The Piledriver Report 4.23.08: The History of the King of the Ring

This past Monday, the WWE presented a three hour RAW that was centered on the return of the King of the Ring. The King of the Ring originally took place on July 8th, 1985 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Unlike later years, the initial King of the Ring tournament was not on pay per view or closed circuit television. The inaugural King of the Ring was held as a house show card.

There were 16 participants in the original tournament. The first round consisted of Jim Brunzell pinning the Spoiler, WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated Terry Funk via disqualification, The Iron Sheik pinned B. Brian Blair (which looking at it now is funny if you’ve ever heard one of the Iron Sheik’s YouTube rants about B. Brian Blair), Ricky Steamboat pinned Greg Valentine, Les Thornton pinned Steve Lombardi, Don Muraco pinned the Junkyard Dog, Pedro Morales pinned Johnny V, and Paul Orndorff fought Bob Orton Jr. to a double disqualification. Pedro Morales received a second round bye. In the Quarterfinals, WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana fought Jim Brunzell to a draw (Brunzell won a coin toss to advance to the Semi-Finals), the Iron Sheik pinned Ricky Steamboat, and Don Muraco pinned Les Thornton. In the Semi-finals, Don Muraco pinned Pedro Morales, and the Iron Sheik pinned Jim Brunzell. The finals pitted rulebreaker against rulebreaker as Don Muraco beat the Iron Sheik by pin to become the very first King of the Ring. His King of the Ring tournament win was not celebrated like it is today. As a matter of fact, the first time I heard about the tournament was when I bought the WWF Magazine, and they had an article written up about the event.

The next year, the King of the Ring took place on July 14th, at the same Foxboro, MA location. In Round One, Mike Rotundo and Mr. X received a bye into the quarter-finals (why, I have no idea). Defending King of the Ring champion Don Muraco fought Roddy Piper to a 20-minute time-limit draw. Harley Race defeated George Steele via disqualification. Billy Jack Haynes pinned last year’s other King of the Ring finalist the Iron Sheik. Nikolai Volkoff pinned Dan Spivey. The Junkyard Dog defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification after Orndorff attacked the referee. Pedro Morales pinned Rudy Diamond (sub. for Bob Orton Jr.). In the Quarterfinals, Billy Jack Haynes defeated Mr. X (sub. for Hercules) via submission with the full nelson in a few short seconds. Nikolai Volkoff defeated the Junkyard Dog via submission with a bearhug. Pedro Morales pinned Mike Rotundo. In the Semi-finals, Harley Race defeated Billy Jack Haynes via count-out when Haynes applied the full nelson while outside the ring on the apron. Pedro Morales pinned Nikolai Volkoff. In the Finals, Harley Race pinned Pedro Morales. While Don Muraco failed to capitalize on his King of the Ring victory, Harley Race used this tournament win to christen himself “King” Harley Race.
Harley Race used this “King” title throughout the rest of his WWF tenure. After each victory, he would make his opponents, “bow and kneel to the king of the WWF.” In early 1988, he suffered a career ending injury, and his manager Bobby Heenan gave the “king” moniker to his other charge, Haku. Haku would successfully “defend” the title against Harley Race at WrestleMania V.

Even though, Haku was referred to as the “King,” it was a title he never deserved to hold, as in 1987, a new King of the Ring was crowned. The third King of the Ring tournament took place on September 4, 1987 in Providence, RI. In the opening round, Haku pinned Brutus Beefcake with a roll up after Beefcake became distracted by Tama at ringside. Rick Martel pinned Danny Spivey with a small package. King Kong Bundy defeated the One Man Gang via count-out. SD Jones pinned Sika with a small package. Danny Davis defeated Tito Santana via count-out after Santana chased Jimmy Hart around the ring. The Junkyard Dog pinned Tama with a cradle. Jim Brunzell pinned Ron Bass with a dropkick. Randy Savage pinned Nikolai Volkoff with the flying elbowsmash. In the Quarterfinals, Haku fought Rick Martel to a 15-minute time-limit draw. King Kong Bundy pinned SD Jones with an elbow drop. Danny Davis defeated the Junkyard Dog via count-out. Randy Savage pinned Jim Brunzell with the flying elbowsmash. In the Semi-finals, Randy Savage pinned Danny Davis with the flying elbowsmash. In the finals, Randy Savage pinned King Kong Bundy with the flying elbowsmash after Bundy missed a splash.

