June 5, 1996
Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jim RossHunter Hearst-Helmsley defeated Yokozuna in a King of the Ring First Round match after dodging the Bonzai Drop and using the ropes for leverageRaw opened with this King of the Ring first round match. Hunter’s offense didn’t seem to phase Yoko much and the sumo champion overpowered Helmsley at every turn. Yoko planted Hunter with a belly to belly suplex and dragged him over to the corner. Yoko went to the middle rope and went for the Bonzai Drop, but Hunter rolled out of the way and Yoko crashed to the mat. Hunter quickly rolled Yoko up and put his feet on the ropes for leverage to get the win and arguably the upset.
Overall Rating: 75
Crowd Reaction: 75
Match Quality: 76Hakushi defeated Zip with a Tiger BombOne half of the tag champions, Zip, took on one half of their challengers at the King of the Ring, Hakushi. The two put on a great match, and Zip seemed to take Hakushi lightly early on before a flurry of offense from Hakushi put Zip on his heels. Zip gained the upper hand and got a near fall with a neck breaker. Zip then decided to go to the top rope. Hakushi wobbled to his feet and Zip went for an axe handle, but Hakushi caught him with a boot to the gut and quickly planted him with a Tiger Bomb for the three! Zip couldn’t believe it, and Marty Jannetty ran down to the ring to celebrate with Hakushi while Skip and Sunny appeared in the aisle looking on is shock with Zip.
Overall Rating: 86
Crowd Reaction: 73
Match Quality: 100Ahmed Wants Austin, But He Wont Get Him At King of the RingWe now go to the backstage area where we see Ahmed Johnson stalking the halls. He finds a door that is marked for Steve Austin and barges in to the surprise of Austin and Ted Dibiase.Dibiase: What do you think you’re doing?
Ahmed:
(going face to face with Austin) You listen to me, and you listen good punk. I want the Intercontinental Championship. Last week you cost me my shot at the King of the Ring. Then you wanna run your mouth about how you beat two men to win that title? Boy, you aint never beat me! So at King of the Ring, I want you one on one, man to man, for that belt.
Austin: You know big man, as much as I would love to give you a wrestling lesson, I already have a match at King of the Ring.
Ahmed: Is that right?
Austin: Yea, that’s right! See, being the former Intercontinental Champion, Goldust is entitled to a rematch and is the number one contender. So I have a match with him at King of the Ring. I guess it’s a perk you get even being a former champion, something you aren’t and for that matter never will be. So the best thing you can do is take a number just like everyone else and wait your turn.
Ahmed stares Austin down for a moment before leaving the locker room, and Austin has a smirk on his face after Johnson leaves and Dibiase lets out his signature laugh.Overall Rating: 84“Wildman” Marc Mero defeated Jerry Lawler in a King of the Ring First Round match with the WildthingMero took on the self proclaimed “King”, who gave him a good match. Mero took the upper hand early, but a thumb to the eye turn the tables in Lawler’s favor. Lawler tried to ground Mero, planting him with a body slam to the mat. Lawler then went to the middle rope and went for a fist drop, but Mero lifted his leg and caught Lawler in the jaw with a boot. Mero then dropped the King with a samoan drop, then scaled the turnbuckle and delivered the Wildthing for the win and advanced in the tournament.
Overall Rating: 71
Crowd Reaction: 70
Match Quality: 73Michaels Calls Out Hall and DieselWe now go to the interview area where Todd Pettengill is with the WWF Champion.Todd: I’m here with the WWF Champion, Shawn Michaels, and Shawn, we saw last week how Scott Hall seemingly lured you in to a two on one situation with himself and Diesel. We all then heard the announcement yesterday on Superstars that at the King of the Ring you and partner of your choice will take on Hall and Diesel in a tag team match. I’m sure you have a lot on your mind.
HBK: You know, ever since I became WWF Champion it seems that pulling a fast one over ol’ HBK has been the running theme. First it was Razor Ramon….oh, excuse me…..Scott Hall making his big return to the WWF only to lay me out from behind. Then last week, it was a two on one from Hall and Diesel. But you know, I guess I should have known better than to think Hall would have the guts to face me by himself last week. So fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice, shame on me. So what I did, since I can see that I wont be getting a clean shot at Hall or Diesel anytime soon, I went and got a little back up. As soon as I heard Gorilla Monsoon announce a tag team match for King of the Ring, I knew exactly who I needed to call. And not only did I do just that, but my partner for King of the Ring is here tonight! So what think might be cool is, instead of making everyone wait until King of the Ring, let’s just end all the suspense tonight. So Hall and Diesel, if you’ve got the guts to show your faces when the odds are even, I’ll be out in that ring later tonight and you can find out first hand just who my partner is going to be.
