IC25 Handicaps King of the Ring

[IrishCanadian25]

It's something I do each year with the Royal Rumble - I'm going to assign odds to the participants of the King of the Ring tournament and why I feel the way I do. I'd love to get some thoughts on this as well.

The Favorites

Alberto del Rio, 4-1

Aside from Jerry Lawler, the moniker "King of the Ring" has never been so befitting of anyone more than Del Rio. He enters the ring in lavish luxury, from a customer Rolls or Bentley to the silk scarf he seems to refuse to remove the way Linus would clutch his blanket. In his debut, he made Rey Mysterio look pedestrian. He's quite possibly the most natural heel who has debuted in some time, and the KOTR tournament generally works better with a heel than a face, much like Money in the Bank.

Seamus, 6-1

Nobody else in the tournament is a former WWE Champion, and Seamus has been that twice. Plus, as my good friend NorCal pointed out to me via text message the other day, having Seamus call himself "The King of the Ring" sets up a massive feud with a returning "King of Kings" in Triple H. His odds drop to 6-1 as he is off a big loss to John Morrison in a match he dominated. It may just serve to make him mad. On a side note - in every KOTR tournament, I look for a "DQ Risk." That is the guy who has the best chance of being disqualified and hurting his opponent, who has to advance and wrestle again despite being hurt. Seamus could feasibly get DQ'ed against John Morrison if he can't keep his temper, setting up JoMo to have to wrestle a heel in the following round while hurt. It's a common WWE tournament technique.

The Spoilers

Drew McIntyre, 10-1

It seems as though Drew's push was taken away from him and given to Del Rio, but he still has a great look and fantastic physical tools. He's also still a Shawn Michaels protege, so you can never count him out. He's a smug heel, which is perfect for the KOTR role, and this would give him some instant heat. I just don't see any momentum at all for the big Scotsman, aside from his girlfriend Taryn Terrell being released recently.

Ezekiel Jackson, 12-1

I'm sorry, but this man reminds me so much of Ahmed Johnson it's scary. Johnson was a ball of fire when he started out, winning the IC Title and bodyslamming Yokozuna at 600 lbs more convincingly that Lex Luger did when the late sumo was 550 lbs. Jackson is JACKED. He's got a sick look and a charismatic style. I really think the fans will buy into him. If he doesn't win this tournament, I'd love to see him team up with Mark Henry to form "The Worlds Strongest Men" and just run roughshod over the tag division. Just don't sleep on the smiling monster in this tourney.

The Long Shots

John Morrison, 18-1

JoMo is probably the best babyface choice for this title. He seems to be getting another push that he is making very little out of. He seems lost on the mic. His former tag team partner has just won the WWE Title. It may be now or never for Morrison. I just see too much going against him, especially since he has a bullseye on his chest courtesy of Seamus. I would worry that giving the KOTR to him would be like the time it went to Billy Gunn - giving it to a guy with a great look who just can't carry the momentum into something meaningful.

Kofi Kingston, 20-1

Kingston is the prototypical guy to make the semi-finals and get the crowd excited, only to come up short to the dastardly heel and eventual winner. Kofi's push has fizzled out, the he's not been able to recreate the magic he had when he feuded with Randy Orton. The KOTR title would give him that push back, but like with McIntyre, I see very little momentum.

The Write-offs

Daniel Bryan, 30-1

Bryan has been on an absolute tear for months now. Feels like he hasn't lost yet, even though I know he has. The biggest thing keeping him out of the running is the US Title - there is no need for the WWE to push a mid-card champion with another mid-card distinction. It would be a double up and a waste. Furthermore, I see Bryan on a collission course with one of three men - Alex Reilly (seeking revenge for Miz), Wade Barrett (for kicking him out of Nexus) or Dolph Ziggler (both mid card champs have been on a winning streak lately.)

Cody Rhodes, 35-1

Nobody in the tournament has less momentum. Nothing about "The Dashing One" says to me "here's a future champ / King of the Ring winner. He'll contend someday for the IC Title, but aside from that, he's peaking. He has no where NEAR the heat of his Smackdown counterparts such as Alberto Del Rio, and would be fed to guys like Jackson and Seamus for lunch. I still say he needs to be on Raw and do a series of vignette's with Seamus when Rhodes takes Seamus to a tanning salon, gets his eyebrows waxed, and even bleaches a patch of Seamus's hair. If that's what direction I think the character should go in, then kiss King of the Ring goodbye.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

I actually think that Ezekiel Jackson is the favorite to win the KOTR this year. That just seems to be the way WWE pushes guys: out of nowhere. Just like they did with Sheamus and Wade Barrett. Plus being the monster that he is, I do not think that the fans will have a problem buying into the fact that a guy like Jackson can win the KOTR out of nowhere.

I don't think Del Rio is winning even though it might suit his gimmick. I'm expecting a Rey Mysterio interference in the semi finals. I think you are right when you say that Sheamus will get himself disqualified by getting angry at Morrison and blasting him in the back with a chair. I actually expect Morrison to reach the finals against Jackson and put up a good show before coming up short, once again due to interference by Sheamus.

As for Daniel Bryan I expect that William Regal would interfere in his match to set up his final feud. He is the reigning KOTR and I think you could make a storyline with Regal not wanting his student to achieve what he did.

 

[Mindshatter]

Well here are my odds for the king of the ring.

John Morrison 3-1 JF
Easily the favourite if a face king is going to win it. I can see him beating Bryan in a great match then winning against Sheamus by DQ in the semi finals and then heroicly winning in the final while being injured.

Cody Rhodes 3-1 JF
Call my crazy but I can see Rhodes coming out as a heel king even if he does seem like a longshot as I can't see any of the other heels winning it as I will explain when I get to them.

Albert Del Rio 6-1
I can see Del Rio as a very strong contender if they decide to go with a heel king as this guy is getting a push all the way to the moon. The only issue I can see here is Rey interfering to continue the feud.

Sheamus 8-1
While Sheamus will be hyped up by the commentary as the outright favourite he has no real reason to go over everyone else in this case as he is already an established main eventer and some of the other superstars could use this more.

