In this WWF King of the Ring 1993 review, Hulk Hogan defends the WWF title against Yokozuna, Bret Hart puts on a legendary performance, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
- SHOW: WWF King of the Ring 1993
- DATE: June 13, 1993
- LOCATION: The Nutter Center in Dayton, OH
VIDEO: Vince McMahon promotes all the first-round matches in the 1993 King of the Ring Tournament. Say what you want about the man, but his enthusiasm was unmatched.
RINGSIDE: Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage discuss Yokozuna vs. Hulk Hogan and Crush vs. Shawn Michaels.
Razor Ramon vs. Bret Hart – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
The fans are chanting “1-2-3” at Razor after he lost to the 1-2-3 Kid in shocking fashion on May 17 episode of Raw. The winner of this match faces the winner of Mr. Perfect vs. Mr. Hughes. Heenan pushes Bret’s skills, then says “but I just can’t stand him.” About as much of a compliment as a babyface is gonna get from The Brain.
Bret controls the action until Razor pokes him in the eye. Razor sends Bret shoulder-first into the ring post, and he adds more insult to injury with some kicks to the face. Running powerslam from Razor gets a near fall, and Razor’s frustration is growing. Razor goes for a few elbows, but Bret moves out of the way. Bret drops an elbow off the top, but Razor kicks out at two and a half.
Great finishing stretch with Razor sending Bret chest-first into the turnbuckle. Razor goes for the Razor’s Edge, but Bret wiggles out and uses the ropes to flip over into an inside cradle for two and three-quarters. The fans nearly blew the roof off the place. That was tremendous. Razor attempts a suplex off the top, but Bret counters into a pin for the win. (***1/2, Recommended)
VIDEO: Highlights from Superstars of Mr. Hughes destroying The Undertaker with the urn, which was handed to him by Harvey Whippleman. Then Hughes hammers Paul Bearer with it, who was already beaten down by Giant Gonzalez or someone. A lot going on there.
Mr. Hughes (w/Harvey Whippleman) vs. Mr. Perfect – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
A battle of the misters here. Heenan is using the telestrator John Madden-style in his “Brain Scan” segment, and he gets a few verbal jabs in on Perfect. Hughes wrestling in a full suit will never not be impressive. One reason not to do that is on display when Perfect grabs his tie. There’s an in-set interview with Bret, and he’s picking Perfect to win. They go back and forth, but Perfect gains the momentum. So, Hughes decides to hit Perfect with the urn, which makes zero sense as the referee calls for the DQ. Brilliant idea. (*1/2)
BACKSTAGE: Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji take aim at Hulk Hogan. Fuji says Hogan cheated Yokozuna out of the title at WrestleMania IX.
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
The fans chant “USA” and a reminder that Bigelow is from Asbury Park, New Jersey, which is located in the United States. Hacksaw tries to pick up Bigelow, and that’s not his best decision. Hacksaw eventually does pick up Bigelow, but he falls on him for two. He finally bodyslams Bigelow and goes for the three-point stance, but Hacksaw runs his head into the turnbuckle. That allows Bigelow to hit the flying headbutt for the victory. (*1/2)
COMMENTARY: You can call 1-900-KING for $1.49 for the first minute and 99 cents after that. Terry Taylor is running the phones, and The Steiners, Crush, and The Smoking Gunns are talking to people. Crush tells a woman named Cheryl that he’s gonna be the new champ.
“The Narcissist” Lex Luger vs. Tatanka – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
Heenan uses the Brain Scan again to look at Luger’s incredible physique. Howard Finkel announces the referee is forcing Luger to wear an elbow pad due to the screws in his arm. Tatanka is still undefeated, so that’s the story entering this one. Luger starts posing, so Tatanka throws the mirror on him. It’s all Tatanka in the early going, and Bigelow is backstage and he wants to “get his hands on the Indian.” Well then.
Luger regains the advantage, but Tatanka rolls him up for a near fall. More back and forth, with Luger wearing down his opponent. JR reveals that we’re 11 minutes into the match, and there’s a 15-minute time limit. Tatanka runs wild and gets another near fall and then another. Tatanka with the chop off the top, but Lugers kicks out yet again. Tatanka back up top, but Luger moves out of the way. The crowd is really into this.
They keep bringing up the time limit, so you know how this is gonna play out. The crowd in the arena doesn’t have a clue since they aren’t updating them. Luger hits a backbreaker for two, and the bell rings for the draw. The fans aren’t happy as Fink announces that both men are eliminated in the tournament, so Luger gets on the mic and says he wants five more minutes. The referee says hell no, and Luger removes the arm pad and wallops Tatanka. (***, Recommended)
BACKSTAGE: Mean Gene Okerlund with Bret and Perfect. Gene tries to stir the shit between these two as he starts putting words in Bret’s mouth. Scheme Gene at it again! Bret says Stu Hart beat Larry Hennig, and they bicker for a bit before Perfect pulls his hand away for the fake handshake. Bret walks off, and Perfect says he owes Bret for SummerSlam. That match was excellent.
Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect – King of the Ring Semifinals
Bret has his hand taped, and Heenan brings up that Razor stomped his hand in the first match. You’ve gotta appreciate the little details. As you would expect, this is a technical masterclass early. Perfect turns up the aggression, and the sportsmanship is out the window as he starts kicking Bret’s leg. Perfect catapults Bret off the apron into the steel barricade, and now Bret is selling the knee.
Perfect hits a dropkick off the top, but Bret kicks out at two. Perfect amps up the speed, but Bret meets him up top for a superplex…and Perfect kicks out at two and a half. Bret turns the tables by going after Perfect’s leg, and Bret locks in the figure four. Perfect somehow manages to get to the ropes, and Bret quickly goes right after the leg again.
