"I arrive at King of The Ring and was thinking about 2017's King of The Ring and the whole year in general. I dominated, got hated for it and put a little edge on my then current state.
"What I said on Smackdown days before, saying that I was only good for The Intercontinental Championship that year, I meant it. I wasn't prepared for a big role.
"When you're The WWE Championship, your name is in the history books with legends. People will look back to your reign and see if you made any significant to the title.
"That's what I want."
"To wrestle Jeff Hardy, I felt honored. This was my second match with him and it's a personal match to me. He's one of my favorite superstars."
-24-
King of The Ring
I got out of my dark room. Walking a couple of steps, I was stopped by The New Smackdown Tag Team Champions, Dekker and Jasper Goodnight with Raij and Ruby Riott beside them.
Goodnight: Well, well. Look who it is. Mr. Big Bad Wolf. We haven't talked to each other since you've return, right Dekker?
Dekker: Hell, we haven't heard a word from you during your recovery. Raij, you may be right about your old best friend.
Raij: Yeah. You're off to conquer the tournament. We want to wish you good luck in your match.
Goodnight: Yeah man. We would hate to waste The "King's" time.
"If you three have a problem, I would gladly solve it for you."
Ruby: They got a problem with you. But you don't make the demands around here. We'll deal with you later.
"Heh, Raij, maybe you forgot what I did to you this year. Jasper and Dekker, I taught you two well enough. We'll see if you four can take me down.
I walked off to my match with the four men and Ruby looking at my back.
King of The Ring Semi-Final
Jeff Hardy (Raw) vs Rahzel (SD)
Renee: Trouble stirring up back there. Welcome back to King of The Ring, Renee Young, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton calling the next Semi-Final match of The King of The Ring Tournament between Raw's Jeff Hardy and Rahzel of Smackdown Live.
Jojo: This King of The Ring Semi-Final match is for one fall. The winner of this match will meet Johnny Gargano in The Finals.
From Cameron, NC, weighting in 225lbs, Jeff Hardy!
Renee: The Charismatic Enigma looks to continue his path to Raw's top title, The Universal Championship. But The Monster Among Men holds it right now.
Graves: Jeff is the oldest in the tournament, looking to be the winner. Hardy wasted a opportunity to be Mr. Money in The Bank, but crashed and burned.
Saxton: Jeff Hardy can't make a mistake tonight against his opponent in this match.
Jojo: From Charlotte, NC, weighting 215lbs. The Big Bad Wolf, Rahzel!
Graves: Renee, how was your interview with The Big Bad Wolf?
Renee: He is something really scary. He has a saying. "He say what he means and means what he say."
He loves to show his dominance and Jeff Hardy is someone he's going destroy.
Saxton: These two met earlier this year with Rahzel taking the win. Hardy must have a plan to get Zell off his game.
The referee signal for the bell and the two North Carolinians gapple each other. Rahzel pushed Hardy on the corner turnbuckle, throwing punches till the referee pull him off his opponent.
Jeff took a moment to breath, but it was only a moment as The Big Bad Wolf went on the attack again. He wrap his arms around Hardy's lower back, pull him slightly away, then slam his back into the turnbuckle.
Rahzel continue on slamming the back until the ref pulled him off.
Zell mean mug the official, giving Jeff time to attack and clothesline him out of the ring.
The Charismatic Enigma bounced off the rope and went for a Tope Con Hilo. But The Big Bad Wolf grab a hold of him, not going down.
In Powerbomb position, Zell slam Jeff on the apron. He wince in pain as his back was in pain. Rahzel smiled at the pain of his opponent.
The referee checked on Jeff, asking him if he wants to continue the match. He wasn't going to give up his opportunity to The Universal Championship match at Summerslam.
Jeff rolled in the ring and uses the ropes to get up on his feet. Rahzel had a smile on his face as he watch his victim get up for more pain.
The Big Bad Wolf went towards his opponent, but Jeff wasn't going to take it anymore and dished out some punishment on Zell.
Hardy threw punches at the opponent and Clothesline him. The Charismatic Enigma continue his onslaught following with a DDT.