On the subject of this setting up a battle with him and the (eventually) returning Triple H, I don't think the KOTR means enough in recent years to really enter this feud with someone like Triple H, which is shown by the fact it's just on an episode of RAW. I also think the fact Sheamus putting out Triple H is enough of a reason for this feud to get along fine without KOTR.

Big Zeke 12-1
Again I can see him being pumped up by the commentary but I just feel he will be a filler for the tournament and I can't see him beating the likes of John Morrison or Sheamus unless someone has decided to suddenly give a huge push to him.

Drew Mcintyre 16-1
I just can't see WWE trying to push him so soon after they tried and failed to do it before. Merely a filler.

Kofi Kingston 25-1
Honestly, Kofi has faded into irrelevance. He is like MVP in the way he is only used to get the crowd going now and I can't see him getting a push anytime soon. Again just a filler like Drew.

Daniel Bryan 33-1
Has no reason to win this at all as the US champion. It would be an episode of blind ignorance if Bryan was to win this as he has no reason to especially with the streak he is on lately. Also too many things could happen such as Riley interfering for example.

 

[D-Man]

I've vocalized this before, but I'm torn between Del Rio and Drew.

Sheamus (IC, please stop misspelling his name... and yes, you're misspelling it no matter what reason you give) doesn't "need" the KOTR title. He's already involved in high-profile matches and has two titles under his belt. It's already etched in stone that he's going to be in the main event scene for years to come... barring injury or unfortunately turn of events, of course. KOTR is for elevation and determining a future mainstay in the WWE. Sheamus has done this already and continues to do so.

Del Rio is almost too obvious of a winner. He's a killer heel right now, rightfully so, and there are as many reasons for him to win this tournament as there are for him not to.

Drew is a young, tough, skilled wrestler with a great future ahead of him... hence, the reason why his push has been temporarily halted. Between his youth, his killer non-pyro entrance, his good mic skills, and his solid in-ring work, he fits the mold of KOTR almost to a tee. I'm thinking that even though his push was halted, they could still surprise us by having Drew outshine the others in the tournament and take the crown.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

I believe tournament this is a launching ground for most heel wrestlers. I've said it before in these forums and I'll say it again. This tournament will go to Del Rio. He is being pushed to the moon and his gimmick fits that moniker "King of the Ring" PERFECTLY. Being able to brag about the fact that he would have been the only legitimate candidate to win the title of "King of the Ring" will bring him nuclear heat. This move makes so much sense on so many levels. The only way Del Rio will lose this is if Rey interferes and to keep this Del Rio/Mysterio feud going on any longer is a mistake. Del Rio needs to move on to bigger (no pun intended) and better things. He is the best thing going on on Friday nights right now.

 

[brighamosity]

I agree with everyone saying it will be Alberto Del Rio. It just seems like the only logical choice. Even before they announced the qualifying matches and who would be in them, I instantly thought of Alberto Del Rio as soon as I heard they were having a KOTR.
Whenever someone has won one of these, they often incorporate it into their gimmick. (Macho Man, Owen Hart, Mabel, Booker T) I could completely see Del Rio going around saying how he is royalty and the King of the WWE and things like that. I can't see any of the other wrestlers going that route, so it would be a waste giving it to them.

King of the Ring, in general, is more "gimmicky" than anything, meaning that just because you win it, it doesn't necessarily mean you are moving on to bigger and better things. So Alberto Del Rio is really the only two I could see using the "King" gimmick.

 

[D-Man]

I agree with everyone saying it will be Alberto Del Rio. It just seems like the only logical choice. Even before they announced the qualifying matches and who would be in them, I instantly thought of Alberto Del Rio as soon as I heard they were having a KOTR.
Whenever someone has won one of these, they often incorporate it into their gimmick. (Macho Man, Owen Hart, Mabel, Booker T) I could completely see Del Rio going around saying how he is royalty and the King of the WWE and things like that. I can't see any of the other wrestlers going that route, so it would be a waste giving it to them.

King of the Ring, in general, is more "gimmicky" than anything, meaning that just because you win it, it doesn't necessarily mean you are moving on to bigger and better things. So Alberto Del Rio is really the only two I could see using the "King" gimmick.

But this can be said just as much for Drew McIntyre... AKA "The Chosen One."

Even though he's not in the limelight right now, Drew is just as relevant in this tournament as Edge was in 2001. Edge wasn't involved in any major feuds back then, either (if I recall correctly). But that's why his KOTR win made so much sense. We, as the audience, concentrated on nothing but the KOTR Tournament for Edge. There were no distractions. That's what's happening with Drew right now.

 

[beefthelegend]

I think you guys are selling the love of the creative team has for Daniel Bryan short.

-He should have won NXT ( and was probably going to, only to be written off because Barrett was better for the Nexus angle)
-He returned at a Major PPV as a surprise entrant in a match taking the place of the future WWE Champion.
-He had a nice feud with the Miz, which, by the way, he dominated.
-He has put on clinics with Ziggler and DiBiase, making each of them look like future stars while putting himself over as well.

I'm not saying he is going to win. But, if we're evaluating momentum, then who, besides maybe Rio, has more momentum going into this tournament?

I like him to go to the finals and lose to Del Rio...maybe. I think it's a shot that Bryan wins.

Here's how i see it breaking down.

Morrisson and Sheamus are on a collision course. Sheamus will get DQ'd while softening up Morrisson in a brutal beat down, thus setting him up for a match against Del Rio (who gets there by beatin Kofi in a dirty fashion.)

On the other side of the bracket, Bryan will steam roll Cody, and Drew will find a way against Zeke. Bryan and Drew will go back and forth, and will be the second best match of the tourney, with Bryan getting the eventual win.

And so we're left with two people who don't necessarily NEED the title/push, but certainly deserve it. The only reason i have a glimmer of doubt about Del Rio winning is because he is a Smackdown Talent on a Raw tournament.

So that's how I see it going down. Please bookmark this thread, so you can all marvel as to how right i was XD haha.

 

[Thriller Ant]

Here are my quick thoughts on each guy in no particular order:

Del Rio: I really think we are coming to a place where he is too perfect a choice for the crown. He would be perfect for the honor and it would possibly give his gimmick that extra boost it needs to go to the next level. But I really think the fact that it is very obvious he should win gives away the fact that he won't. Look for a Mysterio distraction to cost him a match.

