00:00Physical gifts, she's always been a powerhouse, but now Raquel has the confidence.
00:05She, what a fast start by Io Sky.
00:08And wasting no time against Raquel Rodriguez.
00:11I like the strategy, Corey.
00:12That shows me that Io knows exactly what she's dealing with.
00:15Yes.
00:16Raquel's gonna wanna attempt to ground the genius of the sky.
00:19But right now, Io looking for any advantage she can muster.
00:22Sent to the outside, a strong start for Io Sky.
00:27We're just 12 days away from Night of Champions.
00:30That'll be Saturday, June 27th, 1 p.m. Eastern Time, streaming on ESPN from Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
00:38One of these ladies will make it to the finals of Queen of the Ring.
00:43Right now, Io throwing everything she's got at Raquel Rodriguez, but Raquel still on her feet.
00:49Oh, this is what we talked about, the size and power advantage of Rodriguez.
00:54Oh!
00:55And the cross body floors Io Sky.
01:02Raquel able to weather the early storm of Io Sky.
01:07Rodriguez using her size to great effect, crushing the genius of the sky.
01:14And now ripping control of this match away.
01:16Is this for love?
01:17Raquel would love to earn a championship opportunity at SummerSlam.
01:22Man, did you see her face right on top of the barrier?
01:26Look at that, Joe, right there, right in front of your eyes.
01:29Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
01:29Watch out, watch out here, Corey.
01:31She probably heard what you said about her.
01:37And this is what, here goes our desk right away.
01:39And this is what I'm talking about, Joe.
01:40The confidence, the experience, Raquel becoming a student of the game.
01:46Io trying to fight back with body shots as she gets sent back into the ring.
01:51Polishing the brass on the Titanic.
01:54Io swinging wildly, trying to chop down the powerhouse.
01:59Guillotine applied, smart strategy by Io.
02:02Can she have an effect here?
02:04Trying to neutralize Raquel Rodriguez.
02:07I don't care how big you are, how strong you are.
02:09If you can't breathe, you can't fight.
02:11You can see Rodriguez, look at the counter.
02:13She gives her up into the suplex, vertical suplex.
02:16What a counter by Rodriguez.
02:24Here comes Rodriguez, caught with an elbow by Io.
02:27Ran right into that elbow, and then the boot from Io Sky.
02:32Set back out to the floor.
02:35Io, thinking about pushing the pace of this one.
02:39Perhaps taking a big time risk, will it pay off?
02:43Lining up in sight, and flying through the sky, and it's again Rodriguez.
02:49Again Rodriguez, able to control Raquel, midair, and Poser came first.
02:54Over, semi-finals of Queen of the Ring.
03:03Well, the power of Raquel Rodriguez is showing up early, Corey.
03:07We may have just witnessed the beginning of the end for Io Sky,
03:11driven face first into the ring post.
03:15Rodriguez looks like she may have suffered a busted nose in the process.
03:19Perhaps from the suicide dive attempt by Io, which was stuffed and
03:23caught by Rodriguez.
03:26You can see blood streaming from the wall.
03:27My God! Rodriguez, she just ripped her out by the foot all the way to the barrier.
03:35You can see the agony etched on the face of Io Sky.
03:39And I like what we're seeing out of Rodriguez right now.
03:41Not giving Io any time to recover, no time to gain her bearings.
03:45Here we go, to advance tonight at Champions.
03:58Now, just the disrespect.
04:00And notice how Raquel's slowing the pace of this match up to something that benefits her.
04:08Slowing Io down, keeping Io away from the ropes, out of the sky.
04:12It's a sound strategy and it's working extremely well right now for Raquel.
04:16And the strain on the shoulders and the upper back.
04:23As if the damage out on the floor to the lower back wasn't enough.
04:27Now this affecting and impacting Io Sky.
04:30It's an agonizing position to be trapped in if you're Io Sky.
04:33Looking for the rope break here, and she gets it.
04:35A deal of pressure on your shoulders.
04:37A drag back to the center of the ring by her hair.
04:41And a series of elbow drops.
04:45And this is the kind of stuff, cover here by Rodriguez.
04:48This to advance.
04:49This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about when I'm waxing poetic about the improvement
04:54of Raquel Rodriguez.
04:56She has learned to become relentless.
04:58She has learned to become ruthless.
