Rebooking The WWF: King Of The Ring 1994

Who will prevail as the newest king of the WWF? Who will go to SummerSlam challenging for the WWF World Championship? Who will even be the champion? These answers and much more answered at the King of the Ring!

WWF King of the Ring
Date: 6/19/1994
From: Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 12,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan

A video promoting the King of the Ring airs. Lex Luger winning the tournament last year and winning the WWF World Championship is shown. Who will the KOTR tonight and will history continue to work in their favor? The journey to be king, begins tonight!

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan welcome everyone to Baltimore, Maryland for the King of the Ring! Vince hypes up the show as being the first big show of the summer and they can’t wait to see who the king of the WWF will be. Bobby Heenan predicts that the mighty Yokozuna will win the tournament while McMahon is going to go with Randy Savage. Heenan laughs at McMahon because Savage is a weak man because of Ric Flair and the masked man. Bobby is confident that Savage won’t even make it to the ring! They also promote the WWF World Championship match between The Undertaker and Lex Luger, which is a casket match. Heenan believes that Luger will overcome any sort of fear and win the WWF World Championship because he badly needs it. McMahon disagrees believing that the Undertaker is an unstoppable force. With that, they send it to the ring to kick off the 1994 King of the Ring!

Opening Contest: Owen Hart vs. Chris Benoit in a 1994 KOTR Tournament Match: A mat wrestling start to the match until Benoit nailed Owen with a short arm clothesline and a backbreaker. Benoit delivered a series of vicious chops in the corner and hit a northern lights suplex for a two count. Owen was able to hurdle over Benoit to avoid a backdrop and dropkicks Benoit chest first into a corner. Owen followed up with a back suplex off the middle rope for a two count of his own. Owen came off the top to hit a cross body and went to the top rope again to hit a missile dropkick but Benoit got his foot on the bottom rope. Benoit blocked a spinning heel kick and connected with two snap suplexs. Benoit tried for the Crossface late in the match, but Owen was able to counter with a roll up to win the match and advance in the tournament! (Owen Hart defeated Chris Benoit, 7:14, ***) After the match, Owen leaves the ring while Benoit argues with the referee and nearly striking him before leaving the ring as well.

Backstage, Todd Pettengill is standing with Randy Savage to talk about his match later tonight. Savage says his focus as of late has been on Ric Flair and the masked man but tonight it’s all about becoming the Macho King once again and Bam-Bam Bigelow is standing in his way. Savage isn’t going to let the Beast tame him. Savage is coming for the WWF World Championship, OH YEAH!

Second Contest: Yokozuna vs. Tatanka in a 1994 KOTR Tournament Match: Tatanka gets the early advantage with a series of strikes but tries to scoop slam Yoko, which doesn’t work at all and allows Yoko to get the advantage with a clubbing blow to the back. Yoko sends Tatanka into a corner and hits a back splash. Yoko comes off the ropes looking to hit a leg drop but Tatanka rolls out of the way. Tatanka comes off the middle rope to hit Yoko with a double axe handle. Tatanka tries to hit a back suplex but Yoko punches Tatanka to the canvas instead. Yoko delivers a scoop slam and crushes Tatanka with a leg drop. Yoko picks Tatanka up and hits a belly to belly suplex. That allows Yoko to hit the Bonzai Drop and wins the match in rather convincing fashion. (Yokozuna defeated Tatanka, 6:13, **)

Backstage, Todd Pettengill is with the WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Martel and Tamara. Pettengill asks Martel about his upcoming match with Steiner and the apparent attraction that Tamara has towards Steiner. Rick tells Pettengill to watch his mouth and that Tamara would never be attracted to someone like Scott Steiner. Martel is a champion and Steiner is just a contender and that’s all he ever will be. Tamara wants to be with a champion and that’s something Steiner will never be.