Sheamus: I can't see a former WWE Champion winning a midcard honor like this. He will dominate whichever match(es) he is in but will lose via roll-up or something similar when he does lose.

Jackson: I would love to see Big Zeke win the tourney. He was set for a big push when he won the ECW Title on its final night, but that all disappeared when he got injured. KOTR presents a similar opportunity as the one lost for Ezekiel, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the WWE jump all over it.

McIntyre: His push has stalled, but this would be the perfect way to restart it. I could put this with Del Rio as well, but another thing going for Drew and Alberto is even though SmackDown has a ton of heels right now, Kane is the only main-event level heel. This would be an excellent way to move either Drew or Alberto up as that second main event heel that SmackDown doesn't have.

Morrison: Creative keeps seeming like they want to push him, but each time it seems to fail. JoMo might be suffering from the same disease that plagued Shelton Benjamin and Matt Hardy: anti-push syndrome. It is caused by receiving a push, and the symptoms include terrible mic work and the eventual fucking up of said push. Could KOTR be JoMo's last chance? I doubt they'd use something so high profile on him, but I could see it being a now or never scenario as well.

Kofi: They don't seem to know what to do with him. He's definitely over, but is little more than average on the mic and in the ring, he is solid at best and an episode of Botchamania at worst. I don't see Kofi winning here at all, and staying in midcard purgatory for a few months more at least.

Danielson: Even though I would squeal like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert if he won, there's no way he will. They've been pushing him to the moon as U.S. Champ, and therein lies the problem. He is on the midcard title to main event track. Let him continue on that route where he is thriving and give someone else who needs it the springboard to the main event.

Dashing: I, like most everyone else, am in love with the gimmick. And who or what, pray tell, is more dashing than a king? Not gonna happen though. Cody is still on the lower part of the midcard and needs to elevate himself more before he's ready for anything like KOTR.

Summary

Favorites
McIntyre
ADR
Jackson

Maybe
JoMo
Sheamus

Not Gonna Happen
Kofi
Dashing
Danielson

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

How do you calculate odds anyway?

Sheamus - As others have said, he doesn't need to win this tournament as people know what he is capable of, and is already at the stage of being able to put John Morrison over, who has been with the company for a good few years already. That in itself is a hell of an accomplishment in itself. It is frustrating however that he is viewed by many as just biding his time until HHH returns.

Morrison - As much as I would love to see him get a boost from winning King of the Ring, unless he meets him in the final, I can see Sheamus costing him a match which would give more steam to their feud and remove the Santino element to it at the same time.

Zeke - He is an impressive looking guy and seemingly did well on ECW, but I don't think that WWE is going to give him the crown based on the fact that he isn't as well known as the other guys, and has only just re-appeared.

Bryan - He has been performing well, and while winning the tournament would get the attention of Miz, Bryan isn't a character that would boast about his accomplishment to antagonize the Miz so I just don't see it happening.

Rhodes - Since the move to Smackdown and the 'Dashing' gimmick he seems to have found some confidence so he's my dark horse pick.

McIntyre - He's Scottish, I'm Scottish, he hasn't done anything to garner attention for himself since his saga with Teddy Long which I was a big fan of, so I'd like to see him get some momentum going again as I think he has the potential to re-pay the faith that Vince has/had in him.

Del Rio - Him proclaiming himself to be a King is almost too perfect and obvious, but it would work so well.

Kofi - To me, he is the least likely to win as, similarly to Truth, has been pottering around with the ME guys + is over with the crowds, but just hasn't been able to cement himself as consistent enough to be a credible winner.

Mon Drew!

 

[bigdogstalfos]

I think equally important as whether a guy needs KotR to get a push is how he uses KotR after winning it. Billy Gunn may have gotten a singles push when DX dissolved, but after becoming King he did nothing except feud with the former members of DX, lost to the Rock, and then got punted back down to midcard where he reformed the New Age Outlaws. As doing something with the crown is just as important as needing it in my eyes, here are my rankings for who should win:

1) Alberto Del Rio-the dude is getting massive heat and pretty much everyone in this topic has said how perfectly his becoming king would fit his gimmick. He could cut insufferably arrogant promos about the noble lineage of the House of Del Rio or run down Rey Mysterio by saying he earned his title of "Rey" as opposed to the little chihuahua. It's a perfect springboard to eliminate the midcard heel clutter on Smackdown and put someone besides Kane in the ME heel tier there.

2) Sheamus-Sheamus in no way NEEDS to win, as he's pretty much over as is, but the probable HHH-Sheamus feud would have more fuel if Sheamus started saying he was King of Kings as he knocked out HHH and is a king himself. Actually, that would make him King of King of Kings, but whatever.

3) John Morrison-He's just off a big PPV win over Sheamus and this seems like a good opportunity to keep his momentum up, especially with Miz as WWE Champion and a feud being ready-made if he becomes King. Plus he'd further his credibility as he might have to beat Sheamus again (and Bryan for sure) to even get to the finals. That said, he gets pushed down the rankings b/c I don't see Morrison-Miz as a PPV headliner right now.

4) Ezekiel Jackson-He's been billed as the wild card and he's dominated every match he's been in since returning. He looks like a beast and could use the crown to say he's been forgotten by the WWE and winning shows he's ready for primetime. His biggest obstacle is that he's facing Sheamus in the first round.

5) Drew McIntyre-As cool as it might be for us to see Drew, King of Scots, I just don't see it happening. There isn't really anywhere obvious for him to go after KotR unless he got cocky and started challenging the ME faces on Smackdown, which would be kind of out of the blue. I just don't see enough of a direction after the tournament to warrant giving him the crown.

6) Daniel Bryan-He doesn't need it as he has the US Title and he couldn't do much with it as his current gimmick is more of the self-effacing guy who takes care of business. I just can't see him abandoning the workmanlike attitude to call out his former NXT pro for a title shot, instead working his way up the ladder.

7) Kofi Kingston-He's been stuck in midcard purgatory for an awfully long time and I don't see that changing. His matchup in the first round against favorite Del Rio doesn't help things either.

