Match 1
The Headbangers-Mosh and Thrasher and WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinkou vs Kaientai-Dick Togo Mens Teioh and Sho Funaki w Yamaguchi-San
Thrasher and Teioh lock up, Thrasher wrenches the arm but Teioh lands a series of shots to escape. Teioh goes for an Irish whip but gets countered and dropped with a tilt a whirl side slam for a near fall. Teioh goes for an O’Connor Roll but Thrasher holds on and then catches Teioh with a powerslam for a near fall. Thrasher makes the tag out and whips Teioh into the ropes and drops down so Mosh can land a big clothesline off the middle rope. Mosh whips Teioh into the ropes but Teioh holds on and makes the tag out. Funaki ducks a series of shots but gets dropped by a big powerbomb for a near fall. Mosh drapes Funaki over the ropes and drops down across the back and makes the tag to Taka. Taka lands a series of shots and sends Funaki into the corner and lands a knee strike followed by a missile dropkick sending Funaki to the floor, followe by a big springboard crossbody wiping out Funaki, however Taka also gets wiped out back in the ring by Togo.
Togo comes in and lands a series of shots and Taka comes back with a monkey flip but Togo sends him to the floor and lands a big headscissors to the floor and then rolls Taka back into the ring. Kainetai work over Taka with some double teams but we get a heel miscommunication between Togo and Teioh and Taka catches Teioh wih a dropkick and Taka makes the tag out. Bangers come in and clean house and drop Teioh with a double flapjack. Everyone gets involved briefly but Togo and Teioh get sent to the floor. Bangers flapjack Taka on top of Funaki, and Taka polishes off Funaki with the Michinoku Driver for the win.
Winners The Headbangers-Mosh and Thrasher and WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku
Sable comes out to a nice pop from the Pittsburgh crowd and gets the microphone and introduces the owner of the WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION MR VINCE MCMAHON to some great heat. I like that bring Sable out first to get the pop and then have her introduce Vince and company to get the heat. Patterson tries to get fresh with Sable and Sable slaps him and is sent from ringside. Patterson gets on the microphone and yells at Sable as she leaves and hands the microphone off to Brisco who hands it off to Vince. Vince says he wonders how many people in Pittsburgh have joined us because they want to see a new WWF Champion crowned and the crowd boos. Vince says he wonders how many people joined us because they want to see Kane set himself on fire. Vince says that if anyone is here to see Kane set himself on fire that they are setting themselves up for a big disappointment. Vince insults the crowd and talks about how they have disappointed their families either academically or athletically, and then turned it around and blamed mom and dad for disappointing them. Vince says that he wants to soften the blow for Pittsburgh tonight and prepare the Pittsburgh crowd for the inevitable. for when the ring announcer says th WINNER OF THE MATCH AND NEW WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPION… KANE.
Match 2
1998 King of the Ring Semi Finals
Jeff Jarrett w Tennessee Lee vs Ken Shamrock
Jarrett attacks Shamrock to start and goes for an Irish whip but gets revered and Shamrock catches him with a big elbow. Shamrock sends Jarrrett into the corner and lands a series of shots but Jarrett counters and goes for an Irishw hip but gets countered and sent into the neutral corner. Jarrett comes back with a gut shot and a swinging neckbreaker. Shamrock comes back and sends Jarrett to the floor and and then drops Jarrett throat first on the barricade and sends him back into the ring. Tennessee Lee gets involved from the floor allowing Jarrett to clip the knee of Shamrock and work it over and Tennessee Lee even gets some shots it. Jarrett sends Shamrock into the corner but Shamrock gets a boot up and lands a series of shots. Shamrock whips Jarrett into the ropes and lands a big flying elbow for a near fall. Shamrock spikes Jarrett with a frankensteiner and locks in the ankle lock and Jarrett quickly taps.
