History of WWE King of the Ring

[Mike]

In mid-June on RAW, WWE presents the King of the Ring tournament. Since I feel it should still be a PPV, I'll post the history. Discuss your favorite moments if you want to as there have been many great ones in KOTR history.

[Mike]

Past winners before it went to PPV:[/u]

1985: July 8 from Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Michigan: Don Muraco def. Iron Sheik in the Finals.

1986: July 14 from Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Michigan: Harley Race def. Pedro Morales in the Finals.

1987: September 4 from Providence Civic Center in Providence Road Island: Macho Man Randy Savage def. King Kong Bundy in the Finals.

1988: October 16 from Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island: Ted Dibiase def. Macho Man in the Finals.

1989: October 14 from Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island: Tito Santana def. Rick Martel in the Finals.

1990: No Tournament.

1991: September 17 from Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island: Bret Hart def. IRS in the Finals.

1992: No Tournament.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1993[/u]

Sunday, June 13, 1993
Nutter Center
Dayton, Ohio
Attendance: 6,500
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby "The Brain' Heenan, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

Matches:[/u]

--Bret Hart def. Razor Ramon in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Mr. Perfect def. Mr. Hughes w/ Harvey Whippleman in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Luna Vachon def. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Tatanka and Lex Luger fought to a No-Contest in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Bret Hart def. Mr. Perfect in a King of The Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart) and The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) def. The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu) w/ Afa and Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match.

--Shawn Michaels w/ Diesel def. Crush to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Bret Hart def. Bam Bam Bigelow in a Finals Match to become the 1993 King of the Ring.

Match of the Night: Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--The first round tournament was determined via qualifying matches on TV shows leading up to the show.
--Bret Hart fought three matches to win the tournament, beating Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, and Bam Bam Bigelow.
--Bigelow got a bye in the semi-finals due to Tatanka/Lex Luger fighting to a draw.
--Hulk Hogan was supposed to drop the title to Bret Hart, but refused to using his creative control clause in his contract. He then came up with the ending of having a Japanese camera man flash fire at him because he didn't want to be pinned. It was his last PPV appearance in the WWE until 2002. The ending to the match was heavily criticized.
--While all 7 other first round participants needed to qualify to advance, Bret Hart didn't.
--Bigelow was originally awarded with the win over Bret Hart, but due to Luna hitting Bret with a chair, another ref came out and told the other ref what had happened and the match continued.
--Jerry Lawler attacked Bret Hart during his coronation as King.
--Money Inc dropped the Tag Titles to the Steiners the next night on RAW, only to lose them two days later back to Money Inc, and win them back three days after that.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1994[/u]

Sunday, June 19, 1994
Baltimore Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 12,000
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Art Donovan (NFL)
"The Perfect Father's Day Card"

Matches:[/u]

--Razor Ramon def. Bam Bam Bigelow in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--IRS def. Mabel w/ Oscar in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Owen Hart def. Tatanka in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--1-2-3 Kid def. Jeff Jarret in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Diesel w/ Shawn Michaels def. Bret "Hitman" Hart w/ Jim "Anvil" Neidhart by DQ in a match for Bret's WWE Championship. Due to the DQ, Bret retained.

--Razor Ramon def. IRS w/ "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Owen Hart def. 1-2-3 Kid in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu) w/ Capt. Lou Albano def. Crush and Yokozuna w/ Mr. Fuji to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Owen Hart def. Razor Ramon in the Finals to become the 1994 King of the Ring.

--"Rowdy" Roddy Piper def. Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Match of the Night: Razor vs. Owen