8) Cody Rhodes-Nothing to say that hasn't been said. I like his gimmick, but he is not ready for the possible big push KotR can bring.

 

[Rampage Bentley]

It's something I do each year with the Royal Rumble - I'm going to assign odds to the participants of the King of the Ring tournament and why I feel the way I do. I'd love to get some thoughts on this as well.

The Favorites

Alberto del Rio, 4-1

Aside from Jerry Lawler, the moniker "King of the Ring" has never been so befitting of anyone more than Del Rio. He enters the ring in lavish luxury, from a customer Rolls or Bentley to the silk scarf he seems to refuse to remove the way Linus would clutch his blanket. In his debut, he made Rey Mysterio look pedestrian. He's quite possibly the most natural heel who has debuted in some time, and the KOTR tournament generally works better with a heel than a face, much like Money in the Bank.

Seamus, 6-1

Nobody else in the tournament is a former WWE Champion, and Seamus has been that twice. Plus, as my good friend NorCal pointed out to me via text message the other day, having Seamus call himself "The King of the Ring" sets up a massive feud with a returning "King of Kings" in Triple H. His odds drop to 6-1 as he is off a big loss to John Morrison in a match he dominated. It may just serve to make him mad. On a side note - in every KOTR tournament, I look for a "DQ Risk." That is the guy who has the best chance of being disqualified and hurting his opponent, who has to advance and wrestle again despite being hurt. Seamus could feasibly get DQ'ed against John Morrison if he can't keep his temper, setting up JoMo to have to wrestle a heel in the following round while hurt. It's a common WWE tournament technique.

The Spoilers

Drew McIntyre, 10-1

It seems as though Drew's push was taken away from him and given to Del Rio, but he still has a great look and fantastic physical tools. He's also still a Shawn Michaels protege, so you can never count him out. He's a smug heel, which is perfect for the KOTR role, and this would give him some instant heat. I just don't see any momentum at all for the big Scotsman, aside from his girlfriend Taryn Terrell being released recently.

Ezekiel Jackson, 12-1

I'm sorry, but this man reminds me so much of Ahmed Johnson it's scary. Johnson was a ball of fire when he started out, winning the IC Title and bodyslamming Yokozuna at 600 lbs more convincingly that Lex Luger did when the late sumo was 550 lbs. Jackson is JACKED. He's got a sick look and a charismatic style. I really think the fans will buy into him. If he doesn't win this tournament, I'd love to see him team up with Mark Henry to form "The Worlds Strongest Men" and just run roughshod over the tag division. Just don't sleep on the smiling monster in this tourney.

The Long Shots

John Morrison, 18-1

JoMo is probably the best babyface choice for this title. He seems to be getting another push that he is making very little out of. He seems lost on the mic. His former tag team partner has just won the WWE Title. It may be now or never for Morrison. I just see too much going against him, especially since he has a bullseye on his chest courtesy of Seamus. I would worry that giving the KOTR to him would be like the time it went to Billy Gunn - giving it to a guy with a great look who just can't carry the momentum into something meaningful.

Kofi Kingston, 20-1

Kingston is the prototypical guy to make the semi-finals and get the crowd excited, only to come up short to the dastardly heel and eventual winner. Kofi's push has fizzled out, the he's not been able to recreate the magic he had when he feuded with Randy Orton. The KOTR title would give him that push back, but like with McIntyre, I see very little momentum.

The Write-offs

Daniel Bryan, 30-1

Bryan has been on an absolute tear for months now. Feels like he hasn't lost yet, even though I know he has. The biggest thing keeping him out of the running is the US Title - there is no need for the WWE to push a mid-card champion with another mid-card distinction. It would be a double up and a waste. Furthermore, I see Bryan on a collission course with one of three men - Alex Reilly (seeking revenge for Miz), Wade Barrett (for kicking him out of Nexus) or Dolph Ziggler (both mid card champs have been on a winning streak lately.)

Cody Rhodes, 35-1

Nobody in the tournament has less momentum. Nothing about "The Dashing One" says to me "here's a future champ / King of the Ring winner. He'll contend someday for the IC Title, but aside from that, he's peaking. He has no where NEAR the heat of his Smackdown counterparts such as Alberto Del Rio, and would be fed to guys like Jackson and Seamus for lunch. I still say he needs to be on Raw and do a series of vignette's with Seamus when Rhodes takes Seamus to a tanning salon, gets his eyebrows waxed, and even bleaches a patch of Seamus's hair. If that's what direction I think the character should go in, then kiss King of the Ring goodbye.

Before I respond to the KoTR part, I have to say one thing...

His name is Sheamus not "Seamus." I know Seamus is the traditional spelling of the name, but it's not his name. Make sense, Kris?

I have a nagging feeling that a Smackdown guy is not going to take the tournament, and I think it's going to be either Morrison or Sheamus. Nobody else really has the momentum going in and I don't think anyone could benefit more from it than those two.

 

[Loveless]

This is probably one of the most interesting KotR tournaments in many years because pretty much anyone can win it and they wouldn't be lacking credibility. My feeling though is they're going to waste it and give the title to Sheamus when he's the one who wouldn't really benefit from it. Don't be surprised if he gets his hand raised at the end, only for HHH to return.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

His name is Sheamus not "Seamus." I know Seamus is the traditional spelling of the name, but it's not his name. Make sense, Kris?

Just imagine really, really hard that there's an 'h' there. I've already mentioned on several occassions that its my personal soapbox that the correct spelling be used, not the WWE fan-i-fied dumbed down phoenetic version. I don't correct people when they spell it wrong because thats how WWE spells it, kindly afford me the same respect.

The predictions I've read so far have been great, and I think alot of people agree with me on the top 5 (Del Rio, McIntyre, Seamus, Jackson, and Jo Mo) and the bottom 4 (Rhodes, Kingston, and Bryan). A few people have offered objections about some of the competitors, but several of those I want to point out WWE history regarding.

1. Former WWE Champions don't win KOTR.

Booker T was a multiple time World Champion when he won the crown, and the original winner, Bret Hart, was just 6 months off of his first WWF Title loss at Wrestlemania 9 when he won his.