Winner Ken Shamrock
Match 3
1998 King of the Ring Semi Finals
WWF IC Champion The Rock pinned Dan Severn when D’Lo Brown interfered and landed a frog splash on Severn while referee Mike Chioda was distracted by Mark Henry and the Godfather at ringside
Al Snow video package
Match 4
Special Referee Jerry Lawler {IF Al Snow wins then he gets a contract in WWF}
Al Snow and Head vs Too Much-Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor
Snow gets a takedown and outwrestles Taylor early on. Taylor forces Snow into the ropes and gets reversed and Taylor goes over the top of Snow. Snow blocks shots from Taylor and lands an atomic drop and a series of clotheslines and Taylor scurries to the corner and makes the tag out. Snow and Christopher lock up and Snow forces him into the corner but Christopher complains of a hair pull and referee Jerry Lawler breaks it up. Christopher uses the hair to force Snow into the corner and when Snow goes for a punch Lawler grabs the hand and Christopher gets a punch to the face. Christopher climbs the ropes but Snow catches him and tosses him off, Snow climbs the ropes but Taylor crotches Snow on the ropes. Christopher climbs up and goes for a superplex but Snow counters and lands a sunset flip powerbomb and clotheslines Christopher to the floor, and then back drops Taylor over the top on top of Christopher. Snow goes up the entrance way and gets a head of steam with a big clothesline on Christopher, but then Taylor springs off the ropes with a big dive taking out Snow.
Too Much land a double team move and Christopher holds Snow in place so Taylor can land a big dropkick. Snow comes back but Taylor stops him and lands a pumphandle suplex. Taylor whips Snow into the ropes but Snow slides between the legs and Snow lands a big wheelbarrow suplex and makes a tag to the HEAD. Snow picks up the HEAD and cleans house of Too Much. Snow hooks Christopher and lands the SNOW PLOW but is not the legal man. Snow gets the HEAD again and lands a series of shots but as he has done so referee Jerry Lawler has gone to the floor and got a bottle of HEAD AND SHOULDERS and tapes it to the HEAD. Snow lands the SNOW PLOW on Taylor but at the same time Christopher pins the HEAD who is legal with HEAD AND SHOULDERS.
Winners Too Much-Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor
Match 5
Owen Har vs X-Pac w Chyna
X-Pac catches Owen with a baseball slide dropkick on the floor and rolls Owen back into the ring. X-Pac lands a series of kicks in the corner but misses a charge and goes crotch first in between the top and middle turnbuckle. Owen lands a series of shots of to the back and sends X-Pac from corner to corner. Owen hooks X-Pac and lands a big backbreaker and then a spin kick for a near fall. Owen goes for an Irish whip but X-Pac counters sending Owen chest first into the corner and lands a series of kicks. Owen comes back and lands a nice fishermen’s suplex on X-Pac for a near fall. X-Pac comes back with a series of shots and a big back body drop and clotheslines Owen to the floor, and then lands a clothesline off the apron. Owen comes back and tosses X-Pac over the timekeepers table and then suplexes Owen across the SPANISH ANNOUNCE TABLE and rolls him into the ring. Owen whips X-Pac into the ropes and locks in a sleeperhold but X-Pac escapes and locks one in of his own but Owen escapes that and both men are down.
X-Pac counters a series of punches and a step up kick sending Owen into the corner. X-Pac lands a series of kicks in the corner and lands the BRONCO BUSTER on Owen. X-Pac climbs the ropes but Owen crotches him and climbs the ropes and both men tumble, Owen back into the ring and X-Pac to the floor. Mark Henry comes out and splashes X-Pac with the referee distracted. Chyna and Mark Henry stare each other down and Vader comes out and lands a body tackle on Henry and the two of them brawl at ringside. Back in the ring it’s Owen with the sharpshooter locked in on X-Pac but Chyna comes into the ring and DDT-s Owen and X-Pac rolls on top for the win.
Winner X-Pac
Paul Bearer comes out to some good heat from the crowd and gets the microphone. Bearer says that you probably he wasn’t going to be here tonight, but he wouldn’t miss this night for the world. Bearer says that last week he cursed the Undertaker to hell and he reiterates the cursing the Undertaker to Hell. Bearer says that for 20 years Kane set up in his room and on Saturdays he would watch Superstars and say that he wants to be like the Undertaker. Bearer says that tonight he will be the manager of the World Wrestling Federation Champion and everyone can laugh at him all he wants because after tonight he will be laughing all the way to the bank.
