WWE's March Madness: Ranking the Greatest Tournaments of All Time

WWE often reminds us that March Madness isn't the only place for win-or-go-home contests, Cinderella runs, upsets and dramatic battles of great athletes.

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament is no doubt an annual thrill ride. WWE, though, has been home to its share of compelling tournament drama, too. Superstars have collided in tourneys for the WWE Championship, the cruiserweight title or a No. 1 contender's spot over the years.

From The Rock's coronation to the arrival of the cruiserweights, these events have produced their share of big moments and in-ring excellence.

The tournament format translates extremely well to the pro-wrestling medium. Victories suddenly mean more. Matchups we've never seen before unfold. 

And sure, March Madness brackets are plenty fun, but you see won't anyone from Duke seal a win with a steel chair shot or a Gonzaga player switch allegiances mid-game. That's all exclusive WWE territory. 

The following is a look at the company's best tournaments ever, ranking them based on the number of great matches and memorable happenings, as well as the quality of their storylines.

Honorable Mention

• The Wrestling Classic (1985)
• King of the Ring (1996)
• Gold Rush Tournament (2005)

The Wrestling Classic, WWE's inaugural pay-per-view, is a highly underrated tournament. 

Dynamite Kid vs. Randy Savage and Savage vs. Steamboat are among the many strong matches from that night. Dynamite's run was exciting, as was the popular Junkyard Dog getting his day in the sun.

No tangible prize for the winner hurt this, however. JYD's win is largely forgotten because of that and the tourney's lack of subplots. 

The 1996 King of the Ring is largely remembered as Steve Austin's rise to stardom. As the bully shoving his way to the top, he compelled. Stone Cold followed up his beatdown of Jake Roberts in the finals with the classic Austin 3:16 promo that was quite the exclamation point on the night.

Marc Mero vs. Austin was good, but there weren't enough other standout matches for this to make the list proper. 

The Gold Rush decided who would take on Batista for the world title.

The classic between Shawn Michaels and Shelton Benjamin in the first round is enough to earn it a mention here. Kane vs. Edge was solid, and Edge's craftiness to steal the victory was fun. Other tournaments offered more in the ring and narrative-wise, though. 

5. King of the Ring 1993

The King of the Ring tournament has lost its luster in recent years, but it was once was a prestigious, must-see event.

In 1993, Bret Hart provided the backbone for the PPV. He excelled against Mr. Perfect in one of the best King of the Ring bouts to date. The Hitman delivered against Razor Ramon in the quarterfinals and opposite Hart against Bam Bam Bigelow in the finals, too.

Hart played the gutsy babyface on an uphill journey as he entered the final bout battered and worn-down while Bigelow was fresh thanks to bye in the semis. 

WWE has seen more drama and shocking moments in other tournaments, but this was one of the best in terms of in-ring action. It being the first King of the Ring to air on PPV also elevated its significance.

4. WrestleMania IV WWE Championship Tournament (1988)

Controversy surrounding the world title left it up for grabs in 1988, and WrestleMania was built around the tournament to crown a new champ.

This wasn't an event filled with classics, but there were plenty of intriguing matchups. Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant battled in a WrestleMania III rematch. Randy Savage vs. Greg Valentine was a solid quarterfinal contest. Savage and Ted DiBiase met in the finals in a whirlwind clash that saw Hogan get involved and The Million Dollar Man take a chair to the back.

There were no great contests among those, instead it was buoyed by star power and story.

The grandness of the WrestleMania stage boosted it, as well. Survivor Series a decade later, though, outdid this with a surprise ending for the ages.

3. United Kingdom Championship Tournament (2017)

An infectious energy, a wealth of new faces and a buzzing crowd made the United Kingdom Championship Tournament a special event.

The January tourney didn't have the usual star power WWE wields. The participants were all UK stars, not the Superstars fans see on Raw and SmackDown each week. That gave the two-night event a unique feel, though, as if we were discovering a new world.

Trent Seven, Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne thrived on this stage.

Dunne vs. Mark Andrews and Seven vs. Wolfgang were among the many compelling contests. Hard strikes, technical wizardry and fun flashes of showmanship made for a tourney that thrilled at various stages. The finale was an instant classic, as Bate conquered Dunne despite The Bruiserweight tearing up his shoulder beforehand. 

Diehard fans will long treasure this, but casual ones may tend to remember a 1998 tournament more fondly because of its theatrical nature. In terms of moments and narratives beyond the ropes, Survivor Series sits above the UK tourney.

2. Survivor Series: Deadly Game (1998)

Much like WrestleMania IV, a tournament was the foundation for the 1998 Survivor Series PPV. The WWE title was again vacant thanks to controversy in a championship match.

That left the door open for anyone to grab the gold.

The event continued Steve Austin's rivalry with Vince McMahon as the corporate tyrant looked to do anything to keep the anti-hero away from the championship. That story coursed through the entire event as McMahon and his cronies hovered over the proceedings nervously, trying to pull the right strings to prevent a Stone Cold victory.

The betrayal in the tournament's climax is one of WWE's most memorable moments. The Rock aligned himself with McMahon by cheating Mankind, complete with a poetic allusion to the Montreal Screwjob.

The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock and Mankind vs. Austin, as well as the finals, were all good-not-great matches. 

Drama earned this tourney such a high spot, even ahead of the UK event, which outdid it wrestling-wise. Even the soap opera element, though, couldn't push this past a recent tournament brimming with thrilling action.

1. Cruiserweight Classic (2016)

The Cruiserweight Classic made it easy to fall in love with pro wrestling.

Its sports-inspired presentation worked to perfection. The in-ring action was top-notch. The field was a smart blend of unknowns and established stars, indy darlings and returning veterans.

The event showcased a variety of styles as Zack Sabre Jr. wrenched his foes in knots and Gran Metalik defied gravity. 

Cedric Alexander vs. Kota Ibushi was a show-stealer. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa was a beautiful story of friends forced to fight each other. TJ Perkins' rise was stirring.

No WWE tournament to date has had nearly as many great bouts. The entrants kept raising the bar each round.

And while the Cruiserweight Classic didn't have a moment on par with The Rock joining The Corporation, it was rife with smaller, moving ones. This was a showcase of heart and athleticism, of Kendrick trying to reclaim glory, of wrestlers desperate to make their mark.

WWE will have a tough time topping an event so pure and beautiful, and so will the NCAA.