2. KOTR's have to use the moniker to 'brag.'

Ken Shamrock was the most business like King of all time. Granted, he didn't do a hell of a lot with the title, but he just ran through everybody and took home the crown.

3. Ezekiel Jackson won't win because he's not established like the others.

Steve Austin was still fresh off being "The Ringmaster" when he won the title. Mabel was established, but as a tag team wrestler and not a singles guy.

You really can't count too many of these guys out, expect maybe Rhodes (too much of a lower level mid carder) and Bryan (I don't think a midcard champion has ever made noise in one of these.)

 

[MisterRob]

Yeah, blatantly spelling Sheamus Seamus because that's how you think it should be spelled, when the character has clearly been named Sheamus is just ignorant, I have to say. That's like me spelling your name a different way because I think it should be spelled my way.

On to the topic:

I could very likely see the entire King of the Ring tournament just being used as a means to re-ignite the feud between Triple H and Sheamus and nothing more. I wouldn't put it past WWE to do that, really. Sheamus wins, Triple H makes a dramatic return to a huge pop and calls himself the King of Kings and the feud is back on. After all, it is a "special" RAW.

I do, however, hope it's not going to be used for that. I'd much rather see someone actually be given the win and pushed to the next level based on King of the Ring alone. I could easily see it being Albet Del Rio, except for the fact I really see Mysterio interfering to cost him his spot and continuing their feud. Buut, that's not necessarily needed since this is a one night tournment. Mysterio could wait until Del Rio does win the tournament (Mysterio being a face, after all) and then just interrupt his crowning ceremony to continue the feud. That's totally feasible and I think Del Rios a very good pick to win this whole thing.

Personally I'd like to see Drew McIntyre win it. His push may have been derailed, but I really think this would fit his character well and be a good way of pushing him again to the next level. Cody Rhodes is a long shot but I wouldn't mind seeing him win it, either. A "dashing" King could be pretty entertaining.

 

[Brahma Bull]

del rio- guy has been on fire and rightfully so. he is great on the mic and gets great natural heat. his gimmick is great and he already seems like a main eventer. that is why i dont think he will win it. kotr normally ends with people you wouldnt expect winning it now a days.

sheamus- same as del rio but even more so. the guy has 2 titles under his belt in a little bit more than a year. he does not need this.

morrison- as many have said, i think this is going to be the guy sheamus injures and he will loose to a heel in the finals.

big zeke- may win, but is really green since he just returned, and ecw wasnt big enough for him getting the title to set him up so soon. big things are coming for this man, tag team titles and such, but kotr to too much too soon.

kofi- sadly i think he is fading. he just cant keep momentum going, and he is a botchfest a lot.

daniel bryan- wont win because he has the us title, and riley will probably screw him over.

drew mcintyre- was getting a huge push and then lost it because of his actions. very little crowd reaction, and really needs more time to find who he is

cody rhodes- am i the one guy who sees cody as a very big possiblitily. to the people who say rhodes has no momentum, he has been picking up countless wins, and i feel he carried mcintyre in their short run tag team. he has gotten win over big names, and has been given a steady push. i will always say that kotr establishes a dark horse, and that is what i see in cody.

 

[Ferbian]

3. Ezekiel Jackson won't win because he's not established like the others.

This might just be the exact reason why I'm sold on Big Zeke winning this one. Zeke has been pushed as of late in terms of getting to squash a few people. He's been featured at one Pay Per View already where he looked fairly dominant against even Big Show, while still loosing of course.

Alberto Del Rio could be a good choice, yet I kinda feel he'll become established all by his own. The same can be said for more or less all of the other guys. However, Big Zeke has in the past few weeks shown sign of some sort of WWE backstage backing. It just screams that he'll either go very far, or he'll be dominating the hell out of this event.

I see you're also giving Sheamus the potential of winning this. I could see it sure, especially considering his past he is hands down the odds on favorite with his 2 world titles in his bag. But, even with that I think it might be the one thing that sells him short. He doesn't exactly need it.

You talk about how his feud with Triple H can be pushed through him bragging about being King of the Ring. Well, I don't believe that they need to feed Sheamus that moniker in order to get the feud going again. There's plenty of history to fuel it on.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Over the past several months, in order to help promote the move of SmackDown! to Syfy, the WWE has been promoting SmackDown! as an equal show to Raw. As a result, there've been several confrontations between Raw & SD! wrestlers on Raw with Team Blue usually coming out on top. The fact that SD! wrestlers have come out ahead of Raw wrestlers these past months make me feel that a SD! wrestler has a very good chance of walking out as KOTR.

Of the SmackDown! wrestlers, the favorite has to be Alberto Del Rio. He's been an extremely hot heel since debluting on the "B-Show" and the WWE has been pushing him pretty heavily since his arrival. They haven't put a championship on him yet, which I think has been a good decision, so winning KOTR tonight would be the next best thing to doing so. I don't think that any of the SD! guys have enough steam at this particular time to warrant winning, although it could mean a huge boost for their careers.

On the Raw side, I know lots of people thinking Sheamus becoming KOTR would be a great think leading into a feud with Triple H, the "King of Kings". It wouldn't bother me at all to see Sheamus win it, but I don't really think he needs it. John Morrison has been on a tear the past several months and winning it could be a big boost for him. If he were to win it, maybe it'd be the extra oomph he needs to get to the main event. Ezekiel Jackson just isn't ready in my view. He's a powerhouse and yes he's an impressive physical specimen, but he's just not nearly there. Needs a lot more work and some more polish. It just won't have a legit feel if Jackson, who hasn't accomplished anything, coming out the victor in a tournament featuring wrestlers that've held a combined total of 28 championships in the WWE. Having Daniel Bryan win KOTR, in my view, would be fun as it could be seen as another star making moment for the indy darling turned United States Champion. If nothing else, I hope the WWE gives Bryan the chance to show a good outing for himself tonight. Putting on a good performance in the tourney tonight could also raise the stock of some of these guys.

In the end, I'm not sure who'll win though I do think that Del Rio probably has the general edge right now. I think a legit case can be made for any of them to win it except for Big Zeke at this time.

