Emanating from The Mecca in Milwaukee, WI
 

A nice video package opens the show that gives equal time to every match that’s on the card tonight.  Not sure whether that’s a good or a bad thing.

You’ll notice this says SEMI-final match.  One of the braintrusts at the Federation decided to have two rounds done on free TV, hence the King of the Ring winner only has to win two matches in one night.  Listen, I know pro wrestling is fake and winners are predetermined, but when you are going to give someone the title of King of the Ring, make it mean something by having them survive a great test of endurance.  It’s no wonder this PPV never could succeed.  OK, rant over.  Austin defeated Bob Holly in the first round and then beat Savio Vega in the quarters, debuting his new finisher, the Stone Cold Stunner.  To get here, Mero pinned Skip and then defeated Owen Hart, which Vince and J.R. take pleasure in announcing to Owen.  Both men jockey for position to begin.  A flying headscissors by Mero, sends Austin to the outside.  Austin hits the Lou Thesz Press, but then jaws at the crowd instead of following-up.  A back bodydrop by Mero causes Austin to roll to the floor and call for a timeout.  Back inside, Austin offers a handshake, which Mero declines.  So Austin issues a test of strength, which Mero accepts.  As soon as Mero gets the slightest advantage, Austin kicks him repeatedly, to drive him to his knees.  Mero breaks free, but then gets thrown out of the ring.  On the floor, Austin removes the padding and then press slams Mero on the bare concrete.  Inside, Austin begins to work on Mero’s head and throat area.  An elbow from the second rope gives Austin a nearfall.  A Boston Crab is locked on by Austin.  Mero powers out of it and gets Austin in a small package for 2.  Another Boston Crab by Austin and again Mero powers out and gets Austin in a pinning combination for a 2 count.  Mero locks on a sleeper, but Austin quickly jawjacks him to get free.  A dropkick by Mero marks his comeback.  After hitting Austin with a back bodydrop, Mero nails him with a double ax handle and gets a nearfall.  Mero heaves Austin to the outside and then hits him with a somersault plancha.  Heading back into the ring, Mero isn’t satisfied, so he runs and nails Austin with a tope.  A top rope dropkick by Mero gets 2.  Mero hits the top rope hurricanrana, but still can’t get the 3 count.  As Mero argues with the referee, Austin kicks Mero in the gut and then picks him up and drops him across the top rope.  Today, that would have been a “kick, wham, stunner” but that sequence hadn’t developed here yet.  Austin picks up Mero, hits him with the Stone Cold Stunner and gets the win (that was Mero’s first loss in the WWF). 

Bottom Line: They certainly gave these two ample time, which is great.  However, things just weren’t clicking early on, which caused the match to suffer.  They really picked things up in the last few minutes though.  You could tell here that Austin was just a few tweaks away from having a good, fluid moveset.  ** ½

- Dok Hendrix talks to “sentimental favorite” Jake “the Snake” Roberts.  Jake begins to quote Bible verses to explain how he’ll get through Vader.  Then he says that if he were robbing a bank, he wouldn’t walk in the front door, he would sneak in the back.  I wouldn’t think that people who quote Bible verses would use analogies that involve robbing banks, but hey, that’s just me.

King of the Ring Semifinal Match: Jake “the Snake” Roberts vs. Vader

Vader’s first victim was Ahmed Johnson and then he received a bye into this round after the Ultimate Warrior and Goldust went to a double count-out in their qualifying match.  Jake got this far by getting through HHH (who was originally slated to win this tourney) and Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw.  Vader uses his size to take down Jake early.  A big splash by Vader almost gives him a quick win.  Jake boots a charging Vader and then catches him with a high knee.  Vader prevents Jake from hitting the DDT by driving him to the corner.  Jake gets Vader with a short-arm clothesline but then gets taken down by Vader with a bodyblock.  After avoiding a charge by Vader, Jake grabs Vader for the DDT.  As Jake takes Vader down with the move, Vader shoves the referee.  No pin is needed as the referee has already disqualified Vader.

Postmatch: Vader destroys Jake and in the process causing serious injury to Jake’s ribs.

BL: The finish works here as it protects Vader and still allows the face to go over.  One has to wonder why Vader didn’t go to the finals against Mero, if he was already scheduled to face Shawn Michaels at Summerslam.  As for the match, it was short enough to not be offensive, but too short to merit a high rating.  ½ *

- In yet another wasteful Coliseum Obtrusive, Vader screams a lot at Cornette and proclaims that he’s the King of the Ring.  I wasn’t sure that he was angry about the loss after his post-match beatdown of Jake Roberts, but now that I’ve seen this piece of exclusive footage, I am sure he is upset.  Thanks Coliseum Video.

