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King of the Ring tournament is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by WWE. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002, with the exception of 1990 and 1992. From 1993 to 2002, the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event.

The tournament endured a four-year hiatus until its return in 2006 as an exclusive event of the SmackDown brand. The tournament returned as an inter-brand event for both SmackDown and Raw in 2008, 2010, and 2015. WWE released a best of King of the Ring DVD in late 2011. It returned in 2019 for both brands.

History

Prior to pay-per-view

Although the King of the Ring tournament was not made into a pay-per-view event until 1993, the original King of the Ring tournament was held in 1985. Don Muraco won the tournament last, defeating The Iron Sheik.

In 1986, the second King of the Ring winner, Harley Race, parlayed his victory into an arrogant King of Wrestling gimmick, featuring a regal cape and crown. This gimmick led to several notable feuds for Race with Junkyard Dog, Hulk Hogan, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, and others, even after new winners had been crowned in the annual tournament. In 1988, Race suffered an abdominal injury and during his absence his manager Bobby "the Brain" Heenan awarded the crown to Haku in July, rechristening him King Haku, even though Randy Savage had won the tournament by that point and Ted DiBiase would also win the tournament during this storyline. Race eventually returned from his injury and briefly feuded with King Haku, but was unable to regain the crown at the 1989 Royal Rumble. King Haku then lost the crown to "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in May 1989. "King Hacksaw" then lost it on August 30, 1989 to "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who rebranded himself "Macho King". Savage abandoned the "Macho King" gimmick upon his loss of a "Career ending match" to Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII in 1991, following which only wrestlers who had won the most recent tournament, as well Jerry Lawler (who had used a King Of Wrestling image regionally in the Memphis area since the early 1970s) would use the gimmick.

Randy Savage ("Macho King"), Owen Hart ("King of Harts"), Mabel ("King Mabel" ), Kurt Angle ("King Kurt") Edge ("King Edge the Awesome"), Booker T ("King Booker"), Sheamus ("King Sheamus") and Bad News Barrett ("King Barrett") are all wrestlers that also took on "King" nicknames after winning King of the Ring tournaments, with varying amounts of indulgence in the regal gimmick. William Regal won the tournament while serving as General Manager of Raw and began displaying King Lear signs of tyranny and delusion. Triple H alluded to his King of the Ring victory as part of his integrated gimmick starting 2006 as the "King of Kings". In addition to the King's crown, various female wrestlers were portrayed as Queen while they were aligned with Kings, including "Queen of the Ring" Fabulous Moolah (aligned with King Harley Race at Wrestlemania III), Sensational Queen Sherri (manager of "Macho King" Randy Savage), and Queen Sharmell (manager of King Booker). Mo, Mabel's tag team partner in Men on a Mission, was "knighted" as Sir Mo by his partner after the latter's 1995 victory.

Pay-per-view

The King of the Ring was an event in which typically sixteen wrestlers wrestled in a one-on-one single elimination bracket. When a wrestler wins a match in the bracket, he advances to take on another wrestler who has also won. The final few matches would then take place at that year's King of the Ring event. The winner of the final match is officially crowned the King of the Ring. There were also other matches that took place at the King of the Ring event since it was a traditional three-hour pay-per-view. The King of the Ring pay-per-view was considered one of the WWE's "Big Five" events of the year, along with the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series, up until its disestablishment after the 2002 event.

Revival

After a four-year hiatus, the tournament would return in 2006, the first since the 1991 edition that was not on pay-per-view, which was won by Booker T, who faced Bobby Lashley in the final at Judgment Day. The tournament would return in 2008 on the April 23 episode of Raw, which was won by William Regal, who faced CM Punk in the finale, and in 2010 on the November 29 episode of Raw, which was won by Sheamus, who faced John Morrison in the finale. After a five-year hiatus, the tournament returned in 2015 on the April 27 episode of Raw, with the final taking place the next night on the WWE Network. Bad News Barrett defeated Neville in the final round. After a four-year hiatus, WWE announced the return of the tournament in 2019. On the August 12, 2019 episode of Raw, it was announced the 2019 King of The Ring tournament would begin on the August 19, 2019 episode of Raw.

List of King of the Ring winners

Pre-pay-per-view event results

1985

King of the Ring (1985) was the inaugural King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on July 8, 1985 at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

In addition to the tournament, there was only one other match during the night. In this match Hulk Hogan pinned Nikolai Volkoff to retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.

Results

Tournament bracket

• Hulk Hogan pinned Nikolai Volkoff to retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in a non tournament match.

1. Tito Santana fought Jim Brunzell to a twenty minute time limit draw; Brunzell then won a coin toss to determine who would continue in the tournament.

1986

King of the Ring (1986) was the second annual King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on July 14, 1986 at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

In addition to the tournament, there were two other matches. Prior to the final match of the King of the Ring tournament, Bruno Sammartino defeated The Designated Hitman (a substitute for Eddie Andelmann, a local TV/radio personality who refused to wrestle). Following the final match of the tournament, The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid) defeated The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (with Johnny V.) in a steel cage match to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. Dynamite and Beefcake escaped from the cage first. Smith then escaped the cage to win the match after Valentine had accidentally knocked him out the door.