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--NFL's Art Donovan took Vince McMahon's place on the show as a commentator as McMahon was involved in a trial about rumors of him selling steroids. On air, they said McMahon was recovering from neck surgery.
--This event took place on Father's Day
--Owen Hart def. Doink the Clown to qualify for the tournament. He was supposed to face Earthquake, however he left the WWE. In storyline, it was said that Yokozuna took Earthquake out. Owen would go on to beat Tatanka, 1-2-3 Kid, and Razor Ramon at the KOTR to win the crown.
--Owen declared himself the "King of Harts" in his coronation speech and made fun of his brother.
--Qualifying matches for the tournament took place during May with 8 men advancing out of a 16 person lot.
--Tatanka and Crush fought twice to see who would advance as he and Crush fought to a draw the first time and then Tatanka beat Crush in a Lumberjack Match on RAW.
--Bret Hart brought in Jim Neidhart to be his cornerman in his title defense against Intercontinental Champion Diesel. Neidhart got Bret DQued when he interfered. He'd later attack Razor Ramon and aid Owen Hart to the KOTR throne.
--Roddy Piper didn't appear in WWE again until 1996 after this event.
--Lawler insulted a fan and made him kiss his feet claiming he was the real Rowdy Piper. That fan was in Piper's corner and aided him to victory.
--Lex Luger distracted Crush, allowing Samu to roll him up and win the tag title match.
--1-2-3 Kid suffered a fake knee injury in his first round match with Jeff Jarret, but still pulled out a victory. He'd submit to the sharpshooter in the next round against Owen Hart.
--This marked the 2nd cosecutive year a Hart won the King of the Ring.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1995[/u]

Sunday, June 25, 1995
Philadelphia Spectrum
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 16,590
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Doc Hendrix
"Guts and Glory"

Matches:[/u]

--Savio Vega w/ Razor Ramon def. Yokozuna w/ Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--The Roadie w/ Jeff Jarret def. Bob Holly in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Shawn Michaels fought Kama w/ "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase to a Draw when the 15:00 time limit expired in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Mabel w/ Mo def. The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Savio Vega w/ Razor Ramon def. Roadie w/ Jeff Jarret in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Bret Hart def. Jerry "The King" Lawler in a "Kiss My Foot" Match.

--Mabel w/ Mo def. Savio Vega in a King of the Ring Tournament Final to become the 1995 King of the Ring.

--Diesel and Bam Bam Bigelow def. Tatanka and Sid w/ "The Million Dollar" Man Ted Dibiase in a Tag Team Match.

Match of the Night: Really not a good PPV but I'd say Michaels/Kama.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Due to the draw with HBK/Kama, Mabel recieved a bye and only had to beat two men to become King. Those two men were the Undertaker and Savio Vega.
--During the KOTR Finals, the crowd kept chanting ECW, ECW due to the dismay they had over the match.
--The qualifying matches for the tournament took place from mid-May to early-June.
--Since Owen Hart/Bulldog fought to a draw on RAW one week, Yokozuna seized the opportunity and beat Lex Luger to win his way into the tournament.
--Razor Ramon was supposed to be in the tournament, but due to a rib injury he suffered at the Nassau Coliseum, Savio Vega was able to beat IRS minutes before the PPV went live to earn his way into the tournament. He'd end up making it to the finals.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1996[/u]

Sunday, June 23, 1996
Mecca Arena
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance: 8,062
Announcers: Jerry "The King" Lawler and Vince McMahon
"To Battle is Honor...To Win is Hell"

Matches:[/u]

--Steve Austin def. Savio Vega in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Jake "The Snake" Roberts def. Vader by DQ in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart) def. the Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--The Ultimate Warrior def. Jerry "The King" Lawler.

--Mankind def. the Undertaker by TKO.

--Ahmed Johnson def. Goldust to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Steve Austin def. Jake "The Snake" Roberts in the King of the Ring Tournament Finals to become the 1996 King of the Ring.

--Shawn Michaels w/ Jose Latherio def. "The British Bulldog" Daveyboy Smith w/ Diana Smith and Jim Cornette to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: HBK vs. Bulldog.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first King of the Ring to not have the quarter finals on PPV, as they were held on TV.
--Two of the three quarterfinal matches on TV were actually done before the first round was even completed.
--Mr. Perfect was the special guest referee for the main event.
--This was the event where Stone Cold delivered his famous "Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass" at his coronation as King. It jump started what would become the Attitude Era.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1997[/u]

Sunday, June 8, 1997
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
Attendance: 9,312
Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Vince McMahon
"It's Bound to Get Medieval, Be Prepared"

Matches:[/u]

--Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/ Chyna def. Ahmed Johnson in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Mankind def. Jerry "The King" Lawler in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Goldust w/ Marlena def. Crush w/ D'Lo Brown and Clarence Mason.