WWF Tag Team Championship: The Smoking Gunns (champs) vs. The Godwinns

Let’s catch everyone up to speed on this whole angle.  About a month ago, Sunny actually helped the Godwinns win the titles from the Bodydonnas.  A week later, on the Free For All for In Your House: Beware of Dog, Sunny double-crossed the Godwinns and helped the Gunns win the titles.  Now Sunny is managing the Gunns and the Godwinns want revenge after Sunny toyed with Phineas’ emotions.  Also, during tonight’s Free For All, the Bodydonnas introduced their new manager, Cloudi.  The less said about that, the better.  To the match, Billy verbally berates Phineas, which allows Bart to attack him from behind.  Billy is in now and he gets kicked by Phineas when he puts his head down.  Phineas starts pounding away on Billy causing him to flee to the outside.  We cut to a splitscreen and Vince talks with Cloudi.  It’s amazing why that angle wasn’t successful.  Sunny tries distracting Phineas, but he’ll have none of it.  In the ring, Bart whips Henry, but gets booted as he follows him in.  The Godwinns work over Bart’s arm.  Billy kicks Henry in the back as he was coming off the ropes.  The Gunns now make frequent tags to work over Henry’s back.  A rocker dropper by Billy gets a nearfall.  With Henry playing Ricky Morton, hillbilly-style, the crowd rallies by chanting Sunny’s name.  But I tell ya, those Godwinns are over, honest.  Henry catches Billy in a small package for 2.  Billy tries for a splash in the corner, but all he gets is turnbuckle.  The Gunns make a phantom-tag before Henry can get to his corner.  Bart misses a top rope legdrop, which allows Henry to make the hot tag.  Phineas takes on both Gunns and soon Henry comes back in too.  As the referee escorts Henry out of the ring, Bart nails Phineas with his boot.  Billy covers and picks up the win.

BL: Man, that sure was a lame finish.  Nothing progressed here storyline wise, so I would have rather seen the Gunns win clean.  The rest of the match contained nothing horrible, but it was yet another extremely boring Godwinns match that was tough to sit through.  When Sunny’s name is the only thing a crowd chants for, it should tell someone that a better face team is needed.  *

- As Dok talks to Cornette and the Bulldog about stacking the deck in their favor, we see the guest referee for the main event tonight, Mr. Perfect, is using their dressing room as well.  But fear not, the Bulldog assures us that Perfect will call the match right down the middle.  He also assures us that all British people have great teeth and their food is great.

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Jerry “the King” Lawler

Backstory here is that Lawler has a big mouth and the Warrior needed another guy to squash.  As the Warrior poses for the crowd during his entrance, Lawler nails him a couple of times with a scepter he grabbed from the King of the Ring throne.  Lawler uses some more cheater tactics by choking the Warrior with wrist tape and hitting him with mysterious objects in his trunks.  A piledriver by Lawler simply wakes the Warrior up, according to Vince.  Now that the Warrior is woken up, he does his 30 second squash set and puts Lawler down for the count.

BL: Well this brought Warrior’s string of meaningful matches since his return up to 0.  At least here, he destroyed someone who didn’t have any potential future.  Seriously though, how difficult is it to put this guy into some kind of legitimate feud.  I got tired of these squashes after the first one at Wrestlemania 12.  It’s now going on 4 months of this.  Thankfully, we didn’t have to put up with much more of this.  DUD

- Dok interviews Gorilla, who says that despite Jake’s injuries, he’s going to allow him to wrestle in the King of the Ring final.  I’m sure he’ll be fine.  Just give him a bottle of liquid courage and he’ll be better than ever.

The Undertaker vs. Mankind

Paul Bearer comes to the ring, but no Undertaker behind him.  When the lights come up, we see Taker perched on top of the turnbuckle and he comes off and clotheslines Mankind.  Taker absolutely pulverizes Mankind with right hands in the corner.  Mankind gets thrown to the floor where he takes a breather.  Taker hits the ropewalk as it’s been rather one-sided thus far.  Mankind catches Taker with an elbow and slams him to the mat.  The fight spills to the floor, where Mankind hits an elbow and slams him to the mat.  Inside, Taker tries to fire back, but Mankind sets him down with a clothesline.  Back outside, Mankind charges at Taker with a chair, but Taker puts his foot up.  After backdropping Mankind on the floor, Taker throws him back inside.  Taker nails Mankind in the back with a chair as the referee is tied up with Paul Bearer.  After hitting Mankind with a big boot, Taker tries for the Tombstone, but Mankind escapes and hits him with a swinging neckbreaker.  Mankind goes for the Mandible Claw, but Taker blocks it.  Knocking Taker back down, Mankind locks on a nervehold and keeps it on for a rather lengthy amount of time.  Taker breaks free with a series of punches and then clotheslines Mankind to the floor.  When Taker goes out after him, it’s Mankind who knocks him down with a handful of punches.  Mankind then gets a running start and knees Taker’s head into the steps.  From the apron, Mankind drops another elbow, but Taker holds up a chair, which Mankind crashes into.  Taker then gives Mankind a wicked chair shot to the head.  In the ring, Taker connects with a big clothesline.  Mankind catches Taker with his head down and plants him with a piledriver.  That gets 2.  Frustrated, Mankind starts pulling out his hair, but then he goes over and grabs the urn from Bearer.  Before he can use it, Bearer grabs it back.  Mankind locks in the Mandible Claw, but Taker fights it.  Bearer gets on the apron and swings the urn at Mankind, but he misses and clocks Taker instead.  Mankind puts the Claw back on Taker and puts him down with it to pick up the victory.

