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King Of The Ring Tournament
King of the Ring is an annual World Wrestling Entertainment tournament first held in 1985. From 1993 to 2002, it was held as a pay-per-view event as well. After a four year hiatus, the King of the Ring tournament will return as a SmackDown! exclusive tournament.
July 8, 1985
Sullivan Stadium
Foxboro, Massachusetts
* 1st Round Match: Don Muraco over The Junk Yard Dog.
* 1st Round Match: Les Thorton over Steve Lombardi.
* 1st Round Match: Paul Orndorff and Bob Borton wrestled to a double DQ.
* 1st Round Match: Pedro Morales over Johnny Valiant.
* 1st Round Match: Tito Santana over Terry Funk.
* 1st Round Match: Jim Brunzell over The Spider.
* 1st Round Match: Ricky Steamboat over Greg Valentine.
* 1st Round Match: The Iron Sheik over B. Brian Blair.
* Quarter-Final Match: Don Muraco over Les Thorton.
* Quarter-Final Match: Tito Santana over Jim Brunzell.
* Quarter-Final Match: The Iron Sheik over Ricky Steamboat.
* Semi-Final Match: Don Muraco over Pedro Morales.
* Semi-Final Match: Tito Santana over The Iron Sheik.
* Final Match: Don Muraco over Tito Santana.
July 14, 1986
Sullivan Stadium
Foxboro, Massachusetts
* 1st Round Match: Billy Jack Haynes over The Iron Sheik.
* 1st Round Match: Harley Race over George Steele.
* 1st Round Match: Don Muraco wrestled Roddy Piper to a double DQ.
* 1st Round Match: Nikolai Volkoff over Dan Spivey.
* 1st Round Match: Junk Yard Dog over Paul Orndorff.
* 1st Round Match: Pedro Morales over Rudy Diamond.
* Quarter-Final Match: Billy Jack Haynes over Mr. X.
* Quarter-Final Match: Nikolai Volkoff over Junk Yard Dog.
* Quarter-Final Match: Pedro Morales over Mike Rotundo.
* Semi-Final Match: Harley Race over Billy Jack Haynes.
* Semi-Final Match: Pedro Morales over Nikolai Volkoff.
* Final Match: Harley Race over Pedro Morales.
September 4, 1987
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
* 1st Round Match: Randy Savage over Nikolai Volkoff.
* 1st Round Match: Jim Brunzell over Ron Bass.
* 1st Round Match: Danny Davis over Tito Santana.
* 1st Round Match: Junk Yard Dog over Islander Tama.
* 1st Round Match: Islander Haku over Brutus Beefcake.
* 1st Round Match: Rick Martel over Dan Spivey.
* 1st Round Match: S.D. Jones over Sika.
* 1st Round Match: King Kong Bundy over One Man Gang.
* Quarter-Final Match: Randy Savage over Jim Brunzell.
* Quarter-Final Match: Danny Davis over Junk Yard Dog.
* Quarter-Final Match: Islander Haku and Rick Martel wrestled to a double
count-out.
* Quarter-Final Match: King Kong Bundy over S.D. Jones.
* Semi-Final Match: Randy Savage over Danny Davis.
* Final Match: Randy Savage over King Kong Bundy.
October 16, 1988
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
* 1st Round Match: Ted Dibiase over Brutus Beefcake.
* 1st Round Match: Ken Patera over Nikolai Volkoff.
* 1st Round Match: Ron Bass over The Barbarian.
* 1st Round Match: Shawn Michaels over Danny Davis.
* 1st Round Match: Hercules wrestled Bad News Brown to a double DQ.
* 1st Round Match: Randy Savage over Virgil.
* 1st Round Match: Iron Mike Sharpe over Boris Zuhkov.
* 1st Round Match: Terry Taylor over Marty Jannetty.
* Quarter-Final Match: Ted Dibiase over Ken Patera.
* Quarter-Final Match: Ron Bass over Shawn Michaels.
