WWF King of the Ring 1998
Our opening package talks about destiny and premonitions, hyping up the WWF Title match for tonight. Then we get some hype for the Cell match, highlighting Taker and Mankind's rivalry, calling Taker the black angel, calling this match Hell on Earth.
We're live from the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Of course, J.R. and the King are on commentary, with a couple gas cans sat atop the table in preparation for the World Title match. They hype up the two main events before we go to our first match of the night.
The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) & Taka Michinoku (Light Heavyweight Champion) vs Kaentai (Togo, Funaki & Teioh) (w/ Yamaguchi-San)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: J.R. tells us this is the first of two bonus matches that were added earlier in the day. Taka's wearing a Headbanger outfit on too.
Thrasher and Teioh start it out with a lock up and an arm wringer by Thrasher, Teioh sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a dropkick, but only staggers Thrasher against the ropes. Teioh with a series of rights, then gets reversed off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam. Thrasher goes for a scoop slam but Teioh slips out, pushes Thrasher to the ropes for a roll up attempt but he hangs on, Teioh ducks a clothesline and comes off the ropes into a powerslam, cover a near fall.
Mosh tagged in now, Teioh sent off the ropes as Mosh goes up top and nails a dropkick. Teioh sent off the ropes but hangs onto the opposite before tagging in Funaki, who comes in off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, leapfrog, caught off another leapfrog attempt and powerbombed to the mat. Funaki whipped into the corner and nailed with a hip attack, set down across the middle rope and Mosh launches himself into Funaki. Taka tagged in while Mosh holds Funaki down and does the same.
Funaki face first into the corner, couple of chops, whipped into the opposite corner and nailed with a running knee. Taka up top with a missile dropkick. sending Funaki to the outside, Taka following up with a springboard crossbody. Taka back in the ring while a Headbanger rolls Funaki back in, and Togo with a cheap shot off camera. Togo tagged in now, sending Taka off the ropes with Funaki into double chops and elbow drops. Chops against the ropes, but Taka reverses a whip off the ropes, Togo hangs on on the other side, only to be hit with a monkey flip while he's busy gloating. Taka's sent over the ropes to the outside as be runs at Togo, then Togo with a headscissor takedown as he slides under the ropes.
Back in the ring, Teioh tagged in, off the ropes into a boot. Taka reverses a whip off the ropes and goes for an arm drag, only to be nailed with a DDT. Funaki back in, Taka sent off the ropes into a high knee. Togo back in now, holds up Taka for Funaki but Taka gets his feet up and rolls Togo off him, only to be nailed with a wheelbarrow bulldog from Kaientai. Togo tries for a German, but Taka reverses, only for Togo to elbow out, off the second rope in what I think's supposed to be a moonsault but he headbutts Taka in the chest instead.
Teioh gets the tag, holds up Taka for Funaki but Taka escapes, sending Teioh to the outside, then Taka drops Funaki with a dropkick. Taka makes the hot tag to... well i don't know, but both Headbangers are in to clean house. Funaki with a scoop slam onto one of them and goes up top, but misses an elbow. Scoop slam by the Headbanger and Taka tags in, launched up by the Headbangers and lands on top of Funaki. Taka nails the Michinoku Driver on Funaki to get the win in 6:44. Nice way to open the show.
Taka and the Headbangers celebrate while Kaientai make their quick exit, then we go to replays. Commentary mention an odd match set for tonight involving Al Snow, Head, and the future 2 Cool, but Sable's music hits a moment later and out she comes. It seems she just recently made her return and she takes the mic from Fink. Loud Sable chant, who's out to... introduce Vince. Un, alright. Out he comes along with the Stooges. Pat takes the mic and Sable is asked to leave, but not before slapping Pat across the face for slapping her ass, and Pat gets pissed. Crowd gets rowdy for Sable while Brisco gets on the mic, saying they should be on their feet for Mr. "Mac Man". Vince wonders how many are there because they want to see the WWF Title change hands, to see Stone Cold defeated. The fans cheer prematurely on that last one. He reminds us that if Kane doesn't win the title somehow, that he has to set himself on fire, asking how many came just to see that, which of course gets a pop. Harsh. He says they're setting themselves up for a great, big disappointment, which should come to no surprise for most of them, that their entire lives have been a symphony of disappointments, that they're likely disappointments to their parents, that they didn't measure up to that level of success that they wanted, that they diddn't make the grade in athletics or academics. Then he suggests their parents disappointed them too, that when you've suffered so many disappointments like they have, they won't blame themselves, they'll blame their parents instead, on Lousy DNA Syndrome, on being obese, on a genetic heart defect. He says they know what failure and disappointment is all about, and he's out here to soften the blow of the disappointment to come, to prepare them for what they feel when Austin loses the championship. They make their exit and we get a couple of replays of what happened with Sable and Pat.
We see the brackets for the King of the Ring Tournament, where they've already gone through the first round matches: Shamrock and Jeff Jarrett won their matches against Mark Henry and Marc Mero to have their match tonight, while Rock and Severn defeated HHH and Owen Hart in their matches to move on.
King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match: "Double J" Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee) vs Ken Shamrock
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Oh god this outfit on Jarrett has not aged well. I think he actually looked better in his 2019 WWE appearances in that outfit. Pittsburgh pop big for Shamrock, who's apparently coming in with an ankle injury thanks to Owen and the Nation.
Jarrett wastes no time going after Shamrock before he can even step through the ropes, but Shamrock quickly gets on the offense, sending Jarrett off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets hit with a back elbow. Sent off the ropes again, Ken goes low, kick to the ribs and a running knee to the face. Jarrett thrown into the corner for some rights, but reverses a whip into the opposite corner only for Shamrock to nail a clothesline. Snap suplex by Ken, cover and a shoulder up.
Jeff sent off the ropes, goes for a roundhouse but Jeff ducks, off the ropes into a swinging neckbreaker. Arm wringer into a clothesline by Jeff, Ken sent off the ropes into a nice dropkick. Ken reverses a whip off the ropes into a side kick, then clothesline over the top to the outside. Jeff face first off the apron, then some rights by Ken before dropping Jeff chest first onto the guard rail, then whipped hard into the guard rail.
Back in the ring, Jeff reverses a whip off the ropes and Lee trips up Ken, Jeff with a chop block and starts to work the knee. Lee helps as the ref chastises Jeff and more work on the knee and ankle. Boots to the midsection in the corner by Jeff before twisting the knee around the middle rope and refuses to release at 5, so Tim White pulls him off Ken by the hair, but it gives Lee the chance to pull Ken to the mat and slam his ankle into the ring post. Ken whipped into the opposite corner, then again but Ken gets the elbow up and nails a spinning heel kick. Jeff sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow, then again for a high kick. Jeff off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a near fall.
Jeff reverses a whip off the ropes, Ken ducks a clothesline and nails a hurricanrana. Damn I forgot how great he pulled that off. Ken applies the Ankle Lock and Jeff taps out immediately for the win in 5:31 in another good match.
Lee tries to attack Ken after the match but gets caught with a belly to belly slam for his troubles. Lee writhes on the mat while Ken celebrates, Jeff clutching at his ankle. Shamrock limps his way out and is met by Michael Cole in the aisle, Ken says he has one more peak to climb. He says he didn't come to be second best and that he won't be, then limps off.
We don't waste much more time before getting to our next match.
King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match: The Rock (Intercontinental Champion vs Dan "The Beast" Severn
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Rock gets a nice pop when his music hits, who's joined by Henry and Godfather at first, but they're sent to the back by referees once they make it to ringside. I didn't realize Severn was as over here, he gets a pretty good pop himself. We see a replay from 3 weeks ago, where Severn injured D'Lo in a KotR qualifier, ripping away at his pectoral muscles.
Dan immediately with a single leg takedown but Rock grabs for the ropes before Dan can do anything. Lock up, but Severn quickly takes Rock down to the mat, Rock scrambles to the ropes again. Another lock up and Severn takes Rock down again and goes for the knee but Rock to the ropes once again, audibly frustrated. Rock finally with some offense as Severn gets him in the ropes, nailed with an elbow, then a right before sending Severn face first into the corner. Rights to the face and ribs, whipping Severn into the opposite corners, but hits the turnbuckle as he follows, Severn following up with a fireman's carry and an arm lock into something like a dragon sleeper, but Rock gets to the ropes in time.
