I feel like I'm, for the first time in this company,
getting the chance to show what I can do by myself.
This is the most important thing in my career.
[MUSIC]
[APPLAUSE} >> The King of the Ring.
>> The King of the Ring has returned.
A tournament to determine WWE royalty.
>> This ring is now my house.
>> Long live the king!
>> For nearly 30 years, it has launched competitors on the road to
championships and helped turn legends into immortals.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 3:16 says I just whipped your ass.
>> Now, eight superstars have their eyes focused on advancing to
craft their own legacy, and begin their reign as King of the Ring.
>> To be able to rule and be the King of WWE, could you imagine that [INAUDIBLE]?
>> Four superstars competing on Friday night Smackdown,
four competing on Monday Night Raw.
[MUSIC]
>> This business is very unpredictable,
you don't know when you'll get the chance again, next time.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> [INAUDIBLE].
>> This function- >> Advances in the tournament
>> I did advance, didn't I?
>> What a victory.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> I have recently been drafted to Raw.
I know it's important to get off to a good start.
>> But there is a Swiss Cyborg standing in his way.
Two men who leave no stone unturned in finding peak performance, going at it.
Coup de gras, Ballor advances in the King of the Ring.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE] respect for Cesaro, [INAUDIBLE], see you next week, Ballor.
[MUSIC]
>> When I saw the brackets and I saw it was me and Woods,
instantly got excited and I knew it was just gonna be a banger.
>> Both of these superstars fighting like men possessed.
>> I'm going to make a big jump from ground floor to the top of the mountain,
and Ricochet, he's the first guy in my way.
>> Xavier Woods moves on to the second round.
>> That is any indication of how the rest of this tournament is gonna go,
I have my work cut out for me.
Let's go!
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Winning a tournament like King of
the Ring would be redemption.
It would be validation.
Being a former WWE champion, getting injured, coming back,
I believe I haven't really made a statement.
[MUSIC] >> If you were to face each
other next week in the semifinals, who would win?
>> Who, who?
>> Art, guts, determination Kofi Kingston has that in spades and
it's showing in this match.
>> Jinder Mahal is all too happy to continue dishing it out.
>> The colloss, the same move that won Jinder the WWE title now
punches Jinder's ticket to the next round.
>> [FOREIGN] is your next King of the Ring.
[MUSIC]
>> Entering the semifinals, the tantalizing prospect of
being crowned King of the Ring comes even closer to reality.
[MUSIC]
>> I just want it to be good, a match that's a worthy work ethic,
that I remember when I was a kid.
I felt like the guys involved in those King of the Ring tournaments were guys
that you could go.
>> Sami Zayn, so smart, conniving.
[MUSIC]
>> And here comes Finn.
[MUSIC]
Are we on the precipice of Prince Ballor in the finals to become the King?
>> Sami rolls out of the way, rolling [INAUDIBLE] a win.
>> Kick out at two!
[MUSIC]
Coup de gras, Ballor's in the finals.
What a performance by the Briggs.
>> You need to rely on your killer instincts, and
that's what will make me King of the Ring.
[MUSIC]
>> For Xavier Woods, becoming King of the Ring would carry much more than prestige.
>> This means that I get to not only achieve the dream that I've had for so
long, but I get to let everyone know I'm damn good at what I do.
>> In the way of Xavier's dreams stands Jinder Mahal,
a former WWE Champion who seeks a return to the top.
>> I got to basically do what I did against Kofi.
He likes to take risks and I wanna minimize those risks by grounding him.
>> Jinder Mahal says hey,
I beat one half of The New Day, you know he's rolling in here with confidence.
>> This is it, veteran experience by Xavier Woods.
>> Jinder Mahal is in trouble, Woods is starting to roll.
>> Do not sleep on me.
>> [NOISE] >> Woods
now has one man standing in the way of achieving a lifelong dream.
[MUSIC]