By: Brian Hoops, Nostalgia Specialist

This week’s flashback to wrestling nostalgia takes us back 15 years to the WWF King of the Ring PPV. This was the first King of the Ring tournament that was presented as a PPV event. The show took place on June 13, 1993 in Dayton, Ohio and drew a live crowd of 6,500. Vince McMahon did the opening voice overs of the PPV; summarizing the event’s lineup. The main event was the final match of the tournament; however the PPV would also feature a WWF World Title match and an WWF Intercontinental Title match. The announce team was led by Jim Ross on play by play with Bobby Heenan and Randy Savage sharing color commentary.

1. Bret Hart defeated Razor Ramon in 10:27 to advance in the tournament. This was a rematch from the 1993 Royal Rumble that was also a very good match. Hart held the early advantage until Ramon used a thumb in the eyes to gain a brief advantage. Hart went for a shoulder block in the corner, but Ramon moved and Hart hit the post to turn the tide in Ramon’s favor. Ramon went for the Razor’s Edge, but Hart reversed it into a backside attempt, but he couldn’t get Ramon over. Hart kicked off the turnbuckles and rolled Ramon into a small package for a good nearfall. Ramon went for a superplex off the top rope, but Hart reversed it and fell on top of Ramon for the pin. A very good match to open the PPV.

2. Mr. Perfect defeated Mr. Hughes in 6:02 to advance in the tournament. Hughes had been feuding with the Undertaker over the Undertaker’s urn in a very forgettable feud. Hennig looked good bumping for Hughes’ weak looking offense. Hennig started his comeback and then Hughes hit Hennig with the urn for the disqualification.

Gene Okerlund interviewed Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji.

3. Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Jim Duggan in 5:02 to advance in the tournament. This was not a good match, but at least they kept it short. Duggan slammed Bigelow and then went for a shoulder tackle in the corner, but Bigelow moved and Duggan hit the turnbuckle. Bigelow then went to the top rope for a flying head butt and the victory.

Terry Taylor interviewed the Steiner Brothers and the Smoking Gunns.

4. Lex Luger and Tatanka wrestled to a 15 minute time limit draw and as a result. Both men were eliminated from the tournament. Luger was doing his narcissist gimmick, before dramatically turning face on July 4 and becoming the all American babyface. Tatanka was still in the middle of his undefeated streak gimmick. Luger attacked Tatanka as soon as he entered the ring and then returned to posing before Tatanka took the fight to the floor. It settled into a basic match with Luger working on Tatanka; trying to build for his comeback. When Ross announced the 11:00 mark and only 4 minutes remained, you knew they were going the time limit. Very soon after, Tatanka started his war dance and began his comeback. Luger hit a big forearm to cut off Tatanka’s offense, then followed up with a powerslam for a near fall. Luger asked for 5 more minutes, which got a nice crowd pop, then nailed Tatanka from behind. That was awesome.

Gene Okerlund interviewed Mr. Perfect and Bret Hart before their match up. Mean Gene tried to stir the pot by insinuating Hart said he wanted to wrestle Perfect before the tournament because he thought he would be easier to beat than Mr. Hughes.

5. Bret Hart defeated Mr. Perfect in a tournament semi-final match in 18:35. This was an excellent match. This was to be a face to face match up, but Hennig showed subtle heel tendencies during the interview and the match. It was announced the semi-final matches would have 30 minute time limits. Lots of good back and forth technical wrestling early in the match, with Perfect making it physical with a knee lift and a great looking standing drop kick. In a great spot, Hart was thrown outside the ring and Perfect opened the ropes for Hart to get back into the ring. When Hart was climbing threw the ropes, Perfect kicked Hart. Perfect went for the uncharacteristic high risk maneuver and it cost him as Hart caught Perfect on the top rope and delivered a superplex off the top. Hart then worked on Perfect’s legs and went to a figure four leglock before Perfect made the ropes. They traded all kinds of near falls, but the finish came when Perfect went for an inside cradle but Hart reversed it for the pin.

Gene Okerlund interviewed Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart.

6. Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan in 13:13 to win the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Hogan was on the outs with McMahon again and this was his last match in the WWF until after his Hollywood Hogan run was finished in WCW. Hogan looked very thin and Ross even made a comment about his size. This was a typical Hogan match with Yokozuna being the monster heel that had the babyface champion Hogan in peril for the majority of the match. Very boring offense by Yokozuna led to the Superman comeback by Hogan. Hogan hit Fuji, but a cameraman jumped on the ring apron. Hogan went over to investigate and the photographer’s camera “exploded” in Hogan’s face, blinding Hogan. Yokozuna hit a leg drop and pinned Hogan. Post match, Yokozuna gave Hogan the bonsai splash in the corner to explain give him a reason to be gone from the WWF.

Terry Taylor interviewed a dejected Curt Hennig backstage. Gene Okerlund then interviewed Shawn Michaels with Diesel.

7. The Smoking Gunns and Rick and Scott Steiner defeated the Headshrinkers and Money Inc in 7:06. It was a basic 8-man tag that felt like filler on the card. The Steiners were chasing Money Inc for the WWF World Tag Team titles. Finish came when Billy Gunn rolled up Ted DiBiase for the pin.

Gene Okerlund interviewed Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji. President Jack Tunney congratulated Yokozuna.

8. Shawn Michaels defeated Crush in 11:07 to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title. Michaels was a young, cocky heel champion and Crush was the huge challenger for the title. Diesel was in Michaels corner as his bodyguard. The match was made by Michaels bumping for Crush and giving the feeling that the title was in jeopardy. Crush had early control using power moves, until Diesel pulled Michaels outside the ring and distracted Crush, which led to Michaels hitting Crush from behind. Michaels rammed Crush’s head into the post several times but was not able to score the pinfall. Crush regained the momentum, but then twin Doinks came down to ringside, distracting Crush. Michaels superkicked Crush in the back of the head and Crush’s head snapped off the turnbuckle. Michaels then pinned Crush for the victory. A cheap finish to an otherwise slow match.

Gene Okerlund interviewed Bam Bam Bigelow.

9. Bret Hart pinned Bam Bam Bigelow in 17:43 to win the King of the Ring tournament. Ross and Savage did a good job of establishing Hart as the underdog in the match with Bigelow having the advantage in the match due to wrestling one less match than Hart. Hart was also selling his leg from his match with Mr. Perfect. Bigelow worked on Hart early in the match. Luna Vachon came to ringside and hit Hart with a chairshot, then rolled Hart into the ring. Bigelow hit a top rope head butt and pinned Hart. However, Earl Hebner ran down to ringside and told referee Joey Marella about Luna’s interference and Marella restarted the match. Bigelow continued to dominate Hart until Hart was able to hit a belly to back suplex and a sleeper. They traded near falls until Hart victory rolled Bigelow out of the corner for the pinfall. A decent match that told the story of Hart overcoming all the odds to win the tournament.

At the coronation ceremony, Jerry Lawler attacked Bret Hart to set up their feud that resulted in a match at Summer Slam.

Summary: This was a decent PPV event that delivered on two very strong matches and saw Bret Hart re-established as the top babyface in the company. It also set up a very good program between Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler. I would recommend this PPV.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s look at wrestling nostalgia. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or question at bhoops@iw.net. Also, view http://www.midwestmarketsolutions.com/blog.php?author=1 for more wrestling information.

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