Back up, Rock with an elbow to the side of the head, off the ropes with a clothesline. Rock stomping away before mocking Severn's mannerisms and a suplex, cover and a two count. More stomps by Rock, but Severn throws some punches tot he midsection and sends Rock into the corner, knees to the ribs now. Rock with a thumb to the eye, a side headlock, pushed off into the ropes and they collide, knocking each other to the mat. Godfather and Henry have made their way back to the ring much to Chioda's dismay, distracting the referee and allowing D'Lo to go up top with the Lo Down while wearing his chest protector on Severn. Rock makes the cover to advance to the finals in 4:25. Eh, I wasn't into this too much.
Rock rips his title away from Chioda and poses in the corner while he and the Nation make their exit. Cole out again for some post-match comments, but Rock just tells Cole to shut his mouth and know his role. He says Ken talks about climbing mountains, but Rock is gonna make sure he goes through the man and a half that is Rock, and before he reaches a peak or valley, he's gonna make sure Ken hits Rock Bottom, then they walk off before we go to replays.
Up next we have a bizarre tag team match. We get a short video package explaining this to us, where Al Snow just recently made his return alongside Head, trying to get a job with WWE. He tried to get help from King, donned plenty of disguises, even stole King's crown a couple weeks prior. Al and Head have to beat Too Much tonight to get a meeting with Vince.
Back to the arena for the match, and Too Much make their way out. There's no sign of a referee as commentary point out. We see Al in the back yelling at Head and Lawler pipes up and calls Al a moron. He says he and Head have been working out, he doesn't want to see headlocks and flying head scissors, or headbutts, reiterating that he needs to win to get a meeting with Vince, otherwise he and Head are out of the WWF. Al says he and Head have talked and they don't lay down for anyone, and tells Too Much to get ready to get some head, like they've never gotten it before. Al does some headbanging with some fans, some who are carrying mannequin heads. Fin tells us that a special guest referee has been assigned to the match.
Too Much ("Too Sexy" Brian Christopher & Scotty "Too Hot" Taylor) vs Al Snow & Head, Special Guest Referee: Jerry "the King" Lawler
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Lawler pulls out a referee shirt from under the announce table and he's even got his wrestling trunks on. Not sure how J.R. never even noticed that. Al argues with Head over how this will be a 3 on 1 match now basically, sitting Head on the top turnbuckle in his corner.
Al hypes the crowd a bit with Head as he starts out with Scott, Al takes down Scott and delivers some forearm to the face, then starts to argue with Head again allowing Brian to hit him with rights in the corner. Al reverses a whip off the ropes, ducks low and Scott rolls over his back, dancing a bit before ducking a right from Al, Al ducks a clothesline and delivers an atomic drop. Al nails a coiple of clotheslines before he goes to talk to head some more and Scott scrambles over to Brian for the tag.
Brian spits on Head before they lock up and Brian is pushed into the corner. Brian calls on Al for supposedly pulling his hair and of course Lawler gets on Al's case for it. Another lock up and Brian pushes Al into the corner with a handful of hair only for Al to reverse. He goes to throw a punch but Lawler grabs his arm, allowing Brian to nail a cheap shot. Brian stomping away now before going up top, but Al throws him to the mat. Al up top now but Scott crotches him. Brian joins him up top, but Al manages to fight him off and takes him down with a sunset flip. Al hooks the leg, and Lawler takes forever to start counting, even though Al should have won with how long Brian's shoulders were down, a super slow count and a kick out. Al argues with Lawler a bit before clotheslining Brian to the outside, then sends Scott up and over, landing on Brian.'
Al to the outside, scoop slam on the floor and A walks toward the entrance for a big running start, dropping Brian with a clothesline. Scott comes off the ropes for a springboard, but Al was a bit too far from the ring for it to connect fully. Scott now stomping away before Brian takes Al back in the ring, up top and nails a dropkick. Al tries to make the tag but Brian starts to bite Al's hand then tags in Scotty. Double team atomic drop from Too Much and a low dropkick from Scotty off the ropes Scotty makes the cover, Lawler makes a fast count but Al kicks out. Scotty with a rear chinlock now but Al fights back up, elbows out, off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, slips between the legs but gets caught with a kick to the midsection, Scotty hitting a pumphandle suplex, followed by a kip up and a pretty good Moonwalk. Al sent off the ropes, slips through the legs again and hits a wheelbarrow suplex.
Scotty makes the tag and Brian cuts off Al before he can tag out, then a bulldog out of the corner. Scotty back in, they send Al off the ropes but he catches them with a double DDT. Al finally tags in Head and starts to use it as a weapon, nailing both repeatedly. Al hits the Snow Plow on Brian and King refuses to do anything. Al takes Head again but Scotty cuts him off, sends him off the ropes but Al ducks a clothesline and Head low blows Scotty, while King has left the ring to go talk to J.R. Head with a headbutt to Scotty now, and Lawler throws something to Brian before Al nails Scotty with a Snow Plow. Turns out King had brought in a bottle of Head and Shoulders, so Brian puts it at the base of Head's neck, covers Head and gets the win in 8:29. Well that was bizarre.
Too Much and Lawler make their exit while Al talks down to Head, then we go to replays.
Up next, Owen Hart takes on X-Pac. We go to two weeks ago on Raw, when Owen screwed X-Pac in a KotR qualifying match against HHH. X-Pac would retaliate the next week and screw Owen in his match against Severn with a chair to the back of the head.
X-Pac (w/ Chyna) vs Owen Hart
X-Pac wastes little time as he dives through the ropes feet first, taking Owen to the floor, lays in some rights and tosses Owen into the ring. Chops and rights in the corner, whips Owen into the opposite with a spinning heel kick, backs up and charges only to launch himself chest first into the top turnbuckle. Owen now with rights and stomps, then X-Pac face first into the corner, then whipped hard into the opposite, then a second time. Owen follows with a backbreaker. Rights back and forth, Pac sent off the ropes, Owen ducks and nails a spinning heel kick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Pac reverses a whip into the corner and Owen hits chest first, then Pac drops him with a kick to the chest. More chops in the corner, trading rights and an uppercut by Owen, then a fisherman suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Gutwrench, cover and a kick out. Rights and headbutts, Pac sent off the ropes and Pac catches him with a kick to the chest, but then Owen gets an inside cradle for another near fall. Pac reverses a whip off the ropes into a back body drop, then clotheslines Owen to the outside.
Pac off the apron with a clothesline to the back of the head, but then gets whipped hard into the timekeeper's table. Ouch. Owen lifts Pac for a suplex only to drive him ribs first onto the Spanish announce table. Back in the ring, Owen goes up top and nails a dropkick, then a jacknife pin for a 2 count. Pac sent off the ropes and gets caught in a sleeper hold, slowly passing out. Pac does fight back to his feet and elbows out, sends Owen off the ropes and gets a sleeper in himself, only to send Pac off the ropes, who catches Owen with the X-Factor.
Pac with rights, Owen sent off the ropes and Pac gets caught off a spinning heel kick, but still kicks Owen in the head with his other foot. Owens kicks and dropped in the corner to set up the Bronco Buster. Scoop slam on Owen then Pac goes up top but Owen catches him, and... Well Pac drops I guess crotch first and Owen gets pushed down. Henry runs down as Pac falls to the floor and nails a splash and tosses Pac back n the ring. Chyna gets in his face and Vader comes out of nowhere to take down Henry. Meanwhile Owen puts Pac in the Sharpshooter while the referee's tending to the chaos at ringside and Chyna drops him with a DDT. Henry and Vader fight up the aisle, Pac rolls over and makes the cover for the win in 8:31.
Chyna climbs back in to check on X-Pac, helping him out of the ring and to the back. Owen heads to the back not far behind as we go to replays of the chaos.
Paul Bearer is now on his way down to the ring and he gets a mic. He's got his head bandaged, commentary tell us at the hands of Taker. He figured no one expected him to be there tonight, but he wouldn't miss this night for the world. He says he took two of the worst beatings he's ever taken at Taker's hands, and last week when the doctors were taking the stitches from his head, Taker broke into his home and assaulted, this was on Monday and we see footage of it. He says he cursed Taker to Hell then, and he still does now. He says for twenty years, his son Kane, sat all alone at home, in his room, surrounded by pictures of Taker. He'd watch WWF Superstars on Saturday, he'd tell Paul he wants to be like Taker. He says Kane's suffered his whole life, ridiculed, he couldn't play Little League, or be in the Boy Scouts, go out in the sunshine because the sun hurt his scars so bad, and yet he'd still say he wanted to be like Taker. He says tonight will be the happiest night of his life, because when he leaves that ring, he'll be the father and manager of the WWF Champion, and says we can laugh all we want, because he's going to laugh all the way to the bank. Paul makes his exit, and we get a graphic for the WWF Title match still to come.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) (w/ Chyna) vs The New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart & Bombastic Bob) (NWA Tag Team Champions) (w/ Jim Cornette)
Bob and Roadie start this match out, locking up as Roadie pushes Bob into the corner, broken up by the referee. Lock up again, Bob with the side headlock, sent off the ropes and connects with a shoulder block, off the ropes, Roadie goes low and leap frogs and takes Bob down with a hip toss and a clothesline. Bob sent off the ropes, ducks a back elbow and drops Roadie with a clothesline. Face first into the corner, Roadie whipped into the opposite, but Roadie gets the boot up, pulling Bob to his corner to tag in Billy, then Bob gets free and tags in Bart.
