Disclaimer: I do not own WWE. I only own the OC George Edwards/The Bladewolf.
King of the Ring: 28/6/1998
Match card
1. The Headbangers and Taka Michinoku vs Kaientai in a six man Tag Team match.
2. The Bladewolf vs Ken Shamrock in the King of the Ring semi-final.
3. The Rock vs Dan Severn in the King of the Ring semi-final.
4. Too Much vs Al Snow and Head in a Tag Team match with Jerry Lawler as special guest referee.
5. X-Pac w/Chyna vs Owen Hart in a Singles match.
6. The New Age Outlaws (c) w/Chyna vs The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette in a Tag Team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship.
7. King of the Ring final
8. Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs Kane w/Paul Bearer in a First Blood match for the WWF Championship.
WWF King of the Ring was live at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The pay-per-view opened with a six-man tag team match between Kaientai (Funaki, Men's Teioh, and Dick Togo) and the team of Taka Michinoku and The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher). At the climax of the match, Michinoku executed a Michinoku Driver on Funaki for the win.
Up next was the Bladewolf vs Ken Shamrock in the first semi-finals match of the King of the Ring tournament.
In the arena...
OOOOOOOOWWWWHHHHOOOOOOO!
The Devil's Wolf played to a loud cheer from the fans as the lights switched to the sinister blood red and dark blue before the Bladewolf walked out with the WWF Intercontinental Championship around his waist. Bladewolf stood at the entrance and adjusted his right elbow pad before he made his way towards the ring.
"The following contest is the King of the Ring semi-final! Introducing first, from Death Valley, weighing 310 lbs, the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion... THE BLADEWOLF!" Howard Finkel announced.
"So we're ready to see just who will advance into the final after this match." JR said. "That man, the Bladewolf, will take on Ken Shamrock. And the Bladewolf has been dominant in this tournament. He defeated Jeff Jarrett in the first round, he defeated Marc Mero this past Monday on RAW to advance to the semi-finals. Now, he must beat Ken Shamrock to make it to the finals."
"If the Bladewolf wins this, JR, what does that mean?" Jerry questioned.
JR looked at him like he was stupid. "It means he's had one amazing rookie year in the World Wrestling Federation."
Bladewolf reaches the end of the walkway and gets onto the ring apron, then steps over the top rope. He adjusts his right elbow before flipping his hair back, then takes off his Intercontinental Championship which he then hands to someone at ringside as his theme dies down and the lights return to normal.
Ken Shamrock's theme plays to a positive reaction from the fans as the former UFC fighter makes his way to the ring with an intense look on his face.
"His opponent, from Sacramento, California, weighing 235 lbs, the World's most dangerous man... KEN SHAMROCK!" Howard Finkel announced then left the ring.
Shamrock storms towards the ring and climbs up the steel steps. As soon as he enters, Bladewolf lunges and goes on the attack, causing the referee to call for the bell and begin the match.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
"Oh! We're going already!" Jerry exclaimed.
"And the Bladewolf wasting little time." JR nodded. Bladewolf throws a couple of rights at Shamrock who covers up to protect himself, then he gets in a right of his own. "And Shamrock with a right hand of his own."
Blaewolf shrugs it off and retaliates with a hard right, knocking Shamrock back and stumbling a little around the ring with Bladewolf on the hunt as he followed. Shamrock turns and lands a quick left jab, followed by a hard right. He then throws fists with his MMA experience before he Irish whips Bladewolf off the ropes. The Intercontinental Champion rebounds off them, ducks a right from Shamrock who turns into a big right hand that sends him onto his back.
"Boom! What a right hand." JR complimented. Bladewolf brings his knee down to the chest of Shamrock hard. "Remember; the winner of this match advances into the final match in the tournament, and will face the winner of the Rock vs Dan Severn."
"Right." Jerry nodded.
Bladewolf brings his knee down onto Shamrock again, then stands up. He pulls Shamrock to his feet and tosses him into the corner, where the reigning Intercontinental Champion unloads with a fury of lefts and rights to the midsection, striking too fast for Shamrock to cover up and block. Bladewolf stops and Shamrock lowered his arms only to be met with a big right hook to the jaw, knocking Shamrock onto the top rope which he leans on.
