.
12:28May be the best with his brother Jimmy.
12:32Cody beat Andrade, Priest, and Nakamura to earn this opportunity.
12:36Jey, of course, is involved in that chaotic fatal four-way last week here on Monday Night Raw.
12:46Rhodes with a chop.
12:48Nothing friendly about that.
12:51Both of these guys know it's time to go to work.
12:53Like you said, the pleasantries were exchanged early on.
12:56Now it's about who's the better wrestler.
12:57Jey with a right hand.
12:59Oh!
12:59Oh, and Jey bounces face-first off the rink post.
13:02Who has the momentum coming into this thing?
13:05It's really a tough one, and I hate to be a fence-sitter,
13:07but I have to say both of these guys have a great deal of momentum on their sides,
13:11because both men know and understand fully the opportunity at stake.
13:14The quickest path back to a championship opportunity is to win the king of the rink.
13:21Saw Jade Cargill knock off Roxanne Perez to advance to the finals of the queen of the rink tournament
13:27against Oscar on Saturday.
13:29Went to pack it up, and Cody Rhodes moves out of harm's way.
13:33And again, these two know each other so well.
13:35Cody now looking to put Jey Uso away.
13:38Figure four time!
13:40And Jey Uso realizing he can see the fear in his eyes.
13:44And they are dead in the center of the ring.
13:47It's an agonizing position for Jey Uso to be trapped in, shoulders down.
13:51Is Jey going to tap out to Cody Rhodes?
13:54Is Cody going to advance?
14:02Terrible situation for Jey Uso here.
14:05Cody Rhodes has the figure four locked in.
14:06Think about all the damage being done as we speak to the leg of Jey Uso.
14:11Jey who relies heavily on his superkicks.
14:14The Uso splash from the top turnbuckle.
14:16You take away Jey's legs, you're going to take away a lot of his game.
14:19Yeah, gets to the rope, forces a break.
14:20Great strategy by Cody Rhodes here.
14:23Pulling one out of the playbook of one of his dad's great rivals.
14:27And now, oh, Jey caught him!
14:30I think he caught him in the shoulder, right?
14:31Shoulder or elbow, perhaps.
14:32Cody tried to protect himself, but...
14:35Body shot, got the American Nightmare and an uppercut from Jey.
14:38Yeah, Jey may start to build momentum to duck down in him.
14:42Big right hand by Cody.
14:44And homage to his brother there.
14:45There's the Samoan drop by Jey Uso.
14:48Cover.
14:48To the leg.
14:49It's in and up and a kick out by Rhodes.
14:51Winner faces Randy Orton Saturday.
14:58A lot of history, as we mentioned earlier, between these two men and Randy Orton.
15:03The Viper has not forgotten the controversial manner in which he lost last year at King of the Ring to Gunther.
15:08Well, despite all the history that Orton has with both of these men, I fully expect it to be a very different style of matchup come Night of Champions when the King of the Ring crown is on the line.
15:19Oh!
15:19Back in and up into the corner.
15:21Paying homage this time to the late great Umaga.
15:24We know the Viper will stop at nothing to obtain what he wants, but Uso from the top!
15:28Uso splashed knees up by Rhodes!
15:31Cody Rhodes got the knees up, but now looking for the Kimura lock!
15:34Looking for the Kimura lock!
15:35It is in deep!
15:36He tapped back Lesnar out with his move, and Cody looking to do it to Jey Uso tonight in advance!
15:42And once again, perfect position for the American Nightmare.
15:45Center of the ring, Jey Uso is in a world of trouble!
15:48Jey with nowhere to go, Cody's got him wrapped up good with the Kimura.
15:51Jey trying to make it back to a vertical brace.
15:54Base here, and sends Cody into the ropes.
15:57Now Jey for the sleeper!
15:58The sleeper!
15:59With tapped out Gunther at WrestleMania to win the world title!
16:02And now Jey Uso trying to put Cody away!
16:04Rhodes flailing wildly, trying to create some space, some separation from Jey Uso, who's
16:09trying to sink in the sleeper, tighter and tighter!
16:12Cody could be fading here.
16:14Our official senior referee, Chad Patton, right there, as Cody collapses to a knee.
16:19Jey Uso with the sleeper locked in good.
16:21You notice Jey putting his full body weight across the back of Cody Rhodes, almost a body
16:26lock applied, making Cody support all of Jey's weight.
16:29And Cody now gotta power Jey up if he can, but Cody may be failing.
16:33Jey Uso may be closing in on the finals of the King of the Ring tournament.
16:39Jey continuing to squeeze with everything in his being, knowing he only may be a few seconds
16:44away from the King of the Ring final.
16:47Cody trying to fight back into this.
16:49Jey Uso's got the sleeper locked in good.