But he winced as he landed on his back. After getting up, he separated Rahzel's legs, jump up and Leg Drop on his midsection.
Renee: Jeff Hardy is trying to take over this match. But, Rahzel has done the damage.
-RZ-
Rahzel took over the match, putting Jeff in a Double Leg Boston Crab in the middle of the ring.
Hardy tried to crawl the ropes, but everytime he would get close, he would be pulled away.
The Big Bad Wolf continue on applying more pain on the back. Jeff crawled over to the ropes once again, this time making it, getting the ref to get Zell to break the hold.
Breaking the hold, Zell went on grab Hardy, but he was kicked off. Jeff got up, taking Rahzel down with a Cross Body.
Brother Nero continue his attack before dragging Rahzel to the bottom turnbuckle, stomping on his chest.
After the stomps, Hardy proceed, charging at the turnbuckle, climbing on top and using the momentum to drive his feet into Zell's chest.
Jeff pick Rahzel, putting him in position for Twist of Fate. But when he twist around, it was reversed in position of Rahzel's Crimson Moon.
Renee: Zell going for Crimson Moon. Jeff reverse it to Twist of Fate. Rahzel is down!
Jeff took off his shirt as he went up the turnbuckle. He yells to the crowd as they were cheering him on.
Renee: This is what The Universal Championship means to Jeff Hardy. As bad as his body must feel, he still throws caution in the wind. Swanton Bomb!
Hardy went for his finisher, but he hit Zell's knees. Zell wrapped his legs on the midsection and his right arm around Hardy's neck, locking in Zellthanasia.
Graves: Nobody has ever escape Zellthanasia!
Renee: Jeff is in trouble! Rahzel is squeezing the life out of Hardy!
Jeff would try to kick his legs to the bottom rope, he felt himself losing consciousness. He tapped on the mat, giving the referee to ring for the bell.
JoJo: Here's your winner, Rahzel!
Renee: Rahzel moves on to The Finals to face Johnny Gargano. What a match between these two.
Saxton: Rahzel dealt the damage to Jeff Hardy and fighting through the pain, Jeff did his best. The Big Bad Wolf just was better.
Renee: Three men down. Rahzel sets his eyes on Johnny Gargano to take the throne.
-RZ-
Dasha stood beside Johnny Gargano.
Dasha: Johnny, you are one match away from getting a title match. Rahzel stands in front.
Johnny: Rahzel is someone who loves to dish out pain to his opponents. He thrives off it. I've dealt with monsters bigger than him and better than him. He doesn't scare me.
Gargano left the area. Charly stood by Rahzel who looked at the past interview.
Caruso: Rahzel, Johnny says he's not scared of you.
"I'm glad he's not afraid of The Big Bad Wolf. He's going to learn why he should be afraid of me. I hope his wife is looking at the match. Candice, he's not coming home tonight. He won't be able to move after I'm done with him."
King of The Ring Final
Johnny Gargano (NXT) vs Rahzel (SD)
Cole: Johnny Gargano is nothing but fantastic. From a great showing at The Cruiserweight Classic, amazing moments with and against former friend, Tommaso Ciampa, and finally grabbing The NXT Championship.
Johnny Wrestling looks to win and choose what Championship he wants to get at Summerslam.
Nigel: Following Johnny Gargano's journey here in The WWE has been no doubt a roller coaster ride. But tonight, he has someone who he never faced before. Someone who may have a darker mindset than Johnny's past opponents.
Cole: I've watched Rahzel when he returned late last year. He wants to rip people apart and cause them nightmares.
Saxton: Rahzel says that he's adapted to a better, deadlier monster than ever.
Cole: For both men, this match is very important. Gargano and Rahzel are fighting for a free ticket to a Championship Match at Summerslam.
The two superstars met in the middle of the ring. The lights went off as a spotlight illuminate on the them. They stared down each other.
Greg: This is the final match in The King of The Ring Tournament.
First from NXT, from Cleveland, OH, weighting 199 lbs. Johnny Gargano!
His opponent, from Smackdown, from Charlotte, NC, weighting 215 lbs. The Big Bad Wolf, Rahzel!
