4 WWE Superstars who need to win the 2026 King of the Ring and 3 who don’t

The 2026 King of the Ring tournament officially kicked off this week on WWE RAW. The winner is set to earn a world championship opportunity at SummerSlam. Hence, the company has loaded this year’s bracket with former world champions, rising stars, established main-eventers, and several competitors who desperately need a career-defining victory.

Although winning King of the Ring would be beneficial for everyone involved, not every superstar needs the crown equally. Some competitors could use the tournament to elevate themselves into the main-event scene. Meanwhile, others are already established enough to reach championship matches without the added accolade.

That said, in this article, we look at four WWE Superstars who need to win the 2026 King of the Ring tournament and three who don’t.

#4. Need to win: Finn Balor

Few WWE superstars need a major singles accomplishment more than Finn Balor.

The former Universal Champion has spent much of the last few years bouncing between faction storylines, tag team programs, and secondary feuds. Although he remained relevant as a member of The Judgment Day, Balor often felt like an afterthought compared to the group’s other stars.

Now, things have changed dramatically. Following his departure from The Judgment Day and his recent move to SmackDown, The Prince finally has an opportunity to reinvent himself as a singles star once again.

Hence, winning King of the Ring would immediately re-establish Finn Balor as a legitimate world title contender. More importantly, it would give him a direct path to Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship.

At 44 years of age, opportunities like this may not come around again. If there is ever a time for WWE to give Balor one last major singles run, it’s now.

#3. Need to win: Former WWE United States Champion LA Knight

LA Knight has become one of WWE’s most consistently popular performers. Yet he still hasn’t captured a world championship.

The Megastar has continued to generate some of the loudest reactions in the company, and fans have repeatedly shown that they are ready to see him compete at the highest level. Despite that support, Knight has often found himself coming up short in major opportunities.

The Megastar’s growing frustration with the power structure surrounding Roman Reigns and other top stars could become the fuel he needs to make a deep tournament run.

Unlike Seth Rollins or Jey Uso, LA Knight doesn’t have any world title reign to fall back on. He needs a signature accomplishment that proves he belongs among WWE’s elite. Hence, winning King of the Ring would accomplish exactly that.

A SummerSlam showdown against Cody Rhodes could easily become one of WWE’s hottest programs of the year, especially considering both men’s ability to connect with audiences through their promos.

#2. Need to win: Dominik Mysterio

Dominik Mysterio may already be one of WWE’s biggest success stories. However, King of the Ring could elevate him to another level entirely.

The Judgment Day member has evolved from Rey Mysterio’s son into one of WWE’s most entertaining and effective villains. Along the way, he has accumulated championship gold and become one of the company’s most reliable television performers.

However, there is still one thing missing from Dominik’s résumé, a true main-event run. Hence, winning King of the Ring would finally push him into that conversation. Besides, “Dirty” Dom doesn’t seem to have a direct storyline on RAW right now.

Imagine the heat generated by Dominik Mysterio earning a SummerSlam title match against Cody Rhodes. The story practically writes itself. Cody represents everything WWE wants in a champion. Meanwhile, Dominik thrives as the arrogant rule-breaker who constantly finds shortcuts to success.

Whether Mysterio ultimately wins the title or not, the tournament could serve as the vehicle that transforms him from a top mid-card act into a genuine headliner.

#1. Need to win: Ricky Saints

Perhaps no superstar needs the King of the Ring victory more than Ricky Saints. Since arriving in WWE, Saints has consistently demonstrated charisma, confidence, and star power. Yet he remains one of the least established names among the tournament favorites.

Unlike veterans such as Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, or Jey Uso, the former NXT star doesn’t have years of WWE accomplishments behind him. Hence, he needs a breakout moment. King of the Ring could be exactly that.

The tournament has historically been used to create new stars. Thus, Ricky Saints fits that mold perfectly. A deep run would immediately signal that WWE views him as a future main-event player.

Even if Saints were to lose to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, simply reaching that stage would elevate his stock tremendously. Among all the participants, the former NXT star arguably has the most to gain.

#3. Don’t need to win: Oba Femi

Oba Femi is already a star. The former NXT Champion has looked like a monster since arriving on the main roster. Moreover, WWE has continued to protect him as one of the company’s most dominant young talents. His impressive victory in the opening round only reinforced that perception.

The biggest reason Femi doesn’t need to win King of the Ring is simple: he doesn’t require a crown to remain a threat. The company could easily book him as an unstoppable force heading into SummerSlam without him winning the tournament.

In fact, there are already indications that The Ruler’s long-running rivalry with Brock Lesnar could continue. Some wrestlers need the King of the Ring to elevate their status. Arguably, Oba Femi has already reached that level.

#2. Don’t need to win: Jey Uso

Jey Uso has already achieved what many thought was impossible. He won the Royal Rumble, captured a world championship, and firmly established himself as a singles star.

Although another major tournament victory would certainly add to Jey’s résumé, it’s difficult to argue that he needs it. The reality is that WWE has spent years building him into a top star. Fans already view him as a legitimate main-event talent. Hence, he can easily enter the world title picture whenever Creative calls for it.

More importantly, another singles push could feel repetitive compared to the opportunities available for younger or less-established competitors. King of the Ring should be used to elevate someone who truly needs it. Jey Uso has already arrived.

#1. Don’t need to win: Seth Rollins

This shouldn’t even be controversial. Seth Rollins is one of the most accomplished stars in modern WWE history. He has multiple world championships, WrestleMania main events, legendary rivalries, and a Hall of Fame-worthy résumé. Hence, he doesn’t need a special tournament victory to justify a championship opportunity.

Rollins has consistently proven that he can insert himself into the world title picture through sheer star power alone. If the company wants him to face Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, they can book it tomorrow, and nobody would question it. That is precisely why he doesn’t need King of the Ring.

Although The Visionary remains one of the favorites to win the tournament, the crown would ultimately mean far more to stars like Ricky Saints, Dominik Mysterio, LA Knight, or Finn Balor. Sometimes the best tournament winner doesn’t need to be the biggest star. It’s the superstar who benefits the most from the opportunity.