Match 6
For the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Titles
The New Age Outlwas-Billy Gunn and the Road Dogg w Chyna vs the New Midnight Express-Bob Holly and Bart Gunn w James E Cornette
Dogg and Bob lock up, Bob locks in a side headlock and Dogg shoves him off and Bob gets a shoulder tackle, Bob comes off the ropes but Dogg catches him with a hip toss and Bob gets a kick out but Dogg catches him with a clothesline. Dogg goes for the Irish whip but gets reversed and sent into the corner but gets the boot up and both men tag out. Bart locks in a side headlock and Billy shoves him off and they trade moves and it’s Bart escaping a hip toss attempt and landing a big clothesline. Bart comes off the ropes and leaps over but Billy cleans his clock with a big clotheslione. NAO whip Bart into the ropes and we get a drop toehold from Billy and a big knee drop from Road Dogg. Dogg goes for an Irish whip and gets reversed and Bart goes for a slam but Dogg goes over the top and goes for the O’Connor Roll but it’s Billy ducking between the ropes leading to a shot from Holly to swing the match in the favor of NME.
NME double team Dogg including a mini Rocket Launcher for a near fall. Holly whips Dogg into the ropes and lands a big bulldog and taunts over Dogg which lures in Billy to take him out and Bart chases Billy away. Bob snaps over Dogg and locks in a chinlock which Dogg escapes but gets caught with a big shot from Bob. Bob picks up and slams Dogg and climbs the ropes but Dogg gets the boot up and makes the tag out. Billy comes in and cleans house of NME. Billy goes for a piledriver and Jim Cornette nails him with the racket but it only gets a near fall. Billy goes a roll up and again Cornette tries to get involved which leads to Chyna low blowing Cornette with his own racket. NAO whip Holly into the ropes and drop him throat first across the top rope and Billy scores the win.
Winners and Still World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws
Match 7
Finals of the 1998 King of the Ring
WWF IC Champion The Rock vs Ken Shamrock
Rock and Shamrock lock up, Rock lands a series of punches sending Shamrock into the corner, Rock goes for the Irish whip but gets reversed and both men avoid moves and Rock counters an O’Connor Roll but eventually Shamrock catches Rock with a big kick and Rock falls through the ropes to the floor. Rock gets back into the ring and lands a series of shots but again is sent to the floor. Rock walks towards Triple H who is on commentary and piefaces him and Triple H spits water in his face. Shamrock goes after Rock on the floor but Rock catches him with a low blow and rolls him back into the ring. Rock lands a series of shots and sends Shamrock over the top and Shamrock’s hand gets caught but Rock gets it loose and Shamrock falls to the floor. Rock sends Shamrock into the barricade and then drops Shamrock throat first over the barricade and rolls him back into the ring. Rock lands a big DDT on Shamrock and scores a near fall and locks in a chnlock. Rock picks up and slams Shamrock and lands the big elbow drop for a near fall and locks in another chinlock. Rock goes for a big move but Shamrock comes back and lands a big back suplex and both men are down.
Shamrock lands a big back elbow and sends Rock into the ropes and lands a leg lariat for a near fall. Shamrock whips Rock into the ropes and lands a big powerslam for a near fall. Shamrock hooks Rock and lands a nice fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Rock sends Shamrock into the corner but Shamrock gets the elbow up but Rock catches him coming out with a big powerslam for a near fall. Shamrock lands a series of shots and goes for the Irish whip but Rock counters with a clothesline for a near fall. Rock lands a series of shots and goes for an Irish whip but gets caught with a big forearm by Shamrock for a near fall. Shamrock goes for a frankensteiner but Rock counters and lands a STUN GUN for a near fall. Rock stands over Shamrock but Shamrock hooks the ankle and brings him down in the ankle lock and Shamrock gets the win.
