King of the Ring

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The King of the Ring logo
The King of the Ring logo

King of the Ring is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by World Wrestling Entertainment. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002. From 1993 until 2002, the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event. The tournament however, went into a four year hiatus, until it returned in 2006 as a SmackDown! exclusive tournament. The tournament again went into a hiatus in 2007, but returned as an interpromotional tournament in 2008.

Contents

[edit] History

King of the Ring winners
Year Winner
1985 Don Muraco
1986 Harley Race
1987 Randy Savage
1988 Ted DiBiase
1989 Tito Santana
1991 Bret Hart
1993 Bret Hart
1994 Owen Hart
1995 Mabel
1996 Steve Austin
1997 Hunter Hearst Helmsley
1998 Ken Shamrock
1999 Billy Gunn
2000 Kurt Angle
2001 Edge
2002 Brock Lesnar
2006 Booker T
2008 William Regal

Although the King of the Ring tournament was first made into a pay-per-view event in 1993, the original King of the Ring tournament was actually held in 1985. Don Muraco was the first King of the Ring in 1985. The second King, Harley Race, is noted for parlaying his King of the Ring victory into his "King of Wrestling" gimmick. Other winners who did the same include Randy Savage ("Macho King") though Savage's "King" gimmick was the result of defeating Hacksaw Jim Duggan for the crown in 1989, Owen Hart ("King of Harts"), "King" Mabel, Kurt Angle ("King Kurt"), Edge ("King Edge The Awesome"), Booker T ("King Booker") and most recently William Regal

[edit] Pay-per-view

The King of the Ring main event was an event in which typically fifteen to sixteen wrestlers wrestled in a one-on-one single elimination bracket. When a wrestler wins a match in the bracket, they advance to take on another wrestler that 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.

While some believe that the new King of the Ring traditionally receives a WWF/WWE Championship shot at the SummerSlam pay-per-view, this only became an established rule in 2002, for what would become the final King of the Ring tournament for 4 years until SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long brought it back in 2006. Only four kings went on to challenge for the championship at SummerSlam (Owen Hart, Mabel, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar) and only in Lesnar's case was the challenger granted a title shot as a "right" after winning the King of the Ring. More important than an actual title shot was the prestige of winning the tournament itself; some wrestlers, usually heel wrestlers, have made being king an integral part of their gimmick, and, in general, the winner of the King of the Ring is a wrestler whom management has picked to advance in the storylines and be the next breakout star. In fact, Steve Austin's famous "Austin 3:16" saying started during a speech made after he won the KOTR. A number of wrestlers have had huge successes after winning the tournament (in particular Steve Austin, but also Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Edge, Triple H, and others), while some wrestlers have admittedly been "flops" as king (such as Mabel and Billy Gunn), and continued to be treated as lower card wrestlers after winning the tournament, even though Gunn went on to win the Intercontinental Championship a year later.

The PPV also was considered the fifth major WWF PPV (alongside the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series) as it was one of their only annual events. It was discontinued after 2002.

[edit] Revival

It was announced in April 2006 that the King of the Ring tournament would be returning in 2006 after its four year hiatus. The 2006 tournament was the first tournament since 1991 that had not been shown on its own pay-per-view. The 2006 tournament was won by Booker T, who faced Bobby Lashley in the finals at the Judgment Day pay-per-view event. After a brief hiatus in 2007, it was announced on the April 14, 2008 edition of Raw, that the tournament would be held the following week on a special three hour edition of Raw.[1]

[edit] King of the Ring pay-per-view event dates and venues

Event Date City Venue
King of the Ring (1993) June 13, 1993 Dayton, Ohio Nutter Center
King of the Ring (1994) June 19, 1994 Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Arena
King of the Ring (1995) June 25, 1995 The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
King of the Ring (1996) June 23, 1996 Milwaukee, Wisconsin MECCA Arena
King of the Ring (1997) June 8, 1997 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
King of the Ring (1998) June 28, 1998 Pittsburgh Civic Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
King of the Ring (1999) June 27, 1999 Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum
King of the Ring (2000) June 25, 2000 Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter
King of the Ring (2001) June 24, 2001 East Rutherford, New Jersey Continental Airlines Arena
King of the Ring (2002) June 23, 2002 Columbus, Ohio Nationwide Arena