BL: A decent brawl that had a couple of slow spots in it.  This feud brought out a more energetic Taker, which was a very good thing.  The match planted the seeds for Bearer’s turn, which really set this feud into high gear.  This match was merely an appetizer before the main course.  ***

- Dok chats with Mr. Perfect, but before he can say too much, Shawn comes by and tells him he better call it right down the middle or else.  I’d like to know where everyone gets off thinking Perfect will be a biased referee.  What’s that?  You say he was a biased referee at Wrestlemania X and cost Luger the title?  Oh…well then, I guess maybe they do have a point.  Carry on.

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Goldust (champ) vs. Ahmed Johnson

Ahmed charges out to the arena (knocking down the doorman at the aisle entrance) and starts attacking Goldust before he’s had a chance to take his robe off.  A clothesline by Ahmed sends Goldust scurrying to the floor.  Goldust can’t rest however as Ahmed launches himself over the top rope and onto Goldust.  Ahmed picks up the steps and heaves them toward Goldust, but he’s able to move out of the way.  After whipping Goldust to the corner, Ahmed goes for a splash, but misses.  On the floor, Goldust whips Ahmed into the steps.  Goldust then picks up the steps and throws them on Ahmed’s back.  Working on Ahmed’s back, Goldust slaps on a reverse chinlock.  In a matter of seconds, Goldust goes from hammering away on Ahmed’s back to massaging his ass.  Oh that wacky Goldust.  Goldust goes for a sunset flip, but Ahmed simply punches him in the face.  After hitting Ahmed with a piledriver, Goldust seductively crawls onto him for the cover, but only gets 2.  Ahmed whips Goldust to the ropes and goes for a dropkick, but misses.  Goldust covers and gets a nearfall.  Goldust applies a sleeper, which drops Ahmed to his knees.  Before the referee can drop Ahmed’s hand 3 times, Goldust releases the hold and opts to give Ahmed mouth-to mouth resuscitation.  Ahmed wakes up enraged and begins to pummel Goldust.  J. R. screams “Johnson’s exploded!”  My god man, listen to what you’re saying.  After hitting Goldust with a spinebuster, Ahmed connects with the Pearl River Plunge and covers him for the 3 count.  New champion!

BL: Goldust looks like a real idiot here by doing a move that would knowingly enrage your opponent and cause him to want to inflict as much pain as possible on him.  The match looked like it was going to be squash city early on, but Goldust did a nice job of trying to work some psychology in there.  Hopefully, Ahmed enjoyed this moment as much as possible as things would only go downhill from here.  * ¾

- Another Coliseum Obtrusive shows Ahmed going to the back and being congratulated by the likes of Aldo Montoya and the Bushwhackers.  Wow, it’s just like how Ahmed dreamed this moment would be like.

- In a surprise appearance, the WWF’s newest acquisition, Brian Pillman makes his way on crutches to ringside where J. R. interviews him.  In typical whackjob fashion, Pillman rants and raves and even justifies Jeffrey Dahmer’s actions.  With the introduction of guys like this, I think it’s safe to say the days of family entertainment were quickly becoming extinct.

King of the Ring Finals: Jake “the Snake” Roberts vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

In a nice nod to their past, Austin and Pillman exchange words as they pass each other in the aisleway.  Vince mentions that after his match with Mero, Austin went to the emergency room and got 16 stitches for his busted lip.  Austin attacks Jake before he can even get into the ring.  The focus of Austin’s attack is naturally on Jake’s midsection.  As Austin begins to tear off the tape wrapped around Jake’s midsection, Gorilla Monsoon comes down to the ring.  Gorilla asks Jake if he wants to quit, but Jake refuses.  Jake takes this opportunity to go after Austin.  After knocking Austin down, Jake tries going for the DDT, but Austin drives Jake’s back into a corner.  Austin then repeatedly drives his shoulder into Jake’s midsection.  At this point, it’s elementary as Austin hits the Stunner and pins Jake to become King of the Ring.