05:00That's what's gonna take Raquel to the top of the game.
05:03And we talked so much about the size and the power and the strength.
05:07But she has that high motor as well.
05:10That incredible gas tank.
05:14But a body shot open up opportunity for Io Sky.
05:17No, one quick response from Rodriguez.
05:20And a lot of the credit deserves to be given to the Judgment Day.
05:24Yes.
05:24Liv Morgan, even back to the times of Finn Balor, J.D. McDonough.
05:28That level of talent, you have no choice but to improve, to get on their level.
05:34And that's what Raquel's done, cover.
05:36Looking to advance again.
05:49That is what is on the line.
05:52The queen of the ring is being contended in this compelling tournament.
05:56This is semi-final action as Raquel Rodriguez has been in control against Io Sky.
06:03Winner advances to the finals.
06:05Raquel wanted to take on the bomb.
06:09Raquel's been getting the best of Io, but Io is looking to come back here.
06:13Spinning back elbow, uppercut, Io Sky stringing offense together, Corey.
06:19Rodriguez on spaghetti legs.
06:21At the moment, does Io have what it takes to finish the job?
06:25Beautiful pinning combination of the stomp.
06:27Rolled through, vicious double stomp driving all the wind out of Raquel.
06:33And now Io Sky has her lined up for that bullet train attack, Meteora.
06:46Io looking to go up top.
06:49Rodriguez trying to meet her.
06:50Eats the boot.
06:53And now the genius of the sky.
06:56With that smile on her face, just where she wants Rodriguez.
07:02Missile drop kick sends her all the way across.
07:07And you can feel the momentum building for Io Sky.
07:14Io has been to the top of the mountain.
07:17The genius of the sky understands what it takes.
07:20How to survive in the deep waters.
07:22Here we go again.
07:23Oh, and Rodriguez, smart to get under the ropes.
07:30Remember, winner of this tournament earns a title shot at SummerSlam.
07:34Oh, look at the power of Rodriguez.
07:38Io trying to fight her way out of this compromised situation, and she does.
07:45And then sends Rodriguez to the other side of the apron.
07:53Precarious position now for Rodriguez.
07:55What's Io thinking up here?
07:57Are you kidding me?
07:59No way.
08:00Right over the top.
08:00No way.
08:01She's looking for it.
08:03Rodriguez is trying to hold on.
08:05She stomps her way free.
08:14Raquel once again muscling up Io.
08:18Oh no, look out, Joe.
08:20Look out.
08:21She's coming her way.
08:24Io able to escape just in time.
08:26Raquel right across our announce desk.
08:29Ribs first multiple times, and look at Io go.
08:32Smashing her head into that reinforced announce desk.
08:38And now Io.
08:47Nobody helped.
08:48Oh, God.
08:49Face first.
08:50Take it out.
08:53And this is the situational awareness of Raquel Rodriguez.
08:59Sweeping Io's legs out just in time.
09:02Raquel now looking for the end to advance in the queen of the ring tournament.
09:08This could do it, Joe.
09:10Nobody home.
09:11It's out of the way.
09:18Baltimore trying to rally behind the genius of the sky.
09:22But Rodriguez continuing to soldier.
09:25Wait a minute.
09:28Monitors are just getting back here.
09:31I think Io drove Raquel face first into the top of the ring post.
09:35And now, Sky.
09:37She was looking for the sunset power bomb earlier.
09:40Muscling her up and delivering.
09:45Io Sky.
09:48The drop zone is set.
09:51Trying to advance to the finals of queen of the ring.
09:56Knight of champions does it away for Io Sky.
10:03Here is your winner, Io Sky.
10:12A gutsy, gritty performance from the genius of the sky,
10:18who may soon own the distinction of being called queen.
10:25Io Sky advances after a grueling battle.
10:30And here you see the closing moments.
10:32This is after Raquel was driven face first into the ring post.
10:36A desperate power bomb by Io.
10:38And the over the moon salt.
10:41Io Sky punches her ticket.
10:46And doesn't it just feel right to see that name Io Sky as we update the tournament bracket.
10:54Remember, just 12 days away tonight of champions and the finals for the queen of the ring.
11:02Io Sky has made it to Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
11:07One win away from a title shot at SummerSlam, Corey.
11:13And Io's pass won't get any easier because someone else knows.
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