"And the Bladewolf, controlling the match thus far." JR noted. Bladewolf delivers a punch into Shamrock's ribcage. "Oh! Aiming for the ribs."
"Shamrock has gotta be very careful to not let himself get dominated too much." Jerry advised. "There's two times when the Bladewolf is at his most dangerous... actually three-Oh!" Jerry winced as Bladewolf practically grabs Shamrock and just slams him to the mat. "Three times where the Bladewolf is at his most dangerous."
"And what's that, King?" JR asked curiously.
"When he's angry. When he's got a weapon in his hand. And when he's in firm control of a match. Like so." Jerry gestured to the fighting going on in the ring as Bladewolf rebounds off the ropes and hits a running elbow drop to the chest of Shamrock.
"Well, I agree with you on those points." JR nodded.
Bladewolf gets to his feet an watches Shamrock groan on the mat before he jumps up and brings his leg down in a hug leg drop.
"What a leg drop!" JR shakes his head. Bladewolf covers Shamrock. "Now the cover!"
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thr-!"
Shamrock kicks out at two.
"But Shamrock gets the shoulder up." JR said.
"And the Bladewolf can't underestimate Shamrock, either." Jerry pointed out. "Ken Shamrock is called the 'World Most Dangerous Man' for a reason."
"That is true." JR nodded.
Bladewolf wraps his arms around Shamrock's neck for a headlock, tightening the hold as he brings Shamrock down, the referee moving in to see if Shamrock want to quit. However, Shamrock begins fighting back as he moves, leg kicking out and hitting the mat. He manages to make it back to his feet with the Bladewolf still keeping the hold locked in until Shamrock drives his elbow repeatedly into Blaewolf's stomach, forcing him to eventually let go.
"Shamrock with repeated elbows, breaking the headlock." JR noted.
Shamrock grabs Bladewolf, hooking the arm over his head, and attempts to lift him for a suplex but Bladewolf uses his weight to his advantage, and Shamrock struggles to lift him.
"Shamrock, trying to go for a suplex here." JR saw. "But that's over 300 lbs he's attempting to lift."
Seeing that wasn't working, Shamrock sweeps Bladewolf's legs out from under him and then brings his elbow down repeatedly on Bladewolf's left leg. He then stands up and gives it a big stomp, causing Bladewolf to clutch his left ankle.
"That's a smart move." Jerry said. "He's targeting the legs of the Bladewolf."
JR had to nod and agree. "You take out the legs, you take out the power and keep him down."
Shamrock looks around before he drags Bladewolf over to a corner and gets out of the ring, then grabs Bladewolf's legs... AND PULLS HIM RIGHT INTO THE STEEL RING POST GROIN-FIRST!
"Oh!" The commentators, as well as several of the audience, winced as Bladewolf sat up briefly before falling back down onto his back.
"That-That will keep any man down for a while." Jerry said with a small chuckle.
"And Shamrock..." JR began as Shamrock grabs Bladewolf's left ankle and rams it off the metal ring post. "Oh! Shamrock driving the left leg into the metal of that ring post."
Shamrock rears the leg back to do it again, but Bladewolf pulls his legs in and then thrusts them out, the push sending Shamrock into the metal guard railing, causing him to yell in pain when his back connected with it.
"Oh!" Jerry winced at the impact.
"The Bladewolf, sending Shamrock into the railing." JR said.
Bladewolf manages to roll out of the ring, stomping his leg a few times before he strides over to Shamrock and lands a right hand, then lifts Shamrock up... AND DROPS HIM ONTO THE METAL FENCE!
"Oh God!" Jerry flinched at the impact.
"That'll hurt anybody." JR nodded.
Bladewolf grabs Shamrock... AND SENDS HIM INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
"And now into the steel steps!" JR exclaimed.
Bladewolf picks Shamrock up, and tosses him back into the ring. He rolls in after him then gets to his feet, watching Shamrock stumble to his own before he turns around... INTO A GOOZLE!
