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Game of Thrones - The top 10 Kings of the Ring: photos6 d. x( |. `5 Q4 T' }' y, t
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Booker T transformed himself into King Booker when he won the 2006 edition of the King of the Ring tournament.
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King Booker reigned over SmackDown, and eventually won the World Heavyweight Championship while King.
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Bret "Hit Man" Hart is the only Superstar to win the King of the Ring tournament on two occasions.3 T4 q7 L+ C' D( C# A# T
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b M6 p7 e P3 l: NThe "Hit Man" first became King in 1991, and later defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in 1993's tournament final matchup.
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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.: B; S6 e8 H' v* m ?
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Brock 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.
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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.( u% _6 o1 a$ Q" |+ Q! a
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l/ n& A# J2 ]" a B. k7 GHarley 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.! b' X X6 |6 S$ I1 I0 [" c
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. ~% N, h* _" |" Q$ Q( z* VKing Harley Race defended the crown like a championship, and only relinquished it due to injury. Upon which, Bobby Heenan awarded the crown to Haku.* B0 ]: W% }; M0 B0 U) X
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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.
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Mabel was the 1995 King of the Ring, defeating Superstars like The Undertaker along the way.
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As King Mabel, he appointed his associate Sir Mo.
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Few Kings were as memorable as Randy Savage, who transformed from "Macho Man" to "Macho King."
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Though 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.! m- d; t8 g- p' G/ K1 F
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"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's King of the Ring victory was a watershed moment for WWE.# X, p* l/ _2 g& f% X) H! [
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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.2 s( z( b: F& N4 L
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$ X s; t% C& [* j+ @. ~1 ATriple 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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6 ]6 [8 @0 X4 |+ ySome 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.0 s) o9 B/ x+ C$ [8 j
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