* Quarter-Final Match: Terry Taylor over Iron Mike Sharpe.
* Semi-Final Match: Ted Dibiase over Ron Bass.
* Semi-Final Match: Randy Savage over Terry Taylor.
* Final Match: Ted Dibiase over Randy Savage.
October 14, 1989
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
* 1st Round Match: Akeem over Brutus Beefcake.
* 1st Round Match: Hercules wrestled Jim Neidhart to a double DQ.
* 1st Round Match: The Warlord over Butch Miller.
* 1st Round Match: Tito Santana over Bad News Brown.
* 1st Round Match: Rick Martel over Bill Woods.
* 1st Round Match: Luke Williams over Nikolai Volkoff.
* 1st Round Match: Jimmy Snuka over The Barbarian.
* 1st Round Match: Haku over Terry Taylor.
* Quarter-Final Match: Tito Santana over The Warlord.
* Quarter-Final Match: Rick Martel over Luke Williams.
* Quarter-Final Match: Jimmy Snuka over Haku.
* Semi-Final Match: Tito Santana over Akeem.
* Semi-Final Match: Rick Martel over Jimmy Snuka.
* Final Match: Tito Santana over Rick Martel.
September 7, 1991
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
* 1st Round Match: Hawk over Jerry Sags.
* 1st Round Match: Ted Dibiase wrestled Ricky Steamboat to a draw.
* 1st Round Match: Jim Duggan over Brian Knobs.
* 1st Round Match: Irwin R. Schyster over The Berzerker.
* 1st Round Match: Skinner over Virgil.
* 1st Round Match: Bret Hart over Pete Dougherty.
* 1st Round Match: Sid Justice over The Warlord.
* 1st Round Match: The Undertaker over Animal.
* Quarter-Final Match: Irwin R. Schyster over Jim Duggan.
* Quarter-Final Match: Bret Hart over Skinner.
* Quarter-Final Match: Sid Justice wrestled The Undertaker to a double DQ.
* Semi-Final Match: Irwin R. Schyster over Jerry Sags.
* Final Match: Bret Hart over Irwin R. Schyster.
June 13, 1993
Nutter Center
Dayton, Ohio
* Qualifying Match: Razor Ramon over Tito Santana.
* Qualifying Match: Curt Hennig over Doink The Clown.
* Qualifying Match: Mr. Hughes over Kamala.
* Qualifying Match: Jim Duggan over Papa Shango.
* Qualifying Match: Bam Bam Bigelow over Typhoon.
* Qualifying Match: Lex Luger over Bob Backlund.
* Qualifying Match: Tatanka over The Giant Gonzales.
* Quarter-Final Match: Bret Hart over Razor Ramon.
* Quarter-Final Match: Curt Hennig over Mr. Hughes.
* Quarter-Final Match: Bam Bam Bigelow over Jim Duggan.
* Quarter-Final Match: Lex Luger wrestled Tatanka to a draw.
* Semi-Final Match: Bret Hart over Curt Hennig.
* Final Match: Bret Hart over Bam Bam Bigelow.
June 19, 1994
Baltimore Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
* Qualifying Match: Razor Ramon over Kwang.
* Qualifying Match: Bam Bam Bigelow over Sparky Plugg.
* Qualifying Match: Irwin R. Schyster over Scott Steiner.
* Qualifying Match: Mabel over Pierre Oulette.
* Qualifying Match: Owen Hart over Doink The Clown.
* Qualifying Match: Tatanka over Crush.
* Qualifying Match: 1-2-3 Kid over Adam Bomb.
* Qualifying Match: Jeff Jarrett over Lex Luger.
* Quarter-Final Match: Razor Ramon over Bam Bam Bigelow.
* Quarter-Final Match: Irwin R. Schyster over Mabel.
* Quarter-Final Match: Owen Hart over Tatanka.
* Quarter-Final Match: 1-2-3 Kid over Jeff Jarrett.
* Semi-Final Match: Razor Ramon over Irwin R. Schyster.
