The Heart and Soul of King in Tekken: Bloodline
For over 25 years, the masked luchador known as King has captured the hearts of Tekken fans worldwide with his dazzling wrestling moves, feline aesthetic, and enduring status as one of the series‘ most iconic heroes. Though absent from the Netflix anime Tekken: Bloodline, King‘s spirit permeates the lore and backstory of the franchise.
The Origins of a Legend
King‘s distinct fighting style and jaguar mask are inspired by real-life professional wrestling legends like Satoru "Tiger Mask" Sayama and Fray Tormenta – a Catholic priest turned luchador who wrestled to support an orphanage. Like his real-world inspirations, the first King adopted his flamboyant persona to support his own orphanage financially.
According to series creator Katsuhiro Harada, King‘s very design encompasses the "spirit of self-sacrifice" with his orphanage symbolizing his "reason to fight."
The Tragedy That Created a Legacy
Sadly, King‘s story ends in tragedy prior to the events of Tekken 3 when he is attacked and killed by the demonic entity Ogre. But King‘s passions live on through one of the orphans from his care, who takes up the mantle of King to honor his memory.
This passing of the torch from one generation to the next is central to Tekken‘s themes of legacy. Despite King‘s absence in Bloodline, his death at the hands of the show‘s central villain haunts the series. It is the goodness embodied by King – snatched away by evils like Ogre – that motivates heroes like Jin Kazama to fight.
The Wrestling Style That Defined King
King stands out from other Tekken fighters thanks to his high-flying lucha libre wrestling style. With acrobatic throws, spin kicks, and dazzling chain grapples, King utilizes his luchador roots to launch dizzying offensive assaults, while relying on holds and submissions for his main offense.
According to official guidebooks, King‘s primary fighting style combines moves from the real-life wrestling disciplines of shoot wrestling and lucha libre. This blend of high risk aerial maneuvers with more grounded submissions and holds creates King‘s unique fighting DNA.
The Heart of the Tekken Franchise
While demons, tyrants, and corporations struggle endlessly for power across the Tekken universe, King represents the moral voice that cuts through the din. He fights not for vengeance, glory, or conquest, but for the orphans under his care.
King lives on through the young man who takes up his mantle – not just his mask and moves – but his humanitarian spirit. This passing of King‘s ideals from one generation to the next gives credence to his role as the moral center of the series.
The Tekken saga provides exciting stories of dynastic feuds, corporate warfare, and larger than life fighters. But every great epic needs a heart. For the world of Tekken, that heart will always be King!