Despite winning the tournament, Randy Savage would not use the “king” moniker, like Harley Race. In a weird turn of events, he would use the “King” name two years later, after beating “King” Duggan. Duggan did not win the King of the Ring Tournament that year either. Instead Duggan beat the self-professed “King Haku” for the undeserved title.

Winning the 1987 King of the Ring tournament could have been used as a foreshadowing of events to come, as Randy Savage would go on to win the WWF World title tournament less then a year later at WrestleMania IV.

On October 16, 1988, the WWF was back in Providence, RI four the fourth annual King of the Ring tournament. In round one, Ken Patera pinned Nikolai Volkoff with a sunset flip. Ted Dibiase pinned Brutus Beefcake with a knee to the back after Beefcake became distracted by Ron Bass at ringside. Hercules fought Bad News Brown to a double count-out. WWF World and defending King of the Ring Champion Randy Savage pinned Virgil with the flying elbowsmash. Ron Bass defeated the Barbarian via disqualification when the Barbarian began choking Bass with his own bullwhip. Shawn Michaels pinned Danny Davis. The Red Rooster pinned Marty Jannetty by using the tights for leverage. Iron Mike Sharpe (sub. for the Warlord) pinned Boris Zhukov after hitting him with the loaded forearm. In the Quarter-finals, Ron Bass pinned Shawn Michaels with an elbow drop. Ted Dibiase pinned Ken Patera with a clothesline as Virgil held Patera’s legs down from the outside. The Red Rooster defeated Iron Mike Sharpe via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. In the Semi-finals, WWF World Champion Randy Savage pinned the Red Rooster with the flying elbowsmash. Ted Dibiase defeated Ron Bass via forfeit when Dibiase paid Bass off to fake an injury and say he was unable to compete as a result. In the finals, Ted Dibiase defeated WWF World Champion Randy Savage via count-out when Savage became distracted by Virgil on the floor, allowing Dibiase to break the count back inside the ring. After the bout, Hercules chased Dibiase and Virgil backstage as they were celebrating and holding up the King of the Ring trophy. Once again, the winner did not use the “king” nickname as part of his gimmick.

The 1989 King of the Ring was back in Providence, RI on October 14th. In first round match-ups, Akeem pinned Brutus Beefcake. Hercules fought Jim Neidhart to a double disqualification. The Warlord pinned Bushwhacker Butch. Tito Santana defeated Bad News Brown. Rick Martel defeated Bill Woods (sub. for Barry Windham). Bushwhacker Luke defeated Nikolai Volkoff. Jimmy Snuka pinned the Barbarian. Haku pinned the Red Rooster. In the Quarter-finals, Tito Santana defeated the Warlord. Rick Martel defeated the Bushwhacker Luke. Jimmy Snuka defeated Haku. In Semi-final action, Tito Santana defeated Akeem. Rick Martel defeated Jimmy Snuka. In the finals of the King of the Ring, Tito Santana pinned Rick Martel.
The 1989 King of the Ring was made up of mid-card wrestlers and tag team competitors. It was the first King of the Ring that didn’t contain at least one upper echelon performer. That being said, there was no King of the Ring tournament in 1990.

The King of the Ring event returned on September 7, 1991 in Providence, RI. This time the WWF provided a lot more fire power then in 1989. Jerry Saggs defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Road Warrior Hawk via disqualification when Hawk intercepted Jimmy Hart’s megaphone and used it on his opponent. Ricky Steamboat fought Ted Dibiase to a 15-minute time limit draw. Jim Duggan pinned Brian Knobbs. IRS defeated the Bezerker via count-out when Bezerker rolled IRS back into the ring after a ringside brawl. WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart defeated Pete Dogherty (sub. for Kerry Von Erich) via submission with the Sharpshooter at the 33 second mark. Skinner pinned the Million $ Champion Virgil with a reverse DDT. Sid Justice pinned the Warlord with the powerbomb. The Undertaker pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Road Warrior Animal after hitting him with the urn. In the Quarter-finals, IRS pinned Jim Duggan with his feet on the ropes. WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart defeated Skinner via submission with the Sharpshooter. The Undertaker fought Sid Justice to a double disqualification after both men assaulted the referee. After the bout, Jake Roberts interfered and helped the Undertaker in double-teaming Justice. In the Semi-finals, IRS pinned Jerry Saggs with a roll up. In the finals, WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned IRS with a roll up.

