The WWE King of the Ring is a menâ€s professional wrestling tournament organized periodically by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was first held on July 8, 1985, with Don Muraco winning the inaugural edition, and the most recent tournament took place on June 28, 2025, and was won by Cody Rhodes.
The winner is crowned “King of the Ring,†and some wrestlers adopt royal personas afterward. On rare occasions, the winner also received a world title opportunity, notably in 2002 and 2024. The 1996 victory of “Stone Cold†Steve Austin marked a major turning point in his career.
Originally created under the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the tournament ran annually from 1985 to 2002 (except in 1990 and 1992). Early editions were untelevised, but from 1993 to 2002, it became a pay-per-view event each June. After 2002, it was held intermittently, returning in 2006, 2010, 2015, 2019, and 2021, with matches airing on Raw, SmackDown, or the WWE Network.
In 2024, the PPV returned under the name King and Queen of the Ring, featuring both the menâ€s and womenâ€s tournaments, with the womenâ€s version (Queen of the Ring) having first debuted in 2021.
Wrestlers with the Most King of the Ring Tournament Wins
Bret “The Hitman†Hart is the only wrestler to win the King of the Ring tournament twice. His first win was in 1991 in Providence, Rhode Island, and his second win was in 1993 in Dayton, Ohio. The first-ever King of the Ring winner was The Magnificent Muraco in 1985 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Other winners include Owen Hart in 1994, Mabel in 1995, and “Stone Cold†Steve Austin in 1996. Hunter Hearst Helmsley won in 1997, and Ken Shamrock took the title in 1998. Billy Gunn won in 1999, followed by Kurt Angle in 2000, and Edge in 2001. Brock Lesnar won the tournament in 2002 in Columbus, Ohio, and Booker T won in 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona.
William Regal won in 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina, Sheamus in 2010 in Philadelphia, and Bad News Barrett in 2015 in Moline, Illinois. Baron Corbin became the winner in 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Xavier Woods in 2021 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gunther won the tournament in 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Cody Rhodes was the most recent winner in 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WinnerYearWinsRunner-upFinals dateBret Hart1991, 19932Irwin R. Schyster, Bam Bam BigelowSeptember 7, 1991, June 13, 1993Cody Rhodes20251Randy OrtonJune 28, 2025Gunther20241Randy OrtonMay 25, 2024Xavier Woods20211Finn BálorOctober 21, 2021Baron Corbin20191Chad GableSeptember 16, 2019Bad News Barrett20151NevilleApril 28, 2015Sheamus20101John MorrisonNovember 29, 2010William Regal20081CM PunkApril 21, 2008Booker T20061Bobby LashleyMay 21, 2006Brock Lesnar20021Rob Van DamJune 23, 2002Edge20011Kurt AngleJune 24, 2001Kurt Angle20001RikishiJune 25, 2000Billy Gunn19991X-PacJune 27, 1999Ken Shamrock19981The RockJune 28, 1998Hunter Hearst Helmsley19971MankindJune 8, 1997“Stone Cold” Steve Austin19961Jake RobertsJune 23, 1996Mabel19951Savio VegaJune 25, 1995Owen Hart19941Razor RamonJune 19, 1994Tito Santana19891Rick MartelOctober 14, 1989Ted DiBiase19881Randy SavageOctober 16, 1988Randy Savage19871King Kong BundySeptember 4, 1987Harley Race19861Pedro MoralesJuly 14, 1986Don Muraco19851The Iron SheikJuly 8, 1985
FAQs
Q. Has Triple H won King of the Ring?
A. Yes. Triple H won the King of the Ring tournament in 1997. He beat Mankind in the final match.
Q. Did Ted DiBiase win King of the Ring?
A. Yes. Ted DiBiase won the King of the Ring tournament in 1988.
Q. Has anyone broken Bruno Sammartinoâ€s record?
A. No. Bruno Sammartino held the WWWF Championship for 7 years, a record that has never been broken.
Q. Who was “The Perfect 10†in WWE?
A. Tye Dillinger, also known as Shawn Spears, was called “The Perfect 10†in WWE.
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