5 WWE King of the Ring winners who became megastars, and 5 who didn't

#5 Didn't: Ken Shamrock

Ken Shamrock's Ankle lock helped him capture the crown in 1998.

When the WWF signed Ken Shamrock to a contract, fans knew something big was going to happen.

After playing the guest enforcer for WrestleMania 13’s I-Quit match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold, the former UFC legend would become a WWE Superstar in his own right, and in 1998, became King of the Ring.

Defeating his longtime foe The Rock in the finals, Shamrock’s career would never go much higher than this, as unlike former Kings like Austin and the Hitman, he wasn't pushed into the main event picture following his huge win.

In hindsight, perhaps having The Rock win would have been the best option, as the Great One would end the year as WWF Champion, and has had one of the greatest careers in both Sports and Entertainment.

Remaining a mid-carder, Shamrock’s WWE career would end with his release in 1999, and in the 20 years since, Shamrock has never been brought back to the McMahon-led company.

Though he never returned to WWE, Shamrock did play a crucial part in the early days of Impact and was recently announced for some future tapings.