10 Reasons WWE's Worst Era Is Secretly Its BEST Era
7. Introducing The King Of The Ring As A PPV
The New Generation didn't introduce the concept of the King of the Ring, but it did present the KOTR tournament as a PPV attraction, a major deal, and something that could be a launching point to the main event scene for its winners.
With the first King of the Ring tourney taking place in 1986, this single-night competition originally took place at non-televised events. Likewise, the winners of the initial King of the Rings were made men - such as Harley Race, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and Don Muraco - who the tournament win did nothing for, bar give Race and Savage the King moniker to use as part of their heel personas.
The last of these non-televised KOTRs took place in 1991 and was won by Bret Hart, and when the decision was made to not only bring King of the Ring back in '93 but to also run the tournament's quarter-finals and beyond on PPV, it was the Hitman who was again given the nod to win the crown.
Given how he'd been shunted out of the WWF Title picture by Hulk Hogan at the close of WrestleMania IX, King of the Ring was designed to give Bret a consolation prize of sorts. Added to that, the Excellence of Execution put on an all-timer of a PPV performance here, having three excellent, extremely different matches with Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, and Bam Bam Bigelow on his way to victory.
Truth be told, the KOTR did nothing to elevate a Bret Hart who was already a top star, but subsequent New Generation editions of the tournament would be used to springboard Owen Hart, Mabel, Steve Austin, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley up the card.