The WWF discontinued the King of the Ring tournament in 1992, but brought it back as the main focus of a new pay per view event on June 13, 1993 in Dayton, OH called the King of the Ring. The pay per view only featured eight wrestlers, as opposed to sixteen wrestlers that were entered in the previous years. In order to narrow down the field to eight competitors, the WWF held “qualifying matches” on their weekly programs.
The qualifying match results were listed as follows: Bret Hart received a bye into the Quarter-Finals by WWF President Jack Tunney due to the controversial nature in which he lost the Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania IX. Razor Ramon pinned Tito Santana by grabbing the tights for leverage after the momentum of a flying crossbody by Santana put Razor on top for the pin. Mr. Perfect fought Doink the Clown to a time-limit draw at 6:39 as Perfect had Doink down in the Perfect Plex. In a rematch, Mr. Perfect pinned Doink the Clown with the Perfect Plex after the two Doinks switched places. Crush made the save after the match. This bout had been held two times previous, both ending in a draw. Mr. Hughes (w/ Harvey Wippleman) defeated Kamala via count-out when Kamala chased an interfering Kimchee around the ring, ultimately attacking him in the aisle and hitting a bodyslam. Tatanka defeated Giant Gonzalez (w/ Harvey Wippleman) via disqualification when Gonzalez shoved referee Bill Alfonso with one hand as he had a choke applied on Tatanka with the other. Lex Luger defeated Bob Backlund via count-out after Backlund sustained Luger’s running forearm. Jim Duggan pinned Papa Shango with the running clothesline. Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Typhoon with a Samoan Drop and the diving headbutt after Typhoon hit the corner. Crush fought WWF IC Champion Shawn Michaels to a double count-out as Crush prepared to throw Michaels back inside the ring as the two were battling on the floor. Moments later, Crush hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker inside the ring and then applied the head vice.

The Quarter-final round was the first round to be televised on the pay per view. Bret Hart pinned Razor Ramon by reversing a back suplex off the top and landing on top for the win. Mr. Perfect defeated Mr. Hughes (w/ Harvey Wippleman) via disqualification when Hughes hit Perfect with the Undertaker’s urn. Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Jim Duggan with the flying headbutt after Duggan hit the turnbuckle chest-first. Tatanka fought Lex Luger to a 15-minute time-limit draw. In the lone Semi-finals match, Bret Hart pinned Mr. Perfect by reversing a small package. In the finals, Bret Hart pinned Bam Bam Bigelow with a victory roll after kicking Bigelow in the face as he ran into the corner. Bigelow originally won the match via pinfall at 9:24 with the flying headbutt after Luna Vachon came ringside and hit Hart over the head with a steel chair, but another referee disputed the decision and ordered the match to continue. After the bout, Jerry Lawler interrupted Hart’s coronation and attacked him with the scepter and throne after Hart referred to him as the “Burger King.” Bret Hart became the only wrestler to win the King of the Ring tournament in back to back events. He is also the only two-time King of the Ring tournament winner.

In 1994, the WWF started to treat the King of the Ring tournament with the same respect that they treat the Royal Rumble. Instead of having a random winner, the King of the Ring was now used to elevate mid-card talent into the next level. WWF-TV would once again host qualifying matches with the winners advancing to the pay per view event. In the qualifying round, Razor Ramon pinned Kwang with the Razor’s Edge. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon) pinned Sparky Plugg with a slingshot splash into the ring. Mabel pinned Quebecer Pierre with a sidewalk slam. IRS pinned Scott Steiner by rolling out of a sunset flip and grabbing the ropes for leverage. Tatanka pinned Crush (w/ Mr. Fuji) in a lumberjack match after Lex Luger came to the ring and knocked out Crush with the running forearm on the outside. Owen Hart pinned Doink the Clown (w/ Dink) (sub. for Earthquake) with a roll up as Doink was distracted by Jeff Jarrett at ringside. The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Adam Bomb (w/ Harvey Wippleman) at 5:12 with a small package after Kwang accidentally sprayed green mist in Bomb’s face. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Mr. Fuji) defeated Lex Luger via count-out when Luger began brawling with an interfering Crush in the aisle.

