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Game of Thrones: The Top 10 Kings of the Ring photos
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5 O8 [) ~% I/ q$ t+ mBooker T transformed himself into King Booker when he won the 2006 edition of the King of the Ring tournament.. t% F0 c, h, m3 n4 Y
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* h) ^+ O) R8 k8 wKing Booker reigned over SmackDown, and eventually won the World Heavyweight Championship while King.
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, C! I6 p6 ~+ J( S4 H; A# EBret "Hit Man" Hart is the only Superstar to win the King of the Ring tournament on two occasions.
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The "Hit Man" first became King in 1991, and later defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in 1993's tournament final matchup.7 s4 {, y0 ?& [6 K- J3 b# J- ?
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Jerry "The King" Lawler took exception to Bret's victory, attacking The Excellence of Execution, sparking a rivalry that would last for more than two years.0 _: `. P# Y5 i* P; g
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/ \& g9 [, M; R0 R ? y; zBrock Lesnar won the 2002 King of the Ring while running roughshod over the WWE roster en route to becoming the youngest WWE Champion in history.) G3 y/ D- ^* L' p5 y0 U c
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Edge was the 2001 King of the Ring, a tournament that featured a trophy cup for the winner instead of royal garb.
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After becoming King of the Ring, Edge became the most decorated WWE Superstar in history, retired as World Heavyweight Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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Harley Race was not the first winner of the King of the Ring tournament, but was the first WWE Superstar to adopt the "King" moniker as a part of his name.% F' L7 ~. I0 ^9 u1 T, J
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2 w( i5 |2 a# D. rKing Harley Race defended the crown like a championship, and only relinquished it due to injury. Upon which, Bobby Heenan awarded the crown to Haku.3 I- a3 g& R: ~2 P5 T/ [2 A; V
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Kurt Angle won the King of the Ring tournament in 2000, just one accolade in perhaps the most successful single year in WWE history." b/ {0 v( @8 F2 R0 c% N8 h: h
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; ?' z8 G8 D# o* A5 G4 G( iMabel was the 1995 King of the Ring, defeating Superstars like The Undertaker along the way.
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! j/ a6 t' k& Z. MAs King Mabel, he appointed his associate Sir Mo.' y* V0 x8 R( u1 o' Z7 G
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Few Kings were as memorable as Randy Savage, who transformed from "Macho Man" to "Macho King."6 S+ g! C$ S! W; J1 h1 a
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/ P% Q- U6 b9 x" [/ x- G1 v7 tThough Savage won the King of the Ring tournament in 1987, he did not adopt the King moniker until 1991, after defeating "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan for the crown.. ?: K5 R* x8 g* Z
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"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's King of the Ring victory was a watershed moment for WWE.
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Austin's win over Jake "The Snake" Roberts was monumental, but his post-match victory speech has become iconic for coining the "Austin 3:16" catchphrase.
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Triple H defeated Mankind to win the 1997 King of the Ring tournament. Their rivalry would continue for the next three years, culminating in the main event of WrestleMania 2000.
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Some say Triple H's victory was overdue, and it propelled him to the spotlight, forming D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels shortly after the tournament.6 @, m5 N% h. J8 r {! f
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