WWE King Of The Ring Updates, Brackets, And Predictions
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The first week of King of the Ring matches have taken place. Over the course of Monday's Raw and Tuesday's Smackdown Live, four matches took place. Of course, both Mat Elfring and Chris E. Hayner's prediction brackets were ruined during these nights, but we'll keep you updated about the winners for each match as the tournament goes on.
After years of not being used, WWE has decided to bring back the King of the Ring tournament. This is a four-round, 16-person event taking place over multiple evenings. The first round of the event will take place on the August 19 episode of Raw, with Round 2 happening on August 20's Smackdown Live.
This is a tournament that has created plenty of major moments for WWE superstars, including when "Stone Cold" Steve Austin won the 1996 King of the Ring and gave his famous "Austin 3:16" speech after beating Jake "The Snake" Roberts. While not all King of the Ring winners went on to amazing careers in WWE--looking at you, King Mabel--it does elevate the superstar and puts them on everyone's radar.
There hasn't been a King of the Ring tournament since 2015, so fans are pretty excited to see its return. Speaking of fans, GameSpot's Wrestle Buddies, Mat Elfring and Chris E. Hayner have their brackets filled out for this year's event, and here are who they think will win and lose this year.
Cesaro vs. Samoa Joe
Winner: Samoa Joe (August 19)
Mat: This is actually a tough match to predict. I see both of these men going far in this tournament. However, I feel like Cesaro is in need of a push, and King of the Ring is about elevating talent that needs it--at least it used to be. Samoa Joe is heavily established and doesn't need to move forward. Is Cesaro still heel? Will this be a heel vs. heel match? That's pretty cool, if that's the case. Regardless of what happens, Cesaro has been putting on some dynamite matches, and this his match to win.
Chris: All of this would be much easier to do if we had any idea what this randomly occurring King of the Ring tournament meant or what any of it was leading to. For all we know, the winner gets nothing and will Bad News King Barretted into obscurity. That sucks, given the talent involved. But maybe WWE will right the course of this cursed tournament and actually crown someone it plans to push to the moon. With that said, Cesaro needs the win here. Joe is already over as a monster and Cesaro would be a World Champion one day.
Ricochet vs. Drew McIntyre
Mat: Ricochet has been on fire since getting his call up to the main roster from NXT. And at the same time, McIntyre has been one of the most dominant heels on WWE TV. How do you pick a winner? Both of these men have been in the spotlight, even if said spotlight is sullied by Shane McMahon's need to be involved in every storyline. While Ricochet seems like the obvious call for this match, McIntyre needs to step out on his own, away from McMahon, to remind everyone that he's a real contender. McIntyre will get the win here, but I don't think he'll go much further than the first round in the tournament.
Chris: This one's difficult. Both men have been entertaining since joining the main roster. One's been saddled by Shane McMahon, while the other has suffered a series of losses to AJ Styles. So they both deserve it. I'm going with Ricochet, though, as McIntyre is a devious enough villain that he could easily get his momentum back by beating someone up viciously.
Cedric Alexander vs. Sami Zayn
Winner: Cedric Alexander (August 19)
Mat: Since his return, Sami Zayn has become the voice of the frustrated in WWE--and he says a lot of things that WWE fans have been thinking for the past year. He's been dynamite. Then, there's Cedric Alexander, and his matches have been stealing the show at numerous PPVs in the past, even if he's just on the Kickoff Show. However, I see Sami Zayn going very far in this tournament because let's not forget while he's amazing on the mic, he's equally as great in the ring. Zayn is the total package.
Chris: Sami Zayn. Please. Post-Wrestlemania, there was no more interesting character than Sami Zayn. It seemed, at last, like WWE would take him seriously. Then they didn't, because they just don't know how. This is how. Give Zayn the win, and let him make it far in the tournament. He doesn't have to win the whole thing, but show that he can be an actual threat in the ring.
The Miz vs. Baron Corbin
Mat: The Miz works best as a heel. The best moments from this character are when he's working as the bad guy. The same can be said for Baron Corbin. And Corbin certainly is working heel right now. It only makes sense for Corbin to get the first round win here. Him advancing just makes more sense.
Chris: I don't even know anymore, honestly. The Miz has been elevated high recently, but his good guy character is boring. Baron Corbin, meanwhile, could be a top star, eventually. Not now, though. He still needs some seasoning to be a believable World Champion-level talent. Let's just say Miz.
Kevin Owens vs. Elias
Winner: Elias (August 20)
Mat: Elias has been a weird place for a while. It feels like they're moving away his character a bit from the guitar playing jerk to some sort of enforcer. Personally, I'm not a fan. Meanwhile, Kevin Owens is still amazing because he's Kevin Owens. He's on a hot streak, and he will have no problem making his way through Elias. Owens gets the win.
Secondary prediction: Elias loses the 24/7 Championship right after losing to Owens.
Chris: Regardless of what this King of the Ring actually means, Owens should be the spotlight. WWE has been rebuilding him as a main event player and he should be a world champion. Elias is in the same place he always is. He's just there, doing his thing. And he seems content to do it. Owens needs to win this and run through the field of competition.
Ali vs. Buddy Murphy
Mat: It's the match many people won't care about. But they should. This has the potential to be the best match in the entire tournament as both former 205 Live members have put on some brilliant matches in the past. Ali hasn't been involved in anything big on TV lately, and Murphy is finally getting a push, as he was involved in that weird Roman Reigns being hit by a car storyline. I could go either way on this one, but Ali winning makes more sense to me.
Chris: I'm one of those people that won't care because WWE has not made us care about the 205 Live talent. Ali had some promising moments earlier this year, before falling prey to injury. Buddy Murphy has had exactly one Smackdown Live match since moving to the blue brand. I'll say Buddy Murphy because he's at least been on TV in recent weeks.
Chad Gable vs. Shelton Benjamin
Mat: If you love reading rumors, just like I do, then you've probably heard rumblings about Chad Gable's name eventually changing to "Shorty G." I love how weird and terrible that is. Anyway, that's my only thought on this match. I expect Shelton Benjamin to win this, and I have no real reason why.
Chris: I don't care about this one either. This is silly. Gable, I guess. Man, it sure shows how light Smackdown is on talent, though. Also Shorty G is a stupid name for a person.
Apollo Crews vs. Andrade:
Winner: Andrade (August 20)
Mat: Do I have to go through this, beat by beat? It's Apollo Crews vs. Andrade--who has been on fire right recently. Andrade wins.
Chris: If Apollo Crews wins this, I will be shocked. Andrade will be the victor.
Elfring's King of the Ring Winner: Sami Zayn
Bracket ruined! (August 19)
I went back and forth between Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Cesaro winning this tournament. I am convinced it will be one of them that takes the crown. However, when it comes to predicting just one of them, Sami Zayn feels barely ahead of the pack. This is going to be a prove yourself moment for him and put him back into the main event picture, and what better way to get there than taking on your best friend/former enemy, Kevin Owens? Their feud in NXT was brilliant, and I'd love to see the caliber of matches they had there for the finale of King of the Ring.
Hayner's King of the Ring Winner: Kevin Owens
Bracket ruined! (August 20)
Owens should win, Owens needs to win, Owens deserves to win. He's been on fire the past several months, even when saddled with a Shane McMahon storyline. He's on his way to being a world champion again and this could be the final push in that direction. Give this to Kevin Owens and let him show you why it was the right decision.