The 1994 King of the Ring took place on June 19th, 1994 in WCW’s old stomping grounds of the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD. Razor Ramon pinned Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon) with a scoop slam off the top from behind as Bigelow attempted the moonsault. IRS pinned Mabel (w/ Oscar) with his feet on the ropes. Owen Hart pinned Tatanka at 8:18 by blocking a sunset flip. The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Jeff Jarrett by blocking the figure-4 with an inside cradle. In the Semi-finals, Razor Ramon pinned IRS with the Razor’s Edge. Owen Hart defeated the 1-2-3 Kid via submission with the Sharpshooter. In the finals, Owen Hart pinned Razor Ramon with an elbow drop off the top after Jim Neidhart attacked Razor at ringside, hitting a clothesline and sending him into the steel ring post. During the post-match coronation, Owen proclaimed himself the King of Harts. The Owen Hart character was the first character since Harley Race to truly embrace the “king” moniker. Although Owen was in the middle of a feud with his brother Bret Hart for the WWF World Championship, his King of the Ring run in 1994 was the night that truly put Owen over the top as a serious main event contender. Owen Hart used the “King of Harts” gimmick so well that when he passed away in 1999, many fans felt that the WWF should have renamed the tournament to the “Owen Hart Memorial King of the Ring Tournament.”

The 1995 King of the Ring was a huge turning point in the thought process of the WWF. In Qualifying Round matches, Razor Ramon pinned Jacob Blu (w/ Eli Blu & Uncle Zebakiah) with a roll up. WWF Tag Team Champion Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger via count-out following a legdrop on the floor. Bob Holly pinned Mantaur (w/ Jim Cornette) with a missile dropkick and crossbody off the top. The Roadie (w/ Jeff Jarrett) pinned Doink the Clown (w/ Dink) with a roll up when Doink became distracted by Jeff Jarrett who was chasing Dink around the ring. The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) pinned WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett (w/ the Roadie) following a chokeslam and the tombstone piledriver. Mabel (w/ Mo) pinned Adam Bomb with a powerslam. Shawn Michaels pinned King Kong Bundy (w/ Ted Dibiase) with the superkick. Kama defeated Duke Drose. Davey Boy Smith fought WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) to a 15-minute time limit draw.

The King of the Ring 1995 pay per view telecast was held in the heart of ECW in Philadelphia, PA at the CoreStates Spectrum on June 25th, 1995. Savio Vega (w/ Razor Ramon) pinned IRS (w/ Ted Dibiase) with a spin wheel kick. This bout was made at the last minute to fill the vacancy left due to Razor Ramon’s rib injury. This match was not aired on the pay per view. In the Quarter-Finals, Savio Vega (w/ Razor Ramon) defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Yokozuna (w/ Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji) via count-out. The Roadie (w/ WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett) pinned Bob Holly after lifting a boot into Holly’s face as he came off the top. Shawn Michaels fought Kama (w/ Ted Dibiase) to a 15-minute time-limit draw. Mabel (w/ Mo) pinned the Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) with a leg drop after Kama interfered and kicked the Undertaker in the back after he hit the chokeslam on Mabel. In the lone Semi-final match, Savio Vega (w/ Razor Ramon) pinned the Roadie (w/ WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett) with a roll up after sending him into Jarrett on the ring apron. In the finals, Mabel (w/ Mo) pinned Savio Vega (w/ Razor Ramon) with a powerslam and splash. His King of the Ring victory earned him a WWF World title shot against Diesel at SummerSlam 1995. Most fans expected Shawn Michaels to win the tournament. However, once he was eliminated, the crowd started to get restless. By the end of the tourney, the crowd turned on the WWF’s pay per view event. The pro-Extreme Championship Wrestling crowd started chanting E-C-W! E-C-W! and started littering the coronation stage with trash. It was this event that started to open Vince’s eyes to the small Philadelphia promotion, and started the WWF on its way towards the “Attitude Era.”

For the first time in the history of the King of the Ring tournament, the WWF held the Qualifying matches and Quarter-finals before the pay per view event. In the Qualifyong matches, Marc Mero (w/ Sable) pinned Skip with a Frankensteiner off the top. Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) pinned Yokozuna by using the ropes for leverage after Yoko lost his balance while attempting the Bonzai Drop and fell to the mat. Savio Vega pinned Marty Jannetty with a spinning heel kick. Steve Austin defeated Bob Holly via submission with the Million $ Dream. Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the DDT. Justin Bradshaw pinned Henry Godwinn with the lariat. The Ultimate Warrior fought WWF IC Champion Goldust (w/ Marlena) to a double count-out when Goldust tried to leave ringside and was attacked in the aisle by the Warrior. Vader (w/ Jim Cornette) pinned Ahmed Johnson after Owen Hart came off the top with a double axe handle. In Quarter-Finals action, Steve Austin pinned Savio Vega with the Stunner. Marc Mero (w/ Sable) pinned Owen Hart with a reverse victory roll. Jake Roberts pinned Justin Bradshaw with the DDT.

