The 2026 WWE King of the Ring tournament has reached its most crucial stage. The remaining competitors are now just one or two victories away from securing a guaranteed opportunity for a world championship at SummerSlam.
Over the years, the tournament has served as a launching pad for some of the company’s biggest stars. Thus, this year’s edition has the potential to create another major headliner. With names such as Oba Femi, Dominik Mysterio, Jey Uso, and Je’Von Evans still in contention, WWE has several compelling directions it can take.
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However, not every outcome would be beneficial for the company or the tournament’s long-term prestige. As Triple H prepares to book the semifinals and finals, there are a few decisions he should strongly consider avoiding.
That said, in this article, we look at three mistakes WWE must stay away from in the remaining rounds of the 2026 King of the Ring tournament.
#3. Booking Brock Lesnar to cost Oba Femi against Dominik Mysterio in the semifinals
One of the biggest mistakes Triple H could make in the remaining rounds of the King of the Ring tournament is having Brock Lesnar interfere in Oba Femi’s semifinal match against Dominik Mysterio.
On paper, the idea makes sense. Lesnar and Femi have already faced each other twice, and WWE appears to be building toward a trilogy bout. Femi even called out The Beast Incarnate after advancing past the first round of the tournament. Thus, making it clear that their rivalry is far from over. However, that’s exactly why the company should avoid using The Beast Incarnate to cost The Ruler the match.
The biggest problem is predictability. Ever since Oba Femi challenged Brock Lesnar again, many fans have speculated that Brock could return during the tournament and eliminate him from contention. If WWE follows that route, it would feel like the most obvious outcome rather than a genuinely surprising development. Triple H has often earned praise for subverting expectations and creating compelling twists. Hence, this is a situation where taking the predictable path could hurt the story.
Additionally, the King of the Ring tournament should be used to elevate the competitors involved rather than serve as a backdrop for an already established feud. Femi has been positioned as one of WWE’s brightest young stars. Hence, he deserves to either win or lose based on his own performance. Meanwhile, Dominik Mysterio would gain very little from advancing because of Lesnar’s interference, as critics could easily argue that he only reached the finals due to outside help.
The Lesnar-Femi rivalry already has enough momentum to continue on its own. WWE doesn’t need Brock’s involvement in the semifinals to set up the trilogy match. Instead, Triple H should allow Femi and Dominik to have a decisive contest and keep the focus on the tournament itself. Doing otherwise would not only make the storyline predictable but also risk overshadowing one of the most important matches in this year’s King of the Ring competition.
#2. Booking Dominik Mysterio to win the WWE King of the Ring tournament
Dominik Mysterio has become one of WWE’s most successful modern heels. Whether fans are booing him inside arenas or criticizing him on social media, Dirty Dom consistently generates reactions that many performers can only dream of.
That being said, making him the 2026 King of the Ring winner may not be the right decision. Winning the tournament would certainly generate headlines. However, it could also pose significant challenges in presenting him as a believable world championship threat.
The King of the Ring winner receives a major championship opportunity at SummerSlam. Although Dominik’s character excels as a manipulative, opportunistic heel, many fans may struggle to buy into his defeating one of WWE’s top champions on such a massive stage.
More importantly, the remaining competitors would benefit far more from the accolade. Oba Femi is still establishing himself on the main roster and could become a breakout superstar with a tournament victory. Je’Von Evans is one of WWE’s most exciting young talents and would be in line for a career-defining push. Even Jey Uso could use the tournament to strengthen his position as a singles competitor if the company chooses that route.
Dominik simply doesn’t need the tournament as much as the others. Hence, Triple H should focus on using King of the Ring to create a new headline attraction rather than adding another achievement to an already established television personality.
#1. Booking Jey Uso to defeat Je’Von Evans in the semifinal
Perhaps the biggest mistake Triple H could make in the remainder of the tournament would be having Jey Uso defeat Je’Von Evans in the semifinals.
There is no denying Jey’s popularity. Although winning the tournament would place him back at the top, it could affect his partnership with his brother, Jimmy Uso. It could lead to The YEET Master embracing a singles run again. The tag team division right now needs The Usos. Even if Jey should return to a solo run, now might not be the perfect time. Moreover, he can actually get a world title shot without winning the tournament.
On the other hand, Je’Von Evans could benefit tremendously from advancing to the finals. The young superstar has impressed fans with his athleticism, charisma, and ability to deliver memorable performances under pressure. WWE has clearly positioned him as one of the company’s future stars. Hence, a deep King of the Ring run would further solidify that perception.
A victory over someone as established as Jey Uso could instantly elevate Evans to a new level. It would demonstrate that WWE views him as a legitimate contender rather than simply a promising prospect.
Also, Evans represents the future. WWE has often been at its best when it uses tournaments to create fresh stars. Hence, this could be the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.
If Triple H truly wants the 2026 King of the Ring tournament to leave a lasting impact, Je’Von Evans should emerge from the semifinal with the victory. Giving the younger star the spotlight would provide far greater long-term value than another milestone in Jey Uso’s already accomplished career.
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Edited by Angana Roy