Absent from WWE programming since 2015 and inconsistent since 2001, the King of the Ring tournament was once a staple in WWE programming. WWE has successfully used the King of the Ring tournament to push emerging superstars several times over the years, with only a few winners failing to find success after their victory.
With the 2019 King of the Ring tournament stage set, it will be interesting to see which superstar emerges from the ranks, and what turns their career will take following victory. Here we will examine the five best King of the Ring winners, and look at five superstars in 2019 who could potentially emulate their success.
10 Best King Of The Ring: Brock Lesnar (2002)
Brock Lesnar has dominated the WWE during each of his runs with the company. Originally debuting in March of 2002, Lesnar would win his first WWE Championship just 126 days into his tenure.
On the road to this achievement, Lesnar won the 2002 King of the Ring tournament just three months after his debut. This stepping stone would be the enabler which earned Lesnar a shot at the aforementioned title.
While Lesnar didn’t alter his gimmick to reflect the title of King of the Ring, or overly represent this milestone, it was a great way to rationalize his on-screen success given his short time with the company.
9 Could Win In 2019: Ricochet
Since his debut in February 2019, Ricochet has hit the main roster like a bullet. Fans have flocked to his high flying style, and he has created some truly memorable matches alongside Finn Balor, Aleister Black, AJ Styles, and more.
Ricochet’s rise has been reminiscent of the one Brock Lesnar saw in 2002. While Ricochet has a more extensive background prior to the WWE, he has certainly jumped into prominence during his short stint with the WWE. A win in the King of the Ring tournament could only further that success and see Ricochet reach true main event status.
8 Best King Of The Ring: Triple H (1997)
Triple H was already a major player on the WWE midcard by 1997, having already held the Intercontinental Championship for four months to close out 1996. Initially planned to have won the tournament in 1996, his association with “The Kliq” and the infamous “Curtain Call” incident would see his victory delayed for one year.
While Triple H would play very little off of his King of the Ring victory, this moment would mark the beginning of his push back into the spotlight. The months which followed would see Triple H form D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels and dominate the main event scene. Triple H would later use this victory as a basis for his “King of Kings” moniker from 2006 on.
7 Could Win In 2019: Drew McIntyre
Easily a favorite to win this year’s tournament, Drew McIntyre is already on the cusp of the main event scene in WWE. A victory here could see Drew follow similar lines of success as predecessors like Triple H following their King of the Ring victory, dominating storylines on the main event scene and eventually translating that push into championship gold.
Following the work Drew has done with Shane McMahon, this could be a great direction for his character. The only factor holding him back is that Drew doesn’t necessarily need the King of the Ring title to move into his inevitable main event role.
6 Best King Of The Ring: Booker T (2006)
By 2006, Booker T’s character had begun to feel a bit stale. Always a successful competitor, many of Booker T’s biggest accomplishments predated his run with WWE, having held championship gold in WCW a record 21 times.
Besides winning the World Heavyweight Championship two months later, the “King Booker” character that Booker T adopted would prove to be a very refreshing change for his character. While not to everyone’s taste, Booker successfully twisted his King of the Ring title into a very solid heel run, complete with “King Booker’s Court”
5 Could Win In 2019: Sami Zayn
Everyone loves an underdog story. Since his return in April of 2019, Sami Zayn has failed to find any significant success in singles competition. While certainly the least likely winner given his current booking, Sami could really cash in on the underdog image he has built over the past few months with a win here.
Given what we’ve seen in the past from superstars like Booker T and Wade Barrett, a King of the Ring victory could give Sami a strong angle to work as a heel, which his character is currently sorely lacking.
4 Best King Of The Ring: Randy Savage (1987)
“Macho Man” Randy Savage is one of the most iconic superstars of all time. Whether he’s remembered for his in-ring ability, commentary, or appearances in Slim Jim commercials, there are few who don’t remember the 32-year veteran.
By September 1987, Savage was an icon in the eyes of fans. Following his victory in the King of the Ring tournament, Savage would enjoy a monstrous push and the creation of “The Mega Powers” with Hulk Hogan.
All of this would culminate with Savage winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania IV, which essentially put an exclamation point on the aftermath of his King of the Ring victory.
3 Could Win In 2019: Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe is in a rut. A decorated main eventer with TNA and Ring of Honor, Joe would spend a year and a half in NXT before vaulting into the main event picture on the main roster against Seth Rollins.
Despite his dominating style and huge fan following, Joe has failed to replicate his past successes in WWE. To date, Joe has won the United States Championship twice during his tenure with WWE. As he is currently absent from the title picture on the mid-card, winning the tournament this year could help Joe find title success similar to how Randy Savage earned his first WWE Championship in 1988.
2 Best King Of The Ring: Stone Cold Steve Austin (1996)
Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the most iconic superstars of any generation, and one that wrestling fans and non all seem to know. As many have speculated, what would the WWE have looked like if Triple H had won the 1996 King of the Ring?
While we don’t know the answer to this question, this point was definitely the beginning of Steve Austin’s rise to superstardom. His victory over Jake “the Snake” Roberts in the 1996 King of the Ring tournament would spawn the infamous “Austin 3:16” catchphrase, and spark a meteoric push for “The Texas Rattlesnake.”
1 Could Win In 2019: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens’ recent feud with Shane McMahon has been a sort of mixture between the Austin – McMahon feud of the last generation and all of the angst which led CM Punk to depart WWE.
While it is more likely that Owens will fall short of the mark in 2019, a win in the King of the Ring tournament could legitimize Owens as a top competitor in WWE and bring him back to the singles success he once enjoyed. Coupled with other shades of Austin which Owens is currently sporting, he is a clear contender for the top spot in this tournament.
If Owens can manage to replicate the performance of Austin, 2019 might be the year a new icon is born.