Push It to the Limit: MITB Isn't the Only Pusher in Town, Enter the KOTR

It's been a couple of days after Wrestlemania 25 and highlights still flash through my head. The awesomeness of 'Taker and HBK and then performance of the century from Ricky Steamboat. My eyes was on the Money In The Bank match as I'm sure millions eyed that match as well.

Christian and MVP were the toast of the town and Shelton Benjamin was my pick. All three actually became utterly popular and were seen as the only possible victors. As it turned out, CM Punk walked away with the case and it left a bitter disdainful taste in the mouths of millions.

The Punk fans celebrated as it seemed nearly impossible that he would pull of the feat and win two years in a row. There's the curveball of the night folks, WWE got us again. Truth be told, I was ready to bash my television and run rampant a la Triple H chasing Legacy.

I heard the ranting from nearby neighbors who I assumed witnessed the same outcome. I was aggravated, but there's no use in crying over spilled milk, so I clapped for punk...sorta.

He works hard and hopefully WWE doesn't bamboozle him again. I had every intention of taking everyone to the pits of hell with my Manifesto, but Boss said I better have liked Wrestlemania 25. Enough with the Mania talk, let's look ahead. I'm an optimistic guy.

When one door closes, another one opens. The door that I'm talking about is the King of The Ring. A once-annual traditional tournament by the WWE, one superstar would emerge above all other competitors and be the dubbed "King of The Ring."

The event has put some of greatest superstars and future hall of famers on the map. Bret Hart, Stone Cold, Edge, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Don Muraco, Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, Harley Race, Ken Shamrock, Triple H, even William Regal (I'll ignore that one).

The King of The Ring moniker can be very beneficial to careers and it's pretty darn good on a resume.

Booker T made the most of it, heck he even changed his entire gimmick because of it. Booker went to King Booker after he won the King of The Ring and got one last pretty good push before he ventured off to TNA.

The careers of Bret Hart, Stone Cold, and Triple H need not be explained since we all can agree that we know how far these guys went...still going. After Edge and Christian broke up, Edge rose as a singles competitor.

He won a King of The Ring and feuded with Kurt Angle which climaxed with a hair vs hair. Looking at modern day Kurt Angle, I think we know who won that match. Brock Lesnar short WWE tenure was already through the roof and the King of The Ring just further demonstrated his dominance.

He even defeated the Undertaker in an Hell in a Cell match. To every great thing, there is a downside. There were some winners that didn't really go anywhere. Mabel won the 1996 King of The Ring, and that's all I'll say about that. Billy Gunn and Regal were also two more guys I think didn't get as much as a push as they should.

Gunn fell off the face of the earth and ended up in TNA. Granted Regal won the KOTR and had an Intercontinental championship run, his push if you want to call it that, didn't feel like one to me.

Some could argue that Booker T should be on the bad list, but I beg to differ. His 2006 KOTR victory fulfilled it's purpose..push. Booker became King Booker and no matter who annoying he was, he made the best out of that push.

He even won the champions match when the WHC, WWE champion, and the ECW champion all met in a triple threat match at Cyber Sunday I believe. The match was Big Show (ECW), John Cena (WWE champ), and Booker T (WHC).

The KOTR is known to have hiatuses like a certain someone, but hopefully the event finds it way back again this year. More stars could use a push and the event can really make a difference in a star's career.

There have been talks/rumors of the KOTR returning this year due to the fact of upcoming three-hour RAW shows. WWE should bring it back again this year and set up another star for a push.

Will it happen?

The draft is coming up and stars are set to switch shows. Adding another KOTR tournament coulsn't possible hurt. Punk has that case, but all hope isn't lost for your favorite stars folks, we might not have to wait another year for a potential push, remain optimistic.