 

[kozzomozzo]

I think someone from smackdown is gonna win. I don't see kingston winning and since its usually a bad gut I think Drew will win. Del Rio doesn't need it he does a good job and is all ready in a storyline so why him as king. If a Raw guy wins then it has to be Morrisson. Seamus has been champion bryan has been champion Big zeke doesn't need the push that morrison needs. My Prediction Drew beats morrison on outside interference by seamus so both guys get a push.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I'm actually really pumped for this. So pumped that I actually just used the word "pumped." Wow. Along with seeing a first-time champion walking around, it really makes for a stacked RAW tonight. I'm not really into analysing patterns to try and pick out who will or won't win. Never really been one of those guys. Besides, I'm not sure if booking patterns from ten or so years ago really apply to the product today. With the exception of Del Rio and maybe McIntyre, I rub my hands with glee at the thought of any of these guys winning the crown. It almost turned into something big for Regal before the whole steroid scandal a few years back, so I think it'll be pretty big for whoever wins it now.

Bryan has shown he's a guy to be depended on to put on fantastic, show-stealing midcard matches but, despite this, has sort of hit the wall since his return. I'm not sure if I actually dare to write what I'm about to, but hey, fuck it. Daniel Bryan is indespensable at the moment. Giving him the crown would really help restore some of the momentum he's lost since his redebut, even if holding a title as is hurts his chances. My pick, I think.

Kofi is just, well, Kofi. In the absence of a better alternative, he's my token black guy. King Kofi has a ring to it, no doubt, though I'm not quite as enthusiastic about the thought of him winning it as I am about others. Then again, the 'Krazy Kofi' storyline where he so nearly broke the glass ceiling with his greasy pole brought people round to his cause and those same people will want to see him win.

I like JoMo. I like him so much I call him JoMo, with capitalisation and everything. Others, I know, are less enthusiastic. I was surprised at how mediocre his mic skills were during the whole "Sheamus is a bully" mini-fiasco but I still feel he's underrated. He's certainly shown signs of a big push - like, you know, beating the guy that's only just dropped the title - and I'd highlight him as one of the favourites. I wouldn't be disappointed.

McIntyre is just, well, alright. That's how strongly I feel about him. Telling.

Del Rio is hands down the guy I would least like to see pick up the crown. So overrated its painful. Oh look, he winks. Brilliant. Nothing more than a Mexican JBL. Bland as fuck and pretty much the primary reason I don't bother to watch SmackDown any more. If, say, Bryan made Del Rio tap out in the final, I'd mark out like an airtight schoolgirl on ecstasy. I'd like to thank Hollywood Babble-On's Ralph Garman for teaching me what airtight means in this context.

King Zeke. King Zeke. Yeah, I'm feeling it. In fact, if Zeke becomes king, not only does he go down in the history books, he also gets to usurp Kofi Kingston as Sam's Token Black Guy. Watching him in the ring the other night, I was all, "Yeah, he's actually fairly decent." Dude looks like he could tear someone's head clean off. I'd be down with this, yeah.

It's no secret I like Sheamus. I like him so much in fact that I'd be willing to label him as a (really) white version of Big Zeke. That's how good he is. But honestly, he doesn't need it, does he? I could see him getting the crown just so they could set up a cringeworthy pun about "King of the Ring vs. King of Kings" when Triple H comes back. I'd take the parental stance of not being upset, just being disappointed.

Whoa-oh! The last one is Cody Rhoo-oodes! Whoa-oh! He has the tri-force on his boo-oots! His digital mirror kicks ass, he's beautiful but his gimmick falls just a little bit flat for me. King of the Ring could be an opportunity for him to evolve and flesh himself out a bit more. Not that he - ahem - needs fleshing out.

And, just like a sexual encounter with yours truly, we come to the conclusion all too briefly. Now that's a sign-off.

 

[Undertaker the 5th]

Del Rio : 3-1
I think he has the most chance in winning it. He has just been on a role lately and I really think he has what it takes to win it. He would benefit from it and it would make him draw instant heat by bragging about it. It would also give him a lot of exposure to the people who only watch Raw.

Jomo : 5-1
He is the only face who I think has a chance to win it. This could be the final push that he needs and the long awaited championship rivalry between him and the Miz could start.

Shaemus : 4-1
I think he has a good chance at winning it and it doesn't matter if he needs it or not. WWE doesn't always think of things that way. Either that or Edge, Cena, Taker, and all the big name guys who have won Royal Rumble were really needing those wins. In short, that does not put the other guys in a better chance to win this tournament.

All the others are long shots to me. Zeke, Cody, and Drew are not even long shots, they just aren't really competing IMO. They will probably get fed to the others. I hope Zeke gets fed to Shaemus to show everyone who the real monster is.

 

[Tastycles]

Morrison has got a cast iron chance of winning this, the reasons for which I shall come to, but it all comes down to where Sheamus is going. If they are to carry on their feud, then they will certainly cause each other's elimination, if not and they won't, and Morrison is in an excellent position to win it. It is almost inevitable that if The Miz is still champion by then, Morrison will face him at the Rumble, a long time locale of crap title challengers.

For that reason, he has to be a favourite to win. Kingston, Rhodes and Bryan have absolutely no chance of winning, Bryan because he already has something to do and the other two because they're quite lame. I'd be surprised if Sheamus wins, and I think he most likely will be used to build someone else up. That man could well be Jackson, who I think is likely to be used as a face because a) he's charismatic and b) he's too similar to Sheamus to be a heel. A year ago, I'd have said with certainty that Jackson won't win, there's not been enough character development, but the WWE have been letting that come second recently, so he's got a shot.

Ditto, McIntyre, though I think he would have featured more prominently in the Survivor Series build up and match if he was on the verge of a further push. More likely I think is another IC reign after Ziggler drops it to a face.