* Semi-Final Match: Owen Hart over 1-2-3 Kid.
* Final Match: Owen Hart over Razor Ramon.
June 25, 1995
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Qualifying Match: Mabel over Adam Bomb.
* Qualifying Match: The Undertaker over Jeff Jarrett.
* Qualifying Match: Kama over Duke Droese.
* Qualifying Match: Shawn Michaels over King Kong Bundy.
* Qualifying Match: Bob Holly over Mantaur.
* Qualifying Match: The Roadie over Doink The Clown.
* Qualifying Match: Yokozuna over Lex Luger.
* Qualifying Match: Razor Ramon over Jacob Blu.
* Quarter-Final Match: Mabel over The Undertaker.
* Quarter-Final Match: Shawn Michaels wrestled Kama to a draw.
* Quarter-Final Match: The Roadie over Bob Holly.
* Quarter-Final Match: Savio Vega over Yokozuna.
* Semi-Final Match: Savio Vega over The Roadie.
* Final Match: Mabel over Savio Vega.
June 23, 1996
MECCA Arena
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Qualifying Match: Vader over Ahmed Johnson.
* Qualifying Match: The Ultimate Warrior wrestled Goldust to a double count-out.
* Qualifying Match: Jake Roberts over Hunter Hearst-Helmsley.
* Qualifying Match: Justin Hawk Bradshaw over Henry Godwinn.
* Qualifying Match: Steve Austin over Bob Holly.
* Qualifying Match: Savio Vega over Marty Jannetty.
* Qualifying Match: Marc Mero over Skip.
* Qualifying Match: Owen Hart over Yokozuna.
* Quarter-Final Match: Jake Roberts over Justin Hawk Bradshaw.
* Quarter-Final Match: Steve Austin over Savio Vega.
* Quarter-Final Match: Marc Mero over Owen Hart.
* Semi-Final Match: Jake Roberts over Vader.
* Semi-Final Match: Steve Austin over Marc Mero.
* Final Match: Steve Austin over Jake Roberts.
June 9, 1997
Providence Civic Center
Providence, Rhode Island
* Quarter-Final Match: Ahmed Johnson over Hunter Hearst-Helmsley.
* Quarter-Final Match: Hunter Hearst-Helmsley over Crush.
* Quarter-Final Match: Jerry Lawler over Goldust.
* Quarter-Final Match: Mankind over Savio Vega.
* Semi-Final Match: Hunter Hearst-Helmsley over Ahmed Johnson.
* Semi-Final Match: Mankind over Jerry Lawler.
* Final Match: Hunter Hearst-Helmsley over Mankind.
June 28, 1998
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Qualifying Match: Rocky Maivia over Vader.
* Qualifying Match: Hunter Hearst-Helmsley over X-Pac.
* Qualifying Match: Owen Hart over 2 Cold Scorpio.
* Qualifying Match: Dan Severn over D-Lo Brown.
* Qualifying Match: Ken Shamrock over Kama Mustafa.
* Qualifying Match: Mark Henry over Terry Funk.
* Qualifying Match: Jeff Jarrett over Faarooq.
* Qualifying Match: Marc Mero over Steve Blackman.
* Quarter-Final Match: Rocky Maivia over Hunter Hearst-Helmsley.
* Quarter-Final Match: Dan Severn over Owen Hart.
* Quarter-Final Match: Ken Shamrock over Mark Henry.
* Quarter-Final Match: Jeff Jarrett over Marc Mero.
* Semi-Final Match: Rocky Maivia over Dan Severn.
* Semi-Final Match: Ken Shamrock over Jeff Jarrett.
* Final Match: Ken Shamrock over Rocky Maivia.
June 27, 1999
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, North Carolina
* Qualifying Match: Billy Gunn over Viscera.
* Qualifying Match: Ken Shamrock over Jeff Jarrett.
* Qualifying Match: The Big Show over Darren Drosdov.
* Qualifying Match: Kane over Test.