They size each other up, Billy with a boot and rights, sends Bart off the ropes and connects with a shoulder bloc, off the ropes, Billy drops low, leapfrogs, rolls under and a hip toss attempt, only for Bart to catch himself and nail a clothesline, cover and a 2 count. Bart with rights, Billy sent off the ropes, ducks the clothesline and goes for a sunset flip, but Bart turns it into a Northern Lights pin, Billy bridges up at 2 in a backslide and a near fall, then a Fame Asser, another cover and a near fall.
Bart sent off the ropes now, ducks a clothesline, leapfrogs but gets turned inside out with a clothesline. Roadie in now, Billy sends Bart off the ropes into a drop toe hold, Roaide off the ropes with a knee to the back of the head and neck. Bart reverses a whip off the ropes, Roadie ducks a clothesline and lifted into a press slam but he slips behind. Roadie pushes Bart into the ropes from behind but gets clocked with a right from Bob and tags in. Rights by Bob now, tags in Bart once more with a kick to the midsection and ax handle to the back. Roadie sent off the ropes as Bob is tagged in, drop toe hold by Bart and Bob comes in off the ropes with an elbow to the back, hooks the leg for a 2 count.
Bob with a scoop slam in the corner, goes up top with an elbow, cover and a near fall. Bart back in no with a shot to the midsection, and Bob tagged in again. Bart with a scoop slam, Bob is sent off the ropes by Bart and press slammed down on top of Roadie, cover and a near fall. Roadie fights back with rights but Bob is pushed into Billy, pissing him of and arguing with the referee as Bob brings Roadie back to his corner, Bart off the top with an ax handle. Bob back in now back to the ribs with a kick, Roadie sent off the ropes into a dropkick. Bob mocks DX and Billy comes in from behind with a bulldog. Bart goes after Billy and Roadie gets the roll up for a near fall. Bob with a stiff forearm after ducking a clothesline and a snapmare, followed by a rear chinlock by Bob. Roadie fights to his feet, elbows and rights, off the ropes but gets a boot to the face. Scoop slam by Bob near the corner, goes up top but Roadie gets a boot up, catching Bob in the jaw.
Roadie makes the hot tag and Billy lays in with right. Bart face first in the corner, Bob sent off the roes and Billy catches him for a piledriver. Bart tries to cut him off but Roadie tackles him out of the ring. While the ref is dealing with them, Cornette slips in from behind and cracks Billy in the back of the head with one of the NWA title belts, Bob hooks the leg but Billy manages to kick out. Bart back in, they sent Billy off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Roadie yanks Bart out of the ring as Billy clocks Bob, cover and a 2 count. Bob with a thumb to the eye and goes for a scoop slam, but Billy slips out behind into a roll up, while the referee is dealing with Roadie and Bart on the outside. Cornette slips in again but Billy catches him. Chyna slips in behind him I think late, based on how long it takes, and nails a low blow. Bob with a right hand as Billy turns around, but sent off the ropes, Roadie in and they lift and drop Bob throat first onto the top rope. Billy makes the cover and the Outlaws retain the titles in 6:08. Aside from the lateness of Chyna, not a bad match.
Outlaws pose with the titles while Cornette and the Express make their exit and we go to replays, then DX make their exit.
King of the Ring Tournament Finals: Ken Shamrock vs The Rock (Intercontinental Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get the brackets again ahead of this match, but before we get to the entrances, DX's music hits and out comes the European Champion and last year's King of the Ring HHH, alongside Chyna, who's out to join commentary, Rock's decided to come out alone for this match. HHH puts over the KotR tournament, about how it helps elevate careers as Rock makes his entrance. Shamrock is the clear favorite int his one from the crowd, although Rock still gets a decent reaction.
After some staring down, Shamrock goes for a roundhouse to the head but Rock backs up to the corner. Lock up but they immediately break up. Another lock up, another break up. Rock now just goes right in with a boot and rights, Ken reverses a whip off the ropes, Rock ducks a clothesline and a back elbow, then slips behind off a press slam, pushes Shamrock to the ropes for a roll up attempt but Shamrock hangs on, goes to clothesline but Rock ducks and comes off the ropes into a side kick to the chest, then knocked to the outside.
Rock takes his time getting back in the ring and they lock up, but Rock gets a right in and sends Ken face first into the corner. Chyna has actually joined the Spanish team on commentary, was not expecting to see that. Rights in the corner by Rock, Ken whipped into the opposite and drops Rock with a clothesline and another. Rock fights back with rights and sends Ken face first into the corner, but reverses a whip off the ropes before throwing Rock over the ropes to the outside.
Rock takes his time again getting back in the ring and gets distracted by HHH, they talk some trash. HHH takes a drink of water and spits it in Rock's face, only to be pie faced by Rock. Chioda holds him off and Ken goes after Rock now, into the guard rail and the Spanish table, then the regular table. Back in the ring now, Rock goes for a suplex but Shamrock blocks and hits one himself, floats over for a cover and a 2 count. Rock reverses a whip off the ropes and Ken gets sent over the ropes, but his hand and wrist get caught up in the ropes, Rock having to free him.
Rock on the outside now with some rights, tries to whip Shamrock but gets sent into the guard rail, only to bounce back with a clothesline. Shamrock... well Rock tries to lift him up and drop him on the guard rail but he barely gets the guy up, so he kinda just falls to the floor. Back in the ring, Ken sent off the ropes with a noticeable limp and Rock nails a swinging neckbreaker, hooks the leg for a near fall. Rock pulls Ken to the corner but he fights with rights, sends Rock into the opposite who ducks a clothesline and nails a DDT, rolls over for a cover and a near fall.
Rear chinlock now after a club to the back of the head by Rock, Ken fights up with elbows but gets caught with a back elbow coming off the ropes, another cover by Rock and a 2 count. Rock with a scoop slam, Rock calls for the People's Elbow and connects, makes the cover but Shamrock gets the shoulder up at 2. Another chinlock by Rock, Ken fights back up again and elbows out, hammers with rights, sends Rock off the ropes but he nails his float over DDT, hooks the leg but Shamrock kicks out again. Ken sent off the ropes but he ducks a clothesline and hits a back suplex.
Rock and Shamrock just barely make it back up before the 10 count, Rock comes off the ropes for a clothesline but Shamrock ducks and nails a back elbow. Rock sent off the ropes into a heel kick, then again into a powerslam, cover and a near fall. Shamrock ducks another clothesline, fisherman suplex and another near fall. Rock gets in a thumb to the eye, sends him into the corner face first and whips Ken into the opposite, but gets an elbow as Rock follows, only to be caught in a powerslam for another cover and a near fall.
Ken reverses a whip into the ropes and Rock tries for the float over again, but Ken catches him into a Northern Lights with a bridge and a near fall. Rock sent to the corner with rights, tries to whip Rock into the opposite but gets pulled back into a clothesline, hooks the leg for another near fall. Rock tries to whip Ken into the corner but gets pulled back into a clothesline, cover and a shoulder up at 2. Ken off the ropes and tries for the hurricanrana but Rock falls back, sending Ken throat first into the top rope, Rock hooks the leg for another 2 count. Rock argues with the ref before he goes and stands over Shamrock, who grabs his leg and trips him up into an Ankle Lock. Rock is forced to tap out and give Shamrock the crown in 14:12. Can't complain about this one, and HHH was entertaining on commentary.
Shamrock gets his arms raised before we go to replays. HHH and Chyna take their leave while Shamrock poses in the corner.
Commentary hype up our next match, as the Cell starts to get lowered.