The pay per view portion of the King of the Ring tournament in Milwaukee, WI on June 23, 1996. Steve Austin pinned Marc Mero (w/ Sable) with the Stunner. Jake Roberts defeated Vader (w/ Jim Cornette) via disqualification when Vader grabbed the referee and pulled him into Roberts as Roberts hit the DDT. In the finals, Steve Austin pinned Jake Roberts with the Stunner. This match was famous for Austin’s coronation speech where he coined the phrase “Austin 3:16” as an injured Roberts was helped backstage. Steve Austin’s career skyrocketed following his King of the Ring victory. This was also the push that almost never was as Steve Austin was originally not supposed to win the 1996 King of the Ring. Hunter Hearst Helmsley was supposed to be the winner that year. However, HHH was punished for his participation in the “Clique Goodbye” at Madison Square Garden between himself, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. This left the door open for Steve Austin to bust through. As everybody knows, he took the ball and helped revolutionized the business.

The 1997 King of the Ring tournament held its Quarter-final round throughout the month of May on Monday night RAW. Ahmed Johnson defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) via disqualification when Chyna interfered and hit Ahmed with a steel chair. Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) (sub. for Vader) pinned Crush. Helmsley was allowed another spot in the tournament because he was not properly instructed prior to his match with Ahmed Johnson the previous week that he could be eliminated via disqualification. Jerry Lawler pinned Goldust (w/ Marlena) with his feet on the ropes; after the match. Mankind pinned Savio Vega (w/ Crush & D-Lo Brown) after Crush accidentaly hit Savio in the back of the head.

The Semi-Finals were held at the pay per view on June 9th, 1997 in Providence, RI. Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) pinned Ahmed Johnson with the Pedigree after knocking his opponent into the corner as Ahmed had a staredown with Chyna. Mankind defeated Jerry Lawler with the Mandible Claw. A year after he was supposed to get his King of the Ring tournament win, Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) pinned Mankind with the Pedigree to finally win the King of the Ring tournament.

The Qualifying Round and Quarter-finals took place throughout the month of June for the 1998 King of the Ring. In the Qualifying Round, Ken Shamrock defeated Kama via submission with the ankle lock. Mark Henry pinned Terry Funk with a powerbomb and splash. Marc Mero (w/ Jackie) pinned Steve Blackman with the Shooting Star Press after a low blow and Samoan drop. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee & Southern Justice) pinned Farooq after hitting him with Lee’s belt buckle as Southern Justice distracted the referee. Owen Hart defeated Scorpio via submission with the Sharpshooter. Dan Severn defeated D-Lo Brown via submission. WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock pinned Vader with the Rock Bottom. WWF European Champion Triple H defeated X-Pac via count-out.

In the Quarter-finals, Ken Shamrock pinned Mark Henry. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee) pinned Marc Mero (w/ Jackie) with a DDT. Dan Severn defeated Owen Hart via submission after X-Pac interfered and hit Owen in the back of the head with a steel chair. WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock pinned WWF European Champion Triple H with a low blow and fisherman’s suplex.

The 1998 King of the Ring Semi-finals and finals took place on June 28, 1998 in Pittsburgh, PA. Ken Shamrock defeated Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee) via submission to the ankle lock after a running Frankensteiner. WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock pinned Dan Severn after D-Lo Brown interfered and hit a frog splash on Severn as the Godfather and Mark Henry distracted the referee. In the finals, Ken Shamrock defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock via submission to the ankle lock following a single leg takedown.

While the Qualifying matches were held from the end of May and the whole month of June, the Quarter-finals were back to being held on the actual King of the Ring pay per view telecast. In the Qualifying matches, WWF Tag Team Champion X-Pac pinned the Big Bossman with a crucifix. Hardcore Holly pinned WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow with a Michinoku Driver. The Road Dogg pinned the Godfather after Billy Gunn accidentally hit Godfather in the head with a steel chair as Godfather attempted the Ho Train. Chyna (w/ Triple H) pinned Val Venis (w/ Nicole Bass) with the Pedigree. Ken Shamrock defeated Jeff Jarrett (w/ WWF Women’s Champion Debra) via submission with the ankle lock. Billy Gunn pinned Viscera with the Fameasser. The Big Show pinned Droz (w/ Albert) with a boot to the chest and the chokeslam. Kane pinned Test with the tombstone.

