Promotional poster featuringDateJune 23, 1996CityVenueAttendance8,762(s)To Battle Is HonorTo Win Is Hell!Pay-per-view chronology← PreviousNext →chronology← PreviousNext →King of the Ring (1996) was the fourth annual (PPV) produced by the (WWF, now WWE). The event took place on June 23, 1996, from the, in.The was a for the. Defeated to retain the title, with serving as the. The featured the 1996, won by.Other matches on the undercard included a match between champion and challenger, versus, versus and a match between champions ( and ) and challengers ( and ).Austin's victory speech after winning the 1996 King of the Ring tournament gave rise to the 'Austin 3:16' tag line, which would go on to become one of the most popular catchphrases in the history of professional wrestling and the event has been cited by WWE as the starting point of along with,. Contents.Storylines King of the Ring featured that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, and that were played out on —'s (WWF) television program.
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Wrestlers portrayed a or a as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.The pay-per-view event featured the annual King of the Ring. The qualification for the tournament started on the May 27, 1996, episode of, with wrestling the to a double count-out and defeating. The qualification continued on the June 2 episode of as defeated. On the June 3 edition of Raw, and qualified for the tournament by defeating and, respectively. On the June 9 episode of Superstars, defeated in a qualification match. On the June 10 episode of Raw, the qualification for the tournament ended as defeated and defeated.
The first quarterfinal match of the tournament took place on the June 16 episode of Superstars, with Roberts defeating Bradshaw. On the June 17 episode of Raw, Austin defeated Vega and Mero defeated Hart in the remaining quarterfinal matches. Vader received a bye in the quarterfinals due to Warrior and Goldust's qualifying match resulting in a double count-out.The main heading into the event was between and the over the. At, Michaels defended the title against Bulldog in a match that resulted in a no contest as. Although the awarded Michaels the victory, Bulldog's wife, brother-in-law Hart and handed Bulldog the belt. The declared the match a no contest.
On the June 3 episode of Raw, Monsoon announced that Michaels would defend the title against Bulldog in a rematch at King of the Ring and allowed to choose a for the match. On the June 17 episode of Raw, Jim Cornette announced that would be the guest referee for the match.
Wrestled as 'Mankind' at King of the Ring.Another predominant feud heading into the event was between. On the April 1 episode of Raw, Mankind made his WWF debut and defeated Bob Holly. Later that night, Mankind attacked The Undertaker during his match with Justin Bradshaw. On the May 13 episode of Raw, conducted an in-ring interview segment with The Undertaker. Mankind attacked The Undertaker, who was distracted by Goldust and his. At In Your House 8, Mankind helped Goldust in retaining the WWF Intercontinental Championship against The Undertaker in a. This led to a match between The Undertaker and Mankind at King of the Ring.On the May 27 episode of Raw, Warrior wrestled the WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust to a double count-out in a King of the Ring qualifying match when Goldust tried to leave ringside and was attacked in the aisle by Warrior.
After the match ended, tried to retrieve a director's chair for Goldust's valet Marlena, but Warrior grabbed the chair and destroyed it. Lawler had been critical of a comic book released by Warrior and made statements about how it would have been better if he did the artwork.
On the June 10 episode of Raw, Lawler interviewed Warrior and apologized to him for costing him his qualifying match against Goldust and offered a portrait of Warrior as a present. Warrior rejected the apology and the present. Lawler attacked Warrior, leading to a match between the two at King of the Ring. In an interview on the DVD The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, Lawler was very unhappy with the setup of the incident, as Warrior unexpectedly arrived in the ring wearing a baseball cap to promote his comic book.On the May 27 episode of Raw, Ahmed Johnson got into an altercation with Goldust in a backstage segment after losing a King of the Ring qualifying match to Vader. On the June 3 episode of Raw, WWF President Gorilla Monsoon announced that Goldust would defend the title against Johnson at King of the Ring.At In Your House 8, ( and ) defeated ( and ) to win the. As a result of the Godwinns losing the titles, their valet became the manager of the Gunns.
Due to the betrayal of Sunny, the Godwinns continued their rivalry with the Gunns, leading to a tag title match between the two teams at King of the Ring.Event Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, ( and ) wrestled ( and ) in a match that aired live on. Bodydonnas won when Skip Cassidy after Bodydonnas' Cloudy kissed Cassidy. The match was followed by a in which defeated.Preliminary matches. Won the 1996 King of the Ring tournament.As the event concluded, the semi-final round of the King of the Ring tournament started. The first semi-final match pitted Mero against Austin. During the match, Austin's mouth was badly injured. Mero whipped Austin through the ropes and then Austin.
