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Not all WWE Superstars are created equal. When it comes to title shots and pushes, WWE doesn't just hand them out to any wrestler. It's why guys like Randy Orton and the Miz have had multiple title reigns whereas guys like Sami Zayn, Elias and many others have not. And no, the 24/7 title reigns do not count as title reigns.
WWE decided to bring back the tournaments that used to be one of its staples. It propelled stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Owen Hart and Sheamus to success. The announcement of its return was made last week and on the following episodes of both RAW and SmackDown, first-round match-ups will take place.
The bracket for the tournament was released on Friday and it pit RAW Superstars against RAW wrestlers and the same for SmackDown wrestlers. When you look across the match ups, some stand out regarding the potential winner, while some do not.
One thing that might point towards a lesser chance of winning for some stars is longevity in the business or on the roster. Would the Miz, Samoa Joe or Cesaro truly benefit from winning the tournament? Sami Zayn would but they seem destined to have him approach Curt Hawkins' losing streak.
It seems like all four men are primarily used for putting other stars over despite how great (Cesaro) some of their matches are. The newest iteration of the tournament seems like its set up to put over a newer star with a title shot possibly linked to it. Here are the four best options to win and the four least appealing options to become the King of the Ring for 2019.
#4 Best Choice - Andrade
Most of the time, when Andrade speaks, he either says that he doesn't respect his opponents (Finn Balor, Rey Mysterio) or he and Zelina Vega say that "he is the future." If you've seen almost any of his matches, then you know that is true.
What better way to capitalize on that then by having him win the tournament? If would give the duo another thing to brag about, especially if his ongoing feud with Mysterio doesn't lead to a big stakes match.
He's already one of the best performers in the company but he's only really had two chances at advancing - taking part in the Money in the Bank match this year and an Intercontinental title match against Finn Balor at Super Showdown. Depending on how the winner of this is treated, it could propel him into the main event.
#4 Worst Choice - Ricochet
Of the stars that are relatively new to the main roster like Ali, Murphy, Ricochet, Aleister Black, Cedric Alexander and Andrade, only the One and Only has captured a main-roster title. While his reign was only about a month, just like any Charlotte Flair reign, it counts towards the number of titles won by a Superstar. McIntyre did win the RAW Tag Team Championship, but it wasn't a singles title.
He's already one of the most over stars regardless of main-roster tenure and has already had a mini-push. His feud with AJ Styles and his coming out to help Seth Rollins after the main event of RAW this week already means he'll likely be hovering around the upper mid-card and main event scene.
King of the Ring needs to push a newer star forward, because they totally ruined the chance of doing so this year at Money in the Bank. Had they had another star win the briefcase instead of the Beast, then they might not be in this position of "needing to create a new star." Ricochet would certainly be deserving of a win but he's already been pushed. Several other stars have not, so I think it's someone else's turn.
#3 Best Choice - Buddy Murphy
If you've watched 205 Live for the last year, then you already know how good Murphy is. For those who didn't watch the show or his many pre-show title defenses, you witnessed just how special the Best Kept Secret really is on SmackDown against Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns usually suffers a little damage here and there against opponents that aren't usually in the main event. But in his match with Murphy on SmackDown this past week, the match was even for the majority of it. Murphy isn't that much smaller than Reigns, as I doubt he was always 205 pounds.
Both men are athletic and explosive and Murphy proved to the world that he should have been on TV more than just to talk into a microphone during the Town Hall segment. Heels have typically won the King of the Ring tournament and are best suited to rub the win in everyone's faces. I don't know if he'll come out of the Reigns' attacker storyline in the same position as a heel, but if he does, he'd be a perfect King.
#3 Worst Choice - Shelton Benjamin
Benjamin is still in great shape, but he isn't the best on the microphone or outside of a tag team. He's a great wrestler but it's just that he's a sign of WWE's past instead of the future. A good deal of the stars in the tournament are either in their prime or have only been on the main roster for a year or so.
His first-round match up with Chad Gable is weird because both men would probably have been used as first-round matches for other stars with better chances of winning. The whole new direction of a still shot on his face while he's hearing voices is just strange. It's led to nothing more than him calling Gable short.