--The Hart Foundation (Owen Hart, the British Bulldog, and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart) def. L.O.D. (Hawk and Animal) and Sycho Sid in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

--Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/ Chyna def. Mankind in the Finals of the King of the Ring Tournament to become the 1997 King of the Ring.

--Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels fought to a No-Contest.

--The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Crush w/ Crush, Savio Vega, D'Lo Brown, and Clarence Mason to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: HHH vs. Mankind.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This is the earliest the PPV of the King of the Ring ever took place.
--The WWE Championship was the only title on the line that night.
--Triple H became the fourth heel in a row to win the King of the Ring on PPV, and the only face was Bret Hart who won it when it first went to PPV.
--Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold were the WWE Tag Champions at the time they squared off.
--Rather than starting with 16 superstars, the WWE went with 8th and for the 2nd consecutive year they did the first round on TV and had the semi-finals and finals on PPV.
--Triple H was originally eliminated in the first round by Ahmed Johnson, but due to not being told he could lose his spot by DQ, he was given another chance against Crush and won. Vader was originally supposed to face Crush, but he broke his nose at a May 11th PPV Cold Day in Hell. Vader would later get an opportunity to win his spot against Ahmed, but he lost.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1998[/u]

Sunday, June 28, 1998
Pittsburgh Civic Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 17,087
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler
"Off with their heads"

Matches:[/u]

--The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) and Taka Michinoku defeated Kaientai (Funaki, Men's Teioh, and Dick Togo) in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Ken Shamrock def. Jeff Jarrett w/ Tennessee Lee in a Semi-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--The Rock w/ The Godfather and Mark Henry def. Dan "The Beast" Severn in a Semi-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor) def. Al Snow and Head in a Tag Team Match.

--X-Pac w/ Chyna def. Owen Hart.

--The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn) w/ Chyna def.The New Midnight Express (Bombastic Bob and Bodacious Bart) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Ken Shamrock def. The Rock in the Finals to become the 1998 King of the Ring.

--The Undertaker def. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell Match.

--Kane w/ Paul Bearer def. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a First Blood Match to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Mankind vs. the Undertaker.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Kane winning the title shocked many people, but he would lose it just 24 hours later on RAW back to Stone Cold.
--Mankind got thrown off of the top of the HIAC and then through the cage from the top which many don't think was meant to happen. Undertaker throwing him off the cell is one of the most viewed moments in WWE history.
--Ken Shamrock became the first face to win the King of the Ring at a PPV since Bret Hart did it at the first one in 1993.
--For the third consecutive year, the first two rounds were held on TV with only the Semi-Finals and Finals occurring on the PPV.
--This is one of the only King of the Ring tournaments to not feature a draw and bye in any of the rounds.
--Mankind and the Undertaker both came down to assist Kane. Mankind got the Stunner, but Taker hit Austin with a Steel Chair. The referee saw blood and called the match in favor of Kane.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 1999[/u]

Sunday, June 27, 1999
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, North Carolina
Attendance: 19,761
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--X-Pac def. Hardcore Holly by DQ in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Kane def. The Big Show in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Mr. Ass def. Ken Shamrock in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Road Dogg Jesse James def. Chyna w/ Triple H in a First Round King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) w/ Michael Hayes def. The Brood (Edge and Christian) w/ Gangrel.

--Mr. Ass def. Kane in a Semi-Final Kig of the Ring Tournament Match.

--X-Pac def. Road Dogg in a Semi-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--The Undertaker def. The Rock to retain the WWE Championship.

--Mr. Ass def. X-Pac in the Tournament Final to become the 1999 King of the Ring.

--Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon def. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Handicap Ladder Match.

Match of the Night: Tie between Taker/Rock, Mr. Ass/X-Pac, and Austin/McMahons

Interesting notes:[/u]
--Stone Cold was the CEO of WWE at the time in storyline, the McMahons won it away from him by beating him in the tournament.
--When Mr. Ass beat Ken Shamrock in the First Round, it was unkown at the time but it was the first time the KOTR winner from one year beat the KOTR winner from the year before.
--There were no draws or byes in this tournament.
--There were Qualification Matches on TV leading up to the PPV.
--This was the first time since 1995 that the Quarter Finals were on TV.
--Vince McMahon has stated that booking Mr. Ass to win the KOTR was one of the biggest mistakes he's ever made.
--Chyna became the first woman to ever participate in the KOTR tournament.
--Ken Shamrock also had to fight a match against Shane McMahon on Heat.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 2000[/u]

Sunday, June 25, 2000
Fleet Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 17,651
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Rikishi def. Chris Benoit by DQ in a Quarter-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Val Venis w/ Trish Stratus def. Eddie Guerrero w/ Chyna in a Quarter-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Crash Holly def. Bull Buchanan in a Quarter-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Kurt Angle def. Chris Jericho in a Quarter-Final King of the Ring Tournament Match.