Winner by Submission and the 1998 WWF King of the Ring Ken Shamrock
Match 8
Hell in a Cell
The Undertaker vs Mankind
Mankind climbs the cell before the match starts and then dares Taker to do it a he makes his entrance and Taker climbs the Cell. Taker lands a series of shots and tosses Mankind off the top of the cell through the SPANISH ANNOUNCE TABLE. Terry Funk and referees and trainers comee out to check on Mankind. Everyone tries to stretcher Mankind out of the Civic Arena but it’s for not as Mankind gets off the stretcher and goes back towards the cell to climb up. Taker and Mankind fight on the top of the cell and it’s Taker chokeslamming Mankind through the cell into the ring. Terry Funk comes back and checks on Mankind but Taker chokeslams him for his efforts. Taker hooks Mankind and attempts to walk the ropes but Mankind crotches him. Mankind knocks Taker off the apron into the cell. Mankind tries to dislodge the steps but can’t pick them up. Taker gets the steps and drives them in into Mankind sending him into the cage. Mankind comes back and lands a piledriver on a steel chair for a near fall. Mankind goes underneath the ring and gets a bag and gets in the ring and pours it out and inside the bag is thumbtacks. Taker goes the tombstone but Mankind counters and locks in the mandible claw, but Taker gets Mankind on his back and drops backwads dropping Mankind on the tacks. Taker locks Mankind and lands a chokeslam on the tacks followed by the TOMBSTONE for the win.
Winner The Undertaker
Kane-Austin video package
Main Event
First Blood Match For the World Wrestling Federation Title {If Kane loses he will set himself on fire}
Kane w Paul Bearer vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
Austin avoids a series of shots and gets the Thesz Press with a series of punches to start. Austin nails Kane with the WWF title belt and then takes the pad off the turnbuckle and sends Kane into the exposed turnbuckle but it doesn’t bust him open. Kane comes back and lands a series of shots and goes for the Tombstone piledriver but Austin escapes and sends Kane to the floor. Kane and Austin brawl on the floor and the HELL IN A CELL lowers as this is happening and the two end up inside the Hell in a Cell where Kane sends Austin into the steps and works him over. Austin lands a series of kicks and exits the cell as it begins to be raised with Kane still on it but Kane is able to grab Austin by the throat and Austin pulls him off the Cell as it raises back up. Kane and Austin brawl back up the entrance way, Austin goes for a piledriver but Kane back drops him in the entrance way. Kane and Austin continue to brawl with Kane landing a suplex in the entrance way, followed by hurling a guard rail at the head of Austin as we see MR McMahon and Sable watching from a sky box at ringside.
Kane and Austin brawl back towards ringside and Austin gets the upper hand and sends Kane back into the ring and sends him into the corner and lands a series of kicks to Kane. Kane and Austin brawl on the floor some more with Austin sending Kane into the ring steps and the announce table. Austin goes for an Irish Whip but Kane counters and sends Austin into the referee. Mankind comes out with a chair but Austin fights him off and lands a STONE COLD STUNNER on Mankind. Austin goes back to Kane and works him over but Undertaker comes to the ring with a chair. Taker goes hit Mankind with a chair but instead hits Austin which busts him open and Taker cleans house and then hurls referee Earl Hebner back into the ring and pours a can of GASOLINE on him to wake him up. Austin comes back and lands a big clothesline off the middle rope and pastes Kane with a chair, but referee Earl Hebner finally notices the blood on Austin and calls for the bell.
Winner and NEW World Wrestling Federation Champion Kane
Good show overall here. A fun 6 man tag opener, A nice brisk semi finals of KOTR 1998. Some Good build in the first half of the show for the main event. A Solid Owen-X-Pac match in the middle of the card. An alright final with Rock/Shamrock a good tease for Rock/Triple H at Fully Loaded. Obviously the the main thing this show is remembered for is the madness of Taker/Mankind and the crazy Mankind bumps 12 year old me sure thought Mankind was at least seriously injured after the first one. Capped off by a wild brawl of a main event with a chaotic ending and the shock of a new champion crowned although the reign doesn’t last long. Thumbs up for KOTR 1998.