"Shamrock's caught!" JR shouted.
Bladewolf lifts Shamrock up... AND PLANTS HIM WITH A CHOKESLAM!
"Chokeslam!" JR called the move.
"That's it!" Jerry said.
Bladewolf stares down at Shamrock before he flips his hair back then does the throat slit gesture across his throat to cheers from the crowd. He grabs Shamrock and scoops him up onto his right shoulder, positions him upside down in front of him... AND HITS THE TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!
"Tombstone! The Tombstone Piledriver!" JR said.
"That's it. It's over." Jerry said.
Bladewolf holds the arms down, flips his hair back to stare ahead with a glare as the referee counts.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three! Ring the bell!" The referee called.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
The Devil's Wolf played as Bladewolf gets to his feet. "Here is your winner... THE BLADEWOLF!" Howard Finkel announced.
"And with this victory, the Bladewolf will be in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament." JR said as the brackets are shown for the viewers at home. "Whoever wins the Rock vs Dan Severn match will meet the Bladewolf in the finals."
The referee hands Bladewolf his title, which he takes and leaves the ring without another moment, making his way to the back.
The next semifinal featured Dan Severn against The Rock. Nation of Domination interfered in the match as Kama Mustafa and Mark Henry distracted the referee, allowing D-Lo Brown to attack Severn and nail a frog splash, helping Rock to win the match.
Next, Al Snow and Head took on Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor), with Jerry Lawler serving as the special guest referee. Lawler cheated Snow out of the victory numerous times during the match, allowing Christopher to attach a bottle of Head & Shoulders shampoo to Head and pin it for the win.
In the next match, D-Generation X member X-Pac took on The Nation of Domination member Owen Hart. Mark Henry interfered in the match on Hart's behalf but then Vader showed up and collided with Henry. Hart had applied the Sharpshooter on X-Pac but the referee was distracted, allowing X-Pac's DX teammate Chyna to hit a DDT on Hart and X-Pac pinned him for the win.
Next, The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) defended the Tag Team Championship against The Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob). Jim Cornette tried to interfere on Express' behalf by using his racket but Gunn stopped him and Chyna nailed a low blow to Cornette and then Outlaws tossed Holly head-first on the ropes for the win to retain the titles.
Next up was the Bladewolf vs The Rock in the final round of the 1998 King of the Ring tournament.
In the arena, the Rock's theme hits and he comes out to a negative reaction from the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the final match of the King of the Ring tournament! This contest is scheduled for one-fall. Making his way to the ring first, weighing 270 lbs... THE ROCK!" Howard Finkel announced.
"This will not be the first time the Bladewolf and the Rock have squared up. But this will be the second time they've faced off on PPV." JR said. "The Bladewolf defeated the Rock last month to win the Intercontinental championship, and he retained the title at Over the Edge against the Rock."
"the Rock was injured." Jerry frowned.
"Yet he still competed." JR pointed out.
"Exactly! He was injured and forced to compete!"
"If he didn't he wouldn't have gotten a shot at the title. But he's not injured tonight. No excuses."
The Rock enters the ring and his theme soon dies down as he waits for his opponent.
OOOOOOOOWWWWHHHHOOOOOOO!
The Devil's Wolf played to a loud cheer from the fans as the lights switched to the sinister blood red and dark blue before the Bladewolf walked out with the WWF Intercontinental Championship around his waist. Bladewolf stood at the entrance and adjusted his right elbow pad before he made his way towards the ring.
"And his opponent. From Death Valley, weighing 310 lbs, the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion... THE BLADEWOLF!" Howard Finkel announced before leaving the ring.
"Earlier tonight, the Bladewolf defeated Ken Shamrock to advance into the finals." JR said. "The Rock defeated Dan Severn to advance as well, and now it ends with these two squaring off to determine just who will be the next King of the Ring."
Bladewolf makes it to the ring and climbs inside, stepping over the top rope. He stares the Rock down while taking his title off and handing it to someone at ringside, then adjusts his left elbow pad before walking forward at the same time as the Rock. Bladewolf's theme dies down and the lights return to normal as the two go chest-to-chest, eye to eye.