Hell in a Cell Match: Mankind vs The Undertaker
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Mankind out with chair in hand, who paces around and pulls at the steel mesh, steps inside briefly only to step back out. Foley throws the chair onto the roof and makes his way up. Taker out now, who removes his robe and joins Foley up top start this match.
Foley doesn't even let him get up, laying in rights as Taker's still climbing, but Taker sends him back with some rights of his own. Taker up top now and Foley with more rights, then the chair across the back, then a second time. A panel breaks under their weight as Foley pulls him over, seemingly to go for something but Taker fights back, only to throw Foley off through the Spanish announce table below. Christ that still looks bat shit insane 20 years later. Of course we get replays, and not long after Funk and officials have rushed down to tend to Foley. More replays as Taker looks down at the carnage, and now Commissioner Slaughter and Vince have made their way down before we get another replay. The Cell start to get raised with Taker still on top while the EMTs bring a stretcher down and load Foley on it. Foley gets rolled up the aisle and they lower the Cell back down, Taker making his way down.
Foley back to his feet and despite protests from officials, makes his way back up and Taker join him. Taker grabs and sets the chair down, then a headbutt and some rights, before chokeslamming him through the roof to the mat below. Funk immediately rushes inside along with other officials and Taker drops in with them. Everyone clears out, but Funk gets chokeslammed out of his shoes for his trouble and tossed out. We get replays of Foley going through the roof.
Back to the match, Taker with a right on a defenseless Foley and sets up for Old School, and whether on purpose of just that he can barely stand, falls against the ropes and sends Taker tumbling to the outside, and officials are seen chaining and locking the door.We get that iconic shot in the corner of Foley's tooth in his nose, who then knocks Taker off the apron into the Cell wall. Foley picks up the steps, or at least tries but his shoulder gives out, so Taker takes them instead and rams them into the injured shoulder, then again, and then one to the head. Uppercuts by Taker and another right against the Cell wall, then he goes back in the ring, off the ropes and dives through the ropes, but goes face first into the Cell as Foley avoids it, busting Taker open. Taker sent face first into the Cell, then a second time, then raked across the steel mesh. Back in the ring, Foley nails a piledriver onto the chair with a nasty sounding clunk, a cover and a near fall.
Foley lays in with rights before setting the chair on Taker's face, Foley off the ropes with a leg drop, drapes the arm over for a 2 count. Foley with the double arm DDT, then rolls out of the ring rather than going for the cover. Foley with that ever familiar sack and spreads out the thumbtacks on the mat. Foley with rights trying to send Taker backwards into the tacks, off the ropes but caught by the throat, but Foley fights out. Off the ropes again, but caught with a boot, sending Foley off the ropes and lifted up for a Tombstone, but Foley slips behind and manages to apply the Mandible Claw.
He manages to bring Taker down to his knees and sits on Taker's back, Taker fading as Tim White raises his arm, but comes back on the third raise, before dropping back and driving Foley into the tacks, who then rolls around in them. Fucking hell. Foley somehow gets back up only to be chokeslammed into the tacks. Finally Taker puts Foley out of his misery with a Tombstone to win in 17:37.
The doctor and referees rush in, stretcher rolled in as Taker makes his exit. Foley is rolled onto the backboard as Taker heads to the back. The Cell gets raised back up and we go to replays. Foley refuses to be helped out on a stretcher but helped to the back to a standing ovation. More replays while commentary talk about the brutality, and we still have one more match to get to.
We go to our video package, which started with Vince putting Kane and Taker against each other in a #1 contender's match. Taker gets screwed due to distraction from Foley, which would also be the catalyst to that Cell match. Mankind and Kane would attack Austin during some kind of celebration and even shoved into a casket. Then we'd get a random tag team Cell match on Raw, which would see Austin clobber Foley with a chair and fight Kane on the roof. Vince would announce that the match would be fought under First Blood rules, and Kane would vow to set himself on fire if he doesn't win.
First Blood Match for the WWF Championship: Kane (w/ Paul Bearer) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Gas cans have been set down on the ring steps in case Kane fails as Austin comes out, elbow bandaged up from staph infection. Austin wastes no time going after Kane, ducking a couple of clotheslines into a Thesz Press and a series of rights to get things started.
Austin off the ropes with an elbow, then cracks Kane in the face with the title, then a second time. Austin takes the turnbuckle pad off and tries to send Kane into it but he blocks, then tries to send Austin into it and blocks, only to drop him with some rights. Kane choking Austin down n the corner before booting him in the head a few times, then another right. Austin back up with a clothesline but Kane stays up, reversing a whip off the ropes and catches Austin for a Tombstone, but Austin slips free and sends Kane to the outside. Kane pulls him out under the ropes and they trade rights, Kane sent face first off the steps, then a second time.
Suddenly we see the Cell start to get lowered back down as Kane gets the upperhand with rights, dropping Austin neck first on the guard rail. Austin whipped into the steel steps, fighting back with rights, tries to whip Kane into the steps but Kane pulls back, sending Austin face first into the Cell wall, which is still being lowered. Kane tries to hold Austin down and trap him under the Cell but Austin manages to fight himself free. Austin sent face first into the Cell a second time before being dropped with an uppercut. Austin into the Cell again, then again as he's whipped into it. Kane with another uppercut, then whipped into the steps. Austin finally fights back and sends Kane face first into the door frame. Now the Cell is being raised again as Kane lays across the edge of the doorway, Austin with some rights who's hanging over the doorway and grabs Austin by the throat. Kane pulled back down to the floor.
Kane face first into the guard rail, then a second time.and a third time as they fight up the aisle, and a fourth time. Austin tries to piledrive Kane on the concrete floor but he back drops Austin to the floor. Vince is seen in the owner's box high above while Kane sends Austin into the guard rail, fighting to the entrance set. Kane with some elbows now, Austin fights back and tries to suplex on the small ramp, only to be reversed and suplexed himself. Kane with a kick and rights, sending Austin into one of the lights, fighting beside the entrance and sent into another guard rail. Kane picks it up and sends it into Austin's face. Kane with more shots to the head as they fight their way back to the ring, Austin fights back and sends Kane back in.
Kane sent face first into the exposed turnbuckle now three times, Autin choking Kane over the second rope and drops a leg over the back of the neck. Kane tossed back out and sent into the guard rail at ringside, then face first into a chair, then the announce table. Austin clocks Kane in the face with a fan, Kane still upright. Kane grabs Austin by the throat and sends him into Hebner, sandwiching him against the guard rail. Back in the ring, Kane up top and nails a flying clothesline. Kane tries to send Austin into the turnbuckle but Austin blocks, but Kane drops him with a right. Kane back up but misses another clothesline, Austin stomping away. Kane sent into the exposed turnbuckle again and Austin stomps away. Back of Kane's head sent into the turnbuckle now repeatedly.
Foley somehow manages to hobble down to the ring with chair in hand but Austin goes after him with rights, and the Cell is lowered all the way down before Foley is nailed with a Stunner. Kane back up and grabs Austin by the throat, but Austin gets a low blow and nails Kane with a Stunner. Now Taker's out with a chair as Austin grabs Foley's. They both try to hit Foley but he ducks and Austin's chair gets bounced back into his face. Taker sends Kane and Foley out of the ring and Taker rolls Hebner back in the ring, Austin busted wide open. Taker grabs one of the gas cans and starts to douse Hebner for... reasons, only to be cracked across the back with a chair by Kane. Kane goes for Austin but he gets his boots up, clothesline off the second rope. Austin pries the chair out of Kane's hands and nails him in the face. Hebner finally comes to and sees Austin bleeding and calls for the bell, giving Kane the championship in 14:54.
Kane is still laid out after the chair shot and Austin looks on at Hebner pissed, Vince pleased with himself and... The show fades out with that? Huh... Alright...
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even setting aside the two matches that this show is known for, this is a solid PPV. King of the Ring offered great matches for the most part, even though I wasn't really into the Severn matches. Had some good undercard matches to round it out. Then we had chaos and insanity for 30+ minutes in the two main events of the night. That being said, with a runtime of 2:36:15, there was a total 1:26:31 of wrestling on this show, leaving us an average of about 9 and a half minutes per match.
Kane wouldn't hold that title very long, as Austin would win it back the next night on Raw. Austin would hold onto it for another few months until Breakdown, where the title would be vacated after a double pinfall finish. That title would stay vacant until Survivor Series in November, where Rock would pick up his first WWF Title. Shamrock would enter a feud with Owen Hart into Summerslam, culminating in a Lion's Den Match, and would even get a #1 contender's match at Breakdown, only to be won by Rock, but would win the IC Title in a tournament following a vacancy due to an injured HHH.
