Top seven greatest WWE King of the Ring matches in history: Ranked

WWE King of the Ring has been a significant milestone and event in itself.

WWE introduced the coveted King of the Ring tournament back in 1993 as a significant pay-per-view event for the company.

It began a major stepping stone for superstars to ascend to the next level. Some notable names included Edge, Sheamus, Bret Hart, and most famously, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

While the pay-per-view concept has been abandoned, the tournament continues as a top accolade for WWE superstars to claim at major PLEs.

With the new edition of the tournament taking place at the upcoming WWE Night of Champions PLE, here is a look back at Khel Now’s King of the Ring matches ranked.

7. William Regal vs CM Punk

RAW superstar William Regal squared off against ECW’s CM Punk in the 2008 WWE King of the Ring tournament.

The match was a stellar showdown for the finals and saw the reign of Regal begin, who outlasted the Best in the World to become King.

6. Triple H vs Mankind

One of the most remarkable bouts in the WWE King of the Ring tournament took place in 1997. In the finals, Triple H and Mankind competed against each other after surviving a match earlier in the night.

The Game’s ally, Chyna, ran interference that led to him defeating Mankind and winning the tournament. Moreover, Triple H even smashed the crown on Mankind’s back, making it a memorable moment.

5. Brock Lesnar vs Rob Van Dam

Brock Lesnar made a dominant impact within months of his WWE debut back in 2002. He reached the finals of that year’s King of the Ring tournament and battled against Rob Van Dam.

The Beast Incarnate delivered an exceptional performance as a rookie and won the finals that would eventually lead him to SummerSlam and gain a victory over The Rock to become the youngest WWE Champion.

4. Bobby Lashley vs Booker T

The rise of Bobby Lashley saw him reach the finals of the 2006 WWE King of the Ring tournament. However, he found himself in the high-stakes match against veteran star, Booker T.

With the help of some underhanded tactics and his wife, Sharmell, Booker T defeated Lashley in a classic encounter. With that victory, the reign of ‘King Booker’ officially ushered in the WWE landscape.

3. Steve Austin vs Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Stone Cold Steve Austin replaced Triple H in the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, which was the stepping stone for his rise to fame.

The Texas Rattlesnake outlasted an array of top stars and then defeated WWE legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts to win the tournament. Following that, he berated Roberts and declared the dawn of the ‘Austin 3:16’ era with his infamous promo.

2. Gunther vs Randy Orton

Randy Orton, much like this year, reached the finals of the King of the Ring in 2024. Last time, he found the dominant Gunther standing in his way.

The duo had one of the hardest-hitting matches in WWE history. In the end, it was The Ring General who reigned supreme over The Viper and took the crown home.

1. Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect (1993)

Bret Hart and Mr Perfect had always produced stellar showdowns in WWE due to their technical in-ring prowess.

The two WWE legends met in the semi-finals of the King of the Ring tournament in 1993 and delivered a highly captivating showdown. Hart won and then went on to defeat Bam Bam Bigelow to become the new King of the landscape.

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