Overall Rating: 96Jake “The Snake” Roberts beat Goldust in a King of the Ring First Round match after interference from Ahmed JohnsonGoldust attacked Roberts at the bell and seemed to have the advantage through most of the match. Goldust worked over Roberts and then set him up for the Curtain Call, but Jake reversed it and hit Goldust with a short arm clothesline. Roberts started to make a comeback, pelting Goldust with rights and a high knee. Roberts tried to whip Goldust to the corner, but Goldust reversed it and the referee was caught between Roberts and the turnbuckle. Goldust grabbed Jake and hit the Curtain Call, but there was no referee to count. Ahmed Johnson suddenly came running down the aisle. While Goldust tried to revive the referee, Ahmed slid in the ring and drilled Goldust with a spine buster! Ahmed stared Goldust down for a moment before rolling out of the ring. Roberts was starting to get to his feet, and when Goldust stumbled to his feet, Jake wrapped him up and drove him to the mat with the DDT. Jake covered and the referee sluggishly made the three count. Roberts advances, and apparently Ahmed isn’t too happy that Goldust is getting an Intercontinental Title match at King of the Ring and took it out on him here tonight.
Overall Rating: 77
Crowd Reaction: 80
Match Quality: 71Ultimate Warrior and Vader ended in a Double Count Out in a King of the Ring First Round MatchIn the main event match, the Mastadon met the Warrior. The two powerhouses started with a test of strength, trading shoulder blocks with neither giving much ground. Vader get the advantage after whipping Warrior to the corner and following in with a splash. Vader worked over Warrior’s back with clubbing blows. Vader attempted a powerbomb, but Warrior blocked it and back dropped Vader to the mat. Warrior blasted Vader with a few clotheslines, staggering the big man, and then actually scooped him and slammed him to the canvas! Surprised, Vader rolled to the outside, but was followed out by Warrior. Warrior and Vader began trading blows on the outside when Jim Cornette came up behind Warrior and was about to hit him with his tennis racket, but Warrior caught him in the act and grabbed him by the suit jacket. Warrior was about to lay Cornette out, but Vader clobbered him from behind. As this was going on, the bell rang and the referee has counted both men out! It didn’t seem to phase either man, though, as the continued to brawl until Vader whipped Warrior into the steel ring steps. This stopped Warrior for the time being, and Vader and Cornette began backing up the aisle and left through the curtain. Warrior did make it back to his feet, and then ran back up the aisle and through the entrance looking for Vader and Cornette.
Overall Rating: 88
Crowd Reaction: 92
Match Quality: 80HBK Brings Out Hall and Diesel, and Reveals His PartnerThe music of Shawn Michaels then hits the arena to a roar of the crowd and makes his way out to the ring.HBK: Well folks, the clock is ticking and I promised something big tonight, and like always, HBK is going to deliver. So ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce my partner for King of the Ring…
The sound of tires screeching hits the arena, interrupting Michaels, and out walks Scott Hall along with Diesel. Hall and Diesel strut to the ring and face off with HBK.Hall: Hey yo! You know Shawn, I thought that you would have learned your lesson last week, mang. You don’t mess with the Bad Guy. And at King of the Ring, me and the big man, are gonna teach you a lesson of a lifetime. And you think you scare us with this ‘mystery partner’ business? As far as I can see, you don’t have a partner. Which really doesn’t surprise me because no one would be stupid enough to want to take on myself and Big Daddy Cool. And if you did have a partner, I would tell him just that.
HBK: You know, that’s funny you say that, because you can have just that chance, because he’s right behind you.
Familiar music hits the arena and the crowd comes to its feet as none other than Sycho Sid emerges from the curtain! Sid walks down to the ring and steps over the top rope as Hall and Diesel bail out of the ring. Hall and Diesel backtrack up the aisle, looking on in disbelief, as Sid and Michaels pose in the ring as Raw comes to a close.Overall Rating: 82
Diesel lost overness from this segment
Shawn Michaels lost overness from this segment
Ultimate Warrior vs. Vader and Hakushi vs. Zip were both good matches. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to seeing more shows.