[edit] Event results

[edit] 1985

The tournament was held on July 8, 1985 at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 Don Muraco    
 Junkyard Dog    
   Don Muraco    
 
   Les Thornton    
 Les Thornton  
 Steve Lombardi    
   Don Muraco    
   Pedro Morales    
 Paul Orndorff DDQ  
 Bob Orton, Jr. DDQ  
   BYE  
 
   Pedro Morales    
 Pedro Morales  
 Johnny V    
   Don Muraco  
   The Iron Sheik  
 Tito Santana    
 Terry Funk    
   Tito Santana Coin Toss
 
   Jim Brunzell    
 Jim Brunzell  
 The Spoiler    
   Tito Santana  
   The Iron Sheik    
 Ricky Steamboat    
 Greg Valentine    
   Ricky Steamboat  
 
   The Iron Sheik    
 Iron Sheik  
 B. Brian Blair    

[edit] 1986

The tournament was held on July 14, 1986 at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
   
   Mr. X2    
     Billy Jack Haynes    
 Billy Jack Haynes  
 Iron Sheik    
   Billy Jack Haynes    
   Harley Race    
 Harley Race    
 George Steele    
   Harley Race  
     BYE    
 Don Muraco Draw
 Roddy Piper Draw  
   Harley Race  
   Pedro Morales  
 Nikolai Volkoff    
 Dan Spivey    
   Nikolai Volkoff  
     The Junkyard Dog    
 Junkyard Dog  
 Paul Orndorff    
   Nikolai Volkoff  
   Pedro Morales    
 Pedro Morales    
 Rudy Diamond1    
   Pedro Morales  
     Mike Rotundo    
 

1. ^  Rudy Diamond was a substitute for Bob Orton.
2. ^  Mr. X was a substitute for Hercules Hernandez.

[edit] 1987

The tournament was held on September 4, 1987 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 Haku    
 Brutus Beefcake    
   Haku Draw  
 
   Rick Martel Draw  
 Rick Martel  
 Dan Spivey    
   BYE    
   King Kong Bundy    
 King Kong Bundy CO  
 One Man Gang    
   King Kong Bundy  
 
   Special Delivery Jones    
 Special Delivery Jones  
 Sika    
   King Kong Bundy  
   Randy Savage  
 Danny Davis CO  
 Tito Santana    
   Danny Davis  
 
   The Junkyard Dog    
 Junkyard Dog  
 Tama    
   Danny Davis  
   Randy Savage    
 Jim Brunzell    
 Ron Bass    
   Jim Brunzell  
 
   Randy Savage    
 Randy Savage  
 Nikolai Volkoff    

[edit] 1988

The tournament was held on October 16, 1988 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 Ken Patera Pin  
 Nikolai Volkoff 10:20  
   Ken Patera Pin  
 
   Ted DiBiase 5:42  
 Brutus Beefcake Pin
 Ted DiBiase 7:32  
   Ted DiBiase Forfeit  
   Ron Bass 2  
 The Barbarian DQ  
 Ron Bass 7:02  
   Ron Bass Pin
 
   Shawn Michaels 7:39  
 Danny Davis Pin
 Shawn Michaels 3:37  
   Ted DiBiase CO
   Randy Savage 6:11
 Bad News Brown DCO  
 Hercules 6:05  
   BYE  
 
   Randy Savage    
 Randy Savage Pin
 Virgil 5:43  
   Randy Savage Pin
   The Red Rooster 7:21  
 Marty Jannetty Pin  
 The Red Rooster 11:00  
   The Red Rooster Sub
 
   Iron Mike Sharpe 3:27  
 Mike Sharpe1 Pin
 Boris Zhukov 6:27  

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

[edit] 1989

The tournament was held on October 14, 1989 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 Akeem    
 Brutus Beefcake    
   Akeem    
 
