Kenny King

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2012–2015)

Pursuit of the X Division Championship (2012–2013)

On June 24, 2012, King's contract with ROH expired. the July 5 episode of TNA's Impact Wrestling, King wrestled in a match, defeating Lars Only to qualify for the TNA X Division Championship tournament at Destination X. Subsequently, ROH stated that they considered this an unacceptable "breach of his verbal agreement" and severed ties with him. On July 8 at Destination X, King defeated Douglas Williams to qualify for the finals of the X Division Championship tournament. Later that same event, King was defeated by Zema Ion in the final Ultimate X match, which also included Mason Andrews and Sonjay Dutt. The following week, King teamed with Aries in a tag team match, where they defeated Ion and Roode, with King pinning the X Division Champion for the win. Following the match, King was named the number one contender to the X Division Championship. King received his title opportunity on August 12 at Hardcore Justice, but was defeated by Ion. The following day it was reported that King had signed a contract with TNA. On the December 6 episode of Impact Wrestling, King defeated Kid Kash and Zema Ion to become number one contender for the X Division Championship. Three days later at Final Resolution, King failed in his title challenge against Rob Van Dam. On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, King defeated Van Dam in a non-title match, pinning him with his feet on the ropes. The following week, King teased tension between himself and Van Dam after he abandoned Van Dam in a tag team match against Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan. On the January 10, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, King defeated Zema Ion to earn the right to face Christian York in a number one contenders match for the X Division Championship at Genesis. However, three days later at the pay-per-view, King was defeated by York. On the February 7 episode of Impact Wrestling, King unsuccessfully challenged Rob Van Dam for the X Division Championship in a three-way match, also involving Zema Ion. Two weeks later, King received another shot at the X Division Championship, but was again defeated by Van Dam.

On the February 28 episode of Impact Wrestling, King finally defeated Van Dam to win his first X Division Championship, in a match where if King had lost, he would have been out of the X Division. King made his first successful title defense on March 10 at Lockdown, defeating Christian York and Zema Ion in a three-way match. On the March 21 episode of Impact Wrestling, King defeated Sonjay Dutt and Zema Ion in a three-way match to retain the X Division Championship. King then defended the title against Petey Williams and Zema Ion on the April 18 episode of Impact Wrestling and against Williams and Chris Sabin on the May 16 episode. On June 2 at Slammiversary XI, King lost the X Division Championship to Chris Sabin in a three-way Ultimate X match, also involving Suicide. King lost his rematch on the June 27 episode of Impact Wrestling, after he was pinned by an impostor Suicide (later revealed to be Austin Aries) in a three-way match, which also included then-champion Chris Sabin and removed him from the title contention. King returned on the September 26 episode of Impact to confront Aries over the fake Suicide stunt, and after attacking Aries, Aries ordered a match right afterwards, which Aries won, and left King with a bad cut on his forehead.

Beat Down Clan; X Division Champion (2014–2015)

On the March 20 edition of Impact Wrestling, a promo for King's return was announced, dubbing him a new nickname "King of the Night". The following week King returned to television as a heel requesting a match from MVP. The week after, King wrestled his first televised match in over six months against MVP which ended in a no-contest after the two started brawling, igniting a feud. King continued to antagonize MVP over the next several weeks until MVP turned heel on the May 5 edition of Impact, the following week after which the two formed an alliance alongside Bobby Lashley.

Over the next few editions of Impact, King became a member of the higher-card status of the roster, attacking people such as The Wolves, Bobby Roode and Eric Young. On the June 19 edition of Impact King was given a match against Young for his first shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. King lost, but helped Lashley defeat Young for the title later that night. On September 17, 2014, King and MVP antagonized former Army Sergeant and amputee wrestler Chris Melendez on his debut, resulting in a match in which King lost to Melendez and a post-match attack by King which was stopped by Mr. Anderson.

On September 18, 2014, at the tapings for the October 28 edition of Impact Wrestling, Lashley lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Roode. On January 7, 2015, King and MVP helped Lashley beat Roode to regain the championship, along with new members Samoa Joe and Low Ki as well as Roode's friend Eric Young turning on him. On the following night's tapings of the January 16, 2015, episode of Impact Wrestling, the group was officially presented as the Beat Down Clan, with the trio of MVP, Lashley and King established as having been its foundation; however, Lashley refused to act as the new unit's centerpiece, resulting in King joining the others in attacking Lashley on MVP's orders.

At Impact: Hardcore Justice, Kenny King won a ladder match to begin his second reign as X Division Champion. On May 11, 2015, King lost the X Division Championship against Spud. On June 24, 2015, (aired July 1) Beat Down Clan defeated The Rising in a 4-on-3 Handicap match, forcing The Rising to dissolve. Also, Hernandez made his return to TNA, joining BDC in the progress. The Beat Down Clan was quickly dissolved after contract disputes with Hernandez and MVP and King was taken off television.

After a two-month hiatus, King made his TNA return on the September 2 episode of Impact Wrestling, King went one on one against and lost to Bram in a losing effort. On September 23 episode of Impact Wrestling. King received a shot at the X Division Championship against Tigre Uno which he lost. After the match King left TNA.