The King of the Ring pay per view held in Greensboro, NC on June 27, 1999 started the
tournament portion of the show with the Quarter-finals match-ups. X-Pac defeated
Hardcore Holly via disqualification after Holly brought a steel chair into the ring and hit
X-Pac over the head with it. Kane pinned the Big Show after hitting Show over the head
with a steel chair. Billy Gunn defeated Ken Shamrock when referee Teddy Long stopped
the match after Gunn blocked a hurricanrana into a powerbomb, causing Shamrock to
cough blood after injuries he sustained earlier in the evening from Steve Blackman. The
Road Dogg pinned Chyna with the pumphandle slam.

In the semi-finals, Billy Gunn pinned Kane after the Big Show came ringside and hit
Kane over the head with a steel chair. X-Pac pinned the Road Dogg with a kick to the
midsection and the X-Factor after avoiding the pumphandle slam. Billy Gunn pinned X-
Pac after hitting a Fameasser off the middle turnbuckle. Most people felt that the King of
the Ring tournament victory would help propel Billy Gunn, as it did Owen Hart and
Steve Austin. However, after a short fued with The Rock, Billy Gunn found himself back
in the undercard.

The 2000 King of the Ring featured two rounds of Qualifying matches that took place on RAW and SmackDown! Rikishi defeated Shane McMahon via disqualification when Shane hit Rikishi over the head with a steel chair. Scotty 2 Hotty pinned D-Lo Brown with the Worm and a DDT. Chris Benoit pinned the Road Dogg (w/ X-Pac & Tori) with a German suplex into a bridge after the Dudleyz distracted Road Dogg. X-Pac (w/ Tori & the Road Dogg) pinned Dean Malenko with the X-Factor after the Road Dogg interfered. Eddie Guerrero (w/ Chyna) pinned Matt Hardy with a hurricanrana off the top. Chyna (w/ WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero) pinned the Godfather (w/ WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko) after Guerrero hit Godfather with a bouquet of flowers, with a hidden pipe inside. Jeff Hardy (w/ Matt Hardy) pinned Christian (w/ Edge) with a cradle after Christian hit a superplex. Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus) pinned Al Snow with a spinebuster and the Money Shot. Crash Holly pinned Albert (w/ Trish Stratus) by reversing a powerbomb attempt into a sunset flip. Hardcore Holly pinned Farooq with the Hollycaust. Perry Saturn pinned D-Von Dudley with the elbow drop off the top after X-Pac and the Road Dogg interfered and attacked D-Von on the floor. Bull Buchanon (w/ the Big Bossman) pinned Steve Blackman (w/ Al Snow) with the scissors kick. Chris Jericho pinned Test (w/ Trish Stratus) with a bulldog and the Lionsault. Edge (w/ Christian) pinned Grandmaster Sexay (w/ Scotty 2 Hotty) after Shane McMahon interfered and hit Sexay with a chair. Bubba Ray Dudley pinned the Big Bossman with the Bubba Cutter after Bull Buchanon came ringside and hit Bossman with his nightstick. Kurt Angle pinned Bradshaw with a reversal into the Olympic Slam. Rikishi pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Scotty 2 Hotty with a back splash in the corner and the Bonzai Drop. WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit defeated X-Pac (w/ Tori) via submission with the Crippler Crossface. WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Chyna with an inside cradle as Eddie begged Chyna not to hit him in the groin. Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus) pinned Jeff Hardy with a blow from behind and the fisherman’s suplex. Chris Jericho defeated Edge via submission with the Walls of Jericho. Kurt Angle pinned Bubba Ray Dudley with the Olympic Slam after avoiding the Bubba Cutter and sending Bubba into the ropes. WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly defeated Hardcore Holly via disqualification when, as Pat Patterson distracted Hardcore, Gerald Brisco entered the ring and hit Crash in the back with a 2×4. Bull Buchanon pinned Perry Saturn with a boot to the face and the scissors kick.

The 2000 King of the Ring pay per view was held in Boston, MA on June 25, 2000. In the Quarter-finals, the WWF Intercontinental Champion Rikishi defeated Chris Benoit via disqualification when Benoit, while in full control of the match, went out to the floor and returned with a steel chair, hitting Rikishi twice with it. Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus) pinned WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero (w/ Chyna) with a side elbow to the face, while in a waist lock, followed by a kick to the midsection and a fisherman suplex. Crash Holly pinned Bull Buchanon with a la magistral cradle after Buchanon failed the scissors kick. Kurt Angle pinned Chris Jericho with the Olympic Slam.

