The King of the Ring is a wrestling event dating back to 1985 where a winner is decided by a single-elimination tournament. While it may not happen every single year, it’s still a major part of WWE history. Thankfully, the tournament isn’t just for the men every year. In 2022, Zelina Vega became the first Queen of the Ring. In 2024, the event has its own PLE once again, retitled The King and Queen of the Ring.
Sometimes, winning the King of the Ring can change a character’s gimmick for an entire year, like the Macho King, King Mabel, The King of Harts (Owen Hart), King Corbin, or Queen Zelina. Harley Race was the first wrestler to dawn this gimmick after winning the tournament, coming to the ring with a cloak and crown after winning the tournament. However, for some wrestlers, being named King or Queen of the Ring is a title or accomplishment they can hang on their mantle, knowing they worked their way through a tournament and came out on top. It can even be a moment that defines a career–and even an era in the industry–like when Steve Austin won and coined the phrase, “Austin 3:16 says, ‘I just whooped your ass.'” That’s the Attitude Era boiled down to a single moment.
Many fans see this tournament as a way to shine the spotlight on WWE wrestlers that should get that big push, strapping a rocket to their back to the main event. However, that’s not always the case.
The interesting thing about the history of the original King of the Ring is that between 1985-1991, this was an annual event only held at house shows. It wasn’t a PPV. It wasn’t televised. It was a way to boost house show attendance.
This year’s King and Queen of the Ring PLE will take place on Saturday, May 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome. So before we get to the upcoming PLE, let’s take a look at the winner of every single King and Queen of the Ring winner throughout the history of the tournament.
For more on the history of WWE, check out every WWE Hall of Fame inductee and every Wrestlemania main event.
1. Don Muraco
Date: July 8, 1985
Defeated: The Iron Sheik
Muraco was the inaugural King of the Ring.
2. Harley Race
Date: July 14, 1986
Defeated: Pedro Morales
3. Randy Savage
Date: September 4, 1987
Defeated: King Kong Bundy
4. Ted DiBiase
Date: October 16, 1988
Defeated: Randy Savage
5. Tito Santana
Date: October 14, 1989
Defeated: Rick Martel
6. Bret Hart
Date: September 7, 1991
Defeated: Irwin R. Schyster
7. Bret Hart
Date: June 13, 1993
Defeated: Bam Bam Bigelow
8. Owen Hart
Date: June 19, 1994
Defeated: Razor Ramon
9. Mabel
Date: June 25, 1995
Defeated: Savio Vega
10. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Date: June 23, 1996
Defeated: Jake Roberts
11. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Date: June 8, 1997
Defeated: Mankind
12. Ken Shamrock
Date: June 28, 1998
Defeated: The Rock
13. Billy Gunn
Date: June 27, 1999
Defeated: X-Pac
14. Kurt Angle
Date: June 25, 2000
Defeated: Rikishi
15. Edge
Date: June 24, 2001
Defeated: Kurt Angle
16. Brock Lesnar
Date: June 23, 2002
Defeated: Rob Van Dam
17. Booker T
Date: May 21, 2006
Defeated: Bobby Lashley
18. William Regal
Date: April 21, 2008
Defeated: CM Punk
19. Sheamus
Date: November 29, 2010
Defeated: John Morrison
20. Bad News Barrett
Date: April 28, 2015
Defeated: Neville
21. Baron Corbin
Date: September 16, 2019
Defeated: Chad Gable
22. Xavier Woods
Date: October 21, 2021
Defeated: Finn Bálor
23. Zelina Vega
Date: October 21, 2021
Defeated: Doudrop
Vega was the inaugural Queen of the Ring.