16:52Does Cody have anything left?
16:53Trying to make it back to both feet.
16:55He does at least momentarily.
16:57Jey with his full body weight on the back of Cody.
16:59Cody may have only one chance, and that's to make it to the ropes, I believe.
17:05Jey's got it in good.
17:07Cody makes it to the ropes and dumps Jey to the floor, which buys Rhodes some time.
17:17First the Kimura, then the sleeper.
17:21And both men survive, at least for now.
17:24Fortuitous turn of events for Cody Rhodes, who scrambled to the ropes and in the process
17:31dumped Jey all the way out to the floor.
17:33Cody now afforded several seconds to attempt to regain his breath, regain his bearings, and
17:39get back into this fight.
17:41Cody back to his feet.
17:44Here comes Rhodes!
17:46Rhodes went for the suicide dive, and Jey caught him with the right hand.
17:49And things are starting to get nasty now.
17:53It's nothing personal, it's just business.
17:57But the King of the Ring crown is worth that much to every superstar who seeks it.
18:06Now Jey tried the Uso splash earlier, blocked by Rhodes.
18:10Rhodes beats him to the punch this time.
18:12Indeed it is, as the slugfest continues on the top rope.
18:30And between the eyes of the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes down.
18:34Jey still perched on the ropes, but look at Cody!
18:36Cody scaling to the top rope!
18:38Great athleticism by Rhodes into a superplex!
18:43How much did it take out of Cody?
18:45Cody rolled to the apron, Jey still rolled toward the bottom rope.
18:49Who's going to face Orton in the finals of the King of the Ring?
18:52Watch this impact!
18:53Oh, we're in the bottom of the ninth now.
19:11Both of these men going through a tremendous amount of punishment here.
19:16That superplex took out so much from both Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes.
19:20Critical moment of this match.
19:23Winner goes to the finals of the King of the Ring tournament.
19:26They're entering the deep waters of this matchup,
19:29and both of these superstars are master swimmers.
19:32Neither is stranger to the high-stakes situation,
19:36the high-pressure situation.
19:40Cody first back to his feet.
19:43Jey Uso in the corner, still trying to regroup.
19:47And Cody with a kick right to the midsection of main event Jey Uso.
19:56Cody's smarty.
19:57May have injured his ribs.
19:58Jey Uso's looking for an Irish whip out of the turnbuckle.
20:11Jey Uso reverses and shoulder-first into the ring post.
20:15And now it's Jey Uso's chance, his opportunity.
20:18Jey gonna try to climb to the top rope yet again.
20:20Been thwarted the first two times he's done this.
20:23Now Jey falls by.
20:24Lateral press.
20:25For the win over Rhodes, who kicks it two.
20:34The exhaustion setting in for both of these men.
20:39Nearly 14,000 on hand tonight.
20:47The final Monday Night Raw before Night of Champions.
20:50Winner of King of the Ring gets a world championship opportunity at SummerSlam.
21:07More of attrition here, Corey.
21:09No doubt about it.
21:10Who wants it more?
21:11Will it be Rhodes?
21:20Will it be Uso?
21:20Will it be Uso?
21:33Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso.
21:35Semi-finals, King of the Ring tournament.
21:37Winner goes to Night of Champions Saturday to face Randy Orton in the finals.
21:41And this has been as evil match as you can get.
21:45Cody had the high ground for just a moment.
21:47But Jey made it back to a vertical base.
21:50Cody now.
21:55And Rhodes with the bionic elbow.
21:58And Jey Uso turns it into a right of his own.
22:03Cody blocks.
22:10And Rhodes knocks down Jey Uso.
22:12Beat him to the punch.
22:16Cody now up and over.
22:18No drop down.
22:19Jey Uso hung on.
22:20And now Jey with a power slam.
22:23Dare I say, a very Randy Orton-esque power slam.
22:27Sending a message to the Apex Predator, perhaps.
22:34And now Jey stalking his opponent.
22:38Oh, and Andy going to crossroads.
22:41Cody's finishing move.
22:42Cody able to counter.
22:44Off the second row.
22:45Cody cutter.
22:46Cody cutter.
22:48To advance to the finals.
22:50Jey kicks out.
22:55Take another look at this.
22:57Flying blind in reverse.
22:59Cody.
23:01Delivers to Cody cutter.
23:03Face first, center of the ring.
23:04But somehow, Jey musters the will to continue.
23:08WWE fans showing their respect for this tremendous semi-finals matchup.
23:17Long-time rivals.
23:19Now the best of friends.
23:21Going at it to advance to the King of the Ring Tournament Finals.
23:28Cody looking for the disaster kick.
23:31And Jey Uso.
23:32Smear by Uso.
23:34Cover.