   BYE    
 Hercules DDQ
 Jim Neidhart DDQ  
   Akeem    
   Tito Santana    
 The Warlord    
 Bushwhacker Butch    
   The Warlord  
 
   Tito Santana    
 Tito Santana  
 Bad News Brown    
   Tito Santana  
   Rick Martel  
 Rick Martel    
 Bill Woods1    
   Rick Martel  
 
   Bushwhacker Luke    
 Bushwhacker Luke  
 Nikolai Volkoff    
   Rick Martel  
   Jimmy Snuka    
 Jimmy Snuka    
 The Barbarian    
   Jimmy Snuka  
 
   Haku    
 Haku  
 The Red Rooster    

1. ^  Bill Woods substituted for Barry Windham.

[edit] 1991

The tournament was held on September 7, 1991 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 Hawk DQ  
 Jerry Sags 3:02  
   Jerry Sags    
 
   BYE    
 Ricky Steamboat Draw
 Ted DiBiase 15:00  
   Jerry Sags Pin  
   Irwin R. Schyster 1:22  
 Jim Duggan Pin  
 Brian Knobbs 5:04  
   Jim Duggan Pin
 
   Irwin R. Schyster 3:16  
 The Berzerker CO
 Irwin R. Schyster 2:51  
   Irwin R. Schyster Pin
   Bret Hart 10:00
 Pete Doherty1 Sub  
 Bret Hart 0:33  
   Bret Hart Sub
 
   Skinner 4:47  
 Skinner Pin
 Virgil 5:02  
   Bret Hart  
   BYE    
 Sid Justice Pin  
 The Warlord 3:23  
   The Undertaker DDQ
 
   Sid Justice 4:08  
 Animal Pin
 The Undertaker 3:40  

1. ^  Pete Doherty substituted for Kerry Von Erich.

[edit] 1993

King of the Ring (1993)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 13, 1993
Venue Nutter Center
City Dayton, Ohio
Attendance 6,500
Pay-per-view chronology
WrestleMania IX King of the Ring (1993) SummerSlam (1993)
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (1991) King of the Ring (1993) King of the Ring (1994)

King of the Ring (1993) took place on June 13, 1993 at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between May 1 and June 13, 1993. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(PPV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                                     
 Bret Hart    
 BYE1    
   Bret Hart Pin  
 
   Razor Ramon 10:28  
 Razor Ramon Pin
 Tito Santana 3:21  
   Bret Hart Pin  
   Mr. Perfect 18:57  
 Mr. Perfect2 Pin  
 Doink the Clown 11:30  
   Mr. Perfect DQ
 
   Mr. Hughes 6:02  
 Kamala COR
 Mr. Hughes 2:45  
   Bret Hart Pin
   Bam Bam Bigelow 18:20
 Jim Duggan Pin  
 Papa Shango    
   Jim Duggan Pin
 
   Bam Bam Bigelow 5:00  
 Bam Bam Bigelow Pin
 Typhoon 5:08  
   Bam Bam Bigelow  
   BYE    
 Bob Backlund CO  
 Lex Luger 4:53  
   Lex Luger Draw
 
   Tatanka 15:00  
 Tatanka DQ
 Giant Gonzales 2:59  

1. ^  Bret Hart received a bye due to his status as former WWF World Heavyweight Champion.

2. ^  Mr. Perfect and Doink The Clown battled to a Ten Minute Time Limit Draw in the first King of the Ring Qualifying Match on WWF Superstars on 5/1/93. Mr. Perfect and Doink The Clown wrestled again to a Ten Minute Limit Draw on WWF Wrestling Challenge on 5/15/93. The two battled for the final berth on WWF Monday Night RAW 5/24/93 in a match where there was no time limit.