Austin attacked Mero with a in the corner and tried to throw Mero out of the ring but Mero tossed Austin outside the ring. Mero delivered a to Austin causing Austin to bleed from his mouth. Mero returned to the ring and hit a on Austin.
Mero tried to pin Austin after a but got a. Austin regained his momentum and tried to pin Mero after a but Mero kicked out of it. Austin followed by hitting Mero with a to win the match.The next semi-final match was between Roberts and Vader. Vader dominated Roberts with a Body Press and a. Roberts booted Vader and hit a.
Roberts tried to finish the match by attempting a on Vader but Vader backed him into the corner and tried to hit a. Roberts countered and hit a Short-arm Clothesline of his own. Roberts ran through the ropes but Vader hit him with a Running Splash and tried to charge Roberts into the corner.
Roberts avoided the charge and tried to hit a DDT on Vader but Vader used the referee as a human shield to prevent himself from getting a DDT. As a result of using the referee, Vader was. Vader assaulted Roberts after the match and injured him by hitting a.In the next match, The Smoking Gunns defended the WWF Tag Team Championship against The Godwinns. The Gunns got the earlier advantage in the match when Billy distracted Phineas and Bart attacked Phineas from behind.
However, Godwinns got advantage and dominated most part of the match. In the closing moments of the match, Bart hit a Boot to Phineas, allowing Billy to pin Phineas with a.The fourth match was between Warrior and Lawler. Lawler brought a scepter to the ring during his entrance.
As Warrior was making his entrance, Lawler started attacking Warrior with the scepter and used many to weaken Warrior. Lawler tried to finish the match with a but Warrior and began dominating Lawler with a series of. Warrior hit Lawler a and pinned him to win the match.The fifth match was between Undertaker and Mankind. The Undertaker started the match by attacking Mankind with a.
Undertaker followed with the. Mankind gained momentum by a. The action continued until it was carried onto outside. Mankind grabbed a chair to nail Undertaker with it but Undertaker Mankind into the chair. The Undertaker backdropped Mankind into the ring and the two returned to the ring. Undertaker's manager Paul Bearer distracted the referee, allowing Undertaker to.
Undertaker followed by a Big Boot and tried to finish the match by attempting a. Mankind slipped out of the move and hit a.
Mankind tried to finish The Undertaker with a, but The Undertaker blocked the move and was kicked by Mankind. The action returned to the floor where Mankind on Undertaker against the steel steps. He tried to attack Undertaker with a through the apron but Undertaker blocked the move with the chair. Mankind returned to the ring and hit Undertaker with a Piledriver. Mankind grabbed Undertaker's urn and tried to attack him with it, but Bearer snatched the urn from Mankind.
Mankind focused on Undertaker and applied a Mandible Claw on Undertaker. Bearer tried to hit Mankind with the urn but Mankind pulled Undertaker to prevent from being hit and Undertaker was hit with the urn. This allowed Mankind to apply another Mandible Claw on Undertaker. As a result, Mankind was awarded the victory. Main event matches In the sixth match of the event, Goldust defended the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Ahmed Johnson. Johnson dominated most of the match. Goldust had nearly won the match after applying a, which he called Good Night Sweet Charlotte but did not pin Johnson and tried to further assault him but Johnson countered and hit Goldust a to win the match and the Intercontinental Championship.Next was the final round match of the King of the Ring tournament pitting Austin against Roberts.
WWF President Monsoon came to the ring before the match and offered Roberts to stop the match due to his rib injury suffered in his semifinal match against Vader. Roberts regrouped and refused to forfeit. He began attacking Austin and attempted to hit a DDT, but Austin avoided the move and began focusing on Roberts' injured ribs. In the end of the match, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner to win the match and the King of the Ring tournament. After the match, Austin mocked Roberts' -preacher during his coronation as King of the Ring by uttering a quote:You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your psalms, talk about. Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!
Defended the against at King of the Ring.The featured Michaels defending the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against the British Bulldog. Was scheduled to referee the match but at the last minute President decided that Perfect would be refereeing outside the ring (due to Perfect's controversial refereeing at ) while would be the inside referee. The match went back and forth with Bulldog's wife Diana and manager Cornette interfering on Bulldog's behalf on many occasions during the match.
