Not all heroes wear capes, not all kings wear crowns—and in pro wrestling, some don’t even want them. This week, Eric and Nate climb the royal mountain to name their Mount Rushmore of the King of the Ring. Who used the tournament to launch a legendary career? Who embraced the gimmick and ruled with an iron fist? And who just beat a few guys and vanished into the midcard wilderness? We’re breaking down which winners truly wore the crown—and which ones just kept the cape warm.

We’re talking tournament performances, character transformations, long-term booking impact, and that promo that changed wrestling forever. All hail the kings—just maybe not Mabel. (R.I.P.)

Got your own picks? Hit us up and let us know who you’d crown.

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS

• Owen Hart makes history: King of the Ring 1994 - YouTube
• The reign of King Booker: WWE Playlist
• King Booker Was Hilariously Entertaining - YouTube
• Who remembers KING BOOKAAAAHHH? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BLOiRBQIplo
• Is King Booker the greatest king ever? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIGyYwLzjks
• Bret Hart vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: King of the Ring 1993 - YouTube
• Remind me, what did Austin 3:16 say? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjWPoQWdmjg

In honor of Father's Day, Nate Merz takes the reins and dedicates an episode to the hardest working guys in the profession, Wrestling Father Figures. Who gave their "kids" the best opportunities? The most daddy issues? And whose legacy still lives on even after a ladder match for custody of a child and the identity of the real father is still up in the air? Forget Maury Povich, because Nate Merz is about to show you who's your daddy--give it a listen!

SHOW NOTES

Cricket Sounds - Crickets Chirping at Night - Nature Sounds for Sleep & Relaxation - 11 Hours

Shrek (2001) - I’m All Alone

“IM YOUR PAPI”! #wwe #reymysterio #eddieguerrero #youtubeshorts #dominikmysterio #smackdown

Dominik Mysterio wishes he was Eddie Guerrero's son

Is Eddie Guerrero Dominik Mysterio’s Real Father?

Kane & Paul Bearer Take A DNA Test Is He The Biological Father Of Kane? 5/18/98

Mr.McMahon’s Illegitimate Son Is Revealed (Shocking) RAW Sep 10,2007

The day Finlay tried to sell Hornswoggle in the Philippines.

Torrie Wilson On The Al Wilson Storyline

Ladies and gentlemen: Al Wilson!!! (AKA "LOOK AT AL! LOOK AT DAWN!")

SmackDown!: Al Wilson's Funeral - 2003

Some of the most accomplished amateur wrestlers of all time never step into the pro wrestling ring. Some do, and it's not pretty. Some of the highest achieving professional wrestlers would be tied into knots by a state high school amateur champ. So when a successful amateur wrestler transitions to pro wrestling and finds success there, too, it's special. Nate and Eric discuss the best of those success stories: Whose move to the pros seemed seamless? Whose amateur stardom grew tenfold through pro wrestling? Who supplemented medals and trophies with championship belts and the greenbacks, the moolah, the money that comes with them?

And check this out: None other than Mr. Gerald Brisco joins the guys to discuss what he looks for while scouting amateurs that will benefit them in the pros, why he feels he and his brother, Jack, did so well in the squared circle, and he even gives his Mount Rushmore of Amateurs Who Turned Pro! While Mr. Brisco is on the line, he gives his top four reasons for attending the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa, and he shares some fun stories and episodes from his podcast, "Stories With Brisco and Bradshaw." You won't find many more educated opinions on the topic than Mr. Gerald Brisco himself!

National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo: https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-dan-gable-museum/pro_wrestling/awards/George_Tragos_and_Lou_Thesz_Professional_Wrestling_Inductee

George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeTragosLouTheszProWrestlingHallOfFame

Stories With Brisco and Bradshaw (on Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-with-brisco-and-bradshaw/id1557108431

LINKS AND SPOILERS:

Bruce Prichard on Jack Brisco: https://youtu.be/eQd9xNkV1q4?si=syj-JVRcWshY0hAv&t=55

Jim Ross on Jack Brisco: https://youtu.be/Bd10E2biZsc?si=84GEShu_956t90Ee&t=170

Dr. Mike Lano on Jack Brisco: https://youtu.be/vkAhXGFVPQw?si=hVCPK_bfU_Ipyz0C&t=509

Dave Meltzer's Jack Brisco obituary: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/dave-meltzer-life-and-times-jack-brisco-320661/

Kurt Angle on pro wrestling clicking: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cf3RfwAjjSg

Kurt Angle on giving AND taking in the ring: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JYqwCvNsXkA

Undertaker on Kurt Angle: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zzoYJQz_BhQ

Stone Cold Steve Austin on Kurt Angle: https://youtu.be/cDsqSHq4oUg?si=u8QgZnSOBA-jgtaZ&t=4543

Kurt Angle Gets Mad At The Stone Cold Steve Austin What Chant Stop It Im A Olympic Gold Medalist

Paul Heyman presents a Brock Lesnar career retrospective: Raw, Feb. 18, 2019

Insane Bob Backlund Promo