During the first round of the tournament, there was a total of six matches. Billy Jack Haynes pinned The Iron Sheik after a small package Harley Race beat George Steele by disqualification after Steele rammed Race into one of the golf carts at ringside. Don Muraco and Roddy Piper wrestled to a twenty minute time limit draw. Nikolai Volkoff pinned Dan Spivey. Junkyard Dog beat Paul Orndorff by disqualification for attacking the referee. Pedro Morales pinned Rudy Diamond who was substituting for Bob Orton.

During the quarterfinal round of the tournament, there were three matches. Harley Race received a bye due to the Muraco and Piper match reaching the time limit in the first round. Billy Jack Haynes beat Mr. X with a full nelson. Mr X was a substitute for Hercules Hernandez. Nikolai Volkoff beat Junkyard Dog after Dog submitted to a bearhug. In the final quarterfinal match, Pedro Morales pinned Mike Rotunda after Rotunda performed a back suplex From The Top Rope on Morales but Rotunda's shoulders were on the mat.

During the first match of the semifinals, Race beat Haynes, when Haynes was counted out while Haynes applied the full nelson on Race while on the outside of the ring on the apron. Pedro Morales beat Nikolai Volkoff after Morales broke free and reversed a bearhug into a small package for the pin.

In the final Race pinned Morales after he superplexed Morales back into the ring.

Results

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1	Don Muraco (with Mr. Fuji) and Roddy Piper wrestled to a time limit draw	King of the Ring first round match	20:00
2	Harley Race beat George Steele by disqualification	King of the Ring first round match	7:41
3	Billy Jack Haynes pinned the Iron Sheik	King of the Ring first round match	10:15
4	Nikolai Volkoff beat Dan Spivey	King of the Ring first round match	6:12
5	Junkyard Dog beat Paul Orndorff by disqualification	King of the Ring first round match	13:14
6	Pedro Morales beat Rudy Diamond	King of the Ring first round match	3:02
7	Billy Jack Haynes beat Mr. X	King of the Ring quarter-final match	0:21
8	Nikolai Volkoff beat Junkyard Dog	King of the Ring quarter-final match	10:46
9	Pedro Morales beat Mike Rotunda	King of the Ring quarter-final match	10:00
10	Harley Race beat Billy Jack Haynes by count-out	King of the Ring semi-final match	12:30
11	Pedro Morales beat Nikolai Volkoff	King of the Ring semi-final match	11:55
12	Bruno Sammartino beat The Designated Hitman	Singles match	4:29
13	Harley Race beat Pedro Morales	King of the Ring final match	10:30
14	The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid) (c) defeated The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (with Johnny V.) by escaping the cage	WWF World Tag Team Title steel cage match	15:47
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

Tournament bracket

1. Rudy Diamond was a substitute for Bob Orton.
2. Mr. X was a substitute for Hercules Hernandez. Bruno Sammartino beat The Designated Hitman in a non-tournament match The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid) defeated The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (with Johnny V.) in a steel cage match to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. Dynamite and Beefcake escaped from the cage first. Smith then escaped the cage to win the match after Valentine had accidentally knocked him out the door. in a non-tournament match

1987

King of the Ring (1987) was the third annual King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on September 4, 1987 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

In addition to the tournament, there was only one other match during the night. In this match Jake Roberts defeated the WWF Intercontinental champion The Honky Tonk Man with Jimmy Hart via disqualification, after Hart accidentally hit Honky Tonk Man with the megaphone

Results

No.	Matches*	Stipulations	Times
1	Haku beat Brutus Beefcake	King of the Ring first round match	—
2	Rick Martel beat Dan Spivey	King of the Ring first round match	—
3	King Kong Bundy beat One Man Gang	King of the Ring first round match	—
4	Special Delivery Jones beat Sika	King of the Ring first round match	—
5	Dangerous Danny Davis beat Tito Santana	King of the Ring first round match	—
6	Junkyard Dog beat Tama	King of the Ring first round match	—
7	Jim Brunzell beat Ron Bass	King of the Ring first round match	—
8	Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) beat Nikolai Volkoff	King of the Ring first round match	—
9	Haku and Rick Martel wrestled to a draw	King of the Ring quarter-final match	15:00
10	King Kong Bundy beat Special Delivery Jones	King of the Ring quarter-final match	—
11	Danny Davis beat The Junkyard Dog	King of the Ring quarter-final match	—
12	Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) beat Jim Brunzell	King of the Ring quarter-final match	—
13	Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) beat Danny Davis	King of the Ring semi-final match	—
14	Jake Roberts beat The Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) by disqualification	WWF Intercontinental championship	—
15	Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) beat King Kong Bundy	King of the Ring final match	—
*Card subject to change

Tournament bracket

• Jake Roberts defeated the WWF Intercontinental champion The Honky Tonk Man with Jimmy Hart via disqualification, after Hart accidentally hit Honky Tonk Man with the megaphone in a non tournament match

1988

King of the Ring (1988) was the fourth annual King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on October 16, 1988 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

In addition to the tournament, there was only one other match during the night. In this match Jim Duggan defeated Dino Bravo (with Frenchy Martin) in a flag match. Duggan pinned Bravo when Martin accidentally hit Bravo with the flag.

