Best/Worst KOTR Moments

parker kent

In honour of the KOTR tournament tonight, I thought it was a good time to look at some of the best moments in the tournaments history. In no particular order, here are some of my favourite moments.

Bret Hart winning in 1993 was particularly memorable for the quality of the matches, which probably hasn't been surpassed. All 3 matches were pretty good, but the final is my favourite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnlkt1JJktw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTnZJbvWaUI

Then for sheer importance, this coronation speech by Steve Austin would lead to a change in wrestling history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGM1o8CDLs8

Any other favourites out there?

As for the worst, King of the Ring 2000 was easily the worst for me. Kurt Angle won it, but the quality of matches was dreadful. Lots of sub 5 minute matches and some very unusual choices to make the latter stages.

A pity as they could have had Kurt v Eddie in the semi and Angle v Chris Benoit in the final. Instead both Benoit and Eddie went out in th early stages and the likes of Val Venis, Crash Holly and Rikishi advanced.

CMpunked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOcXA8F4zHE

Penn

I enjoyed KOTR 98, but mainly cos I was a big fan of Ken Shamrock. It was a good tournament though. Other than that, the only one I really saw was KOTR 2001, which was fairly interesting and had some good matches. Christian V Angle with Shane mcMahon interfering. Edge V Rhyno Spear V Gore. Then Edge V Angle with Christian and Shane run-ins.

gimmick

Worst moment

chordtype

I see your Mabel and raise you one Billy Gunn.

parker kent

The people mentioning non-KOTR tournament matches are a good reason why the WWE abandoned having the tournament as a stand-alone PPV! The tournament itself stopped being the main attraction.

HBK

chordtype wrote: »

I see your Mabel and raise you one Billy Gunn.

Eh???? Only the best moment In KOTR history? Should have elevated him to main event!

Instead he had a gay marriage and became 'The One'. Such a waste!

briany

parker kent wrote: »

The people mentioning non-KOTR tournament matches are a good reason why the WWE abandoned having the tournament as a stand-alone PPV! The tournament itself stopped being the main attraction.

Yeah well since the eighties with fans being exposed to so many more exciting specialty matches and everything else, a simple knockout tournament or a night of 4 man tag team matches or lots of men stuffed in a ring not being able to do too much but punch and throw each other over the top rope don't have the central appeal that they maybe once did.

I too love the moment in '98 when Shamrock slapped on the ankle lock. They he put it on, I never saw it coming at the time.

CMpunked

HBK wrote: »

Eh???? Only the best moment In KOTR history? Should have elevated him to main event!

Instead he had a gay marriage and became 'The One'. Such a waste!

Dont forget the most ridiculus decleration of war on Vinny Mac.
One that lasted all but 15 minutes?

parker kent

briany wrote: »

Yeah well since the eighties with fans being exposed to so many more exciting specialty matches and everything else, a simple knockout tournament or a night of 4 man tag team matches or lots of men stuffed in a ring not being able to do too much but punch and throw each other over the top rope don't have the central appeal that they maybe once did.

I too love the moment in '98 when Shamrock slapped on the ankle lock. They he put it on, I never saw it coming at the time.

Royal Rumble or Survivor Series is a matter for another topic, but there is a place for a well executed one-night tournament. The problem is when it became devalued and relegated to being on the under card. A tournament gives an opportunity to create a story over one night (has an injury but carries on for example). The key is having good matches and characters that people care about. Steve Austin and Bret Hart, not Mabel and Billy Gunn.

Most matches on TV and PPV are not gimmick matches and that doesn't seem to bother fans. So I would not really agree that fans need special matches to hold their attention.

HBK

Ive had the fecking theme song to 'the one' in my head since I mentioned it this morning!

seandotcomm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WESO_xQ5Bgs

Shane McMahon v. Kurt Angle Street Fight in 2001.
Some amazing spots... Shane's Shooting Star Press and the belly to belly through the glass...

HBK

seandotcomm wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WESO_xQ5Bgs

Shane McMahon v. Kurt Angle Street Fight in 2001.
Some amazing spots... Shane's Shooting Star Press and the belly to belly through the glass...

I'm pretty sure he was asking about tournement specific matches here?

That match was a standalone match outside of the tournament if i recall right?

Also that belly to belly through the glass was botched twice before it suceeded, as the glass wouldnt break. Horrendous looking.

seandotcomm

Yea, was just on the PPV, not in the tournament.
I think the botches made it better.. with the glass not breaking. Made the glass look less "fake" when it took a few tries to smash Shane through it.

CMpunked

seandotcomm wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WESO_xQ5Bgs

Shane McMahon v. Kurt Angle Street Fight in 2001.
Some amazing spots... Shane's Shooting Star Press and the belly to belly through the glass...

What an epic match.
An honorable mention has to go to that titantron, for being awesome.

jaykhunter

One of my favourite matches in KOTR. It's a huge shame that Lesnar was thrown into the main-event so quickly, AND only spent 2 years in the WWE. We missed out on a lot of great feuds he could've had. These two could've feuded for another 2 months it'd be great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZylcDrXZ0k

I wish Lesnar got to feud with HHH. Would've been awesome.