The WWE will take its first steps towards crowning a new King and Queen of the Ring on the May 5, episode of Raw with several first-round matches announced.

WWE King and Queen of the Ring will take place this May and see the Superstars return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The show had originally been set for 2023 before being changed to WWE Night of Champions. The change was linked to Roman Reigns reaching 1,000 days as WWE Universal Champion and saw the introduction of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.



Four men's division matches will take place on Raw with royal stakes on the line. New WWE Speed Champion Ricochet will face the recently-called up Ilja Dragunov.

In a rematch from WWE Clash At The Castle 2022, Sheamus (2010's King of the Ring) will face his long-time rival Ricochet in what will no-doubt be a 'banger.'

The overseas action will continue as Drew McIntyre hopes to take a step closer to the crown when he faces 2021 King of the Ring runner-up Finn Balor.

Kofi Kingston will hope to follow Xavier Woods as the next King of the Ring, but to do so, he'll need to defeat fellow former WWE World Champion Rey Mysterio.

After last week's call-up, Lyra Valkyria hopes to advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament, but that'll be easier said than done when she faces the 'Empress' Asuka.

Shayna Baszler calls herself the Queen of Spades but to become WWE's official Queen, she'll need to advance with a win over 2021 Queen Zelina Vega.

Zoey Stark will face Ivy Nile in a Queen of the Ring qualifier in what will be arguably the most physical match of the Women's tournament's first round.

IYO SKY looks to bounce back from her loss at WrestleMania when she faces the self-professed Queen of Harts Natalya in her first round match.

Reaching the throne has proven to be a launching point for careers in WWE with Bret Hart, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Edge all being crowned over the years.