BL: A very lackluster final match.  I understand the story they were trying to tell, but it didn’t equal into a good match.  I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll reiterate it; Jake had no business having this high-profile of a role at this point in the WWF.  It’s a shame the match couldn’t have been better, but since Austin wasn’t their first choice for King of the Ring winner, I’m sure they didn’t put their full effort into making this a memorable win.  ¾ *

- Austin heads over to the throne where Dok awaits him for his coronation ceremony.  These things are usually boring, so I’ll just fast-forward through it.  Damnit, I can’t find my remote, I guess I’ll listen.  And wouldn’t you know it, Austin goes on to deliver the famous Austin 3:16 speech that changes the face of wrestling forever.  Remember what I said the paragraph above about the WWF not caring about Austin’s win, scratch that.  With this speech, Vince unknowingly had just created a star.

WWF Championship Match: Shawn Michaels (champ) vs. The British Bulldog with special guest referee Mr. Perfect

Before the match, Gorilla comes to ringside and says that Perfect will only be an outside referee and Hebner will have the duties in the ring.  Stupid bait and switch.  Match begins with the Bulldog using his power to dominate early.  Shawn begins to wear down the Bulldog with a headlock.  The Bulldog tries to toss Shawn out of the ring, but he hoists himself back in and uses a headscissors to take the Bulldog to the floor.  On the outside, Shawn hits the Bulldog with a hurricanrana and then attacks Cornette with his own racquet.  In the ring, it’s now the Bulldog trying to wear Shawn down with a headlock.  A legsweep by Shawn gives him a quick nearfall and then he locks on an armbar on the Bulldog.  Shawn applies a sleeper on the Bulldog, but the Bulldog quickly falls back into a corner to get free.  The Bulldog begins to give Shawn some rough turnbuckle treatment.  Shawn catches the Bulldog with his head down and drives him to the mat with an armbar takedown.  A double ax handle gives Shawn a 2 count.  The Bulldog catches Shawn coming off the ropes and presses him.  But instead of slamming him, the Bulldog falls back and drops him to the floor.  What a bump!  On the floor, the Bulldog gives Shawn a suplex.  Now the Bulldog press slams Shawn into the ring.  That gets 2.  Shawn is whipped to the corner, where he flips and flops, but comes back into the ring only to be clotheslined by the Bulldog.  The Bulldog locks Shawn in a surfboard, but Shawn refuses to quit.  The Bulldog turns it into a pin, but can only get 2.  After a back bodydrop and a legdrop, the Bulldog covers but again just gets a nearfall.  Shawn comes back with a crossbody for 2, but then is quickly dropped by a clothesline.  A crucifix by Shawn gets 2.  A great sequence as Shawn goes for a running powerslam, then the Bulldog goes for the powerslam, and then Shawn tries to hit Sweet Chin Music, but ultimately the only thing that connects is a clothesline by the Bulldog.  The Bulldog hits Shawn with a piledriver (geez, this is like the fourth match tonight where someone hit a piledriver) and then goes up top, but completely whiffs coming down.  Shawn now goes up top, but the Bulldog dropkicks him causing him to get crotched.  The Bulldog then climbs up and nails Shawn with a superplex.  That gets a long 2 count.  The Bulldog tries a top rope back suplex(which if I recall is the move that Shawn used to defeat the Bulldog for his first Intercontinental title), but Shawn turns over and covers for 2.  A mid-ring collision knocks both men down.  Shawn tries for another hurricanrana, but the Bulldog plants him with a powerbomb.  That gets 2.  Shawn connects with a forearm and then kips up.  As Shawn slams the Bulldog, the Bulldog’s legs knock down Earl Hebner.  Shawn hits the big elbow as the referee tries to get up.  Shawn hits Sweet Chin Music and covers.  Hebner begins to count when Mr. Perfect gets into the ring and counts with him.  After 2, Owen pulls Perfect out, but Hebner registers the 3 count. 

Postmatch: Owen comes into the ring and soon Owen and the Bulldog double team Shawn.  Ahmed comes out to help even the sides.  Soon Vader comes down and helps Camp Cornette.  When all looks bleak, here comes the Warrior to clean house, save the day and set up your next main event.

BL: Just like their first match, this one was also plagued with too many restholds.  However, the lengthier match time allowed them to do some more interesting stuff.  The finish was slightly peculiar as Perfect wasn’t even an issue.  Thankfully, the flat ending was picked up by the hot post-match action.  *** ½

Final Thought: Looking at the match ratings here, there seemingly isn’t much here to warrant a recommendation.  However, the show is certainly notable for its historic moments.  If you feel you’ve seen the big moments before elsewhere, there’s no real need to see this show.  But, if you do decide to check this show out, you can have the reassurance that it at least doesn’t have any completely unwatchable matches.

Next time, as the WWF heads up to that crazy country of Canada, they decide to exchange one psycho for another Sycho.

Until then, thanks for stopping by the OOld Tyme Rasslin Revue.