* Qualifying Match: Road Dogg over The Godfather.
* Qualifying Match: Chyna over Val Venis.
* Qualifying Match: Bob Holly over Al Snow.
* Qualifying Match: X-Pac over The Big Bossman.
* Quarter-Final Match: Billy Gunn over Ken Shamrock.
* Quarter-Final Match: Kane over The Big Show.
* Quarter-Final Match: Road Dogg over Chyna.
* Quarter-Final Match: X-Pac over Bob Holly.
* Semi-Final Match: Billy Gunn over Kane.
* Semi-Final Match: X-Pac over Road Dogg.
* Final Match: Billy Gunn over X-Pac.
June 25, 2000
FleetCenter
Boston, Massachusetts
* 1st Round Match: Rikishi Phatu over Shane McMahon via DQ.
* 1st Round Match: Bull Buchanan over Steve Blackman.
* 1st Round Match: Kurt Angle over Bradshaw.
* 1st Round Match: Crash Holly over Prince Albert.
* 1st Round Match: Chyna over The Godfather.
* 1st Round Match: Val Venis over Al Snow.
* 1st Round Match: Chris Benoit over Road Dogg.
* 1st Round Match: Hardcore Holly over Faarooq.
* 1st Round Match: Bubba Ray Dudley over The Big Bossman.
* 1st Round Match: Perry Saturn over D-Von Dudley.
* 1st Round Match: Chris Jericho over Test.
* 1st Round Match: Eddie Guerrero over Matt Hardy.
* 1st Round Match: X-Pac over Dean Malenko.
* 1st Round Match: Jeff Hardy over Christian.
* 1st Round Match: Edge over Grandmaster Sexay.
* 1st Round Match: Scotty 2 Hotty over D-Lo Brown.
* 2nd Round Match: Bull Buchanan over Perry Saturn.
* 2nd Round Match: Val Venis over Jeff Hardy.
* 2nd Round Match: Kurt Angle over Bubba Ray Dudley.
* 2nd Round Match: Chris Benoit over X-Pac.
* 2nd Round Match: Eddie Guerrero over Chyna.
* 2nd Round Match: Chris Jericho over Edge.
* 2nd Round Match: Rikishi Phatu over Scotty 2 Hotty.
* 2nd Round Match: Crash Holly over Hardcore Holly via DQ.
* Quarter-Final Match: Rikishi Phatu over Chris Benoit via DQ.
* Quarter-Final Match: Val Venis over Eddie Guerrero.
* Quarter-Final Match: Crash Holly over Bull Buchanan.
* Quarter-Final Match: Kurt Angle over Chris Jericho.
* Semi-Final Match: Rikishi Phatu over Val Venis.
* Semi-Final Match: Kurt Angle over Crash Holly.
* Final Match: Kurt Angle over Rikishi Phatu.
June 24, 2001
Rutherford, New Jersey
* 1st Round Match: Jeff Hardy over Matt Hardy.
* 1st Round Match: Rhyno over Tazz.
* 1st Round Match: Kurt Angle over Hardcore Holly.
* 1st Round Match: Edge over Test.
* 1st Round Match: Christian over Kane.
* 1st Round Match: Perry Saturn over Steve Blackman.
* 1st Round Match: The Big Show over Raven.
* 1st Round Match: Yoshihiro Tajiri over Crash Holly.
* Quarter-Final Match: Kurt Angle over Jeff Hardy.
* Quarter-Final Match: Rhyno over Yoshihiro Tajiri.
* Quarter-Final Match: Edge over Perry Saturn.
* Quarter-Final Match: Christian over The Big Show.
* Semi-Final Match: Kurt Angle over Christian.
* Semi-Final Match: Edge over Rhyno.
* Final Match: Edge over Kurt Angle.