That leaves Del Rio, who the gimmick would fit well with and who I think has the best shot of all the heels, and probably of all, given the variables in Morrison's chances. So, I give you my odds:

5/1 - Alberto Del Rio
7/1 - John Morrison
10/1 - Drew McIntyre, Ezeikel Jackson
16/1 - Sheamus
25/1 - Daniel Bryan
33/1 - Kofi Kingston
50/1 - Cody Rhodes

Predicted Brackets:

Del Rio
_____________]Del Rio
Kingston
__________________________]Del Rio (After interference)
Jackson
_____________]Jackson
Sheamus
____________________________________________________] John Morrison
Bryan
_____________]Bryan
McIntyre
__________________________]Morrison (Roll Up)
Morrison
_____________]Morrison
Rhodes

 

[Krobra]

I have to disagree somewhat on the order of this list. Here is my list, bottom to top.

8th- Cody Rhodes: Cody Rhodes isn't doing anything on Smackdown, and has almost zero momentum. I see him getting squashed in the Quarter Finals by Zeke or Sheamus, the match lasting less than a minute. I don't see Cody making it to the Semi-Finals period. If he is not squashed by Zeke or Sheamus, he'll put on a decent match with Kofi or maybe Bryan but lose.

7th- Daniel Bryan: I don't see him winning the King of the Ring. Him being the current United States Champion, he will either have the match cost due to interference from Ted DeBiase or get destroyed by Sheamus. I can see him making it to the Semi-Finals, but that's the farthest he'll go. I'd like him to win the King of the Ring, because that would almost guarantee him as a future main eventer in the near future.

6th- Drew McIntyre: Where did his push go? Oh, that's right. Del Rio. Having Drew win the King of the Ring will give him the much needed push he needs to pick up where he left off when he dropped the Intercontinental Championship and possibly propel him into the main event scene. But, that's not very likely. If Vince was going to give a Smackdown Superstar, he'd sooner give it to Del Rio or Kingston first.

5th- Kofi Kingston: I don't see Kofi winning the King of the Ring. I would be stoked if he won, which would give him the momentum he lost when he was traded to Smackdown, but sadly, I don't think he will win. I see him having a good match with Del Rio or John Morrison, but losing after a dirty/clean match.

4th- John Morrison: I would love to see John Morrison win King of the Ring. He could use the push to get into the main event and possibly a WWE Championship reign later on in the new year. However, I don't see him making it to the Finals. I see him losing to Sheamus in the Semi Finals, who will cost Sheamus the Finals to be King of the Ring. I can hope that he'll over come Sheamus, Zeke, and Del Rio to be King of the Ring. Go JoMo!

3rd- Zeke: This guy is a monster. I can see him crushing Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre in the Quarter Finals, but sadly, I see him losing to Del Rio in the Semi Finals via count out. If he doesn't lose in the Semi Finals, it depends on who he faces in the Finals that would determine if he wins or not. Against Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Danial Bryan, and Kofi Kingston, 90% chance Zeke will win. If against John Morrison or Sheamus, then 50% chance Zeke will win. If against Del Rio, then it's 40% chance Zeke would win. Win or lose, Zeke is a monster and he will tear through the King of the Ring unless he loses by count out or disqualification.

2nd- Sheamus: I see Sheamus losing in the Final Round with John Morrison costing him the win, or John Morrison beating him again in the Semi or Final Round. These two are not done yet with their feud, and see them both continuing to feud until Elimination Chamber at the least. If Sheamus does win, I can see a potential feud with Triple H when he returns for who is the true King.

1st: Alberto Del Rio: Alberto Del Rio has the most to gain with this feud. He is getting a good sized push on Smackdown, and a win for the King of the Ring title would push him directly to the main event scene for the World Heavyweight Title. I don't see him winning many of his matches clean if he does make it to the finals and wins it overall.


Predicted Quarter Finals Bracket:

Cody Rhodes vs. Zeke (w)

Bryan vs. Del Rio (w)

Sheamus (w) vs. Drew

Morrison (w) vs. Kofi


Predicted Semi Finals Bracket:


Zeke vs. Del Rio (w)

Sheamus (w) vs. Morrison


Predicted Finals Bracket:

Sheamus vs. Del Rio (w)

 

[The Crock]

I agree with most of your list, IC. There is one thing I disagree with though, Drew McIntyre is definitely a favorite. Drew and Del Rio are the two most likely to win, but Drew just seems to have an edge. He's the "Chosen One", and he's really in need of a push. Drew has everything it takes to be a successful King of the Ring winner, he has the smug heel attitude, and the "look". For me, he just looks like he'll win. Drew winning would be more credible than Del Rio for a few reasons: A better move set, a better look, and he's been around a bit longer. For me, Drew is number one, Del Rio is number two.

 

[Dave]

The Favorites

Alberto del Rio, 4-1

Aside from Jerry Lawler, the moniker "King of the Ring" has never been so befitting of anyone more than Del Rio. He enters the ring in lavish luxury, from a customer Rolls or Bentley to the silk scarf he seems to refuse to remove the way Linus would clutch his blanket. In his debut, he made Rey Mysterio look pedestrian. He's quite possibly the most natural heel who has debuted in some time, and the KOTR tournament generally works better with a heel than a face, much like Money in the Bank.

Seamus, 6-1

Nobody else in the tournament is a former WWE Champion, and Seamus has been that twice. Plus, as my good friend NorCal pointed out to me via text message the other day, having Seamus call himself "The King of the Ring" sets up a massive feud with a returning "King of Kings" in Triple H. His odds drop to 6-1 as he is off a big loss to John Morrison in a match he dominated. It may just serve to make him mad. On a side note - in every KOTR tournament, I look for a "DQ Risk." That is the guy who has the best chance of being disqualified and hurting his opponent, who has to advance and wrestle again despite being hurt. Seamus could feasibly get DQ'ed against John Morrison if he can't keep his temper, setting up JoMo to have to wrestle a heel in the following round while hurt. It's a common WWE tournament technique.

The Spoilers

I really couldn't agree with you more.

The fact of the matter is that both of these men could definitely use this win and use for the good of the ir career. You know that if either of these guys won the entire competition, then it would become something that is integral to their characters and would perhaps give them that final push into prominence.

Sheamus seems to have slowed his roll since he lost the WWE Championship but I feel that it was something that he needed to do. His feud with John Morrison has been one of the most refreshing things to happen to Monday Night Raw for a long time and has the desired effect of getting both men over evey time they have a match. Whether the WWE are ready to abandon that for him to win the King of the Ring tournament remains to be seen but at 6-1 he is definitely worth a punt.

