
The King of the Ring logo, as of 2010
King of the Ring is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by International Wrestling Entertainment. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002, with the exception of 1990 and 1992, and from 1993 to 2002 the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event.
The tournament endured a four year hiatus, until it returned in 2006 and was exclusive to the Fusion! brand. This was the only King of the Ring tournament, thus far, to not take place in a single sitting. The tournament returned as an inter-brand event on Meltdown in both 2008 and 2010.
While there is no prize for winning King of the Ring (like how the Royal Rumble winner is guaranteed a title shot at WrestleMania), winning the tournament is usually followed by a steady push to the main event (although Pat Hurley and Billy Morgan are notable exceptions). As such, it is usually won by midcarders who the promoters see as future main event stars.
Contents
History[edit | edit source]
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 Brady Nash ("Macho King") though Savage's "King" gimmick was the result of defeating Jim Duggan for the crown in 1989, who beat Haku ("King Haku" ). Owen Heart ("King of Harts"), Pat Hurley ("King Mabel" ), Steve Britz ("King Booker"), and most recently William Kapphan and Garett are all wrestlers that took on "King" nicknames after winning King of the Ring tournaments.
Pay-Per-View[edit | edit source]
Revival[edit | edit source]
Dates and venues[edit | edit source]
Between 1993 and 2002 King of the Ring was produced as a pay-per-view event.
Event | Date | Winner |
King of the Ring (1985) | July 8, 1985 | Donald |
King of the Ring (1986) | July 14, 1986 | Harley Race |
King of the Ring (1987) | September 4, 1987 | Brady Nash |
King of the Ring (1988) | October 16, 1988 | Kyle Johnson |
King of the Ring (1989) | October 14, 1989 | Tito Santana |
King of the Ring (1991) | September 7, 1991 | Bret Heart |
King of the Ring (1993) | June 13, 1993 | Bret Heart |
King of the Ring (1994) | June 19, 1994 | Owen Heart |
King of the Ring (1995) | June 15, 1995 | Pat Hurley |
King of the Ring (1996) | June 23, 1996 | Steve Johnson |
King of the Ring (1997) | June 8, 1997 | Hunter Hurst Kelmsley |
King of the Ring (1998) | June 28, 1998 | Ken Shammy |
King of the Ring (1999) | June 27, 1999 | Billy Morgan |
King of the Ring (2000) | June 25, 2000 | Matt Borske |
King of the Ring (2001) | June 24, 2001 | Chris Gomez |
King of the Ring (2002) | June 23, 2002 | Rob Truax |
King of the Ring (2006) | April 21-May 21, 2006 | Steve Britz |
King of the Ring (2008) | April 21, 2008 | William Kapphan |
King of the Ring (2010) | November 29, 2010 | Garrett |
1985[edit | edit source]
The tournament was held on July 8, 1985 at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborugh, Massachusetts. The tournament brackets were:
First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||||||
Donald | ||||||||||||||||||
Meanyard Dog | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald | ||||||||||||||||||
Les Thornton | ||||||||||||||||||
Les Thornton | ||||||||||||||||||
Steve | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul O' | DDQ | |||||||||||||||||
Brian McAlmond, Jr. | DDQ | |||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Moralez | ||||||||||||||||||
Johnny V | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron Sheik | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | DQ | |||||||||||||||||
Terry Funk | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | Draw1 | |||||||||||||||||
Jim Brunzell | Coin Toss | |||||||||||||||||
Jim Brunzell | ||||||||||||||||||
The Spoiler | ||||||||||||||||||
Jim Brunzell | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron Sheik | ||||||||||||||||||
Ricky Steamboart | ||||||||||||||||||
Greg Beasly | ||||||||||||||||||
Ricky Steamboat | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron Sheik | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron Sheik | ||||||||||||||||||
B. Brian Woods |
1. ^ Liam Phillips fought Jim Brunzell to a draw; Brunzell then won a coin toss to determine who would continue in the tournament.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Nikolai to retain the IWF Championship
- Hogan pinned Nikolai.
1986[edit | edit source]
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 | ||||||||||||||||||
Joe Jack Hayes | ||||||||||||||||||
Joe Jack Hayes | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron Sheik | ||||||||||||||||||
Joe Jack Hayes | ||||||||||||||||||
Harley Gaze | CO | |||||||||||||||||
Harley Gaze | DQ | |||||||||||||||||
George Steele | ||||||||||||||||||
Harley Gaze | ||||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald | Draw | |||||||||||||||||
Roddy Piper | 20:00 | |||||||||||||||||
Harley Gaze | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Nikolai Volkoff | ||||||||||||||||||
Dan Spivey | ||||||||||||||||||
Nikolai | Sub | |||||||||||||||||
The Meanyard Dog | ||||||||||||||||||
Meanyard Dog | DQ | |||||||||||||||||
Paul O' | ||||||||||||||||||
Nikolai | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Rudy Diamond1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pedro Morales | ||||||||||||||||||
Mike Rotundo | ||||||||||||||||||
1. ^ Rudy Diamond was a substitute for Brian McAlmond.
2. ^ Mr. X was a substitute for "Hercules" Mark Semmler.