3. Shawn Michaels and Crush wrestled to a double countout on an episode of WWF Superstars to both get eliminated from the tournament. [1]

[edit] 1994

[edit] 1995

[edit] 1996

King of the Ring (1996)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 23, 1996
Venue MECCA Arena
City Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance 8,762
Pay-per-view chronology
In Your House 8 King of the Ring (1996) In Your House 9
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (1995) King of the Ring (1996) King of the Ring (1997)

King of the Ring (1996) took place on June 23, 1996 from the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tagline was "To Battle Is Honor...to Win Is Hell!."

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between May 27 and June 23, 1996 (the entire first two rounds were actually done on May 27 and 28, two of the three quarterfinal matches actually occurred before the first round was completed). The tournament brackets were:

  First Round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(TV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                                     
 Ahmed Johnson Pin  
 Vader 11:32  
   Vader    
 
   BYE    
 Goldust DCO
 Ultimate Warrior 15:20  
   Vader DQ  
   Jake Roberts 3:34  
 Hunter Hearst Helmsley Pin  
 Jake Roberts 9:34  
   Jake Roberts Pin
 
   Justin Bradshaw 6:15  
 Justin Bradshaw Pin
 Henry Godwinn 7:39  
   Jake Roberts Pin
   Steve Austin 4:28
 Steve Austin Sub  
 Bob Holly 9:34  
   Steve Austin Pin
 
   Savio Vega 8:10  
 Marty Jannetty Pin
 Savio Vega 7:25  
   Steve Austin Pin
   Marc Mero 16:49  
 Marc Mero Pin  
 Skip 10:28 TV Time  
   Marc Mero Pin
 
   Owen Hart 9:43  
 Owen Hart Pin
 Yokozuna 3:58  

[edit] 1997

King of the Ring (1997)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 8, 1997
Venue Providence Civic Center
City Providence, Rhode Island
Attendance 9,312
Pay-per-view chronology
In Your House 15 King of the Ring (1997) In Your House 16
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (1996) King of the Ring (1997) King of the Ring (1998)

King of the Ring (1997) took place on June 8, 1997 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The tagline was "It's Bound to Get Medieval. Brace Yourself."

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament was held between May 12 and June 8, 1997. The tournament brackets were:

  Quarterfinals
(TV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                           
   Ahmed Johnson DQ  
 Hunter Hearst Helmsley 3:25  
     Ahmed Johnson Pin  
     Hunter Hearst Helmsley 7:42  
 Hunter Hearst Helmsley1 Pin
   Crush 18:56  
       Hunter Hearst Helmsley Pin
     Mankind 19:28
   Goldust Pin  
 Jerry Lawler 11:55  
     Jerry Lawler Sub
     Mankind 10:24  
 Mankind Pin
   Savio Vega 14:35  

1. ^  Helmsley was allowed another spot in the tournament because he pulled a job to Mable prior to his match with Ahmed Johnson the previous week that he could be eliminated via disqualification and thus threatened the WWF with legal action; Vader was originally in this spot but was injured in his No Holds Barred match with Ken Shamrock at In Your House: A Cold Day in Hell on May 11.

[edit] 1998

[edit] 1999

King of the Ring (1999)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 27, 1999
Venue Greensboro Coliseum
City Greensboro, North Carolina
Attendance 19,761
Pay-per-view chronology
Over the Edge (1999) King of the Ring (1999) Fully Loaded (1999)
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (1998) King of the Ring (1999) King of the Ring (2000)

King of the Ring (1999) took place on June 27, 1999 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between May 25 and June 27, 1999. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(PPV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                                     
 Mr. Ass Pin  
 Viscera 2:05  
     Mr. Ass Ref Stop  
 
     Ken Shamrock 3:37  
 Ken Shamrock Sub
 Jeff Jarrett 2:55  
     Mr. Ass Pin  
     Kane 5:25  
 Droz Pin  
 The Big Show 0:59  
     Big Show Pin
 
     Kane 6:36  
 Test Pin
 Kane 3:05  
     Mr. Ass Pin
     X-Pac 5:33
 Road Dogg Pin  
 The Godfather 1:02  
     Road Dogg Pin
 
