-Today we look at King of the Ring 1995 from the WWF.
-King of the ring 1995 took place June 25, 1995 on PPV from the Corestates Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA. There were 16,590 in attendance and the show did 150,000 buys.
-Intro. Stephanie Wiand welcomes us and previews the last qualifying match. IRS with Ted DiBiase vs Savio Vega with Razor Ramon: IRS attacks Vega and gets a small package for a two count. Vega comes back with a roll up for a two count. Vega with the early offense. Vega was thrown out. IRS with a slam, but Vega gets his foot up on a splash attempt. Vega with a series of moves. IRS rolls out. Vega brings IRS in and hits a spin wheel kick to get the pin.
-Vince McMahon and Dok Hendrix welcome us to King of the Ring as the PPV proper starts. They run down what we are going to see tonight.
-First Round: Yokozuna with Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji vs. Savio Vega with Razor Ramon: Tod Pettengill interviews Savio Vega. He’s happy to be here and will try to win it all. Vega with a side headlock. Yoko with a shoulder block. He follows it up with a back elbow. Vega avoids an elbow drop. Back and forth. Vega misses the spin wheel kick. Yoko stomps Vega. He beats Vega down in the corner. Vega rolls away from a Banzai Drop attempt. Yoko with a headbutt. Yoko with a nerve hold. Vega comes back. Yoko throws Vega over the top rope. Ramon helps Vega back in. They trade shots. Yoko with a scoop slam. Vega moves on the leg drop attempt. Vega with a series of clotheslines. Cornette gets up on the apron. Vega knocks him off. Ramon goes after Cornette, only to get hit from behind by Owen Hart. Vega runs Yoko into a ring post, and Yoko gets counted out.
-Vince and Dok talk to Jerry Lawler about the Kiss My Foot match.
-The Roadie with Jeff Jarrett vs. Bob Holly: Holly with a quick slam. He follows it up with a series of moves for several two counts. Roadie comes back with a shot. Holly with a shoulder block. Back and forth. Holly keeps getting two counts. Roadie with a modified powerbomb. He follows it up with a kick and a corner whip and another whip. Roadie with elbow drops. Roadie with a rear chin lock. Holly gets back to his feet. Roadie with a clothesline. Roadie gets a two count. Holly with a backdrop out of a piledriver attempt. Holly with a flying headscissors. Holly with a dropkick. He hits a series of shots to Roadie. He gets a two count. Holly with a series of counts. Holly stops a superplex attempt, but Roadie gets his foot up on a splash attempt and pins Holly.
-Todd Pettengill talks to Shawn Michaels. We then get Shawn Michaels vs. Kama with Ted DiBiase: The crowd gives Michaels an impressive reception. It takes a while to get started. They trade blows. They drive to the corner and trade more blows. Michaels with a side headlock. Kama throws Michaels out, but he skins the cat and hits Kama. Kama rolls out to regroup with DiBiase. Michaels gets a wrist lock on. Kama clotheslines Michaels to the outside. DiBiase attacks Michaels. Kama runs Michaels into a ring post. Kama throws Michaels in the ring. Kama with a corner whip. Kama is relentless. He works on Michael's back. They trade blows. Kama puts Michaels on the top rope and beats him. Kama with an over the shoulder backbreaker. Michaels falls on Kama for a two count. Michaels is thrown to the outside. DiBiase kicks Michaels. Michaels gets in on the 9 count. Kama with a backbreaker. Michaels is trying to break the hold. Michaels moves on a corner charge. Michaels with a flying forearm, and both men are down. Kama up, and he misses an elbow drop. Back and forth. Michaels with a flying clothesline. He gets a two count. Michaels with corner mounted punches. One minute left. Kama rolls through a crossbody for a two count. Michaels with a small package for a two count. Michaels with a sunset flip, but time expires and it's a draw. Both competitors are eliminated. Michaels gets attacked by Kama and hits Sweet Chin Music.
-Todd Pettengill previews the next match, followed by Vince and Dok talking about it. Bob Backlund is shown on the campaign trail in Philadelphia. This went on way too long.
