The Importance of…5.01.09: Kings

Posted by Mike Chin on 05.01.2009

From Lawler to Race to Mabel, this is a look at kings in professional wrestling

Some have earned the right to the moniker. Some have taken it for themselves, without rhyme or reason. However they come upon it, there are few gimmicks with greater longevity or impact in the world of professional wrestling than that of "king."

In some cases, the king title has been a way of recognizing the true nobility in the business. Such was the case with Harley Race. Race came to WWF with eight NWA championships under his belt, but in those days, wrestling promotions did not recognize each other's histories. In the interest of still recognizing the man's legacy, WWF booked Race to win one of the very first, non-televised King of the Ring tournaments. While the title of king had very little literal meaning, it was a fair representation of Race's place of supremacy among the roster. He would never win a WWF title, in the days when Hulk Hogan dominated the top of the card, but this was his consolation prize.

Not unlike Race's reign over the WWF was Randy Savage's time as the Macho King. Savage's crown actually shared a lineage with Race's, as he defeated Jim Duggan, who had defeated Haku, who had replaced Race on the throne. Again, the title of king had no official meaning, but served to distinguish Savage as a performer a tier above most of the other performers of the day, despite not competing in many main events.

Following in the line of top of the card greats who came across as nobility in the business was one Triple H. Trips did absolutely nothing to formally earn the title of "King of Kings" (disregarding his King of the Ring win from a nearly a decade before) but as a man synonymous with the top of the card in the mid-2000s, it seemed a fitting title for The Game when he returned from injury, and prepared to make a new run at the WWE title.

While many greats of the business have earned the title of king essentially by way of their legacies, others have earned the crown as a way of elevating them, reinventing their personas. Such was the case for several King of the Ring winners. Most recently, William Regal took the throne after winning the 2008 tournament. The crown fit well with Regal's arrogant persona, and helped to solidify him, one last time, as an upper card threat. The crown has not been as natural a fit for some others, such as King Mabel. The 1995 King of the Ring tournament was designed to elevate him from ‘real fat guy' to ‘monster heel.' The results were less than stellar, and though Mabel wore the crown and got carried to the ring, he never really fit the king's mold the way so many others had. For this Men on a Mission alumnus, the function of the crown was really nothing more than a reminder of the fact that he had won a big tournament, and so a justification for his entrance to the main event scene.

Like King Mabel, the crown did not seem like a natural fit for Booker T—the hip and crude-mouthed veteran. Few could have predicted just how well Booker would adjust to the role, though, at once taking on a regal air with his faux accent and condescending demeanor, but at the same time, incredulously slipping back to his roots whenever he could see himself getting screwed. Booker did not bring the king persona with him to TNA, but did bring with him his newly established dignity and arrogance—character traits that have gone a long way toward keeping his character vital.

Similar to Booker, 1994 King of the Ring Owen Hart went a long way toward making the crown his own. He wore the crown around and posed with his pompous wave as more traditional kings may have. But more than a caricature of nobility, Hart adjusted the crown to serve his needs. Being King was not so much a position for the character as it was a bragging right—he was able to constantly remind fans and the rest of the roster that he had defeated the best the company had to offer to earn his crown. As the King of Harts, Owen managed to legitimately elevate himself to main event status.

There have been many more kings in wrestling, from every King of the Ring tournament winner who, however briefly, bore the crown and scepter, to guys like Haku who were kings for lack of anything better to do, and many more interesting performers to carry the torch. But no discussion of kings would be complete without the man who has defined the role in the modern era: Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Lawler originally won the title of king in the mid-‘70s, and who would have guessed that over 30 years later, the crown would have stuck. On the national scene, the title of king long served as a heel hallmark for Lawler. Being the king carried a presumption of sorts that Lawler was an elite performer, and what's more, he was a pompous enough jerk to walk around wearing a crown all the time. On the local scene, however, the king moniker was symbolic of something far greater. Lawler has been the defining name in Memphis wrestling for ages, and has truly been recognized as the king of wrestling in those parts. Over time, these dual identities have come together, merging into the Lawler we see each Monday night. In WWE, he never was, nor will he ever be quite the hero he was in Memphis. However, he has become a part of the establishment, and has arrived as a king who I can't imagine will ever be dethroned. What's more, he retains a tinge of the arrogance and rude attitude of his youth in his wise-cracking commentary which, although far toned down, remains a bit sharper than the color work done by most of his peers.

Over time, the title of king has served many functions in the wrestling business—elevating some, recognizing the greatness of others, and truly becoming an inherent part of some men's characters. Whatever the purpose, it's a gimmick that holds a permanent place on the wrestling landscape, and that is, therefore, of the utmost importance.

That's all for this column. Next week, we take a look at the importance of The Four Horsemen. See you in seven.