We're live from the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Of course, J.R. and the King are on commentary, with a couple gas cans sat atop the table in preparation for the World Title match. They hype up the two main events before we go to our first match of the night.
The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) & Taka Michinoku (Light Heavyweight Champion) vs Kaentai (Togo, Funaki & Teioh) (w/ Yamaguchi-San)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: J.R. tells us this is the first of two bonus matches that were added earlier in the day. Taka's wearing a Headbanger outfit on too.
Thrasher and Teioh start it out with a lock up and an arm wringer by Thrasher, Teioh sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a dropkick, but only staggers Thrasher against the ropes. Teioh with a series of rights, then gets reversed off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam. Thrasher goes for a scoop slam but Teioh slips out, pushes Thrasher to the ropes for a roll up attempt but he hangs on, Teioh ducks a clothesline and comes off the ropes into a powerslam, cover a near fall.
Mosh tagged in now, Teioh sent off the ropes as Mosh goes up top and nails a dropkick. Teioh sent off the ropes but hangs onto the opposite before tagging in Funaki, who comes in off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, leapfrog, caught off another leapfrog attempt and powerbombed to the mat. Funaki whipped into the corner and nailed with a hip attack, set down across the middle rope and Mosh launches himself into Funaki. Taka tagged in while Mosh holds Funaki down and does the same.
Funaki face first into the corner, couple of chops, whipped into the opposite corner and nailed with a running knee. Taka up top with a missile dropkick. sending Funaki to the outside, Taka following up with a springboard crossbody. Taka back in the ring while a Headbanger rolls Funaki back in, and Togo with a cheap shot off camera. Togo tagged in now, sending Taka off the ropes with Funaki into double chops and elbow drops. Chops against the ropes, but Taka reverses a whip off the ropes, Togo hangs on on the other side, only to be hit with a monkey flip while he's busy gloating. Taka's sent over the ropes to the outside as be runs at Togo, then Togo with a headscissor takedown as he slides under the ropes.
Back in the ring, Teioh tagged in, off the ropes into a boot. Taka reverses a whip off the ropes and goes for an arm drag, only to be nailed with a DDT. Funaki back in, Taka sent off the ropes into a high knee. Togo back in now, holds up Taka for Funaki but Taka gets his feet up and rolls Togo off him, only to be nailed with a wheelbarrow bulldog from Kaientai. Togo tries for a German, but Taka reverses, only for Togo to elbow out, off the second rope in what I think's supposed to be a moonsault but he headbutts Taka in the chest instead.
Teioh gets the tag, holds up Taka for Funaki but Taka escapes, sending Teioh to the outside, then Taka drops Funaki with a dropkick. Taka makes the hot tag to... well i don't know, but both Headbangers are in to clean house. Funaki with a scoop slam onto one of them and goes up top, but misses an elbow. Scoop slam by the Headbanger and Taka tags in, launched up by the Headbangers and lands on top of Funaki. Taka nails the Michinoku Driver on Funaki to get the win in 6:44. Nice way to open the show.
Taka and the Headbangers celebrate while Kaientai make their quick exit, then we go to replays. Commentary mention an odd match set for tonight involving Al Snow, Head, and the future 2 Cool, but Sable's music hits a moment later and out she comes. It seems she just recently made her return and she takes the mic from Fink. Loud Sable chant, who's out to... introduce Vince. Un, alright. Out he comes along with the Stooges. Pat takes the mic and Sable is asked to leave, but not before slapping Pat across the face for slapping her ass, and Pat gets pissed. Crowd gets rowdy for Sable while Brisco gets on the mic, saying they should be on their feet for Mr. "Mac Man". Vince wonders how many are there because they want to see the WWF Title change hands, to see Stone Cold defeated. The fans cheer prematurely on that last one. He reminds us that if Kane doesn't win the title somehow, that he has to set himself on fire, asking how many came just to see that, which of course gets a pop. Harsh. He says they're setting themselves up for a great, big disappointment, which should come to no surprise for most of them, that their entire lives have been a symphony of disappointments, that they're likely disappointments to their parents, that they didn't measure up to that level of success that they wanted, that they diddn't make the grade in athletics or academics. Then he suggests their parents disappointed them too, that when you've suffered so many disappointments like they have, they won't blame themselves, they'll blame their parents instead, on Lousy DNA Syndrome, on being obese, on a genetic heart defect. He says they know what failure and disappointment is all about, and he's out here to soften the blow of the disappointment to come, to prepare them for what they feel when Austin loses the championship. They make their exit and we get a couple of replays of what happened with Sable and Pat.
We see the brackets for the King of the Ring Tournament, where they've already gone through the first round matches: Shamrock and Jeff Jarrett won their matches against Mark Henry and Marc Mero to have their match tonight, while Rock and Severn defeated HHH and Owen Hart in their matches to move on.
King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match: "Double J" Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee) vs Ken Shamrock
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Oh god this outfit on Jarrett has not aged well. I think he actually looked better in his 2019 WWE appearances in that outfit. Pittsburgh pop big for Shamrock, who's apparently coming in with an ankle injury thanks to Owen and the Nation.
Jarrett wastes no time going after Shamrock before he can even step through the ropes, but Shamrock quickly gets on the offense, sending Jarrett off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets hit with a back elbow. Sent off the ropes again, Ken goes low, kick to the ribs and a running knee to the face. Jarrett thrown into the corner for some rights, but reverses a whip into the opposite corner only for Shamrock to nail a clothesline. Snap suplex by Ken, cover and a shoulder up.
Jeff sent off the ropes, goes for a roundhouse but Jeff ducks, off the ropes into a swinging neckbreaker. Arm wringer into a clothesline by Jeff, Ken sent off the ropes into a nice dropkick. Ken reverses a whip off the ropes into a side kick, then clothesline over the top to the outside. Jeff face first off the apron, then some rights by Ken before dropping Jeff chest first onto the guard rail, then whipped hard into the guard rail.
Back in the ring, Jeff reverses a whip off the ropes and Lee trips up Ken, Jeff with a chop block and starts to work the knee. Lee helps as the ref chastises Jeff and more work on the knee and ankle. Boots to the midsection in the corner by Jeff before twisting the knee around the middle rope and refuses to release at 5, so Tim White pulls him off Ken by the hair, but it gives Lee the chance to pull Ken to the mat and slam his ankle into the ring post. Ken whipped into the opposite corner, then again but Ken gets the elbow up and nails a spinning heel kick. Jeff sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow, then again for a high kick. Jeff off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a near fall.
Jeff reverses a whip off the ropes, Ken ducks a clothesline and nails a hurricanrana. Damn I forgot how great he pulled that off. Ken applies the Ankle Lock and Jeff taps out immediately for the win in 5:31 in another good match.
Lee tries to attack Ken after the match but gets caught with a belly to belly slam for his troubles. Lee writhes on the mat while Ken celebrates, Jeff clutching at his ankle. Shamrock limps his way out and is met by Michael Cole in the aisle, Ken says he has one more peak to climb. He says he didn't come to be second best and that he won't be, then limps off.
We don't waste much more time before getting to our next match.
King of the Ring Tournament Semi-Final Match: The Rock (Intercontinental Champion vs Dan "The Beast" Severn
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Rock gets a nice pop when his music hits, who's joined by Henry and Godfather at first, but they're sent to the back by referees once they make it to ringside. I didn't realize Severn was as over here, he gets a pretty good pop himself. We see a replay from 3 weeks ago, where Severn injured D'Lo in a KotR qualifier, ripping away at his pectoral muscles.
Dan immediately with a single leg takedown but Rock grabs for the ropes before Dan can do anything. Lock up, but Severn quickly takes Rock down to the mat, Rock scrambles to the ropes again. Another lock up and Severn takes Rock down again and goes for the knee but Rock to the ropes once again, audibly frustrated. Rock finally with some offense as Severn gets him in the ropes, nailed with an elbow, then a right before sending Severn face first into the corner. Rights to the face and ribs, whipping Severn into the opposite corners, but hits the turnbuckle as he follows, Severn following up with a fireman's carry and an arm lock into something like a dragon sleeper, but Rock gets to the ropes in time.
