The first round of the 2019 WWE King of the Ring tournament wrapped on tonight’s SmackDown as Ali defeated Buddy Murphy to advance, and Chad Gable defeated Shelton Benjamin.
Ali will now face Elias in a quarterfinals match on next week’s SmackDown, while Gable will face Andrade. As noted, next Monday’s RAW will feature Samoa Joe vs. Ricochet and Cedric Alexander vs. Baron Corbin in quarterfinals matches.
The winners of next week’s matches will do battle on the September 9 RAW and the September 10 SmackDown from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The winners of those two matches will then go on to the WWE Clash of Champions pay-per-view on September 15 for the finals.
Above is video from tonight’s Ali vs. Murphy match, and below are shots from Gable vs. Benjamin:
Don't let the haters get you down, @WWEGable! #SDLive #KingOfTheRing pic.twitter.com/Bu8cnQGJ9p
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 28, 2019
Former tag team partners are now foes in the #KingOfTheRing tournament.
Who will advance: @WWEGable or @Sheltyb803?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/qK3DhsKAok
— WWE (@WWE) August 28, 2019
It didn't have to be like this. #SDLive @Sheltyb803 @WWEGable pic.twitter.com/ORgNHkM00X
— WWE (@WWE) August 28, 2019
Scratch and claw. Scratch and claw.
That's exactly what @WWEGable did as he defeated @Sheltyb803 in the first round of the #KingOfTheRing Tournament! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/2IL7EyJeLC
— WWE (@WWE) August 28, 2019
