'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The King of the Ring tournament was once the most prestigious tournament style event the WWE held. It has provided a launching pad for those stars who are ready to move into the main event, given rise to great storylines, and featured some of the most legendary talent to ever lace up a pair of boots. Sadly, there hasn't been a WWE-wide KOR tournament since 2015.
While WWE has toyed with the idea of having a King of the Ring tournament, they seem set on the idea it should feature only their UK stars.
Here are seven reasons the WWE should bring back a company-wide King of the Ring Tournament.
1: Tournaments are big business right now
Wrestling tournaments used to be more prevalent, but the rise of cable TV and perceived shorter attention spans has led to most US-based companies to abandon them entirely. Only Ring of Honor has a regular tournament, the Top Prospect which is held every year.
WWE should take a look at how much attention, money, and ratings are to be had with the tournament format, like the G1 Climax.
2: Tournaments reward the dedicated fan
One of the reasons many wrestling promotions abandoned tournament style events was the fear of alienating casual fans. It is thought that the casuals won't be able to pay attention to, or even understand, what the tournament entails.
Perhaps some casual viewers might be turned off by the complicated points based system of the G1 tournament, but casual viewers are not the only wrestling fans. Tournament style events are a rich reward for the die hard and dedicated fan base, who eagerly devour the statistics, points, and odds of winning their favorite wrestlers enjoy.
3: King of the Ring can change a career
As Stunning Steve Austin, the man who would become Rattlesnake enjoyed a reputation for being a rock solid worker with above average mike skills. He was never intended to be anything more than a mid card champion.
That all changed when he won the King of the Ring tournament in 1996. Austin gave a thoroughly ungrateful acceptance speech, then coined the famous "Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!" catchphrase, which would become synonymous not only with his career, but the WWE in general during the Attitude Era.
The King of the Ring could be a great place for wrestlers like Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre who struggle to get out of the mid card and into the main event.
4: So many Legends have been King of the RIng
Bret Hart, Macho Man Randy Savage, Kurt Angle, Harley Race...the list of previous King of the Ring winners reads like a who's who of great 1990s and 2000s wrestling talent.
Winning the King of the Ring is an accolade that never fades, even as the years pass. It's quite the feather in the cap for wrestlers who have already contributed a great deal to the sport during their career.
5: Inter-brand warfare would result in fantastic matches
One of the downsides of the brand split in WWE is the fact that wrestlers are kept separated from each other. This means that you won't get to see Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode, or Heavy Machinery take on the Bar.
But in the KOR tournament, all brands are created equal, and there is the potential for excellent matches. Who wouldn't want to see Cedric Alexander vs AJ Styles, or Dolph Ziggler take on Velveteen Dream?
6: There has been a return to a focus on in-ring action
The wrestling industry runs in cycles, like most forms of entertainment. In the Classic WWE era, there was a heavy emphasis on the wrestling with promos and interviews being secondary. As time went on, the focus shifted. During the Attitude Era the emphasis was placed upon interviews, skits, and backstage antics, with many matches lasting less than five minutes.
Times have changed again, and the wrestling fans seem to crave more in ring action. WWE has already responded to this change, which is why they have acquired the services of men like AJ Styles--widely regarded as one of the best in the world--to their roster. A King of the Ring would be a wrestling-heavy event, which would please the audience.
7: There need to be more Inter-brand PPVs
The brand split has resulted in a lot of opportunity for wrestlers, but has also resulted in less exciting pay per views.
With a new King of the Ring, WWE could bring all of its stars together for the event. This could revitalize the product and result in much greater interest not only from fans, but from the media as well.
There you have it; Seven reasons the WWE should bring back the King of the Ring tournament. What are your favorite KOR moments? Please comment and let us know.
