The King of the Ring tournament is a crowd favorite in WWE. It has featured some of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history and has remained a precursor to pushes to the top of the card. Whoever emerges victorious is considered a top contender for whichever World Championship they desire.
King of the Ring was a one-night tournament for several years, containing great matches that have helped continue the legacy of the PLE. In the past few years, we have seen this tournament branch out into programs such as Raw and SmackDown, which have continued the trend of fantastic King of the Ring matches. We have been lucky to get some incredible matches on free T.V, and those are listed below.
Chad Gable v Baron Corbin (King of the Ring Finals, Raw, 2019)
The King of the Ring had gone years without a true standout contest. It was moved solely to television and was more of a gimmick change for the winner. Only in 2019 did the world see a return to form for the King of the Ring tournament when Chad Gable and Baron Corbin turned in a barn burner of a match.
Chad Gable and Baron Corbin were two of the more underrated talents on the roster. It was fantastic to see them in a match where they could showcase just how great they are. When the tournament was announced, not many thought this final would take place. It was wonderful to see these two mix it up with some of the best wrestling that the King of the Ring had seen.
Gable’s wrestling talent was never in question, and Baron Corbin knew exactly how to play within his heel role. The crowd was very much into this match, and it got a great reaction when it finished. This was a fitting addition to the history of the King of the Ring finals.
Gunther v Sheamus (King of the Ring First Round, Raw, 2024)
WWE decided to put on a banger in the first round of King of the Ring 2024. Gunther and Sheamus had a great backstory to play off of, and the match history to boot. These two men put on 5-star classics every time they stepped in the ring. There was no mat wrestling in this match; only two brutes throwing haymakers for the 21 minutes.
Throwing these two together, to start, the King of the Ring tournament was a thing of genius. Their history of delivering when the lights are at their brightest gives them instant credibility. The fans were fully invested in everything they did, and this match stands with both their matches at WrestleMania and Clash at the Castle. Incredibly, this match was given away on free television.