     Chyna 13:19  
 Chyna Pin
 Val Venis 2:14  
     Road Dogg Pin
     X-Pac 3:08  
 Al Snow Pin  
 Hardcore Holly 1:24  
     Hardcore Holly DQ
 
     X-Pac 3:02  
 The Big Boss Man Pin
 X-Pac 2:37  

[edit] 2000

King of the Ring (2000)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 25, 2000
Venue FleetCenter
City Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance 15,388
Pay-per-view chronology
Judgment Day (2000) King of the Ring (2000) Fully Loaded (2000)
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (1999) King of the Ring (2000) King of the Ring (2001)

King of the Ring (2000) took place on June 25, 2000 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. Currently this is the largest KOTR with 32 competitors taking part.

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between May 29 and June 25, 2000.

  First round
(TV)
Second round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(PPV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Finals
(PPV)
                                               
 Kurt Angle Pin  
 Bradshaw 2:48  
     Kurt Angle Pin  
     Bubba Ray Dudley 4:42  
 Bubba Ray Dudley Pin
 Big Bossman 3:26  
     Kurt Angle Pin  
     Chris Jericho 9:50  
 Chris Jericho Pin  
 Test 4:15  
     Chris Jericho Sub
     Edge 5:30  
 Edge Pin
 Grand Master Sexay 5:12  
     Kurt Angle Pin  
     Crash Holly 3:58  
 Crash Holly Pin  
 Prince Albert 1:26  
     Crash Holly DQ
     Hardcore Holly 4:17  
 Hardcore Holly Pin
 Faarooq 3:04  
     Crash Holly Pin
     Bull Buchanan 4:07  
 Bull Buchanan Pin  
 Steve Blackman 3:22  
     Bull Buchanan Pin
     Perry Saturn 2:03  
 Perry Saturn Pin
 D-Von Dudley 4:43  
   Kurt Angle Pin
   Rikishi 5:56
 Rikishi DQ  
 Shane McMahon 2:35  
     Rikishi Pin  
     Scotty 2 Hotty 2:53  
 Scotty 2 Hotty Pin
 D'Lo Brown 3:38  
     Rikishi DQ  
     Chris Benoit 3:25  
 Chris Benoit Pin  
 Road Dogg 1:43  
     Chris Benoit Sub
     X-Pac 4:53  
 X-Pac Pin
 Dean Malenko 2:01  
     Rikishi Pin
     Val Venis 3:15  
 Val Venis Pin  
 Al Snow 4:31  
     Val Venis Pin
     Jeff Hardy 3:56  
 Jeff Hardy Pin
 Christian 1:59  
     Val Venis Pin
     Eddie Guerrero 8:04  
 Eddie Guerrero Pin  
 Matt Hardy 4:11  
     Eddie Guerrero Pin
     Chyna 2:25  
 Chyna Pin
 The Godfather 1:44  

[edit] 2001

King of the Ring (2001)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date June 24, 2001
Venue Continental Airlines Arena
City East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance 17,777
Pay-per-view chronology
Judgment Day (2001) King of the Ring (2001) InVasion
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (2000) King of the Ring (2001) King of the Ring (2002)

King of the Ring (2001) took place on June 24, 2001 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The tagline was "My Muscles Ache, My Mind Is Spent, My Body Is Broken, Lead Me to My Throne."

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between June 4 and June 24, 2001. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(TV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                                     
 Kurt Angle Pin  
 Hardcore Holly 6:21  
     Kurt Angle Sub  
 
     Jeff Hardy 3:19  
 Jeff Hardy Pin
 Matt Hardy 3:57  
     Kurt Angle Pin  
     Christian 8:17  
 Christian Pin  
 Kane 2:14  
     Christian Pin
 
     Big Show 2:19  
 The Big Show Pin
 Raven 1:35  
     Kurt Angle 10:21
     Edge Pin
 Edge Pin  
 Test 5:52  
     Edge Pin
 
