Here are the first round brackets...

Angle v Orton
Matt v Booker
Benoit v Finlay
Lashley v Henry

Yes! Yes! Yes! I've wanted KotR to come back since it used to be another traditional PPV. Is it going to be inter-promotional?

It's not a PPV but they are bringing back the tournament. I love me a good old fasioned tournament. Here are the current brackets

Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton
Booker T vs. Matt Hardy
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay
Lashley vs. Mark Henry

Now, for the life of me, I can't understand why they wouldn't include some others such as JBL, Jamie Noble, Road Warrior (only because he seems to be getting a semi-push), Orlando Jordan (I guess he's getting ready to do his bi-sexual gimmick), Simon Dean, Regal, Burchill. They could have made this a SmackDown only 16 man King of the Ring, but we get half assed brackets. Oh well. It'll suffice.

The announced matches are good, sans the fourth one and here are my current predictions:

Round One:

Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton
Booker T vs. Matt Hardy
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay
Lashley vs. Mark Henry

Round Two:

Kurt Angle vs. Matt Hardy
Chris Benoit vs. Lashley

Finals:
Matt Hardy vs. Chris Benoit

The reason I go with this is because of all the people in this tournament who need to be thrown a bone, Matt Hardy is the only one. This could lead to a US Title feud, possibly. He needs to be elevated, and deserves it. Angle has already won it, and he needs to stay a Main Eventer and not win this. Orton's suspended. Booker doesn't need it, but DOES need to move on from his current lame ass feud. Benoit needs to be like Angle and go after Rey. Finlay is a possibility, but I don't see it. Lashley was my second choice, but I don't think giving him the crown is a good idea. Mark Henry? sdfgdasfhah

The only thing I wonder is if the winner of this will get a shot at Rey's title at Judgment Day as well, because if so, then Matt Hardy definately won't win, though it'd be a good match. If that's the case, I see either Angle or Benoit taking the win. Angle/Benoit in the finals = another classic match.

Overall, I am pretty excited to see where this goes.

Yeah, not sure where they're going with this one.

Judging by the brackets on wwe.com, its total on-the-fly booking, just based on the very simplisitic bracket image they released.

I'm sure the tourney will be on the fly as well.

I always loved King of the Ring, but would much prefer it to be on PPV instead of just hanging around Smackdown. But hey...its direction, so I'm for it.

Yeah, bringing back KOTR is cool. Will the winner of this just be the King or #1 contender for the World Title or US Title, either way, I think the first round will go like this.

Angle > Orton
Hardy > Booker
Finlay > Benoit
Lashley > Henry

From there I don't know, if the winner is #1 contender for the World Title, it's Angle, if it's for the US Title, it's Benoit, Lashley or Hardy. The KOTR this year will definately be one of the faces though.

I see Benoit losing first round because of JBL interference.

Angle gets the win over Orton because of the suspension.

Lashley wins over Henry

Hardy wins over Booker

I honestly think they might build to Angle/Lashley as it could potentially draw money if they are thinking of turning Lashley heel right not. Especially because I've said that Lashley would be a bigger deal as a heel I think with Orton's suspension that maybe the WWE are thinking of that as a possibility too. Plus, it would give Lashley the rub working with Angle as everything Angle as touched in the last year and a half has turned to gold.

This looks boring to me. Not sure if the abbreviated format could really "make" anybody. If that's what they are going for, Lashley has to win. Otherwise, give it to Angle.

I always liked tournaments, but there's only one problem...

WWF can't book a tournament properly to save their lives. Out of all the King of the Ring's, the only one that looked impressive was 1993. You had Bret, Razor, Tatanka, Luger, Hennig, and Bam Bam all in the Final 8, and all had a chance to win. Hell, even Mr. Hughes was getting a decent midcard push, so the only true "loser" of the round was Jim Duggan.

1994 you had Owen and Razor, and we all knew Owen was winning. 1995 SUCKED. 1996-98 had the "2 rounds in 1 night" shortening garbage. 1999 Sucked. 2000 was botched despite having the most potential talent. 2001 was like 1996-98. Then you have the WM IV and Survivor Series '98 Tournaments, which also sucked.

I say Lashley will win because he's the new guy gettingthe push, or hardy will win as a thank you.

Matt Hardy getting a thank you win... HAHAHAHA! I'll go with Lashley too.

But damn, Lashley still has a long way to go before he beats Angle clean, unless they're beginning to push him quick now. Angle is going against Rey at Judgment Day right?

According to the possible truth of the rumors we had up a few weeks ago, a certain someone may be drafted to Smackdown to win the strap at Judgment Day.

I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope...

Can't be bothered to look for it, who is this someone?

If you can't guess who it is by now, you obviously haven't been reading enough of Scrooge's posts.


And I think Lashley will walk away the winner here, as well.

I forgot Colo...kalamazoo hasn't been around long enough. I was refering to Kane. In short, I'm a super-Kane mark, and he's the only reason I watch Raw anymore.

And I'm a super Mysterio mark. This is why, if it comes down to a title match between the two of them, Scrooge and I have to duel to the death with pistols.

(scares Choate with pyro behind his back)

Well Choate you should be happy to know the latest rumor. They are going to give Rey a decent run with the title so I'm guessing that the Kane stuff has been called off.....

The Kane thing sounds like some plans down the line to me that may have gotten pushed back. I don't think Kane-heel v Rey is what they wanted anyway.

They were probably planning on putting the title on Orton, and would bring Kane in as a face. But it all got screwed to hell.

Ew... Orton/Kane. Don't even make me imagine that.

Like you haven't already written erotic fiction about it.

I'm not much of a writer, other than having people brutally attacked by thugs and marines.

Classic.


And I am excited to hear that Rey's getting a decent run. I've been concerned that they'd strip the belt off him ASAP.

How about face Kane vs. heel Cena? ...It makes sense in my fantasy game that equals stars, at least.

I'd rather it be Kane vs. Someone with consistant talent. Hell, put him in a feud with RVD again. I'm not big on RVD these days, but he has a unique enough offense and sells like a champ.