2025 bracket · All 24 winners with photos · Logo history carousel · History since 1985. Cody Rhodes is the reigning King; 2026 date TBD.
The WWE King and Queen of the Ring is a single-elimination tournament held periodically since 1985, with 24 editions of the King of the Ring. The most recent edition took place June 28, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to win the King crown, then used his SummerSlam title shot to beat John Cena. The 2026 date and location have not yet been announced — expected May–June in Saudi Arabia.
King & Queen of the Ring 2026 — Date TBD
No date or location has been confirmed for 2026. WWE is expected to hold the event in Saudi Arabia again, likely between May and July 2026. As soon as WWE confirms details, this page will update.
👑 Logo History & Name Timeline
The tournament has used 8 distinct logos since its 1985 debut. Scroll to see every era.
👑 2025 King of the Ring Bracket
👑 2025 Queen of the Ring Bracket
All King of the Ring Winners — Photos (1985–2025)
Every wrestler crowned King of the Ring, from Don Muraco in 1985 to Cody Rhodes in 2025.
Complete King of the Ring Winners List (1985–2025)
All 24 tournament winners with dates, events, locations, and SummerSlam title shot outcomes.
* Bret Hart is the only two-time winner (1991, 1993). No tournament held in 1990, 1992, 2003–2005, 2007, 2009, 2011–2014, 2016–2018, 2020, 2022–2023.
History of King of the Ring — By Era
The King of the Ring began as a non-televised house show held annually. Winners received the "King of the Ring" crown with minimal storyline impact. Bret Hart (1991) and Don Muraco (1985) were among the first champions. No tournament was held in 1990 or 1992.
Starting in 1993, King of the Ring became one of WWE's "Big Five" annual PPVs. The 1996 event gave us Stone Cold's iconic "Austin 3:16" promo — widely considered the birth of the Attitude Era. The 2002 edition added a championship title shot; Brock Lesnar won and defeated The Rock at SummerSlam.
The standalone PPV ended after 2002. The tournament returned periodically across Raw/SmackDown episodes, with finals at other events. Winners: Booker T (2006), William Regal (2008), Sheamus (2010), Bad News Barrett (2015), Baron Corbin (2019), Xavier Woods (2021).
WWE introduced the women's companion tournament — initially Queen's Crown — in 2021, running alongside the King of the Ring. Zelina Vega won the inaugural Queen's Crown at Crown Jewel 2021 in Saudi Arabia.
In 2024, the tournament was elevated back to premium live event status as "King and Queen of the Ring," held in Saudi Arabia with a SummerSlam championship match as the prize. Gunther won 2024; Cody Rhodes won 2025 and successfully cashed in vs. John Cena at SummerSlam 2025.
Tournament Format & Facts
King & Queen of the Ring — FAQ
When is WWE King and Queen of the Ring 2026?
As of March 2026, WWE has not officially announced a date or location for the 2026 King and Queen of the Ring. Based on past years, the event typically takes place in May–June, likely in Saudi Arabia as part of WWE's partnership deal. Bookmark this page for updates.
Who won the King of the Ring 2025?
Cody Rhodes won the 2025 King of the Ring, defeating Randy Orton in the final at Night of Champions on June 28, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rhodes used his championship shot at SummerSlam 2025, defeating John Cena in a Street Fight.
Who won the Queen of the Ring 2025?
Jade Cargill won the 2025 Queen of the Ring, defeating Asuka in the final at Night of Champions on June 28, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What is the King of the Ring prize?
Since 2024, the King of the Ring winner receives a world championship match at SummerSlam — the same applies to the Queen of the Ring. Before 2024, the prize was the crown and associated royal gimmick. The only previous exception was 2002 (Brock Lesnar won a title shot and defeated The Rock at SummerSlam).
Who has won the most King of the Ring tournaments?
Bret "Hitman" Hart is the only two-time King of the Ring winner, having won in 1991 (house show) and 1993 (inaugural King of the Ring PPV in Dayton, Ohio). All other winners have claimed the crown exactly once.
What started 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's career?
Winning the 1996 King of the Ring is the turning point in Steve Austin's career. His "Austin 3:16" promo — delivered immediately after defeating Jake Roberts in the final — launched the Stone Cold character and helped ignite the Attitude Era.
Has WWE King of the Ring always been a PPV?
No. It was a house show from 1985–1992, became a PPV from 1993–2002, was held as TV specials from 2006–2021, and returned as a dedicated premium live event (King and Queen of the Ring) in 2024.
Where is King and Queen of the Ring usually held?
Since 2024, it has been held in Saudi Arabia. The 2024 event was in Jeddah, and the 2025 finals were in Riyadh. This is part of WWE's long-term Saudi Arabia partnership agreement.
Related Events & Pages
Wrestler images & logo history courtesy TheSmackDownHotel.com. Data subject to change.