Perfect gets back and track and locks in the sleeper. Bret gets to the ropes, and Perfect is still favoring his leg. Back to the sleeper, and Perfect uses the ropes for leverage. Bret throws Perfect into the corner, and he racks him under the ropes. Good stuff by commentary to bring up the idea that Bigelow could back in his way into being the first winner having to win only one match.
Bret goes for the Sharpshooter, but Perfect goes after the injured hand. Smart! Perfect goes for the Perfect Plex, but Bret reverses and suplexes both of them over the top to the outside. Perfect with an inside cradle, but Bret counters for the win. This was fantastic and, honestly, almost as good as the SummerSlam 1991 showdown. Perfect shakes Bret’s hand after the match. (****, Must-See)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Hogan and Jimmy Hart. Hogan is gonna retain the title, and Jimmy is fired up.
Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. (c) Hulk Hogan (w/Jimmy Hart) – WWF Title
Photographers follow Yokozuna down the aisle, and JR says they’re documenting his journey. Keep that in mind. Savage says some people feel that Bret should have received the rematch against Hogan, and I’d say that’s accurate. Yokozuna uses his power, but Hogan fights back and starts biting Yokozuna in the corner. Hogan tries to pick up Yokozuna, but that isn’t happening.
Yokozuna works in the bearhug, and it’s great seeing the Hogan superfan, Roddy Hogan, in the front row. The fans rally behind Hogan as he punches out of it, but Yokozuna hits him with an elbow to the face. Yokozuna with a belly-to-belly suplex, but Hogan kicks out. Hulk up time, brother. Hogan with the big boot, then another, but Yokozuna won’t go down. He finally does after a third. Hogan with the leg drop, but Yokozuna kicks out at two!
Hogan knocks Fuji off the apron, and one of the cameramen hops on the apron. And then his camera hits Hogan with a fireball to the face, and Yokozuna drops the leg on Hogan to win the title. After the match, Yokozuna hits the Banzai Drop on Hogan for good measure. Heenan declares that Hulkamania is finished. The crowd was into this and expected Hogan to do his thing, but there’s a new champ. (**)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Shawn Michaels and a rather large man. Michaels runs down Hogan, but Gene is focused on the name of the man standing behind him. Micheals reveals that it’s his insurance policy, and reveals him as Diesel.
The Steiner Brothers and The Smoking Gunns vs. Money Inc. and The Headshrinkers – 8-Man Tag Team Match
Money Inc. are the tag champs, so everyone is aiming for them. Savage notes that they couldn’t stay on the same page with The Headshrinkers on Raw, so that’s worth mentioning. This match is about what you’d expect, with everyone getting an opportunity to get some work in during an action-packed sprint.
Ted DiBiase puts the Million Dollar Dream on Billy Gunn, but DiBiase wants to taunt a bit before finishing the job. However, Gunn reverses into a small package for the victory. Not much to it. (**)
COMMENTARY: Taylor is about fed up with this hotline. Josh asks Razor about the 1-2-3 Kid, and he says something about Mr. Perfect’s mother dancing naked on a table. I think that was in reference to money.
BACKSTAGE: Jack Tunney congratulates Yokozuna. Fuji says he told Gene that Yokozuna would win. Fuji says they’re gonna celebrate in America.
Crush vs. (c) Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) – Intercontinental Title
JR says Hogan’s vision is gonna be fine, and Savage says Hogan will be back for Yokozuna. Crush with a shoulder tackle that sends Michaels to the outside. A few dropkicks send Michaels out yet again. Crush showcases his strength, and Savage argues he could slam Yokozuna. I’m not sure about that. Diesel helps Michaels retreat for a much-needed break. Crush goes after Michaels, but Diesel stands between them. Michaels sneaks in and hits Crush from behind, and then Michaels bounces Crush’s head off the ring post.
Crush has the momentum as he throws Michaels onto the top rope. Crush swats Michaels off the top, and he hits a backbreaker for two. Here comes Doink, but there isn’t just one of them. They are smoking cigars, and that distracts Crush. Michaels hits the Superkick to Crush into the corner, and Michaels pins him to retain. (**1/2)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Bigelow, and he’s gonna be the first King of the Ring.
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Bret Hart – King of the Ring Finals
Commentary does a great job of putting over Bret’s path to the final, which was quite a contrast to Bigelow’s path. Heenan is all-in on Bigelow for that reason. Bret with another masterful selling performance to set him up as the huge underdog. Bigelow, meanwhile, is the dominant heel looking to take advantage of that. It’s the perfect scenario for the King of the Ring tournament.
Bigelow goes after Bret’s back throughout the entire match, using a variety of moves to wear him down. They also show Mean Gene Okerlund watching from the stage in what was a cool presentation element. Some awesome back and forth, and Luna Vachon comes out to attack Bret’s back with a chair while Bigelow occupies the referee. And then Bigelow hits the diving headbutt for the surprise win!
However, here comes Earl Hebner, who saw the shenanigans, and Joey Marella declares that the match must continue. Your mileage on match restarts will vary, but it made a lot of sense in this spot. Bigelow tries to wear down Bret ever more, but the story is that Bret won’t quit. Bigelow does a few counters, but Bret jumps on Bigelow’s shoulders and uses the victory roll to score the win. (****, Must-See)
ON THE STAGE: We get the crowning ceremony, and Jerry Lawler comes out to proclaim that he is the true king of the WWF. He then assaults Bret with some medieval objects to add insult to injury.