He's been forgotten about for most of 2019. Along with those weird promos, to dust him off only for this tournament seems awfully lopsided. While I'm sure he'll most definitely give anyone a great match, it just seems like his time for any type of a substantial push has passed.
#2 Best Choice - Ali
Like Murphy, Ali had been routinely having great matches on SmackDown and 205 Live. If you haven't seen them, you can't be blamed because not everyone who watches RAW and SmackDown necessarily watches 205 Live. Even when he was "promoted" to SmackDown late last year, he was only featured in the early stages of 2019.
His injury prior to Elimination Chamber famously led to Kofi Kingston's rise to becoming WWE Champion. The promos he cuts are among the best ones in WWE but they too often don't make it to TV. Why they don't and he does not is beyond my grasp.
Ali winning the tournament would be a consolation prize if he was supposed to get Kingston's booking, but he's still new to the main roster. Things could ultimately change drastically due to the move to FOX for SmackDown. Ali is still a face and provides fantastic matches. This might be the run he was supposed to have earlier this year. I'd be all for him winning it if something more is attached to winning instead of getting a crown and scepter.
#2 Worst Choice - The Miz
Like Shelton Benjamin, The Miz winning any type of "star-making" match seems like relying on the past. While the WWE clearly utilizes that strategy more often than not, he is perfectly fine by not winning this.
His babyface run, although greatly needed, has sort of hit a stalling point recently after losing to Shane McMahon multiple times. Miz has already won mid-card titles several times, so giving him another accolade at this point seems like a detriment to the overwhelming plethora of hungry young Superstars who need that one push forward.
If he did win the tournament, it might be a reward for constantly putting over Shane. It would be a mistake, but he has been a loyal company man. If his show gets more popular, a win could also be a reward for that. The Miz still has his place in the company and he's worked hard for it. It's just that there are many newer stars that are just as or even more hungry now.
#1 Best Choice - Drew McIntyre
Other than the Miz, Drew McIntyre has been hurt the most from his dealings with Shane-O-Mac. The Scottish Psychopath lost to Roman Reigns at one PPV while Shane picked up a win over the Big Dog at Super ShowDown. McIntyre is too dang talented to be holding Shane's water. He should be drinking it and grabbing more drinks that lead to high-end accolades in WWE.
He was positioned as the top non-Brock Lesnar heel on RAW, but that partnership with McMahon has somewhat lessened his spot in WWE. He's still one of the most complete performers in the company but he needs a complete separation from Shane McMahon.
The best - and most sensible - way to do that would be a win in the King of the Ring Tournament. He's a heel and if a title shot is attached to winning the tournament, then it makes sense for him to win the tournament. Some recent reports have suggested that it's McIntyre who is the next challenger for Rollins, so a win in KOTR would back that up.
McIntyre desperately needs something that propels him into a consistent main-event presence and a Universal Championship win. Although Seth Rollins just won the belt back, the chances of him winning the title right away are slim.
#1 Worst Choice - Baron Corbin
The picture above is proof alone that Corbin shouldn't be winning the 2019 King of the Ring. Despite my thoughts, he is still someone that is pushed like a big threat. Management likes him despite the crowd disliking him and the audience doesn't dislike him because he's a great heel.
Corbin received three shots at the Universal Championship prior to SummerSlam. He thankfully failed in all of those bids, but part of the reason why those events might have fell short was the constant rematches that both he and Lacey Evans received.
The Lone Wolf has also already won an Andre the Giant Battle Royal and the Money in the Bank contract. His failure to cash in was one of the misfires that led WWE to the notion that they had to nail this year's winner. His winning would likely be met with groans from a good portion of the WWE Universe.
He'd likely add that accolade to his ongoing introduction and just become even more annoying. If creating a new star out of this tournament is the goal, then having Corbin win it would not produce the desired result.
The winner needs to be someone who's exciting in the ring and someone who hasn't had many or any pushes. Corbin does not fit those criteria. It might not matter because the WWE can and will do whatever it wants, but a win by the Lone Wolf won't really help going forward.
