King of the Ring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King of the Ring |
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The King of the Ring logo
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| Information | |
| Promotion(s) | WWE |
| First event | King of the Ring (1985) |
| Last event | King of the Ring (2015) |
The King of the Ring is a special wrestling competition held by WWE. It's a single-elimination tournament, which means wrestlers compete one-on-one. If you lose, you're out! The last wrestler standing wins the title of "King of the Ring."
This exciting tournament happened every year from 1985 to 2002. There were only two years it didn't take place: 1990 and 1992. From 1993 to 2002, fans could watch the tournament live as a special pay-per-view event. In 2003, another event called Bad Blood took its place.
The King of the Ring tournament then took a break for four years. It came back in 2006, but only for the SmackDown brand. Later, it became a competition for both SmackDown and Raw wrestlers. This happened in 2008, 2010, and 2015. WWE even released a DVD in 2011 with the best moments from King of the Ring.
What is the King of the Ring Tournament?
The King of the Ring is a unique event in professional wrestling. It's different from regular matches. Instead of just one match, it's a series of matches. Wrestlers face off in a bracket, similar to a sports playoff. Each winner moves on to the next round.
The goal is to be the last wrestler left. The winner gets to be called "King of the Ring." This title often comes with a special crown and cape. It also helps a wrestler become more famous. Winning can lead to bigger opportunities in WWE.
History of the King of the Ring
The King of the Ring tournament has a long history. It started in 1985 as a non-televised event. This means fans in the arena could watch it, but it wasn't shown on TV. These early tournaments helped build excitement.
In 1993, the tournament became a big pay-per-view event. This allowed many more fans to watch it from home. It was a major event on the WWE calendar for many years. Famous wrestlers like Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin won during this time.
After 2002, the tournament stopped being an annual pay-per-view. It returned a few times as a special event. These later tournaments were sometimes held on TV shows like Raw or SmackDown. They continued the tradition of crowning a new "King."
List of King of the Ring Winners
Many great wrestlers have won the King of the Ring tournament. Each winner earned their spot through tough competition. Here is a list of all the wrestlers who have been crowned King of the Ring:
| Year | Winner | Times won | Date | Runner-up |
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| 1985 | Don Muraco | 1 | July 8, 1985 | The Iron Sheik |
| 1986 | Harley Race | 1 | July 14, 1986 | Pedro Morales |
| 1987 | Randy Savage | 1 | September 4, 1987 | King Kong Bundy |
| 1988 | Ted DiBiase | 1 | October 16, 1988 | Randy Savage |
| 1989 | Tito Santana | 1 | October 14, 1989 | Rick Martel |
| 1991 | Bret Hart | 1 | September 7, 1991 | Irwin R. Schyster |
| 1993 | 2 | June 13, 1993 | Bam Bam Bigelow | |
| 1994 | Owen Hart | 1 | June 19, 1994 | Razor Ramon |
| 1995 | Mabel | 1 | June 25, 1995 | Savio Vega |
| 1996 | Stone Cold Steve Austin | 1 | June 23, 1996 | Jake Roberts |
| 1997 | Hunter Hearst Helmsley | 1 | June 8, 1997 | Mankind |
| 1998 | Ken Shamrock | 1 | June 28, 1998 | The Rock |
| 1999 | Billy Gunn | 1 | June 27, 1999 | X-Pac |
| 2000 | Kurt Angle | 1 | June 25, 2000 | Rikishi |
| 2001 | Edge | 1 | June 24, 2001 | Kurt Angle |
| 2002 | Brock Lesnar | 1 | June 23, 2002 | Rob Van Dam |
| 2006 | Booker T | 1 | May 21, 2006 | Bobby Lashley |
| 2008 | William Regal | 1 | April 21, 2008 | CM Punk |
| 2010 | Sheamus | 1 | November 29, 2010 | John Morrison |
| 2015 | Bad News Barrett | 1 | April 28, 2015 | Neville |