As for Del Rio, I am unsure if there is on person on these boards who would content with the idea that Del Rio is not in pole position to be crowned the King of the Ring. He has been utterly astounding lately. Not only is he technically gifted, he has the charisma of some of the WWE greats. It might be a little early to say that he will be a roaring success but the King of the Ring might be the first step on that road.

Drew McIntyre, 10-1

It seems as though Drew's push was taken away from him and given to Del Rio, but he still has a great look and fantastic physical tools. He's also still a Shawn Michaels protege, so you can never count him out. He's a smug heel, which is perfect for the KOTR role, and this would give him some instant heat. I just don't see any momentum at all for the big Scotsman, aside from his girlfriend Taryn Terrell being released recently.

Ezekiel Jackson, 12-1

I'm sorry, but this man reminds me so much of Ahmed Johnson it's scary. Johnson was a ball of fire when he started out, winning the IC Title and bodyslamming Yokozuna at 600 lbs more convincingly that Lex Luger did when the late sumo was 550 lbs. Jackson is JACKED. He's got a sick look and a charismatic style. I really think the fans will buy into him. If he doesn't win this tournament, I'd love to see him team up with Mark Henry to form "The Worlds Strongest Men" and just run roughshod over the tag division. Just don't sleep on the smiling monster in this tourney.

The Long Shots

For me, you are vastly overrating Drew McIntyre. I see your point about how his run was taken from him but that is only because he didn't really do much to deserve it and really didn't do much to keep it interesting. Let's face it, the man has no charisma whatsoever. He bored the pants off of the people who watched him in his run as The Chosen One when he made his début. Giving him the King of the Ring would be the most counter-productive decision in the WWE for quite some time now. He doesn't deserve it and to give him odds of 10-1 simply because of his gimmick as being the Chosen One, is ludicrous. I would say that he is one of long shots, perhaps pushing 30-1.

As for Big Zeke, he is my favourite for the competition. Right now I am unsure whether it is because of his size or his current tear but he is certainly someone who I could see being successful coming out of this competition with the win. 12-1 odds seem to be pretty accurate for Jackson. He has the size of form to be able to take the win tonight but I am hesitant to say that he necessarily deserves this win. We all know that he has been out of action for the longest time and although he has looked incredible since he returned, I doubt he has done enough to convince the decision-makers of the WWE that he is ready to shoulder this win. For me though, he is certainly one of the dark horses of the competition. At 12-1, he is certainly worth a punt.

John Morrison, 18-1

JoMo is probably the best babyface choice for this title. He seems to be getting another push that he is making very little out of. He seems lost on the mic. His former tag team partner has just won the WWE Title. It may be now or never for Morrison. I just see too much going against him, especially since he has a bullseye on his chest courtesy of Seamus. I would worry that giving the KOTR to him would be like the time it went to Billy Gunn - giving it to a guy with a great look who just can't carry the momentum into something meaningful.

Kofi Kingston, 20-1

Kingston is the prototypical guy to make the semi-finals and get the crowd excited, only to come up short to the dastardly heel and eventual winner. Kofi's push has fizzled out, the he's not been able to recreate the magic he had when he feuded with Randy Orton. The KOTR title would give him that push back, but like with McIntyre, I see very little momentum.

Morrison is a weird one and I would think that 18-1 is the best odds you are likely to get for him. Really, he has been very impressive lately. His wins against Sheamus make me feel that he would be the ideal choice for the win tonight but there is also something in the back of my mind that really makes me wonder if the WWE are that serious about his push. If they are, then he could definitely be one of the men to beat in this competition. Not only has he bested your favourite for this competition on multiple occasions now, he looks to be gaining a lot of momentum quickly and is becoming a crowd-favourite again.

As for Kofi Kingston, I would be utterly gob-smacked if he won the competition. Don't get me wrong, he has every chance of being the man to come away with the title of King of the Ring but it would surely go down as one of the shocks of the tournaments history. Sure, the WWE tend to give this reign to the person they are going to put a lot of stock into within the company and Kofi has been there before. That being said, he has very little momentum and for him to go over people who perhaps deserve it more would probably leave me feeling unsatisfied and displeased... Mainly because I feel that Kofi needs to be worked on a little bit more before he should be given an opportunity like this win. There is certainly other competitors who deserve it more and would utilize it better.

The Write-offs

Daniel Bryan, 30-1

Bryan has been on an absolute tear for months now. Feels like he hasn't lost yet, even though I know he has. The biggest thing keeping him out of the running is the US Title - there is no need for the WWE to push a mid-card champion with another mid-card distinction. It would be a double up and a waste. Furthermore, I see Bryan on a collission course with one of three men - Alex Reilly (seeking revenge for Miz), Wade Barrett (for kicking him out of Nexus) or Dolph Ziggler (both mid card champs have been on a winning streak lately.)

Cody Rhodes, 35-1

Nobody in the tournament has less momentum. Nothing about "The Dashing One" says to me "here's a future champ / King of the Ring winner. He'll contend someday for the IC Title, but aside from that, he's peaking. He has no where NEAR the heat of his Smackdown counterparts such as Alberto Del Rio, and would be fed to guys like Jackson and Seamus for lunch. I still say he needs to be on Raw and do a series of vignette's with Seamus when Rhodes takes Seamus to a tanning salon, gets his eyebrows waxed, and even bleaches a patch of Seamus's hair. If that's what direction I think the character should go in, then kiss King of the Ring goodbye.

Couldn't agree more.

A Rhodes win would be the biggest upset in recent memory and doesn't bare thinking about. The less I talk about it, the better.

A Daniel Bryan win would be a relative surprise, which in itself comes as a surprise. He certainly doesn't need the win as he has been tearing it up lately. I can definitely see him being screwed out of this opportunity and I definitely see Alex Riley being the man to do that. It preserves Daniel Bryan's credibility whilst taking him out of the equation. Of all of the men who are participating, Bryan is the one who I will definitely avoid putting money on. In my eyes, he should be up around 60-1. I feel you are being very generous with his odds.