Third Contest: WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Martel vs. Scott Steiner in a 1994 KOTR Tournament Match: Tamara distracts Steiner on the apron to allow Martel to get the cheap advantage with a knee lift to the back. Martel sends Scott into the ropes and hits a clothesline before delivering a knee drop. Martel continued his offense with a snap suplex and a fist drop from the middle rope for a two count. Rick attempts a vertical suplex but Steiner is able to counter and hits the champ with a gut wrench suplex! Steiner follows up with an overhead belly to belly suplex and clotheslines Martel over the top to the floor where Tamara comforts Martel quickly. Martel goes to grab his belt as if he was going to leave but Tamara reminds him about the tournament and WWF World Championship. Martel whispers in her ear and gives her the belt. Martel rolls in and is met with right hands by Steiner. Scott goes for the Frankensteiner but Martel holds onto the ropes and Steiner crashes to the mat. Martel distracts the referee and Tamara enters with the belt looking to hit Steiner. Instead, Steiner ducks the shot and scares Tamara to the floor. Steiner avoids a clothesline from Martel and hits a double under-hook powerbomb! Steiner covers Martel and wins the match! (Scott Steiner defeated Rick Martel, 10:04, ***) After the match, Steiner grabs the WWF Intercontinental Championship and poses with it while also pointing at the KOTR stage signaling that a lot of gold could be his by the end of the night!

Backstage, Ted DiBiase is seen talking to Crush and handing him a lot of money. DiBiase and Crush shake hands with DiBiase leaving and Crush nodding his head in agreement with whatever Ted was talking to him about.

Fourth Contest: Randy Savage vs. Bam-Bam Bigelow in a 1994 KOTR Tournament Match: As Savage makes his way down to the ring, the masked man associated with Ric Flair comes running from the side of the entrance and chop blocks Randy’s bad leg! The masked man picks Savage up and sends him into the ring steps before running away from officials. Bigelow is in the ring wondering what is going on but leaves the ring to roll Savage into the ring. Bigelow goes for the cover thinking he has the match won, but Savage is able to kick out. Bigelow begins to pummel Savage with blows in the corner and misses a splash in the corner. Savage fights back with a series of jabs and manages to slam Bigelow! Savage struggles to the top rope but hits a double axe handle for only a two count. Savage pulls Bam-Bam up but Bigelow stops Savage with a gut buster! Bigelow clotheslines Savage and plants Randy with a powerbomb! Bigelow goes for the cover but Savage kicks out. Bigelow goes to the top rope but Savage is able to crotch Bigelow on the top rope. Savage finds the strength to hit a superplex! Savage is holding his knee as he goes to the top rope but Ric Flair appears at the top of the aisle way, which catches Savage’s attention. This allows Bigelow to slam Savage off the top rope to the canvas. Bigelow heads to the top rope and manages to hit a diving headbutt to win the match! (Bam-Bam Bigelow defeated Randy Savage, 10:46, ***) After the match, Ric Flair laughs at Savage losing to Bigelow before walking off.

A video promoting the WWF World Tag Team Championship is aired. Can the underdog team of Kamikaze Kid and Marty Jannetty walk out of Baltimore as the champions?

Outside the arena, Ric Flair and the masked man jump into a limo laughing about what they did. Flair was heard saying that their job here was done.

Fifth Contest: WWF World Tag Team Champions Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. Marty Jannetty & The Kamikaze Kid: Jannetty and Michaels kick off the title match with Jannetty hitting a few hip tosses and dropkicks Michaels to the floor. Shawn flips out while the crowd gets behind the challengers. Michaels returns to the ring and is met with a drop toe hold. They begin to do some mat wrestling until Michaels pokes Marty in the eyes and sends Jannetty into a corner to deliver a series of right hands. Diesel gets tagged in and continues to work over Shawn with a series of elbow strikes and knee lifts in the corner. Diesel lifts Marty up and drops him face first across the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Diesel attempts a side slam but Jannetty counters a head scissors takedown. Marty rolls to his corner and tags in Kid who hits a top rope missile dropkick that knocks Diesel down to his knees. Kid follows up with a running DDT for a two count! Kid comes off the ropes but is met with a big boot by Diesel. Diesel hits a leg drop and Kid looks to be out of it. Michaels is tagged back into the match to hit a back suplex on Kid. Shawn follows up with a scoop slam and heads to the top rope but misses a big splash. Kid gets up and hits a hurricanrana before hitting a springboard moonsault for a near win! Jannetty gets a the tag and Marty hits a top rope cross body for a near fall again. Michaels tries to tag out but Marty prevents that from happening. Jannetty tries for the Rocker Dropper but Shawn blocks it and nails Jannetty with a clothesline to stop the offense. Jannetty is worked over by the champs for a few moments until Jannetty is able to hit Michaels with a neckbreaker. Late in the match, Kid gets a flurry of offense going and comes off the top rope looking for a cross body but is met with a big boot from Diesel in midair. Diesel quickly picks Kid up and hits a powerbomb to win the match. (Shawn Michaels & Diesel defeated Marty Jannetty & the Kamikaze Kid, 15:15, ***1/2)

Backstage, Randy Savage is throwing things around yelling for Flair. Savage shoves the cameraman down as we go back to the arena.