Both man stood in front of each other as the lights went back on. The referee ring the bell.
The superstars grappled each other. Rahzel took the opportunity and Release Belly to Belly Suplex Johnny across the ring.
When Johnny got up, Zell rush over to him, driving his shoulder into Gargano's midsection. The referee pull him off to give Johnny time to breathe.
The Big Bad Wolf went over to his opponent, but he was attacked. Gargano punched Zell till one of them was dodged and he was Clothesline.
Johnny Wrestling rolled out of the inside of the ring while Rahzel flashed his signature smile. He went over to Gargano to pull him in the ring.
But in time, Johnny shoves his shoulder into Zell's midsection and hit The Springboard DDT.
Cole: Johnny Gargano is looking to win and survive against Rahzel.
-RZ-
Rahzel took control of the match, putting Johnny in a Camel Clutch. Johnny's back was in pain after he was planted down on the steel steps earlier in the match.
The crowd was going crazy for Johnny Wrestling, cheering him on to escape the hold.
The Man with The Rebel Heart start to crawl over to the ropes as Zell tighten his hold. But Gargano made it and Rahzel had to break the hold.
The Big Bad Wolf was furious. How is Gargano surviving after all the damage he caused.
If he wasn't going to tap, he's going to be put down.
Rahzel went over towards Johnny, but he was hit with The Slingshot Spear. Gargano proceed with his attack, picking up Rahzel on his shoulders and charge towards the corner turnbuckle.
Rahzel was thrown towards the middle turnbuckle for The Lawn Dart. The Big Bad Wolf was stunned as he got up.
Gargano went for a Superkick, but Rahzel grab the incoming foot, swing it down and transition it into a DDT.
Both men were down, trying to get up. Rahzel was up first, waiting for Johnny to get up.
He went for a Clothesline From Hell, but he was taken down in the middle of the ring and Johnny locked in Gargano Escape.
Cole: Gargano Escape locked in. Nobody has taken down Rahzel like that ever.
Nigel: Rahzel is struggling to break the hold.
The Big Bad Wolf crawled to the ropes, but with the grip tightened, he was in trouble. His left arm wrapped around Johnny's face and rake his eyes.
Gargano broke the hold to rub his eyes. He stood up, walking around blindly, he didn't know that Rahzel was back up, charging towards and hit him with Forearm to the head.
Cole: Rahzel with a wicked forearm to Gargano.
Nigel: He needs to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Big Bad Wolf grab Johnny and hit The Uranage Back Breaker and transition into The Arm-Lock Crossface.
Johnny crawled forward for a bit. But rolled around to reverse into The Gargano Escape. Rahzel freaked out as he tried to move to the ropes, but he rolled forward, reversing the hold into The Crossface.
The two superstars kept reversing their submission moves till both of them Clothesline each other.
Johnny Gargano got on his feet, waiting at corner turnbuckle to hit a Superkick. He wemt for the attack, but Zell dodged out of the way again and applied Zellthanasia.
Johnny tried to roll, but Rahzel wasn't going to budge. After a while, his arm limp down, causing the referee to signal for the bell.
Greg: Here's your winner and The 2019 King of The Ring Winner, Rahzel!
Cole: Rahzel couldn't do it in 2017. He does it in 2019 as he defeats Johnny Gargano to go to Summerslam for The WWE Championship.
Nigel: Johnny Gargano gave it his all, taking the fight to Rahzel, but in the end, he was put down.
Saxton: I hope Roman and Miz was looking at this match because Rahzel is closing to The WWE Championship.
Rahzel walked up the stage towards the throne. He toss the ridiculous cape and scepter off the stage and sat down on the royal chair with the crown on his head, looking angry.
Cole: Sheamus, Big E, Jeff Hardy, and Johnny Gargano. Four victims to get Rahzel to his destiny. Congratulations to The Big Bad Wolf on becoming The 2019 King of The Ring.
-RZ-
Champions
SD Tag: 6ixx
Intercontinental: Andrade "cien" Almas
NXT Tag: War Raiders
Queen of The Ring: Ruby Riott
King of The Ring: Rahzel