Monkey King vs Rubick

How this matchup plays

Fighting inside a Wukong's Command is tough, but it's even worse when there are two of them. Rubick stealing that ultimate is a disaster for Monkey King's team. Not only does it double the chaos, but Rubick can cast it and then move freely, while Monkey King is stuck inside his own ring. This single interaction can completely swing a fight. Even before that, Telekinesis is a perfect answer to Monkey King's game plan. It lifts him out of trees, cancels Primal Spring, and generally stops him from getting the Jingu Mastery stacks he needs to be a threat.

The matchup feels difficult for Monkey King from the very start. In lane, Fade Bolt's damage reduction neuters his trading potential, and Telekinesis sets up easy ganks. As the game goes on, he has to play with the constant threat of having his ultimate stolen. This forces him to either try and burst Rubick down before committing Wukong's Command, or to hold his most powerful spell, which is a victory for Rubick's team either way. The burden is entirely on Monkey King to outplay, while Rubick can often win by staying patient.