--Edge and Christian def. Too Cool (Grand Master Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) (c), The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) w/Lita, and T & A (Test and Albert) w/ Trish Stratus in a Four Corners Tag Match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Rikishi def. Val Venis in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Finals Match.

--Kurt Angle def. Crash Holly in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Finals Match.

--Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco fought to a No-Contest in a Hardcore Evening Gown match for Patterson's WWE Hardcore Championship.

--D-Generation X (X-Pac, Road Dogg, and Tori) def. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) in a Handi-Cap Tables and Dumpster Match.

--Kurt Angle def. Rikishi in the Tournament Finals to become the 2000 King of the Ring.

--The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane def. Triple H, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon in a 6 Man Tag Match for the WWE Championship, The Rock won the title.

Match of the Night: Tie between Angle/Jericho and the Main Event.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--With 5 rounds and 32 competitors, this was the largest KOTR tournament of all time, the first two rounds took place on TV, the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Finals took place on PPV.
--The rules for the Main Event were that whoever got the pinfall on the other team became the WWE Champion and Triple H didn't have to be pinned to lose the title.
--The Hardcore Match went to a No-Contest because Crash Holly interfered and pinned Patterson to win the Hardcore Title under the 24/7 rule.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 2001[/u]

Sunday, June 24, 2001
Continental Airlines Arena
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendence: 17,777
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler
"My Muscles Ache, My Mind Is Spent, My Body Is Broken, Lead Me to My Throne"

Matches:[/u]

--Kurt Angle def. Christian in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Edge def. Rhyno in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) def. Spike Dudley and Kane to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Edge def. Kurt Angle in the Tournament Finals to become the 2001 King of the Ring.

--Jeff Hardy def. X-Pac to retain the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship.

--Kurt Angle def. Shane McMahon in a Street Fight.

--Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Angle/Edge, Angle/McMahon, Main Event.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first KOTR since 1998 to have just the Semi-Finals and Finals on the PPV and have the Quarter-Finals on TV.
--16 Superstars were originally entered into this tournament.
--Kurt Angle had three matches as he fought Christian, Edge and Shane McMahon, he went 2-1 on the night.
--Kurt Angle legitimately hurt Shane McMahon in the Street Fight when he suplexed him into the set.

[Mike]

WWE King of the Ring 2002[/u]

Sunday, June 23, 2002
Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 14,200
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), Tazz (SD)

Matches:[/u]

--Rob Van Dam def. Chris Jericho in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman def. Test in a King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match.

--Jamie Noble w/ Nidia def. The Hurricane to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Ric Flair def. Eddie Guerrero.

--Molly Holly def. Trish Stratus to become the WWE Women's Championship.

--Kurt Angle def. Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

--Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Haymen def. Rob Van Dam in the Finals to become the 2002 King of the Ring.

--The Undertaker def. Triple H to retain the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Match of the Night: RVD vs. Jericho

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the last ever KOTR to air on PPV.
--This was the first KOTR of the brand extension.
--The First Round and Quarter-Finals were on TV, the Semi-Finals and Finals on PPV.
--Edge had to forfeit his opportunity in the First Round against Jericho due to a legitimate shoulder injury.
--This was Hulk Hogan's first match at the King of the Ring since 1993.

[Mike]

Winners after it was off PPV:

2003-2005:[/u] No Tournaments

2006:[/u] Booker T. def. Lashley in the Finals.

*The tournament was from April-May 2006 and only contained SD wrestlers. Booker T. adopted a King Booker gimmick following his win.*

2007:[/u] No Tournament

2008:[/u] William Regal def. CM Punk in the Finals

*The Tournament took place all on one night on RAW on April 21, 2008. It contained all 3 brands.*