Results

Tournament bracket

1. Mike Sharpe substituted for The Warlord.
2. DiBiase paid Bass off to fake an injury.

• Randy Savage was counted out when he became distracted by Virgil on the outside of the ring.
• Jim Duggan pinned Dino Bravo (with Frenchy Martin) in a Flag match when Martin accidentally hit Bravo with the flag.

1989

King of the Ring (1989) was the fifth annual King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on October 14, 1989 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Tournament bracket

1. Bill Wood substituted for Barry Windham.

• Dusty Rhodes defeated The Big Boss Man, with Slick at 10:04 in a non tournament match.

1991

King of the Ring (1991) was the sixth King of the Ring professional wrestling tournament produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The tournament was held on September 7, 1991 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

In addition to the tournament, there was only one other match during the night. In this match The Beverly Brothers defeated The Bushwhackers, in a tag team match.

Results

No.	Matches*	Stipulations	Times
1	Jerry Sags (with Jimmy Hart) beat Hawk by disqualification	King of the Ring first round match	3:02
2	Ricky Steamboat and Ted DiBiase wrestled to a time limit draw	King of the Ring first round match	15:00
3	Jim Duggan beat Brian Knobbs (with Jimmy Hart)	King of the Ring first round match	5:04
4	Irwin R. Schyster beat The Berzerker by count-out	King of the Ring first round match	2:51
5	Bret Hart beat Pete Doherty by submission	King of the Ring first round match	0:33
6	Skinner beat Virgil	King of the Ring first round match	5:02
7	Sid Justice beat The Warlord	King of the Ring first round match	3:23
8	The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) beat Animal	King of the Ring first round match	3:40
9	The Beverly Brothers (Beau Beverly and Blake Beverly) beat The Bushwhackers (Bushwhacker Butch and Bushwhacker Luke)	Tag team match	7:23
10	Irwin R. Schyster beat Jim Duggan	King of the Ring quarter-final match	3:16
11	Bret Hart beat Skinner	King of the Ring quarter-final match	4:47
12	The Undertaker and Sid Justice ended in a double disqualification	King of the Ring quarter-final match	4:08
13	Irwin R. Schyster beat Jerry Sags	King of the Ring semi-final match	1:22
14	Bret Hart beat Irwin R. Schyster	King of the Ring final match	10:00
*Card subject to change

Tournament bracket

1. Pete Doherty substituted for Kerry Von Erich.

• The Undertaker and Sid Justice were disqualified for attacking the Referee. After the bout, Jake Roberts helped The Undertaker put Sid into the Casket.
• Bret Hart pinned Irwin R. Schyster with a roll up.
• The Beverly Brothers beat The Bushwhackers in a tag team match at 7:23.

References

1. "Accelerator profile". Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
2. "WWF Show Results 1989". Angelfire. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
3. Conner, Floyd (2001). Wrestling's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Pro Wrestling's Outrageous Performers, Punishing Piledrivers, and Other Oddities. Brassey's. p. 175. ISBN 1-57488-308-9.
4. Schrader, Bob. "The Irresistible Force". WWE. Retrieved 2007-07-03. Viscera used to be known as Mabel. He started as a friendly rapping giant Then Mabel shocks everyone by winning King of the Ring, loses the rapping and becomes KING Mabel.
5. John M. Milner, Andy McNamara and Greg Oliver (June 2, 2005). "Booker T's bio". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
6. Plummer, Dale (29 November 2010). "Raw: King of the Ring crowned". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
7. Caldwell, James (19 December 2011). "WWE TLC PPV Results 12/19: In-person "virtual-time" coverage of TLC PPV – off-air PPV notes, Miz vs. Orton, Cena vs. Barrett". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
8. "IGN: William Regal". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
9. Triple H: The King of Kings (DVD). WWE Home Video. 2008.
10. Spears, Jim (January 4, 2005). "Women's wrestlers today are tougher, better". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
11. "Booker and Sharmell released by WWE". SLAM! Wrestling. October 16, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
12. https://heelbynature.com/wrestling-news/wwe-news/wwe-king-of-the-ring-tournament-announced/
13. ^ WWF King Of The Ring 1985
14. ^ WWF King Of The Ring 1986
15. ^ WWF King Of The Ring 1987
16. ^ WWF King Of The Ring 1988
17. Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.162, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, 2008, ISBN 978-1-4165-5890-3
18. WWF King Of The Ring 1989
19. ^ WWF King Of The Ring 1991

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