The Irresistible Ascension: How Nia Jax Dominated Her Way to the Crown in the 2024 Queen of the Ring Tournament
As the WWE Universe gears up for the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring Tournament finals at Night of Champions on Saturday, June 28th, the stakes are as high as ever. Just like last year, the winners will not only earn a regal crown and title, but also secure a world championship match at WWE’s first-ever two-night SummerSlam premium live event this August.
At LNC Wrestling, we’re taking a royal stroll through the modern legacy of WWE’s most dominant monarchs. We began our journey with Zelina Vega, the trailblazing first-ever Queen of the Ring. Now, we continue our celebration of royalty by chronicling the reign of the most recent—and arguably most destructive—Queen in WWE history:
Nia Jax: The Irresistible Queen
A Return That Shook the Division
Following her release in 2021, Nia Jax’s return to WWE in 2023 was nothing short of explosive. After a surprise cameo at that year’s Royal Rumble, the “Irresistible Force” made her full-time return on the September 11, 2023 episode of Monday Night RAW.
The night’s main event featured Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defending her title against Raquel Rodriguez, but the aftermath became the night’s biggest story. Jax emerged unannounced and laid waste to both women, delivering her signature leg drop and the devastating Annihilator to Ripley. It was a thunderous statement—Nia Jax wasn’t just back; she was back to take over.
Queen of the Ring 2024: A Royal Path of Destruction
In spring 2024, WWE revived the prestigious King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments, set to culminate in Saudi Arabia at the King & Queen of the Ring PLE. Jax, having been drafted to SmackDown, was confirmed as a tournament participant—instantly becoming the odds-on favorite due to her size, strength, and newfound ferocity.
First Round (May 10, 2024 – SmackDown):
Jax squared off against the always-resilient Naomi. Despite Naomi’s speed and heart, the powerhouse controlled the tempo from start to finish. A short but hard-hitting bout ended with a ring-shaking Samoan Drop followed by a dominant pinfall victory.
Quarterfinals (May 17, 2024 – SmackDown):
In what was billed as a potential “dream match,” Jax faced the newly-debuted Jade Cargill. However, this clash of titans ended in chaos. Cargill, angered by Jax’s mid-match taunts and verbal barbs directed toward Cargill’s daughter at ringside, used a steel chair on Jax—getting herself disqualified. Nia advanced to the semifinals, banged up but still undefeated.
Semifinals (May 24, 2024 – SmackDown):
Nia faced Bianca Belair, a top-tier athlete still nursing a knee injury from a prior match. Despite Belair’s heart and athleticism, Jax zeroed in on the injury, methodically dismantling the “EST of WWE.” After a brutal ground-and-pound sequence, she delivered an Annihilator off the second rope and secured her spot in the finals.
May 25, 2024 – The Finals: Jax vs. Valkyria in Jeddah
The grand finale took place at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia. Nia Jax would face the dark horse of the tournament, Lyra Valkyria, who had stunned fans by defeating Dakota Kai, Zoey Stark, and former Women’s Champion IYO SKY to reach the finals.
From the opening bell, the story was clear: speed and strategy vs. size and strength. Valkyria opened the match with a flurry of kicks and aerial attacks, targeting Jax’s legs and midsection. She landed a beautiful springboard enzuigiri and nearly pulled off the upset with a tornado DDT for a close two-count.
But Jax endured. After absorbing Valkyria’s momentum, she delivered two brutal Samoan Drops and a spinning back elbow that grounded her opponent. Valkyria made one last push, landing a diving crossbody for another near fall, but Jax caught her off a springboard and flattened her with a ring-rattling Samoan Drop.
The crowd rose as Jax dragged Valkyria to the corner, climbed to the second rope, and delivered the match-ending Annihilator—a massive seated senton that left no doubt.
1… 2… 3.
Nia Jax was crowned the 2024 Queen of the Ring.
The Aftermath: Championship Glory at SummerSlam
With the crown came a guaranteed championship opportunity at SummerSlam 2024. Jax cashed in her shot on Bayley, and thanks in part to interference from Tiffany Stratton, she captured the WWE Women’s Championship, beginning her first title reign in over three years.
Her 153-day reign included successful title defenses against Michin and Bayley, before Stratton eventually returned the favor by cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase in January 2025, ending Jax’s reign.
Still, Jax remained a central figure on SmackDown, feuding with rising stars like Stratton, Liv Morgan, and Bianca Belair. Her legacy as a dominant Queen—and one of the most feared women on the roster—was firmly established.
A Royal Reign Remembered
Nia Jax’s road from shocking RAW return to Queen of the Ring and Women’s Champion was defined by destruction, confidence, and resilience. She didn’t just win a tournament—she transformed the narrative surrounding her career. Once seen as reckless, she returned as calculated and lethal. Her Queen of the Ring victory was more than a personal triumph—it was a reclamation of power.
As we now approach a new Queen’s coronation at Night of Champions, whoever hopes to sit upon the throne must contend with the lingering shadow of the Irresistible Queen who dominated all in her path.
Stay tuned as LNC Wrestling’s Royal Retrospective continues with Chapter Three: The Celtic Warrior’s Crown – Sheamus and the 2010 King of the Ring.