-Mabel with Mo vs. The Undertaker with Paul Bearer: Stephanie Wiand interviews Mabel on the way to the ring. He says he's got this and is going to be the next king. Undertaker gets a massive ovation when he comes out. He has children of the night at ringside. Undertaker attacks Mabel right away. Undertaker with throat strikes. He hits a shoulder block and does Old School. Undertaker chokes Mabel in the corner. Mabel with a sidewalk slam. Undertaker thrown out, but lands on his feet. Mabel pushes Undertaker, who gets his foot caught in the ropes. Mabel with a belly to belly suplex. Mabel with a camel clutch. Crowd gets behind Undertaker. Mabel throws Undertaker out. Mabel runs Undertaker into the ring steps. Mo attacks Undertaker. Mabel with a corner whip. Mabel with a suplex for a two count. Mabel with a series of slams for more two counts. Undertaker gets his boot up on a charge. Undertaker with an Irish whip. Mabel hits a piledriver for a two count. Double shoulder block and both men down. Mabel misses an elbow drop when Undertaker moves. Undertaker attacks Mabel. Mabel reverses a corner whip, and referee Mike Chioda gets taken out. Undertaker with a flying choke slam. He then hits another choke slam. Undertaker hits Mo and covers, but Chioda is still out. Kama comes out and attacks Undertaker. Mabel hits a leg drop to the Undertaker to get the pin. Mabel and Mo leave. Kama slaps Undertaker, who gets up, and Kama takes off. Mabel goes directly to the finals.
-WWF Hall of Fame presentation feature. Pedro Morales, The Grand Wizard, Antonino Rocca, The Fabulous Moolah, George Steele, Ernie Ladd, and Ivan Putski are your inductees.
-KOTR Semi-Final. Savio Vega with Razor Ramon vs. The Roadie with Jeff Jarrett: Todd Pettengill talks to Jarrett and the Roadie. Jarrett says Roadie is going to be King. The bell rings and Roadie stalls. They lock up and drive to the corner. Vega clotheslines Roadie out and Roadie hits his head. Jarrett checks on Roadie. Back in, Vega with a wrist lock. Into an arm bar. Vega in control. Roadie comes back with a neck breaker and gets a two count. Roadie chokes Vega with his foot. Roadie chops Vega. He beats Vega down in the corner. He hits a second rope headbutt for a two count. Roadie working on Vega's back. Back and forth. Roadie with a corner whip. He misses a headbutt. Vega comes back with an elbow and a slam for a two count. He gets a series of two counts. Jarrett gets up on the apron. Vega with a high knee that runs Roadie into Jarrett and Vega with a roll up to get the pin. Carlos Cabrera interviews Vega in Spanish. Dok tries to translate.
-Bret Hart talks about his match coming up with Jerry Lawler. Stephanie talks to Lawler. He says Bret will kiss his foot. Kiss my foot match. Jerry Lawler vs. Bret Hart: Lawler out first. He puts down Hart and the crowd. Hart with a tremendous ovation. He does his glasses presentation. The bell rings and Hart unloads on Lawler. Lawler goes outside, and Hart follows. He runs Lawler into the barricade. Hart continues the assault in the ring. It goes back outside, and Lawler runs Hart into the ring steps. The fans chant Burger King to Lawler. Lawler runs Hart into the barricade. He gets Hart in and runs him into a turnbuckle. Lawler hits a piledriver. He then hits another one. He then taunts the fans and hits a third piledriver. Hart kicks out at two. Lawler runs Bret into a turnbuckle. Hart comes back with shots. Lawler undoes his boot and hits Hart with it. He gets a two count. Lawler chokes Hart. Hart grabs the foot. He hits a headbutt. Hart with a series of elbows. Lawler runs his boot into Hart's head. Lawler goes to post Hart in the corner, but Hart runs Lawler's head into it instead. Hakushi and Shinja come down. Lawler grabs Hart for Hakushi to hit, but Hart ducks, and Lawler gets hit instead. Hart with a Russian leg sweep and a backbreaker. He hits an elbow drop and puts the Sharpshooter on, and Lawler eventually gives up. Hart takes his boot off. Hakushi and Shinja come back. Hart ducks, and Lawler gets hit again. Hart gets rid of Hakushi. Hart makes Lawler kiss his foot and then makes Lawler kiss his own foot. The crowd loves it.