"You can feel the intensity. You can feel the animosity. Neither of these two men have forgotten their last encounter." JR said.
The referee looks between the two men before signalling for the bell to ring and begin the match.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
"Matchup underway and they're wasting little time." JR said as Bladewolf and the Rock started with a lockup. "Collar and elbow tieup. Test of strength here. It's not often you see the Bladewolf do that."
"Yeah, he just goes straight to attacking his opponents." Jerry nodded.
The Rock tried to push Bladewolf back and only got him by a small step, but then the Intercontinental Champion pushed the Rock back two steps. They then broke the hold and Bladewolf adjusted his left elbow pad, then rolled his right shoulder as the two circled each other while staring each other down. They soon stopped and locked up again.
"And we're at it again." Jerry said.
"Another lockup and Bladewolf!" JR exclaims as Bladewolf manhandles the Rock and throws him into the corner, with the Rock stumbling forward and walking straight into a clothesline.
"Oh!" Jerry sounded.
"Bladewolf flooring the Rock with a clothesline." JR said.
Bladewolf flips his hair back and looks around as the Rock stumbles to his feet, backing off into the corner. He eyes Bladewolf, who stares back coldly, and the two walk forward to go for another lockup but the Rock lands a quick kick to Bladewolf's gut, followed by a right hand, then another.
"The Bladewolf's gotta make sure the Rock doesn't target that leg." JR said as the Rock lands a third punch. "The one Ken Shamrock rammed off the steel ring post earlier."
The Rock irish whips Bladewolf who reverses it. Rock runs back, ducks a right from Bladewolf, rebounds off the ropes, ducks another right, rebounds off the ropes only to get lifted up by Bladewolf but the Rock goes over and lands on his feet behind Bladewolf. The Rock pushes Bladewolf towards the ropes, with the Demon Wolf holding on as the sudden stop sent the Rock stumbling backwards and onto his back but he flipped back onto his feet. Bladewolf lunges, but the Rock ducks the right hand, rebounds off the ropes, only to be dropped with a big boot to the face.
"Oh!" Jerry winced at the impact.
"Bladewolf scores with a big boot right to the Rock's face." JR said. Bladewolf lunges for the Rock who falls out of the ring through the middle rope. "And the Rock is going to distance himself here."
Bladewolf stares at the Rock who walks around the ring, giving himself a breather and chance to recuperate. The Rock gets onto the ring apron as the Bladewolf waits for him, then slowly gets into the ring. The two men circle each other and start another lockup, but the Rock lands a right punch to Bladewolf's masked face, breaking the lockup. The Rock brings Bladewolf over to the corner and rams his head off the turnbuckle but Bladewolf shrugs it off, grabs the Rock and rams his head off the turnbuckle hard, making the man stumble back.
Bladewolf grabs the Rock and brings him over to another corner, ramming his head off the turnbuckle hard. Now in control, Bladewolf lands a right, then a left, then a right, left, right, left. He soon unleashes a fury of quick lefts and rights into the midsection of the Rock.
"Look at the Bladewolf go!" Jerry said.
"Bladewolf with a fury of lefts and rights." JR said. Bladewolf stops, watching the Rock move slowly, then lands a big right uppercut that knocks the Rock off his feet and sends him down to the bottom turnbuckle. "Oh! What an uppercut!"
"That'll rock anybody's brain." Jerry chuckled.
"And now Bladewolf..." JR said as Bladewolf delivers some hard stomps to the Rock's chest. "Stomping away. The control of the match has shifted to Bladewolf's favour."
Bladewolf pulls the Rock to his feet then Irish whips him into the opposite corner hard, making the Rock stumble forward after colliding with it and then the former Intercontinental Champion gets floored with a hard clothesline by the current Intercontinental Champion. Bladewolf walks over as the Rock gets to his feet, only to be met with a right punch by the former Intercontinental Champion, then another, Bladewolf shakes his head, then ducks the next right punch an the Rock turns... INTO A GOOZLE!