Sixth Contest: Yokozuna vs. Owen Hart in the semi-finals of the 1994 KOTR Tournament: Owen tries to use his speed early on to knock Yoko off his feet. Owen comes off the ropes looking for a cross body but is caught by Yoko who slams Owen down to the canvas putting all his weight on Owen, too. Yoko decides to issue more pain by hitting a belly to belly suplex. Yoko proceeds to drag Owen over to a corner and hits the Bonzai Drop and wins the match easily. (Yokozuna defeated Owen Hart, 2:16, *)

A video promoting Monday Night RAW debut as a two hour program is shown. Vince McMahon promotes the show as the biggest RAW in the history of the World Wrestling Federation and it will be can’t miss television!

Seventh Contest: Bam-Bam Bigelow vs. Scott Steiner in the semi-finals of the 1994 KOTR Tournament: Bigelow opens the match with a splash in the corner and hits a quick snap suplex for a near fall. Bigelow isn’t wasting any time working over Steiner in the corner with a series of shoulder rams and a powerslam. Bigelow comes off the middle rope looking for a senton splash but Steiner rolls out of the way. Steiner gets up and comes off the middle rope himself to hit a clothesline and gets a two count. Steiner ducks under a clothesline to take Bigelow over with a German suplex! Bigelow staggers up and is clotheslined over the top to the floor. Steiner quickly follows and tosses Bigelow back first into the guard railing and hits a belly to belly suplex on the floor! The crowd is going nuts and Steiner is fired up! They go back into the ring where Bigelow drops Steiner throat first across the top rope from the apron. Bigelow tries for a slingshot splash and hits it, but Scott is able to kick out before three! Bigelow argues with the referee for a moment before hitting a backbreaker and heads to the top rope. Bam-Bam looks for the diving head butt, but Scott gets his knees up and hits Bigelow right in the chest. Scott gets up and hits a double under hook powerbomb! Steiner covers and gets the three count! (Scott Steiner defeated Bam-Bam Bigelow, 8:27, ***)

Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan now hype up the KOTR Finals between Yokozuna and Scott Steiner happening later on in the night. Heenan is laughing because while Steiner is celebrating on the middle rope in a few minutes Yokozuna will have Steiner laid out flat in a corner and Yoko will be king, he just knows it. McMahon argues that Steiner has shown plenty of heart and believes that tonight is Steiner’s night to be a singles star. Heenan proceeds to breakout in laughter as the next match begins.

Eighth Contest: The British Bulldog vs. Crush: Ted DiBiase and Diana Smith are with Crush at ringside for this match. At the start, Bulldog is yelling at DiBiase and wants him in the ring. That allows Crush to attack Bulldog from behind and get the upper hand in the corner with a series of right hands. Crush hip tosses Bulldog out of the corner and kicks Bulldog in the midsection before hitting a gut buster. Crush scoop slams Bulldog before going to the middle rope and hits a fist drop for a near fall. Crush slows Bulldog down with a bear hug, but Bulldog battles his way out of the hold. Bulldog manages to send Crush into the ropes and hits a snap powerslam for a near win of his own. Late in the bout, Bulldog goes for a running powerslam but Crush slides out and goes for the Kona Vice. However, Bulldog drops down and rolls Crush up to win the match! After the match, DiBiase and Diana run to the back to avoid Bulldog, but they are very upset with Crush losing the match. (British Bulldog defeated Crush, 7:15, **)

A video highlighting how Scott Steiner and Yokozuna got to the finals of the KOTR is shown. The winner of the match will main event SummerSlam in a WWF World Championship match.