June 23, 2002
Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
* 1st Round Match: X-Pac over Goldust
* 1st Round Match: Booker T. over William Regal
* 1st Round Match: Val Venis over Christian
* 1st Round Match: Chris Jericho over Edge
* 1st Round Match: Rob Van Dam over Eddie Guerrero
* 1st Round Match: Brock Lesnar over Buh-Buh Ray Dudley
* 1st Round Match: Test over Hurricane Helms
* 1st Round Match: Hardcore Holly over Yoshihiro Tajiri
* Quarter-Final Match: Rob Van Dam over X-Pac
* Quarter-Final Match: Chris Jericho over Val Venis
* Quarter-Final Match: Brock Lesnar over Booker T
* Quarter-Final Match: Test over Hardcore Holly
* Semi-Final Match: Rob Van Dam over Chris Jericho
* Semi-Final Match: Brock Lesnar over Test
* Final Match: Brock Lesnar over Rob Van Dam
2006
Trivia
* Bret Hart is the only multiple time King of the Ring winner, having won it
twice back-to-back times in 1991 and 1993 (the event was not held in 1992).
Coincidentally, Harts 1991 crown was from the last tournament to be non-PPV,
while his 1993 crown was from the first tournament to be on PPV.
* Hulk Hogan competed at the first and last King of the Ring PPVs in
non-tournament matches, losing both times. At King of the Ring 1993, he faced
Yokozuna. In 2002, he faced Kurt Angle.
* King of the Ring 1995 is regarded as one of the worst WWE pay-per-view events
ever. Also, the Philadelphia crowd were chanting ECW! ECW! ECW! during the
Mabel-Savio Vega match.
* At KOTR 1993 Jerry The King Lawler attacked Bret Hart during his royal
coronation speech and claiming that he was the real King of Wrestling. The two
had a rivalry that lasted for two years.
* Chyna is the only woman to ever compete in a King of the Ring tournament.
* King of the Ring 1996 was the birth of Austin 3:16.
* King of the Ring was cancelled after 2002 when the WWF wanted to cut the
number of major pay-per-views down from 5 to 4 (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania,
SummerSlam and Survivor Series).
* Despite his massive late 80s success, The Ultimate Warrior only competed at
one KOTR event. He beat Jerry The King Lawler in a non-tournament match in 1996.
This would also be his last WWF PPV appearance.
* Jerry The King Lawler never won a match at any King of the Ring PPV events.
* Three men competed in matches at the first three King of the Ring PPVs: Bret
Hart, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Tatanka, although, none of them appeared for a 4th
straight KOTR match.
* Triple H was originally scheduled to win King of the Ring 1996, but he was
punished before the PPV event for breaking kayfabe at a house show which is now
known as the Curtain Call incident. Stone Cold Steve Austin was awarded the
honor instead and Triple H won it the following year.
* Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar are the only two King of the Ring winners who also
went on to the win the WWE Championship the same year.
* The 1994 event is infamous for featuring legendary Baltimore Colts defensive
tackle Art Donovan on color commentary. Throughout the event, Donovan showcased
his complete lack of wrestling knowledge, asking many questions about the
wrestlers, what they were doing, who were they, why they were doing things, and
how much they weighed (A Question he asked several times).
* The 2000 KOTR tournament is widely considered one of the best-ever
tournaments. Aside from the eight men who made the PPV tournament, 32 wrestlers
were part of the preliminaries, the most for any KOTR tournament. This marked
the high-water mark of KOTR competition, with no one obvious king and a large
number of potential, plausible winners.
* The 1997 KOTR tournament, by contrast, was one of the weakest. Only seven men
competed, one of them being full-time announcer Jerry The King Lawler, and only
three tournament matches were shown on PPV.
* The Undertaker has competed at 7 KOTR events (1995-2000 and 2002), which is a
record. His win-loss record is 5-2, which includes three successful defenses of
the WWE Championship.
* X-Pac has wrestled in 8 matches at KOTR events (a record), including making it
to the semifinals and finals of the KOTR tournament respectively. His win-loss
record is 5-3.
* The Intercontinental Champion has made to the finals three times (1998, 2000,
2002) but has never won the tournament.
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