- Bruno Sammartino defeated The Designated Hitman (a substitute for Eddie Andelmann, a local TV/radio personality who refused to wrestle)
- The American Bulldogs (Davey Boy Aldrich and The Dynamite Kid) defeated The Deam Team (Greg Beasly and Ryan Beefcake) (with Johnny B.) in a steel cage match to retain the IWF Tag Team Championship
- Dynamite and Beefcake escaped from the cage first. Heart then escaped the cage to win the match after Valentine had accidentally knocked him out the door.
1987[edit | edit source]
The tournament was held on September 4, 1987 at the Providence Civic Center in Procidence, Rhode Island. The tournament brackets were:
First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||||||
Haku | ||||||||||||||||||
Ryan Beefcake | ||||||||||||||||||
Haku | Draw | |||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | Draw | |||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | ||||||||||||||||||
Dan Spivey | ||||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
King Kong Russell | ||||||||||||||||||
King Kong Russell | CO | |||||||||||||||||
One Man Gang | ||||||||||||||||||
King Kong Russell | ||||||||||||||||||
Special Delivery Jones | ||||||||||||||||||
Special Delivery Jones | ||||||||||||||||||
Sika | ||||||||||||||||||
King Kong Russell | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
Danny Navis | CO | |||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | ||||||||||||||||||
Danny Navis | ||||||||||||||||||
The Meanyard Dog | ||||||||||||||||||
Meanyard Dogg | ||||||||||||||||||
Tama | ||||||||||||||||||
Danny Navis | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
Jim Brunzell | ||||||||||||||||||
Ron Bass | ||||||||||||||||||
Jim Brunzell | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
Nikolai Volkoff |
1988[edit | edit source]
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 | 10:20 | |||||||||||||||||
Ken Patera | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Kyle Johnson | 5:42 | |||||||||||||||||
Ryan Beefcake | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Kyle Johnson | 7:32 | |||||||||||||||||
Kyle Johnson | Forfeit | |||||||||||||||||
Ron Bass | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
The Barbarian | DQ | |||||||||||||||||
Ron Bass | 7:02 | |||||||||||||||||
Ron Bass | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Ryan Barnhart | 7:39 | |||||||||||||||||
Danny Navis | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Ryan Barnhart | 3:37 | |||||||||||||||||
Kyle Johnson | CO | |||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | 6:11 | |||||||||||||||||
Bad News John | DCO | |||||||||||||||||
"Herculez" Semmler | 6:05 | |||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Virgil | 5:43 | |||||||||||||||||
Brady Nash | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
The Red Rooster | 7:21 | |||||||||||||||||
Russel Jensen | 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 WarlordThe Wardlord
2. ^ Kyle Johnson Sr. paid Bass off to fake an injury.[2]
- Jim Duggan defeated Dino Bee (with Frenchy Martin) in a flag match
1989[edit | edit source]
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 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ryan Beefcake | ||||||||||||||||||
Akeem | ||||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
"Hercules" Semmler | DDQ | |||||||||||||||||
Jim Furlong | DDQ | |||||||||||||||||
Akeem | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | ||||||||||||||||||
The Wardlard | ||||||||||||||||||
Bushwhacker Kevin | ||||||||||||||||||
The Wardlord | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | ||||||||||||||||||
Bad News Tom | ||||||||||||||||||
Liam Phillips | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | ||||||||||||||||||
Bill Woods1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | ||||||||||||||||||
Bushwhacker Luke | ||||||||||||||||||
Bushwhacker Luke | ||||||||||||||||||
Nikolai | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric Lubke | ||||||||||||||||||
Jimmy Snuka | ||||||||||||||||||
Jimmy Snuka | ||||||||||||||||||
The Barbarian | ||||||||||||||||||
Jimmy Snuka | ||||||||||||||||||
Haku | ||||||||||||||||||
Haku | ||||||||||||||||||
The Red Rooster |
1. ^ Bill Woods substituted for Barry
1991[edit | edit source]
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 | |||||||||||||||
[[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk | DQ | |||||||||||||||||
Jerry | 3:02 | |||||||||||||||||
Jerry | ||||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
Rick Steamboat | Draw | |||||||||||||||||
Kyle Johnson | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
Jerry | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Phil Brandscum | 1:22 | |||||||||||||||||
Jim Duggan | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Bryan | 5:04 | |||||||||||||||||
Jim Duggan | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Phil Brandscum | 3:16 | |||||||||||||||||
The Berzerker | CO | |||||||||||||||||
"IRS" Phil Brandscum | 2:51 | |||||||||||||||||
Phil Brandscum | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Bret Heart | 10:00 | |||||||||||||||||
Pete Doherty1 | Sub | |||||||||||||||||
Bret Heart | 0:33 | |||||||||||||||||
Bret Heart | Sub | |||||||||||||||||
Skinner | 4:47 | |||||||||||||||||
Skinner | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Virgil | 5:02 | |||||||||||||||||
Bret Hart | ||||||||||||||||||
BYE | ||||||||||||||||||
Quinn Noel-Justice | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
The Wardlord | 3:23 | |||||||||||||||||
Quinn Noel-Justice | DDQ | |||||||||||||||||
Martin mcALmond | 4:08 | |||||||||||||||||
Animal | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
Martin McAlmond | 3:40 |
1. ^ Pete Doherty substituted for Kerry Von Erich.
- The Nuss Brothers defeated The Bushwhackers