Back up, Rock with an elbow to the side of the head, off the ropes with a clothesline. Rock stomping away before mocking Severn's mannerisms and a suplex, cover and a two count. More stomps by Rock, but Severn throws some punches tot he midsection and sends Rock into the corner, knees to the ribs now. Rock with a thumb to the eye, a side headlock, pushed off into the ropes and they collide, knocking each other to the mat. Godfather and Henry have made their way back to the ring much to Chioda's dismay, distracting the referee and allowing D'Lo to go up top with the Lo Down while wearing his chest protector on Severn. Rock makes the cover to advance to the finals in 4:25. Eh, I wasn't into this too much.
Rock rips his title away from Chioda and poses in the corner while he and the Nation make their exit. Cole out again for some post-match comments, but Rock just tells Cole to shut his mouth and know his role. He says Ken talks about climbing mountains, but Rock is gonna make sure he goes through the man and a half that is Rock, and before he reaches a peak or valley, he's gonna make sure Ken hits Rock Bottom, then they walk off before we go to replays.
Up next we have a bizarre tag team match. We get a short video package explaining this to us, where Al Snow just recently made his return alongside Head, trying to get a job with WWE. He tried to get help from King, donned plenty of disguises, even stole King's crown a couple weeks prior. Al and Head have to beat Too Much tonight to get a meeting with Vince.
Back to the arena for the match, and Too Much make their way out. There's no sign of a referee as commentary point out. We see Al in the back yelling at Head and Lawler pipes up and calls Al a moron. He says he and Head have been working out, he doesn't want to see headlocks and flying head scissors, or headbutts, reiterating that he needs to win to get a meeting with Vince, otherwise he and Head are out of the WWF. Al says he and Head have talked and they don't lay down for anyone, and tells Too Much to get ready to get some head, like they've never gotten it before. Al does some headbanging with some fans, some who are carrying mannequin heads. Fin tells us that a special guest referee has been assigned to the match.
Too Much ("Too Sexy" Brian Christopher & Scotty "Too Hot" Taylor) vs Al Snow & Head, Special Guest Referee: Jerry "the King" Lawler
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Lawler pulls out a referee shirt from under the announce table and he's even got his wrestling trunks on. Not sure how J.R. never even noticed that. Al argues with Head over how this will be a 3 on 1 match now basically, sitting Head on the top turnbuckle in his corner.
Al hypes the crowd a bit with Head as he starts out with Scott, Al takes down Scott and delivers some forearm to the face, then starts to argue with Head again allowing Brian to hit him with rights in the corner. Al reverses a whip off the ropes, ducks low and Scott rolls over his back, dancing a bit before ducking a right from Al, Al ducks a clothesline and delivers an atomic drop. Al nails a coiple of clotheslines before he goes to talk to head some more and Scott scrambles over to Brian for the tag.
Brian spits on Head before they lock up and Brian is pushed into the corner. Brian calls on Al for supposedly pulling his hair and of course Lawler gets on Al's case for it. Another lock up and Brian pushes Al into the corner with a handful of hair only for Al to reverse. He goes to throw a punch but Lawler grabs his arm, allowing Brian to nail a cheap shot. Brian stomping away now before going up top, but Al throws him to the mat. Al up top now but Scott crotches him. Brian joins him up top, but Al manages to fight him off and takes him down with a sunset flip. Al hooks the leg, and Lawler takes forever to start counting, even though Al should have won with how long Brian's shoulders were down, a super slow count and a kick out. Al argues with Lawler a bit before clotheslining Brian to the outside, then sends Scott up and over, landing on Brian.'
Al to the outside, scoop slam on the floor and A walks toward the entrance for a big running start, dropping Brian with a clothesline. Scott comes off the ropes for a springboard, but Al was a bit too far from the ring for it to connect fully. Scott now stomping away before Brian takes Al back in the ring, up top and nails a dropkick. Al tries to make the tag but Brian starts to bite Al's hand then tags in Scotty. Double team atomic drop from Too Much and a low dropkick from Scotty off the ropes Scotty makes the cover, Lawler makes a fast count but Al kicks out. Scotty with a rear chinlock now but Al fights back up, elbows out, off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, slips between the legs but gets caught with a kick to the midsection, Scotty hitting a pumphandle suplex, followed by a kip up and a pretty good Moonwalk. Al sent off the ropes, slips through the legs again and hits a wheelbarrow suplex.
Scotty makes the tag and Brian cuts off Al before he can tag out, then a bulldog out of the corner. Scotty back in, they send Al off the ropes but he catches them with a double DDT. Al finally tags in Head and starts to use it as a weapon, nailing both repeatedly. Al hits the Snow Plow on Brian and King refuses to do anything. Al takes Head again but Scotty cuts him off, sends him off the ropes but Al ducks a clothesline and Head low blows Scotty, while King has left the ring to go talk to J.R. Head with a headbutt to Scotty now, and Lawler throws something to Brian before Al nails Scotty with a Snow Plow. Turns out King had brought in a bottle of Head and Shoulders, so Brian puts it at the base of Head's neck, covers Head and gets the win in 8:29. Well that was bizarre.
Too Much and Lawler make their exit while Al talks down to Head, then we go to replays.
Up next, Owen Hart takes on X-Pac. We go to two weeks ago on Raw, when Owen screwed X-Pac in a KotR qualifying match against HHH. X-Pac would retaliate the next week and screw Owen in his match against Severn with a chair to the back of the head.
X-Pac (w/ Chyna) vs Owen Hart
X-Pac wastes little time as he dives through the ropes feet first, taking Owen to the floor, lays in some rights and tosses Owen into the ring. Chops and rights in the corner, whips Owen into the opposite with a spinning heel kick, backs up and charges only to launch himself chest first into the top turnbuckle. Owen now with rights and stomps, then X-Pac face first into the corner, then whipped hard into the opposite, then a second time. Owen follows with a backbreaker. Rights back and forth, Pac sent off the ropes, Owen ducks and nails a spinning heel kick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Pac reverses a whip into the corner and Owen hits chest first, then Pac drops him with a kick to the chest. More chops in the corner, trading rights and an uppercut by Owen, then a fisherman suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Gutwrench, cover and a kick out. Rights and headbutts, Pac sent off the ropes and Pac catches him with a kick to the chest, but then Owen gets an inside cradle for another near fall. Pac reverses a whip off the ropes into a back body drop, then clotheslines Owen to the outside.
Pac off the apron with a clothesline to the back of the head, but then gets whipped hard into the timekeeper's table. Ouch. Owen lifts Pac for a suplex only to drive him ribs first onto the Spanish announce table. Back in the ring, Owen goes up top and nails a dropkick, then a jacknife pin for a 2 count. Pac sent off the ropes and gets caught in a sleeper hold, slowly passing out. Pac does fight back to his feet and elbows out, sends Owen off the ropes and gets a sleeper in himself, only to send Pac off the ropes, who catches Owen with the X-Factor.
Pac with rights, Owen sent off the ropes and Pac gets caught off a spinning heel kick, but still kicks Owen in the head with his other foot. Owens kicks and dropped in the corner to set up the Bronco Buster. Scoop slam on Owen then Pac goes up top but Owen catches him, and... Well Pac drops I guess crotch first and Owen gets pushed down. Henry runs down as Pac falls to the floor and nails a splash and tosses Pac back n the ring. Chyna gets in his face and Vader comes out of nowhere to take down Henry. Meanwhile Owen puts Pac in the Sharpshooter while the referee's tending to the chaos at ringside and Chyna drops him with a DDT. Henry and Vader fight up the aisle, Pac rolls over and makes the cover for the win in 8:31.
Chyna climbs back in to check on X-Pac, helping him out of the ring and to the back. Owen heads to the back not far behind as we go to replays of the chaos.
Paul Bearer is now on his way down to the ring and he gets a mic. He's got his head bandaged, commentary tell us at the hands of Taker. He figured no one expected him to be there tonight, but he wouldn't miss this night for the world. He says he took two of the worst beatings he's ever taken at Taker's hands, and last week when the doctors were taking the stitches from his head, Taker broke into his home and assaulted, this was on Monday and we see footage of it. He says he cursed Taker to Hell then, and he still does now. He says for twenty years, his son Kane, sat all alone at home, in his room, surrounded by pictures of Taker. He'd watch WWF Superstars on Saturday, he'd tell Paul he wants to be like Taker. He says Kane's suffered his whole life, ridiculed, he couldn't play Little League, or be in the Boy Scouts, go out in the sunshine because the sun hurt his scars so bad, and yet he'd still say he wanted to be like Taker. He says tonight will be the happiest night of his life, because when he leaves that ring, he'll be the father and manager of the WWF Champion, and says we can laugh all we want, because he's going to laugh all the way to the bank. Paul makes his exit, and we get a graphic for the WWF Title match still to come.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) (w/ Chyna) vs The New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart & Bombastic Bob) (NWA Tag Team Champions) (w/ Jim Cornette)
Bob and Roadie start this match out, locking up as Roadie pushes Bob into the corner, broken up by the referee. Lock up again, Bob with the side headlock, sent off the ropes and connects with a shoulder block, off the ropes, Roadie goes low and leap frogs and takes Bob down with a hip toss and a clothesline. Bob sent off the ropes, ducks a back elbow and drops Roadie with a clothesline. Face first into the corner, Roadie whipped into the opposite, but Roadie gets the boot up, pulling Bob to his corner to tag in Billy, then Bob gets free and tags in Bart.
