4 Already Eliminated WWE Superstars Who Needed To Win The King of The Ring Tournament

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That said, in this listicle, we are going to look at four already eliminated WWE Superstars who needed to win the King of the Ring Tournament. So without further ado, let’s get started.

#4. Bron Breakker

Bron Breakker was eliminated from the King of the Ring Tournament in the first round, and he may have needed the victory more than anyone else in the field. The Vision member competed against Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Trick Williams. However, Liv Morgan got involved and helped Mysterio pick up the win.

The loss continued a difficult stretch for Breakker. At the beginning of the year, he looked set for a major singles push. He challenged CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship on the first WWE RAW of 2026 and remained a focal point of The Vision.

However, an injury slowed his momentum. By the time he returned, the landscape on RAW had changed and Breakker was no longer receiving the same level of attention.

The King of the Ring Tournament could have changed that. A strong run would have put him back in the world title conversation and given him a chance to re-establish himself as one of WWE’s top young stars. Instead, he was eliminated in the opening round and remains stuck in his feud with Seth Rollins.

#3. Ricky Saints

Ricky Saints was eliminated in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament after losing to Je’Von Evans, Seth Rollins, and Talla Tonga. The finish was unfortunate for Saints. The Vision attacked Rollins late in the match, creating an opening for Evans to hit the OG Cutter and pin the former NXT Champion.

The 35-year-old arrived on SmackDown after WrestleMania 42 and is still trying to establish himself on the blue brand. While WWE has featured him regularly, he has yet to receive a major opportunity. That said, the King of the Ring Tournament could have changed that.

A run to the semifinals or even the finals would have immediately elevated Saints. Instead, he was eliminated in the opening round. As a result, the former Ricky Starks remains in the same position he was before the tournament began.

#2. WWE United States Champion Trick Williams

Trick Williams has been one of WWE’s biggest success stories of 2026 so far. The former NXT Champion arrived on the main roster earlier this year and wasted no time making an impact. At WrestleMania 42, he defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship and has remained one of SmackDown’s featured stars ever since.

However, his King of the Ring run ended in the first round. Williams competed against Bron Breakker, Dominik Mysterio, and Damian Priest. Liv Morgan’s interference helped Mysterio pick up the win and advance in the tournament.

That said, Trick had a lot to gain from winning the tournament. He already holds the United States Championship. Moreover, a deep run in King of the Ring would have pushed him even closer to the main event scene.

Instead, his journey ended early. A King of the Ring victory would have continued the momentum he has built since arriving on the main roster and further established him as one of WWE’s top young stars.

#1. Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins was reportedly set to win this year’s King of the Ring Tournament. However, his journey ended in the first round. The Visionary faced Je’Von Evans, Ricky Saints, and Talla Tonga on RAW. Rollins appeared to have the match won after hitting a Stomp on Saints. However, Austin Theory pulled the referee out of the ring before the count, and Bron Breakker later took Rollins out with a spear. That allowed Evans to capitalize and advance to the semifinals.

Rollins may have needed the tournament win more than most. He has been feuding with The Vision for months and has struggled to move back into the world title picture since returning from injury. Moreover, King of the Ring could have provided a direct path to Roman Reigns.

The OTC is currently the World Heavyweight Champion, and a SummerSlam match between Reigns and Rollins would have been easy to build given their history. The two stars have crossed paths countless times over the years and remain closely linked to one another’s careers.