Ninth Contest: Scott Steiner vs. Yokozuna in the finals of the 1994 KOTR Tournament: Steiner quickly goes after Yoko with a series of right hands in the corner as the fans are strongly behind Steiner to win this match. Yoko is struggling in the corner but shoves Steiner away. Steiner charges but is met with a big clothesline. Steiner pulls himself up but Yoko tosses him into a corner and chops away on him. Yoko goes to the middle of the ring and goes for a big splash but Steiner avoids it. Steiner spins Yoko around and goes for a belly to belly suplex but Yoko clubs Scott over the back to prevent that from working. Yoko scoop slams Steiner and hits a leg drop for a very close two count. Yoko tries for the Bonzai Drop already, but Steiner stops Yoko on the middle rope and manages to hit an elevated back suplex! Steiner gets to the middle rope and goes for a double axe handle but Yoko catches him and hits a belly to belly suplex! Yoko drops another leg drop and Steiner is out of it. Yoko drags Steiner to the corner and proceeds to hit the Bonzai Drop! The ref makes the count and Yoko gets the three count! (Yokozuna defeated Scott Steiner, 7:25, **1/2)

Yokozuna gets up and raises his arms knowing that he has just become the 1994 King of the Ring. Yoko leaves the ring and is greeted by a smiling Mr. Fuji who is waving the Japanese flag as they walk to the stage where Yokozuna will be crowned the King of the Ring officially. Jim Ross is at the stage and welcomes the 1994 King of the Ring winner crediting Yokozuna for an impressive streak of wins to win the tournament. Yoko sits down on the throne while Mr. Fuji and Johnny Polo stand with Ross. Polo tells Ross that he told everyone in the WWF that his man would win the tournament and that 1994 is all about him and his men. It was just a matter of time before Polo was able to collect some gold and now it is marked on his calendar that SummerSlam will be the day that they win the biggest prize of them all. Polo grabs the crown and robe and asks for the king to stand up. Yoko raises and holds his arms out to the side. Polo puts the robe on Yoko and places the crown on Yoko’s head. Yoko sits back down with an evil smile on his face. Polo grabs the microphone and says “Everyone, you will now recognize Yokozuna as King Yokozuna and soon he will be the WWF World Champion!”

A video promoting the main event is aired. The Undertaker winning the Royal Rumble in January, and pinning Lex Luger at WrestleMania X are highlighted. Luger’s determination to get his belt is also highlighted as is his desire for a casket match to get his belt out of desperation. Will the Undertaker put his rival for the past three months behind him or can Lex Luger regain his most prized possession?

Main Event: WWF World Champion the Undertaker vs. Lex Luger in a casket match: Luger is looking at the casket and shakes his head that he will not be going in that tonight. He will regain his championship. They lock up and Taker backs Lex into a corner to deliver a few right hands. Luger manages to block a throat thrust and punches his way out of the corner. Lex sends Taker into the ropes and tries to knock the champ off his feet with a clothesline, but it doesn’t work. Luger sends the champ into the ropes and drives him down with a side slam. Luger continues his attack with right hands and a series of knee drops. Luger tries to roll Taker over to the casket, but Taker easily stops him with a throat thrust. Taker gets up and ducks a wild right hand from Luger. Taker scoop slams Lex and heads to the top rope where Taker hits a flying clothesline! Taker goes for a chokeslam but Luger is able to kick the champ low and hits a backbreaker. Luger taunts the fans and Paul Bearer saying that the championship is his. Luger rolls Taker over the casket but Taker fights him off again. Luger uses his forearm to beat Taker down again. Lex looks at Bearer and goes after him and the urn. Luger jumps to the floor and grabs Bearer where he shoves Bearer down to the floor. Luger rolls back into the ring with the urn and nails Taker over the head with it! Luger rolls Taker over towards the casket and nearly has him in it, but Taker fights off the keeps the lid from closing! Luger stomps away on Taker but Taker gets to his feet and hammers away on the challenger. Taker sends Lex into the ropes to hit a big boot and follows that up with a leaping clothesline. Taker picks Luger up and hits a chokeslam. Taker doesn’t think that is enough as he signals for the end. Taker lifts Lex up for a tombstone and drives him head first into the canvas. Taker has the referees raise up the casket and Taker rolls Luger into the casket to win the match and retain the title! (The Undertaker defeated Lex Luger, 12:09, **1/2) After the match, the casket is rushed to the backstage area while the Undertaker and Paul Bearer celebrate the win in the ring with Taker posing on one knee in front of Paul Bearer.