They size each other up, Billy with a boot and rights, sends Bart off the ropes and connects with a shoulder bloc, off the ropes, Billy drops low, leapfrogs, rolls under and a hip toss attempt, only for Bart to catch himself and nail a clothesline, cover and a 2 count. Bart with rights, Billy sent off the ropes, ducks the clothesline and goes for a sunset flip, but Bart turns it into a Northern Lights pin, Billy bridges up at 2 in a backslide and a near fall, then a Fame Asser, another cover and a near fall.
Bart sent off the ropes now, ducks a clothesline, leapfrogs but gets turned inside out with a clothesline. Roadie in now, Billy sends Bart off the ropes into a drop toe hold, Roaide off the ropes with a knee to the back of the head and neck. Bart reverses a whip off the ropes, Roadie ducks a clothesline and lifted into a press slam but he slips behind. Roadie pushes Bart into the ropes from behind but gets clocked with a right from Bob and tags in. Rights by Bob now, tags in Bart once more with a kick to the midsection and ax handle to the back. Roadie sent off the ropes as Bob is tagged in, drop toe hold by Bart and Bob comes in off the ropes with an elbow to the back, hooks the leg for a 2 count.
Bob with a scoop slam in the corner, goes up top with an elbow, cover and a near fall. Bart back in no with a shot to the midsection, and Bob tagged in again. Bart with a scoop slam, Bob is sent off the ropes by Bart and press slammed down on top of Roadie, cover and a near fall. Roadie fights back with rights but Bob is pushed into Billy, pissing him of and arguing with the referee as Bob brings Roadie back to his corner, Bart off the top with an ax handle. Bob back in now back to the ribs with a kick, Roadie sent off the ropes into a dropkick. Bob mocks DX and Billy comes in from behind with a bulldog. Bart goes after Billy and Roadie gets the roll up for a near fall. Bob with a stiff forearm after ducking a clothesline and a snapmare, followed by a rear chinlock by Bob. Roadie fights to his feet, elbows and rights, off the ropes but gets a boot to the face. Scoop slam by Bob near the corner, goes up top but Roadie gets a boot up, catching Bob in the jaw.
Roadie makes the hot tag and Billy lays in with right. Bart face first in the corner, Bob sent off the roes and Billy catches him for a piledriver. Bart tries to cut him off but Roadie tackles him out of the ring. While the ref is dealing with them, Cornette slips in from behind and cracks Billy in the back of the head with one of the NWA title belts, Bob hooks the leg but Billy manages to kick out. Bart back in, they sent Billy off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Roadie yanks Bart out of the ring as Billy clocks Bob, cover and a 2 count. Bob with a thumb to the eye and goes for a scoop slam, but Billy slips out behind into a roll up, while the referee is dealing with Roadie and Bart on the outside. Cornette slips in again but Billy catches him. Chyna slips in behind him I think late, based on how long it takes, and nails a low blow. Bob with a right hand as Billy turns around, but sent off the ropes, Roadie in and they lift and drop Bob throat first onto the top rope. Billy makes the cover and the Outlaws retain the titles in 6:08. Aside from the lateness of Chyna, not a bad match.
Outlaws pose with the titles while Cornette and the Express make their exit and we go to replays, then DX make their exit.
King of the Ring Tournament Finals: Ken Shamrock vs The Rock (Intercontinental Champion)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get the brackets again ahead of this match, but before we get to the entrances, DX's music hits and out comes the European Champion and last year's King of the Ring HHH, alongside Chyna, who's out to join commentary, Rock's decided to come out alone for this match. HHH puts over the KotR tournament, about how it helps elevate careers as Rock makes his entrance. Shamrock is the clear favorite int his one from the crowd, although Rock still gets a decent reaction.
After some staring down, Shamrock goes for a roundhouse to the head but Rock backs up to the corner. Lock up but they immediately break up. Another lock up, another break up. Rock now just goes right in with a boot and rights, Ken reverses a whip off the ropes, Rock ducks a clothesline and a back elbow, then slips behind off a press slam, pushes Shamrock to the ropes for a roll up attempt but Shamrock hangs on, goes to clothesline but Rock ducks and comes off the ropes into a side kick to the chest, then knocked to the outside.
Rock takes his time getting back in the ring and they lock up, but Rock gets a right in and sends Ken face first into the corner. Chyna has actually joined the Spanish team on commentary, was not expecting to see that. Rights in the corner by Rock, Ken whipped into the opposite and drops Rock with a clothesline and another. Rock fights back with rights and sends Ken face first into the corner, but reverses a whip off the ropes before throwing Rock over the ropes to the outside.
Rock takes his time again getting back in the ring and gets distracted by HHH, they talk some trash. HHH takes a drink of water and spits it in Rock's face, only to be pie faced by Rock. Chioda holds him off and Ken goes after Rock now, into the guard rail and the Spanish table, then the regular table. Back in the ring now, Rock goes for a suplex but Shamrock blocks and hits one himself, floats over for a cover and a 2 count. Rock reverses a whip off the ropes and Ken gets sent over the ropes, but his hand and wrist get caught up in the ropes, Rock having to free him.
Rock on the outside now with some rights, tries to whip Shamrock but gets sent into the guard rail, only to bounce back with a clothesline. Shamrock... well Rock tries to lift him up and drop him on the guard rail but he barely gets the guy up, so he kinda just falls to the floor. Back in the ring, Ken sent off the ropes with a noticeable limp and Rock nails a swinging neckbreaker, hooks the leg for a near fall. Rock pulls Ken to the corner but he fights with rights, sends Rock into the opposite who ducks a clothesline and nails a DDT, rolls over for a cover and a near fall.
Rear chinlock now after a club to the back of the head by Rock, Ken fights up with elbows but gets caught with a back elbow coming off the ropes, another cover by Rock and a 2 count. Rock with a scoop slam, Rock calls for the People's Elbow and connects, makes the cover but Shamrock gets the shoulder up at 2. Another chinlock by Rock, Ken fights back up again and elbows out, hammers with rights, sends Rock off the ropes but he nails his float over DDT, hooks the leg but Shamrock kicks out again. Ken sent off the ropes but he ducks a clothesline and hits a back suplex.
Rock and Shamrock just barely make it back up before the 10 count, Rock comes off the ropes for a clothesline but Shamrock ducks and nails a back elbow. Rock sent off the ropes into a heel kick, then again into a powerslam, cover and a near fall. Shamrock ducks another clothesline, fisherman suplex and another near fall. Rock gets in a thumb to the eye, sends him into the corner face first and whips Ken into the opposite, but gets an elbow as Rock follows, only to be caught in a powerslam for another cover and a near fall.
Ken reverses a whip into the ropes and Rock tries for the float over again, but Ken catches him into a Northern Lights with a bridge and a near fall. Rock sent to the corner with rights, tries to whip Rock into the opposite but gets pulled back into a clothesline, hooks the leg for another near fall. Rock tries to whip Ken into the corner but gets pulled back into a clothesline, cover and a shoulder up at 2. Ken off the ropes and tries for the hurricanrana but Rock falls back, sending Ken throat first into the top rope, Rock hooks the leg for another 2 count. Rock argues with the ref before he goes and stands over Shamrock, who grabs his leg and trips him up into an Ankle Lock. Rock is forced to tap out and give Shamrock the crown in 14:12. Can't complain about this one, and HHH was entertaining on commentary.
Shamrock gets his arms raised before we go to replays. HHH and Chyna take their leave while Shamrock poses in the corner.
Commentary hype up our next match, as the Cell starts to get lowered.
Hell in a Cell Match: Mankind vs The Undertaker
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Mankind out with chair in hand, who paces around and pulls at the steel mesh, steps inside briefly only to step back out. Foley throws the chair onto the roof and makes his way up. Taker out now, who removes his robe and joins Foley up top start this match.