"Uh-oh!" JR said as the crowd cheers. "The Rock may be going for a ride!"
But the Rock breaks the grip by bringing his forearms down onto Bladewolf's arm, then lands a series of rights that force the masked man back into the ropes. The Rock goes for an Irish whip, only for Bladewolf to reverse and then pull the Rock back into a close-quarters clothesline. Bladewolf runs, rebounds off the ropes, comes running back and hits a running elbow drop to the chest of the Rock before hooking the leg.
"First cover of the match." JR noted.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thr-!"
The Rock kicks out at two.
"And the Rock kicks out." JR said.
The Rock rolls until he falls out of the ring at the announce tables, leaning on one of them as the Bladewolf watches him from inside the ring before he walks forward.
"And the Rock is out here in front of us." JR said.
Jerry sees the Bladewolf exiting the ring. "Watch out, JR." He warns.
"No, you better watch out, King." JR joked.
"Shut up." Jerry shot him a look.
Bladewolf grabs the Rock and rams his head off the announce table, then again, and again, and again, and again, and finally a sixth time.
"Good grief." JR said.
Bladewolf turns and throws the Rock back into the ring then slides in after him. Bladewolf flips his hair back as he stands, watching his opponent stumble to his feet an raises his right hand which gets the crowd going.
"Bladewolf signalling for a Chokeslam!" JR said.
The Rock turns... INTO A GOOZLE! Bladewolf looks to hit the Chokeslam, but the Rock kicks him in the stomach, then hooks the arm, lifts him up... AND HITS THE ROCK BOTTOM!
"Rock Bottom! Rock Bottom!" JR exclaimed. "The Rock with the Rock Bottom!"
"That's it!" Jerry called it. "It's over!"
The Rock covers the Bladewolf.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thre-!"
Bladewolf kicks out at two.
"But the Bladewolf kicks out!" JR shouted.
"What?" Jerry's eyes widened.
"The Bladewolf is still in this!" JR said.
The Rock's eyes were wide as well before he shakes his head and gets to his feet. He looks down at Bladewolf before lightly nudging him as he starts to take off his elbow pad.
"Do you know what this is, JR?" Jerry asked, giddy.
"I do." JR rolls his eyes.
"The most electrifying move in all of sports entertainment!" Jerry called.
The Rock runs, rebounds off the ropes, hops over Bladewolf and runs into the ropes to rebound off them. However, the Bladewolf had shot right back to his feet... AND LIFTS THE ROCK ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!
"Caught!" JR shouted.
"What?!" Jerry shouted as well.
Bladewolf... HITS THE FURY OF THE WOLF!
"Fury of the Wolf!" JR called. "Nobody has ever kicked out of that!"
Bladewolf pins the Rock's arms down for the cover and glares ahead.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three! Ring the bell!" The referee shouted.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
The Devil's Wolf plays as Bladewolf gets to his feet. "The winner of this bout and the KING OF THE RING... THE BLADEWOLF!" Howard Finkel announed.
"The Bladewolf is the 1998 King of the Ring!" JR shouted. "What an amazing first year this man has had in the WWF."
"Okay, it is impressive." Jerry nodded.
"Nothing has been handed to him. He's earned it." JR said. "He debuted at last year's SummerSlam. He defeated Triple H in a brutal No Holds Barred match at Survivor Series. He was one of the final two in the 1998 Royal Rumble. He entered his first WrestleMania in his first WrestleMania Main Event for his first WWF Championship match and he won the title, defeating Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin, becoming the youngest World Champion in WWF History. He won the Intercontinental title to become the youngest Intercontinental Champion. And now, he is the 1998 King of the Ring. And this is only his tenth month with the WWF."
Bladewolf raises his arms and throws them down, causing four lightning bolts to hit the turnbuckles and fire shoots up from them in response as the lights dim to the sinister blood red and dark blue. Bladewolf grabs his Intercontinental Championship from the referee and leaves the ring, making his way to the back.
And that's it for the King of the Ring chapter, folks. Hope you enjoyed it.