After the Beat Down Clan dissolved, all members left TNA with the exception of King. He returned to a full-time TNA schedule and competed in 'Group Wildcard' in the TNA World Title Series along with Mahabali Shera, Crazzy Steve and Aiden O'Shea. The series and the subsequent tournament were taped in July and aired on Impact throughout the later part of 2015, after King had already returned to Ring of Honor. Due to his success in group play, King qualified for the 16-person World Championship tournament, but he was defeated in the first round by Eric Young, failing to qualify for the round of 8, In September 2015, Kenny King left TNA, confirming his departure from the company.

Ring of Honor (2015–2022, 2024)

King made a surprise return to ROH on September 18, 2015, at All Star Extravaganza VII, reuniting with his All Night Express partner Rhett Titus in a tag team match, where they defeated the Briscoe Brothers.

In 2016, All Night Express united with Caprice Coleman to form an alliance known as the Cabinet. The Cabinet overcame Jason Kincaid, Leon St. Giovanni, and Shaheem Ali in the first round of the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship tournament, only to meet defeat at the hands of A. C. H., Jay White, and Kushida. The Cabinet was originally portrayed as something not be taken seriously, but in late 2016, the trio turned serious and renamed themselves "The Rebellion", eventually also adding Shane Taylor as a member. The Rebellion remained together until June 2017, when they were defeated by Search and Destroy in a match, where the losing team had to disband. This signaled both a singles push for King and a face turn.

On September 22 at Death Before Dishonor XV, King defeated Kushida to win the ROH World Television Championship for the first time. On December 15, 2017, at Final Battle Kenny King lost the ROH Television Title in a Fatal 4 Way elimination match against Silas Young, Shane Taylor and Punishment Martinez. However, King regained the title on February 10, 2018. King lost the title at Supercard of Honor XII to Silas Young in a Last Man Standing match.

In mid 2018, King began to make a slow heel turn, starting with cheating to beat Bullet Club member Marty Scurll. In the following weeks, King also defeated Chase Owens and "Hangman" Adam Page with similar underhanded tactics, leading King to call himself the Bullet Club "silencer."

In late 2019, King had joined with Rush and Dragon Lee to form the heel stable La Faccion Ingobernable (later joined by La Bestia del Ring). ROH was on hiatus through the better part of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2021, King and Lee would defeat The Foundation (Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham) to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship in a Pure Rules match that was aired on the February 27 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling. This marked King's second reign as Tag Team Champions.

On February 15, 2024, King returned to ROH for HonorClub where King lost to Dalton Castle.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2017) On August 9, 2017, Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) announced Kenny would replace King Haku because of immigration complications, making his debut for the promotion in the 2017 CMLL International Gran Prix. On September 1, King was eliminated from the International Gran Prix torneo cibernetico by Valiente.

Impact Wrestling (2022–2023)

On the February 3, 2022, episode of Impact!, King made his return to Impact Wrestling, as a member of Honor No More. On June 19, at Slammiversary, he competed in an Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship, which was won by Mike Bailey.

On January 19, 2023, since his second return he also faced Mike Bailey in a No Ropes PIT FIGHT Knockout or Submission ONLY match but was not successful. Kenny also faced Kevin Knight in a one-on-one match on March 2, and was successful.

On July 15 at Slammiversary, King defeated Joe Hendry to win the Impact Digital Media Championship. On August 20 at Multiverse United 2, King made his first successful title defense against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. On August 27 at Emergence, Kenny successfully defended the Impact Digital Media Championship against Johnny Swinger. On September 8 at Victory Road, King lost the championship to Tommy Dreamer in a Title vs. Career match, ending his reign at 55 days. at Bound for Glory, King competed in the 20-person Intergender Call Your Shot Gauntlet which was won by Jordynne Grace.

His last match pretaped took place on the November 16 episode of Impact where King and Sheldon Jean lost to ABC (Chris Bey and Ace Austin) failing to win the Impact World Tag Team Championship. He left Impact on November 16, 2023.

Independent circuit (2024–present)

After leaving TNA, King returned to wrestling on the Independent scene.

Personal life Layne has a daughter. He is of Guyanese heritage through his father.

Other media On July 22, 2003, Layne appeared in the television program The Strip as "Felix" in the episode "Father's Day Blues". Layne also appeared on the short lived Nickelodeon series, My Brother and Me on the episode titled "Dee Dee's Haircut". He was in season 2 episode 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills appearing as a Chippendale's dancer in Las Vegas. Layne appeared on the dating game show Baggage on March 9, 2011; he was one of three potential men for the female contestant to choose. He lasted until the final elimination round. Layne was announced as a contestant on the 13th season of The Bachelorette, which premiered in May 2017. He pulled himself out of the competition in ninth place as he was missing his daughter. On June 26, 2018, it was announced that Layne will be on the 5th season of Bachelor in Paradise.

Championships and accomplishments

Alliance Wrestling Force AWF Florida Championship (1 time, inaugural) Full Impact Pro FIP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jason Blade Future Stars of Wrestling FSW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, inaugural) FSW Elite Championship (1 time, inaugural, final) FSW Tag Team Championships (1 time) – with Shogun Jones Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 36 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013 Ring of Honor ROH World Television Championship (2 times) Ultimate Wrestling Federation UWF Vegas Heavyweight Championship (1 time) TNA X Division Championship (2 times) TNA World Cup of Wrestling (2013) – with Christopher Daniels, James Storm, Kazarian and Mickie James