     Perry Saturn 3:49  
 Steve Blackman Pin
 Perry Saturn 2:05  
     Edge Pin
     Rhyno 8:52  
 Crash Holly Pin  
 Tajiri 3:08  
     Tajiri Pin
 
     Rhyno 2:52  
 Rhyno Pin
 Tazz 3:20  

[edit] 2002

King of the Ring (2002)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand (s) RAW
SmackDown!
Date June 23, 2002
Venue Nationwide Arena
City Columbus, Ohio
Attendance 14,200
Pay-per-view chronology
Judgment Day (2002) King of the Ring (2002) Vengeance (2002)
King of the Ring chronology
King of the Ring (2001) King of the Ring (2002) King of the Ring (2006)

King of the Ring (2002) took place on June 23, 2002 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The official theme song was "Ride Of Your Life" by Neurotica

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

The tournament took place between June 3 and June 23, 2002. The tournament brackets were:

  First Round
(TV)
Quarterfinals
(TV)
Semifinals
(PPV)
Final
(PPV)
                                     
 Brock Lesnar Pin  
 Bubba Ray Dudley 4:49  
     Brock Lesnar Pin  
 
     Booker T 3:22  
 Booker T Pin
 William Regal 3:26  
     Brock Lesnar Pin  
     Test 8:18  
 Hardcore Holly Pin  
 Tajiri    
     Hardcore Holly Pin
 
     Test    
 The Hurricane Pin
 Test    
     Brock Lesnar Pin
     Rob Van Dam 5:42
 Chris Jericho Forf1  
 Edge    
     Chris Jericho Sub
 
     Val Venis    
 Christian Pin
 Val Venis 3:22  
     Chris Jericho 14:32
     Rob Van Dam Pin  
 X-Pac Pin  
 Goldust 3:26  
     X-Pac Pin
 
     Rob Van Dam 6:00  
 Eddie Guerrero Pin
 Rob Van Dam 9:38  

1. ^  Edge forfeited his match to Chris Jericho due to a shoulder injury.

[edit] 2006

The tournament took place between April 21st and May 21st 2006. The tournament brackets were[3]

  Quarterfinals
(TV - SmackDown!)
Semifinals
(TV - SmackDown!)
Final
(PPV - Judgment Day)
                           
   Kurt Angle Sub  
 Randy Orton 8:13  
     Kurt Angle Inj1  
     Booker T Bye  
 Matt Hardy 15:03
   Booker T Pin  
       Booker T Pin
     Lashley 9:15
   Chris Benoit Pin  
 Finlay 22:30  
     Finlay 13:30
     Lashley Pin  
 Bobby Lashley CO
   Mark Henry 5:02  
  • All wrestlers involved in the tournament were from SmackDown!.

[edit] 2008

The tournament took place April 21st on Raw from the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The tournament brackets were:[4][5]

  Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                           
  RAW  Chris Jericho Sub  
SD!  Montel Vontavious Porter 5:05  
     Chris Jericho 6:21  
     CM Punk Pin  
ECW  CM Punk Pin
  SD!  Matt Hardy 3:45  
       CM Punk 4:03
     William Regal Sub
  SD!  The Great Khali 1:59  
SD!  Finlay DQ  
     Finlay 3:37
     William Regal KO  
RAW  William Regal Sub
  SD!  Hornswoggle 0:19  

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vermillion, James (2008-04-14). Return of the King. World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  2. ^ Crush and Shawn Michaels fought to a Double Count-Out on WWF Superstars 5/22/93 in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match. Michaels had lost the WWF Intercontinental Championship just five days earlier. Crush petitioned WWF President Jack Tunney over the decision, stating that Michaels purposely cost both men a berth into the WWF King of the Ring 1993 Tournament. Crush was later awarded a WWF Intercontinental Championship Title Match with Michaels at the King of the Ring PPV.
  3. ^ WWE King of the Ring 2006 Bracket. Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  4. ^ King of the Ring 2008 Bracket. WWE (2008-04-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  5. ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-04-21). The Reign of Regal Begins. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.

[edit] External links