In the Semi-finals, the WWF Intercontinental Champion Rikishi pinned Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus) catching Val coming off the top and hitting a belly to belly suplex. Kurt Angle pinned Crash Holly with the Olympic Slam after dropping Crash throat-first across the top rope. In the finals, Kurt Angle pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Rikishi with a belly to belly suplex off the top. While Kurt Angle already held the WWF European championship and Intercontinental title, he was not in the main event picture. However, after he won the King of the Ring tournament, Angle was inserted into the WWF World title picture. He took part in the Triple Threat WWF World title main event at SummerSlam 2000. At No Mercy, he beat The Rock to capture his first WWF World title in October 2000 in Albany, NY’s Pepsi Center.

For the 2001 version of the King of the Ring, the WWF once again went back to airing the qualifying and Quarter-finals matches on WWF television. In the qualifying match-ups, Kurt Angle pinned Hardcore Holly with the Olympic Slam. Jeff Hardy pinned Matt Hardy with a backslide. The Big Show pinned Raven with the chokeslam. Christian (w/ Edge) pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Kane after Albert interfered and hit the Baldo Bomb on Kane. Edge (w/ Christian) pinned Test with a jumping DDT. Perry Saturn (w/ Terri) pinned Steve Blackman (w/ Trish Stratus) with the fisherman’s suplex. Rhyno pinned Tazz with the Gore. Tajiri (w/ William Regal) pinned Crash Holly with the kick to the head. The Quarter-finals began with Kurt Angle defeating Jeff Hardy via submission with the ankle lock. Rhyno pinned Tajiri (w/ William Regal) with the Gore as Tajiri came off the top. Edge (w/ Christian) pinned Perry Saturn (w/ Terri) with the DDT. Christian (w/ Edge) pinned the Big Show after both Edge and Christian hit the con-chair-two on Show as Kurt Angle distracted the referee.

The Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ was the home to the King of the Ring pay per view on June 24, 2001. In Semi-finals action, Kurt Angle pinned Christian with an Olympic Slam into the ring after Shane McMahonpulled Christian out of the ring after he hit the Unprettier. Edge pinned Rhyno with a DDT after Rhyno hit an exposed middle turnbuckle while attempting the Gore. In the King Finals, Edge pinned Kurt Angle with a DDT after Shane McMahon came through the crowd and speared Angle after the referee was knocked down.

While Edge was the 2001 King of the Ring, the pay per view was memorable, not for the tournament, but for other matches on the card. Kurt Angle fought Shane McMahon in a street fight. Towards the end of the bout, Angle suplexed Shane through a plate glass piece of the entrance stage, and then threw him headfirst through another piece. This moment was made famous as it was used in the WWF’s “Don’t Try This At Home” public service campaign that advised children not to try wrestling moves out on their friends. The other part of the show that made a lasting impression was towards the end of the main event between Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho, the WCW World Champion Booker T attacked Steve Austin. It was the first time the fans saw a WCW wrestler on WWF television since the WWF aired footage of WCW wrestlers sitting in a sky box at WrestleMania X-Seven (after the WWF buy out of WCW).

In 2002, the WWF, now called World Wrestling Entertainment, was split up between two rosters. There was a RAW roster, and a SmackDown! group of wrestlers. Each brand held their own qualifying and Quarter-finals matches. In the qualifying matches, WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Eddie Guerrero after a series of roll overs. X-Pac pinned Goldust with the X-Factor. Chris Jericho defeated Edge via forfeit when Edge was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury sustained during the previous week’s steel cage match against Kurt Angle. Val Venis pinned Christian by avoiding the Unprettier and hitting a back suplex into a powerbomb. Booker T pinned WWE European Champion William Regal after hitting Regal with the title belt as the referee was busy taking a steel chair away from Regal. Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Bubba Ray Dudley with the F5 as Bubba Ray attempted to hit the Bubba Bomb on an interfering Heyman. Test pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion the Hurricane with the Test Drive. Hardcore Holly pinned Tajiri by fighting off the Tarantula and hitting the Alabama Slam. WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam pinned X-Pac with the Five Star Frog Splash after Booker T interfered and hit the Bookend on X-Pac. Chris Jericho defeated Val Venis via submission with the Walls of Jericho. Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Booker T with the F5 after Booker knocked X-Pac and the Big Show off the ring apron. Test pinned Hardcore Holly with the boot to the face.

