WWE King and Queen of the Ring 2024: Full list of past winners

As a part of Women’s Evolution, WWE, along with their 19th King of the Ring tournament, also introduced the Queen’s Crown Tournament (Renamed Queen of the Ring in 2024) in 2021. The tournament featured eight female superstars, four from SmackDown and four from Raw, competing in a knockout tournament. In the finals of the tournament, Raw’s Zalina Vega defeated SmackDown’s Piper Niven (Doudrop at that time) in 5 minutes and 55 seconds to win the inaugural Queen of the Ring tournament.

King of the Ring winners

1. Don Muraco (1985)

The legendary Don Muraco became WWE’s first-ever King of the Ring winner when he defeated the Iron Sheikh in the finals on July 8, 1985, adding one more accolade to his already celebrated career.

2. Harley Race (1986)

The Hall of Famer, Harley Leland Race, also known as Harley Race, was the second King of the Ring winner, as he defeated another Hall of Famer, Pedro Morales, on July 14, 1986. The tournament was part of a special non-televised WWE house show.

3. Randy Savage (1987)

A win that opened the path for ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage to become what he did came on September 4, 1987, when he defeated King Kong Bundy in the third annual King of the Ring tournament and earned the title of the King for the next 13 months.

4. Ted DiBiase (1988)

One of the biggest career highlights of the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase, was his time as the King Ted DiBiase, a title he won after defeating the defending champion Randy Savage in the fourth King of the Ring Tournament in 1988.

5. Tito Santana (1989)

Before John Cena gained the title of generational Baby Face, the title belonged to the 1989 King of the Ring Tournament winner and the former two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, Tito Santana, who defeated another once-in-a-generation superstar, Rick Mantle, in the tournament finals.

6. Bret Hart (1991 and 1993)

Between 1989 and 1993, the tournament was only held twice, and both times won by the legendary Canadian wrestler Bret Hart, who defeated Irwin R. Schyster to win the 1991 tournament and Bam Bam Bigelow to win the 1993 tournament. Bret is also the only WWE wrestler in the history of the tournament to hold the title of King of the Ring on two different occasions.

7. Owen Hart (1994)

The Hart family continued their dominance in the King of the Ring Tournaments, as after Bret’s back-to-back victories, Owen Hart won the subsequent 1994 after defeating Razor Ramon in the finals. Owen was the second Canadian wrestler to win the prestigious tournament in WWE’s history.

8. Mable (1995)

Mable, or Big Daddy V or Viscra, became the eighth man to hold the King of the Ring title in 1995 when he defeated Savio Vega in the finals of the tournament.

9. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1996)

Regarded as one of the best King of the Ring tournaments, the 1996 edition ended when the Texas Rattlesnake pinned Jake the Snake Roberts in the tournament finals before dropping the famous “Austin 3:16” line.

10. Triple H (1997)

The current COO of WWE, Triple H, saw his career skyrocket after he defeated Mankind in the finals of the 1997 edition of the King of the Ring. Triple H’s time as the King got him over with the fans and started his epic feud with The Rock.

11. Ken Shamrock (1998)

One of the biggest upsets in the King of the Tournament history came in the 1998 edition when Ken Shamrock defeated the Rock in the finals to become the tenth overall King of the Ring winner. Shemrock’s win was part of his long ongoing feud with the Rock and his Nation of Domination faction. Shamrock defeated four different members of the faction in the tournament to win the crown.

12. Billy Gunn (1999)

Billy Gunn, who is famously known for his time in WWE as a member of New Age Outlaws and D-Generation X, was on a hot run in 1999 after turning and leaving the faction of D-Generation X and breaking up his tag team New Age Outlaws’ member Road Dogg. Gunn defeated his former friend X-Pac in the 1999 King of the Ring tournament finals to call himself King Billy Gunn.

13. Kurt Angle (2000)

The Olympic Gold Medallist, only after two years as a professional wrestler, won the 14th edition of the prestigious WWE King of the Ring tournament when he defeated Rikishi in the tournament finals on June 25, 2000. This win propelled him as a big event star, which later led to him winning the WWF World Championship in No Mercy 2000.

14. Edge (2001)

In his early career, the “Rated R Superstar” Edge was known for his tag team alliance with Christian. However, he established himself as a serious singles competitor when he defeated the defending champion, Kurt Angle, in the 2001 edition of the King of the Tournament finals to become the 14th overall winner of the tournament.

15. Brock Lesnar (2002)

Brock Lesnar debuted in WWE in 2002 and soon became the company’s top star thanks to his genetically gifted physique and athleticism. His biggest accolade in his debut year came on June 23, 2002, when he defeated fan favourite Rob Van Dam in the King of the Ring tournament finals. Lesnar used this win to assert his dominance on the roaster and gained the title of Beast Incarnate.

16. Booker T (2006)

After being an annual event till 2002, The King of the Ring tournament started to make eventual comebacks after long time breaks, as after 2002, fans had to wait till 2006 to witness a new King being crowned. The 2002 tournament was also unique as it only featured SmackDown superstars. Booker T defeated Bobby Lashley in the finals and began his legendary run as King Booker T.

17. William Regal (2008)

One of the most crafty wrestlers to ever step in the ring, William Regal was the 17th overall King of the Ring winner when he defeated the straight edge CM Punk in the 2008 tournament finals and became King Regal.

18. Sheamus (2010)

Two years after Reagal’s win, WWE brought back the King of the Ring Tournament back for its 19th edition in 2010. This the “Celtic Warrior” Sheamus pinned John Morrison to be crowned the new King of the Ring champion.

19. Bad News Barret or Wade Barret (2015)

The longest time gap between the two King of the Ring tournaments since its inception came when, after the 2010 edition, WWE held the next tournament in 2015, i.e., after a total of five years. Since 2015, superstars were not brand-confined competitors for the tournament and were chosen randomly. In the final of the tournament, Bad News Barret defeated the young rising talent Neville to earn the right to call himself King Barret.

20. Baron Corbin (2019)

The tournament once again came back from its four-year hiatus in 2019, as this time, the “Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin defeated Chad Gable in the tournament finals to start his reign of terror (Quite literally) as King Corbin.

21. Xavier Woods (2021)

Inspired by his fellow New Day member Kofi Kingston’s pursuit of the WWE Championship two years prior, Xavier Woods decided to pursue a singles glory pursuit of his own in 2021. Xaviers took part in the 2021 King of the Ring tournament and, with his incredible in-ring skills, reached the finals of the tournament, where he defeated Finn Balor to earn the crown and the title of King Xavier.