WWE’s King of the Ring tournament is already underway, but the final destination may not have been locked in when the brackets were first shown to fans.
During WrestleVotes Radio, Joey Votes revealed that WWE creative had not firmly settled on this year’s King of the Ring winner when the tournament field was released. The note made it clear that several names were still in play behind the scenes, with the bracket built in a way that could allow WWE to move in more than one direction.
“In speaking with a source tied into WWE Creative, we’ve learned the winner of this year’s King of the Ring tournament was not firmly decided upon when the brackets were revealed last Sunday. According to the source, at least three superstars have been pitched internally as potential winners and were strategically positioned throughout the tournament field with the possibility in mind that they could win the thing.”
That caught Joey Votes off guard, because WWE had already put the bracket in front of the public. He questioned how the company could reveal the tournament without creative already being on the same page about who would win it.
“You got to figure one’s Oba and then give me your other two because — not to cut you off, but the backing of this report is how do you release a bracket where creative is not on the same page on who’s going to win the thing when you release it to the public? It just — when I heard this, I said, you guys have to be kidding me.”
TC had a different view of the situation. Instead of seeing it as a problem, he argued that WWE may be protecting itself after several creative plans have been wrecked by injuries over the last year and a half. In his mind, having multiple winners ready gives WWE more flexibility if something goes wrong.
“Well, I have the exact opposite reaction of you there. Okay, let’s hear it. I think this is somebody who has been bitten by a dog once, bitten by a dog twice, and bitten by a dog three times. So much that when you get close to any kind of dog, you don’t go in with your hand directly out. You kind of are a little bit more timid, a little bit more trepidatious.”
TC then explained why WWE may not want to lock itself into one creative outcome too early. With injuries changing major plans in recent months, he said WWE could be keeping emergency options ready in case the tournament needs to shift.
“I think the injuries are exactly what WWE is worried about this point in time, having one specific person in mind to book through this tournament, that if they were to get hurt, they’re left holding the bag yet again. So I think this is smart business by WWE to have multiple options in place if one of them gets hurt, if two of them get hurt, they have all three storylines sort of ready to go in any break glass in case of emergency sort of situation.”
TC also named several stars who could fit into that conversation. Oba Femi was the first obvious name brought up, but Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and LA Knight were also mentioned as possible candidates.
“So whether it’s Oba, whether it’s Seth Rollins or maybe even Bron Breakker or LA Knight, I could see any four of those guys being the three that they had plans for here. And I think that’s smart business to do that.”
The discussion then turned to the bigger issue of WWE needing backup plans for major tournament stories. TC said that having several outcomes ready could also help with events like Money in the Bank and the Royal Rumble, especially after fans have watched storylines change direction because of injuries.
“What I’m saying is I think that if they could have all these plans in place not only for the King of the Ring tournament, but for other things as well — Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble — have plans in place, multiple plans, contingency plans. Where it doesn’t blow up in your face if a guy goes down, as we’ve seen happen time and time again over the last 18 months.”
Joey then came around to TC’s point, admitting that backup plans are not the worst idea. Still, he wanted to know who the three serious options were. TC again pointed to Oba Femi and added that Brock Lesnar’s own situation could factor into WWE’s decision.
“Oba, and I think also maybe the status of Brock Lesnar and what he wants. I mean, you have to remember Brock Lesnar calls a lot of his own shots in terms of where he’s going to be wrestling, when he’s going to be wrestling. Not 100%, but he has a big input in that.”
That creates another layer for the King of the Ring tournament. If WWE wants to keep Oba Femi tied to Brock Lesnar, then the tournament could become a way to push that story forward without necessarily having Oba win the whole thing.
“So maybe there’s some, hey, let’s see what happens with Brock here. Maybe we could do something different with Oba. Maybe we have Brock cost Oba that will get him out of the tournament.”
For now, WWE’s King of the Ring tournament appears to be moving forward with more than one possible ending still on the table. That may sound strange for a major tournament, but it also gives WWE room to adjust if injuries, Brock Lesnar’s availability, or creative direction force a change before the crown is handed out.
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