23:35And Rhodes kicks it too.
23:38And Jey Uso realized that was his chance.
23:43Cody was looking for the disaster kick.
23:45Jey a step ahead.
23:47Thunderous Spear takes down the American Nightmare.
23:50But Cody Rhodes fights on.
23:53And the 13,433 here tonight at the Nationwide Arena.
23:58In Ohio's capital city of Columbus.
24:01Enjoying our main event tonight.
24:03Rhodes and Uso putting it all on the line for an opportunity to battle Randy Orton at night of
24:08Champions on Saturday.
24:16Critical moment in this match.
24:21Almost looks like Jey Uso is trying to psych himself up.
24:24Now these two have taken so much out of one another.
24:27Jey now went for another Spear.
24:31Ran into a kick by Rhodes.
24:34Cody going to go up top.
24:36Top rope.
24:37Super Cody cutter for the win.
24:40Cover.
24:40Hook of the leg.
24:42And Jey somehow kicked out again.
24:44The super cutter from the top rope.
24:50How the hell did Jey kick out?
24:53And now it's Cody Rhodes trying to psych himself up.
24:57Understanding he just connected with the heavy lumber.
25:00And Jey Uso stayed in this battle.
25:03And somehow Jey's still alive.
25:06Cody survived the Spear.
25:08Jey survived the super cutter.
25:19Now Cody firing up and measuring his man.
25:26Cody just said, I'm sorry, Jey.
25:28This ends now.
25:30Looking for crossroads.
25:32Covered by Jey.
25:34Crossroads of his own.
25:35Cover on Cody.
25:37Jey Uso.
25:38Oh, and I thought it was going to be Uso and Orton.
25:40And Cody Rhodes stayed alive.
25:42You, me, and 14,000 plus, Cole.
25:45Everybody in this arena was on their feet.
25:48But nobody's as shocked as that man, Jey Uso.
25:52And Jey's got to be saying, what the hell do I have to do?
25:55Countered the crossroads.
25:56Into a crossroads of his own.
26:00Right on the money.
26:01Hook of the leg.
26:02And Cody kicks out.
26:14The emotion both of these men.
26:17Stir within the WWE fans is incredible.
26:23Jey kicked to the face of Cody.
26:26Cody's down.
26:26Get out!
26:29Get out!
26:30They tell him, Cody, to get up.
26:34Get up.
26:39And another kick.
26:44This is just insurance.
26:46Jey Uso just wants to make damn sure.
26:49That's going to do it.
26:50Jey Uso with a spear to Cody Rhodes.
26:54And Jey says that's it.
26:55Cody doesn't appear to have anything left.
27:00And Jey going to position him for the finishing move.
27:04The Uso splash.
27:07Cody Rhodes, though, back to his feet.
27:09Up to the top rope.
27:13Struggling on the turnbuckle.
27:15Oh, my goodness!
27:15Oh, my goodness!
27:16Cody Rhodes at the top!
27:25That's the third massive cutter sustained by Jey Uso.
27:30Hope Randy Orton was looking.
27:32And now, Cody Rhodes.
27:34Crossroads!
27:37Cover!
27:37One, two, three!
27:39Cody Rhodes is in the finals of the King of the Ring!
27:43Here is your winner, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
27:56Ladies and gentlemen, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso in a battle for the ages.
28:04That Cody wins to advance tonight of champions.
28:07The crowd is here about to blow!
28:11Fanful me to stop the show!
28:14What a match!
28:15I've got life to run for!
28:17Certainly not easy.
28:19Whoa!
28:21For Cody Rhodes or Jey Uso.
28:24Check out this super dick.
28:27Bang!
28:28Right on the jaw.
28:30The American Nightmare.
28:32Surely that would put Cody down, right?
28:34No, just for insurance, a spear from Jey Uso.
28:38This would keep Cody down for sure, right?
28:41Jey Uso just to make absolutely certain, went up top, paid for it in spectacular fashion.
28:48A cutter by Rhodes.
28:50And a trip to the crossroads sends Cody to the final of King of the Ring.
28:57Saturday at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
29:11Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton in the King of the Ring Tournament Finals.
29:19Former mentor versus former protege.
29:23Another chapter in the legacies of both superstars.
29:34And a show of respect by Cody Rhodes to a very game Jey Uso tonight.
29:40A hell of a matchup.
30:02But Cody Rhodes is the man going to the finals of the King of the Ring.
30:08Rhodes, Rhodes, Orton.
30:13Someone will define their legacy.
30:18Saturday at Night of Champions.
30:21On the bisog granted control, do it all, to get them off the beat.
30:29Crime is here, about to flow.
30:32Waiting for me to start the show,
30:35out the cud lights, go off I'm home.
30:39Whoo!
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