5 Most Shocking Moments At The WWE King Of The Ring PPV

Starting in 1993 and culminating in 2002 (not counting recent additions), the King of the Ring PPV was centered around a tournament series of matches to determine the PPV's namesake. Winners would wear a majestic cape and a crown whilst sitting on a regal throne to illustrate the winning superstar's newfound position atop the pecking order, placing them in rarefied air.

RELATED: WHY WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS DON'T EXCITE ME

However, not all (and arguably none) of the greatest moments came during the tournament itself, but during the other matches on the show. Here are five of the most shocking and unexpected moments from the King of the Ring PPV for your pleasure.

5. Booker T's Debut

After Vince McMahon purchased his competition WCW and ECW, things would never be the same again. Steadily we witnessed a drip-feed of WCW invading WWE programming, whether they were seen in the audience, or were being signed by the WWE and assigned roles on weekly RAW and SmackDown shows.

At King of the Ring 2001 during the WWE Championship triple threat match between Stone Cold Steve Austin, Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, we would bare witness to the debut of one of WCW's biggest stars. Booker T jumped the barricade and began pummeling Austin whilst wearing a nifty silk button-down shirt and silver chain, and he proceeded to hoist Austin up and dump him back-first through the announcer's table. The Book Man arrived to make an impact and he very surely did just that, though maybe it was mission failure for him because Stone Cold still retained his WWE Championship. Nevertheless, Booker T's debut signaled the true invasion that would become a central storyline for months afterwards.

4. The Crowning Of King Mabel

1995 was the undisputed worst year in the history of the WWE, so maybe this entry isn't too surprising considering how many blunders this year threw up like a lactose intolerant cat. However, when you think of an indomitable King of the Ring, the last superstar you would think of is Mabel. Yes, Mabel is big and has some commendable athleticism for a big man, but let's be honest, WWE's thought processes must've gone through a slaughterhouse until the business was mangled in animal innards.

Mabel overcame The Undertaker in a quarter final match! THE UNDERTAKER!!! Yeah WWE really and definitely was in a state of complete lobotomy. Heck, Savio Vega whom Mabel defeated in the finals would've been a more appreciable winner, but we know Vince loves his big men, even ones who are the size of a BelAZ75710 truck. There were far better options to go with for King of the Ring 1995, but maybe it's best to forgive 1995 because it's the doofus-looking hydra with its tongue out from that social media meme.

3. Shane McMahon vs. Kurt Angle Street Fight

Wowee we have another King of the Ring 2001 entry on here and no mention of the year's winner Edge whatsoever, so there's your mention! One of the competitors in this King of the Ring Kurt Angle, competed three times during the course of the event. Earlier in the night Angle won a semi-final bout against Christian with the help of his opponent in the Street Fight Shane McMahon; then in the finals Shane McMahon would cost Kurt Angle the chance to be a back-to-back King of the Ring winner. Now in this Street Fight, Angle had all the motivation to seek sweet revenge on Shane McMahon's tomfoolery.

What we got was a Street Fight that has to rank as one of the greatest Street Fight match-ups ever conceived. The two battled each other from the proverbial pillar to post, with a display of unparalleled grit and tenacity. Kurt asserted his Olympic wrestling prowess to dominate Shane in the early goings, but after Kurt's hubris encouraged him to give Shane a chance, Shane took that chance and fought right back with poise. The two men were already putting on a fantastic Street Fight, but the truly shocking moments were yet to come.

The greatest and most sickeningly-memorable thing about this match, is how Shane endured several nasty belly-to-belly overhead suplexes against plexiglass staging that refused to shatter. The problem was the production crew ordered plexiglass instead of sugar glass, an error which lead to these stomach-churning suplexes, where Shane's head bounced off concrete with every attempt. Eventually the glass shattered from the second of Angle's suplexes, but whilst inside the staging Kurt continued with two further suplexes that refused to break the plexiglass, so Angle drove Shane's head through the glass.

One of the best matches at King of the Ring had one of the most shocking moments ever, which is very apropos.

2. The Austin 3:16 Promo

The only entry in this list where words were shocking more than anything. Stone Cold Steve Austin's career would begin to shoot up tremendously courtesy of one promo at the 1996 King of the Ring. Having just dusted off Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, Austin took to the mic referencing Jake's preaching John 3:16 before saying that he Austin 3:16 had just whooped his ass.

Austin's tenure in the WWE before this signature promo was lackluster and failing. His Ringmaster gimmick was sterile and Austin wasn't given much leeway to express a personality. That all changed with the Austin 3:16 promo, and not only was this promo totally unexpected, it ensured that t-shirts would sell like hotcakes and new merchandise would find glisten with Austin's new catchphrase. Y'see, the power of words can truly leave an impact for many many years to come.

1. The Undertaker vs. Mankind Hell In A Cell Match

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Hell In A Cell match between The Undertaker and Mankind at King of the Ring 1998 is the most shocking match in the King of the Ring PPV's history, and probably in the overall history of the WWE. Not only was there a singular shock, but several of them, all revolving around the deranged ebullience of Mankind.

The Hell In A Cell match by its very design as a match type is ripe with shocking, bloody and brutal potential. However, this particular match-up in 1998 took everything that made this match dangerous and cranked it up to its zenith.

Mankind started the match dangerously enough by taking a steel chair right up to the top of the Hell In A Cell structure, and The Undertaker wasted no time meeting him up there. At first Mankind was successful at wailing chair shots at The Undertaker, but The Deadman fought out of an attempted suplex onto the steel chair, after which they proceeded to approach the edge of the cell. Taker then grabs Mankind with both hands and hurls him off the Hell In A Cell with Mankind crashing helplessly into the announcer's table with the force and ferocity of a meteorite. Fans screamed as they arose from their seats, and both J.R and Jerry 'The King' Lawler were convinced that the match was well and truly over and that Mankind was seriously hurt.

So the match ended in a no contest and the night's main event First Blood match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kane was up next, right? Of course not, we're talking about Mankind here! As he was getting stretchered away, the lunatic got up and staggered with determination back towards the cell, just as The Undertaker had descended from it. The two met up on top of the cell again, but just as things were getting going, Taker goozles Mankind and Chokeslams him through the cell and Mankind crashes hard down to the canvas. At this point J.R pleaded for someone to stop the damn match as Terry Funk and medical personnel quickly rushed to the ring to check on Mankind's condition.

Once again, Mankind continued valiantly on, even with a tooth stuck in his nose. Mankind continued the match like what had taken place previously didn't even happen! Mankind did damage The Undertaker with a nasty pulling piledriver on a steel chair and cinched in the Mandible Claw, but after Mankind scattered thumbtacks intending to pierce Taker's flesh with them, Mankind himself got his back pierced by them as Taker Chokeslammed him on them. Taker would then follow up with a Tombstone Piledriver and win this utterly depraved once in a lifetime match.