![Tone Tone](http://www.analogman.com/kot/insideno1.jpg)
Bulldog's brother-in-law and Owen Hart served as the guest commentator for the entire pay-per-view. In the closing moments of the match, Michaels attempted to hit Bulldog a but Bulldog countered it into a Sitout Powerbomb. Michaels regained his momentum and hit Bulldog a, a Diving Elbow Drop and a, which he called Sweet Chin Music and attempted to pin Bulldog.
Hebner and Perfect both began counting the pinfall. Hart left the commentary table and pulled Perfect out of the ring to prevent him from counting the pin but Hebner counted to three, allowing Michaels to win the match and retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Bulldog and Hart attacked Michaels. Johnson came to rescue Michaels until Bulldog and Hart's Vader joined Bulldog and Hart to attack Michaels and Johnson.
Warrior came out to rescue Michaels and Johnson from Bulldog, Hart and Vader and this ended the show. Aftermath Following the formation of an alliance of Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson and Warrior after Michaels' title defense at King of the Ring, the three were scheduled to compete against (British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Vader) at. However, after his match with Hart on July 8 edition of Raw, Warrior was released from his WWF contract due to missing several house shows.
As a result, Warrior was replaced by as Michaels and Johnson's tag team partner. At In Your House 9, Camp Cornette defeated Michaels, Johnson and Sid.The Undertaker continued his rivalry with Mankind after King of the Ring. Mankind interfered in Undertaker's match with Goldust at In Your House 9, causing Goldust to get disqualified. After the match, Undertaker and Mankind brawled with each other and their fight reached the locker room.
This led to the first-ever between the two at which Mankind won after Paul Bearer on Undertaker and helped Mankind in winning the match.After winning the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, Austin quickly rose to stardom and his catchphrase 'Austin 3:16' became the most popular catchphrase in professional wrestling history. Austin was as a as he constantly challenged the inactive to a match. On the October 21 edition of Raw, Hart returned to WWF and made his first in-ring appearance since losing the WWF World Heavyweight Championship to Michaels at. Hart accepted Austin's challenge to a match and defeated Austin at.This would be Ultimate Warrior's final PPV match.
His final WWF match was a victory against Owen Hart by DQ. His next appearance in a WWE ring was in a non-wrestling role at in 2014 (almost 18 years later) the day after being inducted into the. He then appeared on Raw the night after WrestleMania, and died the following day.Results No.ResultsStipulationsTimes1 F( and ) (with Kloudi) defeated ( and )08:062 Ddefeated03:003defeated (with )semi-final match16:494defeated (with ) by disqualificationsemi-final match03:345( and ) (c) (with ) defeated ( and ) (with )for the10:106defeated03:507defeated (with )18:218defeated (c) (with )for the15:349defeatedfinal match04:2810(c) (with ) defeated (with and )for the with as26:24. (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
D – indicates the match was a. F – indicates the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view onTournament brackets The tournament took place between May 27 and June 23, 1996 (the entire first two rounds were actually done on May 27 and 28, two of the three quarterfinal matches actually occurred before the first round was completed). Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.
May 27 – June 23, 1996. Retrieved 2010-09-05. ^.
Powerdriver Review. Retrieved 2010-09-05. ^. Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.
June 23, 1996. Retrieved 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2011-04-07. Archived from on 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
^. The Other Arena. May 27, 1996.
Archived from on September 4, 2001. Retrieved 2010-09-05. ^. The History of WWE. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
^. The Other Arena. June 3, 1996. Archived from on May 30, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-05. ^.
The Other Arena. June 10, 1996. Archived from on May 30, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-05. ^. The Other Arena.
June 17, 1996. Archived from on May 30, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
^. Powerdriver Review. Retrieved 2010-09-05. The Other Arena. April 1, 1996. Archived from on May 30, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
The Other Arena. May 13, 1996. Archived from on May 11, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-05. Lawler, Jerry (2002).
Simon and Schuster. P. 298. The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD. Retrieved 2010-09-06. The Other Arena. July 8, 1996. Archived from on September 4, 2001.
Retrieved 2010-09-06. ^. Powerdriver Review.
Retrieved 2010-09-06. Powerdriver Review. Retrieved 2010-09-06. ^. The Other Arena. October 21, 1996. Archived from on July 14, 2001.
Retrieved 2010-09-06. March 31, 1996. Archived from on June 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-06. November 17, 1996. Retrieved 2010-09-06.External links.