1998 King of the Ring Review

One of the most overated matches ever takes place on this card.


The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) and TAKA Michinoku defeated Kaientai (Funaki, Men's Teioh and Dick Togo) (6:41)
Michinoku pinned Funaki after a Michinoku Driver.
**1/4
Solid stuff for the time.

KOTR Semi-Final: Ken Shamrock defeated Jeff Jarrett (5:29)
Shamrock forced Jarrett to submit with a Ankle Lock.
*
No suprise, it was bad.

KOTR Semi-Final: The Rock defeated Dan Severn (4:25)
Rock pinned Severn after D'Lo Brown interfered and hit a 'Lo Down on Severn.
¾*
Another bad match although short. It's like watching RAW.

Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor) defeated Al Snow and Head (w/Jerry Lawler as Special Guest Referee) (8:27)
Christopher pinned Head after attaching a bottle of Head & Shoulders to it.
*1/4
Talk about a stupid finish.

X-Pac defeated Owen Hart (8:30)
X-Pac pinned Hart after Chyna interfered and hit Owen with a DDT.
***
One of the best matches of the night and a rematch of KOTR 94. That match was a lot better though.

The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn) defeated The New Midnight Express (Bombastic Bob and Bodacious Bart) to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship (9:54)
Gunn pinned Bob.
**1/2
Not that bad with who's involved.

KOTR Final: Ken Shamrock defeated The Rock to win the King of the Ring tournament (14:09)
Shamrock forced Rock to submit with a Ankle Lock.
**1/2
They at least tried. In memory, this might be the best KOTR Finals match ever.

The Undertaker defeated Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match (17:38)
Undertaker pinned Mankind after a Tombstone Piledriver.
****
I've seen some people give this match *****. I don't like it that much but it was still really good.

Kane defeated Steve Austin in a First Blood match to win the WWF Championship (14:52)
Kane won after The Undertaker interfered and hit Austin with a steel chair causing Austin to bleed.
**3/4
Kane's only title reign to this day (2007). It lasted 1 day.

Again, another bland show. I think everyone needs to see the HIAC match, but it wasn't that great.

~ Bonus Match: Raw, the next night; Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats Kane for the WWF title. **1/2