I just figured out what's missing in WWE

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by NeanderCarl Alienoid, a "King of Kings" tournament is a great idea, but watering it down with nothing but "replacements" for the ACTUAL winners would kill it dead before it even started. Why should Lashley (as an example) be given the position earned by Brock Lesnar, despite not having beaten any of the opponents Lesnar had to beat, nor being associated with Lesnar in any way? And especially why have Turkay, who is not over and I doubt he ever will be, become "King of Kings" when he never won a KOTR to begin with?? Of the KOTR winners, only three are no-gos. Bret Hart is unable to wrestle due to a brain injury, Owen Hart is dead, and Billy Gunn is under contract to TNA. Steve Austin is inactive, but he could conceivably work a match if required (and against a "worthy" opponent). Shamrock is not associated with wrestling anymore, but could still work a match if offered anough young (children, not Eric). And all other KOTR PPV winners are available. Additionally, Harley Race claims he could still work another match if he was required. Haku hasn't long retired, if he even has. Jim Duggan is still floating around. Randy Savage competed as recently as last year (although it's doubtful WWE will re-employ the "Macho Man") And Jerry Lawler stills works regularly too (he is an official WWF KOTR, having beaten Bret Hart for the crown at SummerSlam '93). So you still have enough possibilities to make a King Of Kings tourney work. Of course, why bother, because Trips would win it to solidify his "king of kings" moniker anyway. As a side note, WWE already featured a "King Of Kings" scenario in 1998, when they had Ken Shamrock defeat all previous Kings (they cited the match where Shamrock made Bret tap behind the referees back as his "victory" over Bret) and declared "The World's Most Dangerous Man" as the pre-eminant King of the Ring.

Ken Shamrock is indeed a dangerous man...

A more "pure" tournament would certainly be more faithful, but I doubt it will really take off. I mean Haku, Jerry Lawler and Harley Race, as great as they are, sure probably stay out of any kind of major WWE event.

The reason I threw guys like Bobby Lashley, Sylvester Terkay and Shelton Benjamin in there was just to fill out the places a bit more. Lashley may not have any connection to Brock Lesnar officially, but they have a similar wrestling style. Paul Heyman (who used to manage Lesnar) could sign off on Lashley being Lesnar's replacement.

It does sound very, very contrived, but I think it would kind of work.

An actual tournament of King of the Ring Winners is probably a good idea, though. I wouldn't have Stone Cold Steve Austin return, though. Unless he can pull as a Shawn Michaels. That would be a miracle.

1. Harry Smith (Replacements does seem silly, but Harry Smith, being directly related to Bret Hart does make a lot of sense, and it would be a great push for him)
2. Viscera
3. Stone Cold Steve Austin
4. Triple H
5. Ken Shamrock
6. Kurt Angle
7. Edge
8. King Booker

If Stone Cold Steve Austin did return, I see no better opponent for Austin to face than Triple H. The two held the World Tag Team Championship together, had a great feud, and Triple H could work a decent match with a guy in a wheelchair, and Austin, whilst close to it, isn't in one yet). Shamrock would probably return just for the dream match with Angle. Both use Ankle Locks, both are legit ass-kickers. It could work really well. Edge vs. King Booker is WWE Champion vs. World Heavyweight Champion at the current time. Viscera can be used to feed Harry Smith. This tournament looks too good to be true.

Harry Smith defeats Viscera, seeing as Smith has the brighter future and all. Triple H beating Stone Cold Steve Austin seems like the thing to do, but the irony of Harry Smith beating Austin at the end of his epic career after Bret Hart beating Austin caused it to really swell up, is too great to ignore. Randy Orton costs Triple H the match, or something.

Angle forces Shamrock to tap like a little bitch. The final first round match is harder to call, but I think sending Edge through would be the smarter thing to do, as they can play up Angle and Edge's past rivalry, and point out that Angle and Edge met in the finals of the 2001 King of the Ring Tournament.

Harry Smith forces Austin to tap out to the Sharpshooter. I think that would be a fitting end to Stone Cold Steve Austin's career. Angle and Edge wrestle a badass semi-final match, but Angle forces Edge to submit to the Ankle Lock. The final match will be Harry Smith w/ Bret Hart vs. Kurt Angle. By this time Smith will be huge, Angle will be huge. Part of me wants to say Smith would go over, but even though his career is winding down, Angle could probably use some kind of epic accomplishment like this. They need to humble Smith, as well. Angle forces Smith to pass-out to the Ankle Lock, or something like that. Kurt Angle and Bret Hart have a stare-down after the match, and Angle shakes The Hitman's hand. The greatest match that never happened.