-A feature on WWF's participation in the Special Olympics World Games.
-Flashback on the last two King Coronations. KOTR Finals. Mabel with Mo vs. Savio Vega with Razor Ramon: The crowd seems worn out. It takes a while to get started. They lock up, and Mabel pushes Vega off. Vega moves on a corner charge and chops Mabel. Back and forth. They trade shots. Mabel misses an elbow drop. Vega clotheslines Mabel out. Mable then pulls Vega out. Vega runs Mabel into the ring steps. Vega then ran into the steps. Ramon rolls Vega back in. Mabel with a corner whip. Mabel with a bear hug. Vega's hand doesn't go down three times. He gets out, and Mabel rakes his face. Mabel goes back to the bear hug. Back and forth. Mabel with a sidewalk slam. He puts on a rear chin lock. Vega comes back. Mabel with a series of corner splashes. He misses a corner charge, and Vega gets a roll up for a two count. Vega with a comeback. Mabel with a big slam and then a splash to get the pin. Ramon comes in to help Vega. He gets attacked by Mo and Mabel. Mabel drops an elbow on Ramon. The 123 Kid comes in and also gets attacked. They have Mabel's coronation. Mo puts the Robe on Mabel and presents the sword to Mabel. Mo reads the proclamation. The crowd boos. They put the crown on Mable. Referees are keeping Vega, Ramon and the Kid back from attacking Mabel and Mo.
-They show Jerry Lawler being sick in the back. Stephanie talks to Sid, Tatanka, and Ted DiBiase. Sid talks about injuring Diesel's elbow at IYH. Tatanka then calls out Bigelow. Todd talks to Diesel and Bam Bam Bigelow. Diesel says his elbow isn't 100%, but he is still better than Sid. Bigelow says he and Diesel are confident they will win.
-Main event. Diesel and Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Sid and Tatanka with Ted DiBiase: Bigelow comes out and he gets a good reaction. Diesel out to a great ovation. His elbow is braced and padded. They start to brawl right away. Heels roll out to regroup. Diesel and Tatanka start. They circle each other. Diesel with a short arm clothesline. Sid attacks the elbow while the referee is distracted. Tatanka attacks the elbow. He gets a wrist lock on as a Diesel chant goes out. Sid tagged in and continues the attack on the arm. He wraps it around the ropes and hits it. Diesel slammed on the canvas. Sid misses a leg drop. Bigelow tagged in and cleans house. He dropkicks Tatanka out and DDTs Sid. He hits Sid with a flying headbutt, but DiBiase distracts the referee, so Bigelow only gets a two count. Bigelow goes up top, but gets caught and choke slammed off by Sid. Tatanka tagged in and got a two count. Tatanka pounds Bigelow down in the corner. He keeps up the assault on Bigelow. He stomps Bigelow. Sid tagged in. He hits a running kick. He repeatedly kicks Bigelow. Bigelow comes back, but gets thrown to the outside. Tatanka attacks Bigelow on the outside. Back in, Sid gets a rear chin lock on. All four men in. Diesel hits Sid with a corner whip and clothesline. He hits an elbow drop, but hurts his arm. Bigelow and Tatanka back in. Tatanka with a body press for a two count. Tatanka with a rear chin lock. Bigelow comes back. Tatanka with a jumping DDT for a two count. Tatanka kicks Bigelow down. Bigelow comes back. Double clothesline, and Bigelow gets a two count. Bigelow with a cannonball and an enziguri. Diesel tagged in. He hits a side slam and a big boot. He hits the Jackknife, but pulls Tatanka up on the count. He calls out Sid. Sid starts to leave. He walks down the aisle as Diesel pins Tatanka to win. Diesel and Bigelow celebrate as they sign off from Philadelphia
-Final Thoughts: A lackluster show. The tournament was a cluster, and the main event and the Hart/Lawler matches weren't hitting for me.