The Semi-finals and final contest was held on June 23rd in Columbus, OH at the King of the Ring pay per view. In the first Semi-final match-up, WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Jericho with the Five Star Frog Splash. In the last Semi-final match, Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Test with the F5. In the King of the Ring finals, Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam with the F5 after catching RVD as he attempted a reverse crossbody off the middle turnbuckle. Thanks to a due to pre-match stipulations, Lesnar was about to get a main event push following his tournament victory, as he also earned a WWE World Title shot for Summer Slam 2002. Brock was on the quick path to glory. On August 8th’s edition of SmackDown!, Lesnar, not only beat, but thoroughly dominated Hulk Hogan in a match where his #1 contender’s spot was on the line. On August 25th, Brock Lesnar’s rise to being a championship level wrestler was made complete after he beat The Rock for the WWE World Championship at SummerSlam.

The King of the Ring tournament took a nearly four year absence before being brought back as a SmackDown! only pay per view. The Quarter-finals and Semi-finals were held on SmackDown! with the finals being held at the May “Judgement Day” pay per view. In Quarter-finals action, Kurt Angle defeated Randy Orton via submission with the ankle lock. Booker T (w/ Sharmell) pinned Matt Hardy with the scissors kick. Bobby Lashley defeated Mark Henry via count-out when Henry knocked himself out after falling to the floor and hitting his head against the commentary table. Finlay pinned Chris Benoit with the Celtic Cross after jabbing Benoit in the throat with a steel chair. In the semi-finals, on the May 5th, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, it was announced that due to injuries sustained at the hands of Mark Henry the previous week, Kurt Angle would not be medically cleared to continue in the tournament. As a result Booker T advanced to the finals. In the lone Semi-finals match, Bobby Lashley pinned Finlay with a spear.

At Judgment Day 2006 from Phoenix, Arizona’s US Airways Center on May 20th,
Booker T (w/ Sharmell) pinned Bobby Lashley with the scissors kick after Finlay interfered and hit Lashley with his shillelagh to become the 2006 King of the Ring. No wrestler since Owen Hart back in 1994 had embraced the “king” role the way Booker T had. Wearing a cape and crown, while holding a scepter, booker added an English accent to his speech. With Queen Sharmell by his side, King Booker was born. For the first time since Booker entered the WWF/E, Booker was seen as a true main event talent. “King Booker” was one of the most entertaining characters in the entire federation. As a result, “King Booker” would go on to end Rey Mysterio, Jr.’s World title reign at the Great American Bash on July 23rd, at the Canseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

Like in 2002, after the 2006 King of the Ring tournament, the WWE did away with the event. It looked like the King of the Ring would once again be a thing of the past. That was until the WWE announced that on April 21st, the WWE would be holding a special 3 hour RAW. The centerpiece of the RAW episode would be a King of the Ring tournament featuring competitors from RAW, SmackDown!, and ECW. In the Quarter-finals, Chris Jericho beat MVP by submission with the Walls of Jericho. CM Punk beat Matt Hardy by pin after attempting a Go To Sleep. Fit Finlay beat the Great Khali by disqualification after Khali rammed Finlay’s leg into the post until he was disqualified. William Regal beat Hornswoggle via submission with the Regal stretch. In the Semi-finals, CM Punk beat Chris Jericho by pin after a Go To Sleep. William Regal beat Fit Finlay by submission with the Regal Stretch. In the finals, William Regal beat CM Punk by submission with the Regal Stretch to become the latest WWE King of the Ring.

There have been 17 different King of the Ring winners. From Don Muraco all of the way up to William Regal. Most King of the Ring winners used the tournament victory to springboard themselves on to bigger and better things. Some victors embraced their new role, and truly turned their characters into royalty. It’s too early to see what category William Regal will fall into. Because he has been with the company for so many years, it is doubtful this title will led him into the main event caliber performers. Hopefully, his tournament win doesn’t become forgotten after just one week. William Regal’s character was tailor made for the “King” gimmick. He should be very entertaining if the WWE creative allows him to run with the “King” moniker for awhile. If they do that, then Regal will not have been the only one who won on Monday night, but the fans would have won as well.

****Results of the King of the Ring matches were taken from thehistoryofwwe.com*******