Foley doesn't even let him get up, laying in rights as Taker's still climbing, but Taker sends him back with some rights of his own. Taker up top now and Foley with more rights, then the chair across the back, then a second time. A panel breaks under their weight as Foley pulls him over, seemingly to go for something but Taker fights back, only to throw Foley off through the Spanish announce table below. Christ that still looks bat shit insane 20 years later. Of course we get replays, and not long after Funk and officials have rushed down to tend to Foley. More replays as Taker looks down at the carnage, and now Commissioner Slaughter and Vince have made their way down before we get another replay. The Cell start to get raised with Taker still on top while the EMTs bring a stretcher down and load Foley on it. Foley gets rolled up the aisle and they lower the Cell back down, Taker making his way down.
Foley back to his feet and despite protests from officials, makes his way back up and Taker join him. Taker grabs and sets the chair down, then a headbutt and some rights, before chokeslamming him through the roof to the mat below. Funk immediately rushes inside along with other officials and Taker drops in with them. Everyone clears out, but Funk gets chokeslammed out of his shoes for his trouble and tossed out. We get replays of Foley going through the roof.
Back to the match, Taker with a right on a defenseless Foley and sets up for Old School, and whether on purpose of just that he can barely stand, falls against the ropes and sends Taker tumbling to the outside, and officials are seen chaining and locking the door.We get that iconic shot in the corner of Foley's tooth in his nose, who then knocks Taker off the apron into the Cell wall. Foley picks up the steps, or at least tries but his shoulder gives out, so Taker takes them instead and rams them into the injured shoulder, then again, and then one to the head. Uppercuts by Taker and another right against the Cell wall, then he goes back in the ring, off the ropes and dives through the ropes, but goes face first into the Cell as Foley avoids it, busting Taker open. Taker sent face first into the Cell, then a second time, then raked across the steel mesh. Back in the ring, Foley nails a piledriver onto the chair with a nasty sounding clunk, a cover and a near fall.
Foley lays in with rights before setting the chair on Taker's face, Foley off the ropes with a leg drop, drapes the arm over for a 2 count. Foley with the double arm DDT, then rolls out of the ring rather than going for the cover. Foley with that ever familiar sack and spreads out the thumbtacks on the mat. Foley with rights trying to send Taker backwards into the tacks, off the ropes but caught by the throat, but Foley fights out. Off the ropes again, but caught with a boot, sending Foley off the ropes and lifted up for a Tombstone, but Foley slips behind and manages to apply the Mandible Claw.
He manages to bring Taker down to his knees and sits on Taker's back, Taker fading as Tim White raises his arm, but comes back on the third raise, before dropping back and driving Foley into the tacks, who then rolls around in them. Fucking hell. Foley somehow gets back up only to be chokeslammed into the tacks. Finally Taker puts Foley out of his misery with a Tombstone to win in 17:37.
The doctor and referees rush in, stretcher rolled in as Taker makes his exit. Foley is rolled onto the backboard as Taker heads to the back. The Cell gets raised back up and we go to replays. Foley refuses to be helped out on a stretcher but helped to the back to a standing ovation. More replays while commentary talk about the brutality, and we still have one more match to get to.
We go to our video package, which started with Vince putting Kane and Taker against each other in a #1 contender's match. Taker gets screwed due to distraction from Foley, which would also be the catalyst to that Cell match. Mankind and Kane would attack Austin during some kind of celebration and even shoved into a casket. Then we'd get a random tag team Cell match on Raw, which would see Austin clobber Foley with a chair and fight Kane on the roof. Vince would announce that the match would be fought under First Blood rules, and Kane would vow to set himself on fire if he doesn't win.
First Blood Match for the WWF Championship: Kane (w/ Paul Bearer) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Gas cans have been set down on the ring steps in case Kane fails as Austin comes out, elbow bandaged up from staph infection. Austin wastes no time going after Kane, ducking a couple of clotheslines into a Thesz Press and a series of rights to get things started.
Austin off the ropes with an elbow, then cracks Kane in the face with the title, then a second time. Austin takes the turnbuckle pad off and tries to send Kane into it but he blocks, then tries to send Austin into it and blocks, only to drop him with some rights. Kane choking Austin down n the corner before booting him in the head a few times, then another right. Austin back up with a clothesline but Kane stays up, reversing a whip off the ropes and catches Austin for a Tombstone, but Austin slips free and sends Kane to the outside. Kane pulls him out under the ropes and they trade rights, Kane sent face first off the steps, then a second time.
Suddenly we see the Cell start to get lowered back down as Kane gets the upperhand with rights, dropping Austin neck first on the guard rail. Austin whipped into the steel steps, fighting back with rights, tries to whip Kane into the steps but Kane pulls back, sending Austin face first into the Cell wall, which is still being lowered. Kane tries to hold Austin down and trap him under the Cell but Austin manages to fight himself free. Austin sent face first into the Cell a second time before being dropped with an uppercut. Austin into the Cell again, then again as he's whipped into it. Kane with another uppercut, then whipped into the steps. Austin finally fights back and sends Kane face first into the door frame. Now the Cell is being raised again as Kane lays across the edge of the doorway, Austin with some rights who's hanging over the doorway and grabs Austin by the throat. Kane pulled back down to the floor.
Kane face first into the guard rail, then a second time.and a third time as they fight up the aisle, and a fourth time. Austin tries to piledrive Kane on the concrete floor but he back drops Austin to the floor. Vince is seen in the owner's box high above while Kane sends Austin into the guard rail, fighting to the entrance set. Kane with some elbows now, Austin fights back and tries to suplex on the small ramp, only to be reversed and suplexed himself. Kane with a kick and rights, sending Austin into one of the lights, fighting beside the entrance and sent into another guard rail. Kane picks it up and sends it into Austin's face. Kane with more shots to the head as they fight their way back to the ring, Austin fights back and sends Kane back in.
Kane sent face first into the exposed turnbuckle now three times, Autin choking Kane over the second rope and drops a leg over the back of the neck. Kane tossed back out and sent into the guard rail at ringside, then face first into a chair, then the announce table. Austin clocks Kane in the face with a fan, Kane still upright. Kane grabs Austin by the throat and sends him into Hebner, sandwiching him against the guard rail. Back in the ring, Kane up top and nails a flying clothesline. Kane tries to send Austin into the turnbuckle but Austin blocks, but Kane drops him with a right. Kane back up but misses another clothesline, Austin stomping away. Kane sent into the exposed turnbuckle again and Austin stomps away. Back of Kane's head sent into the turnbuckle now repeatedly.
Foley somehow manages to hobble down to the ring with chair in hand but Austin goes after him with rights, and the Cell is lowered all the way down before Foley is nailed with a Stunner. Kane back up and grabs Austin by the throat, but Austin gets a low blow and nails Kane with a Stunner. Now Taker's out with a chair as Austin grabs Foley's. They both try to hit Foley but he ducks and Austin's chair gets bounced back into his face. Taker sends Kane and Foley out of the ring and Taker rolls Hebner back in the ring, Austin busted wide open. Taker grabs one of the gas cans and starts to douse Hebner for... reasons, only to be cracked across the back with a chair by Kane. Kane goes for Austin but he gets his boots up, clothesline off the second rope. Austin pries the chair out of Kane's hands and nails him in the face. Hebner finally comes to and sees Austin bleeding and calls for the bell, giving Kane the championship in 14:54.
Kane is still laid out after the chair shot and Austin looks on at Hebner pissed, Vince pleased with himself and... The show fades out with that? Huh... Alright...
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even setting aside the two matches that this show is known for, this is a solid PPV. King of the Ring offered great matches for the most part, even though I wasn't really into the Severn matches. Had some good undercard matches to round it out. Then we had chaos and insanity for 30+ minutes in the two main events of the night. That being said, with a runtime of 2:36:15, there was a total 1:26:31 of wrestling on this show, leaving us an average of about 9 and a half minutes per match.
Kane wouldn't hold that title very long, as Austin would win it back the next night on Raw. Austin would hold onto it for another few months until Breakdown, where the title would be vacated after a double pinfall finish. That title would stay vacant until Survivor Series in November, where Rock would pick up his first WWF Title. Shamrock would enter a feud with Owen Hart into Summerslam, culminating in a Lion's Den Match, and would even get a #1 contender's match at Breakdown, only to be won by Rock, but would win the IC Title in a tournament following a vacancy due to an injured HHH.
Comments
Post a Comment