June 20, 2001
Michael Cole:"Mrs. McMahon is here! What does she have planned for the alliance tonight"? PRIMETIME's THEME MUSIC HITS AND FIREWORKS POUND THROUGH THE ARENA. Cole:"It's our last stop before King of the Ring as tonight, we invade the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri"! Bobby Heenan:"These humanoids are ecstatic Michael! Somethin' big's gonna happen tonight Michael"! "ENTER SANDMAN" BY METALLICA HITS AS KING KILLER COMES OUT TO A SHOWER OF BOOS WAVING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. Cole:"As you saw at the top of the broadcast, Linda McMahon is in the building and rumor has it that she's gonna tell the alliance just who they'll be facin' at King of the Ring tonight! But right now, we've got our first King of the Ring match of the night as a member of the Confederation comes out"! WEAPON R's MUSIC HITS. Heenan:"We're gonna have eight tournament matches tonight Michael as we're gonna get down to the semi finals". King of the Ring: First Round King Killer vs. Weapon R This was a very good matchup! Weapon R battled the 7 footer to the end as he caught him with several mid range kicks. But soon, size became a factor. After being caught in mid air, Weapon R was planted by the "Killer Ride". But somehow, someway he got a shoulder up. An angry King Killer hit him with a drop powerslam and a boot to the face. But after ducking a clothesline, Weapon R caught him with a roundhouse. Weapon R had some offense going until he walked into a big lariat. King Killer followed that with another "Killer Ride" to finally put him away. Match Time: 9:28 Cole:"King Killer has become the first man to advance to the King of the Ring semi finals but what an effort by Weapon R"! Heenan:"Weapon R almost pulled it off but almost doesn't cut it in the King of the Ring! Maybe the South will win this war"! "AMERICAN BADASS" BY KID ROCK HITS AS NUKE COMES OUT. Cole:"Here comes the former Hardcore champion Nuke who advanced in the tournament by knocking off Steve Corino". A JAPANESE GONG SOUNDS AS YUJI MATASAMO's MUSIC HITS. Heenan:"This looks like a complete mismatch but don't count Matasamo out". Cole:"Still to come tonight fans, there will be a twelve man battle royale to decide the Intercontinental title vacancy and we've got two semi final matches in the Queen of the Ring tournament"! King of the Ring: First Round Nuke vs. Yuji Matasamo Nuke dominated Matasamo throughout but had some trouble putting him away. Nuke overpowered Matasamo, who was giving up around 200 pounds, with several high impact moves. It looked like it was all over after Nuke squashed him with a big splash but Matasamo kicked out, which he did several times in the match. But every time Matasamo was able to get a shot on Nuke, he wasn't able to capitalize. After wrestling a near flawless match, Nuke used a drop suplex to set up his german/sambo suplex combo which he calls the "Incinerator" to punish Matasamo and get the win. Match Time: 6:36 It's been a night of big men so far as two seven footers have advanced to the elite eight of the King of the Ring so far tonight". Heenan:"They're not gonna any smaller in this next one"! THE BIG SHOW's MUSIC HITS WITH A SHORT FIREWORKS DISPLAY. Cole:"You're not kidding Brain. Here comes the five hundred pound Big Show and this will be a true test for the young Jeff Hardy". THE FANS GO CRAZY AS THE HARDY BOYZ' MUSIC HITS AND MATT AND JEFF STEP OUT. Heenan:"I'll be surprised if Jeff can even get him off his feet"! King of the Ring First Round The Big Show vs. Jeff Hardy Big Show wanted this over early after Jeff made a big mistake. After dropkicking Big Show off the apron to the floor, Jeff went for a front flip onto him but Big Show moved and he landed hard on his back. Big Show threw him back into the ring over the ropes with a military press and continued the beating once inside. After a huge elbow drop, Show had Jeff set up for the "Final Cut" but Jeff slipped out and somehow countered with the "Twist of Fate". With the crowd on their feet, Jeff went up top and came off with the Swanton Bomb, nailing Big Show. Jeff then rolled on top as referee Mike Kiotta counted 1....2....3....! Match Time: 2:08 Cole:"Jeff Hardy has bucked the trend! One of the lightheavyweights has beaten one of the big men in the tournament"! Heenan:"That's the biggest upset of the tournament by far"! PRIOR TO COMMERCIAL....BACKSTAGE.... RHYNO IS BENCHPRESSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN HIS DRESSING ROOM AS STEVE CORINO SPOTS FOR HIM. Corino:"Come on Rhyno, keep goin'! This is what all those guys have to look forward to in that battle royale tonight"! COMMERCIAL.....KING OF THE RING PROMO IS SHOWN. RETURN FROM BREAK.... X-FACTOR's THEME BY CRACKER HITS AS KOTR TOURNAMENT BRACKET IS SHOWN. Cole:"Back on PrimeTime folks as the big man from X-Factor Albert makes his way to the ring". "YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME" HITS AS EDGE COMES OUT. Heenan:"Edge is coming out without Christian as he did in the qualifying round". King of the Ring First Round Albert vs. Edge This was a tought, physical match as both men gave it their all. The match went all over the place, up and down the aisle and even into the crowd. After hitting Albert with an onslaught of innovative offense, Edge felt the momentum switch when Albert caught him with his scissors kick, jerking his head back. After teeing off on Edge with multiple forearms in the corner and hitting him with a huge double underhook suplex, Albert was well on his way to victory. But he set Edge up and went for another scissors kick but Edge duck and he nailed referee Teddy Long on accident. Suddenly, X-Pac and Justin Credible come out to help Albert. But they were soon followed by The Acolytes. Together, the Acolytes nailed Albert with the steel ring steps. Bradshaw then took X-Pac out with the "Clothesline from Hell" and Faarooq slammed Credible with a 1 armed spinebuster. The Acolytes then helped Edge up as Edge drilled Albert with a spear when he came to his feet and quickly hooked the leg as Long counted the 3. Match Time: 10:54 EDGE ALMOST CRACKED A SMILE AS THE FANS CHEERED FOR HIM. Cole:"When was the last time Edge got an ovation like this". Heenan:"Well he can thank The Acolyes for that win who by the way will have to defend the tag team titles against X-Factor". TIANA TAYLOR's MUSIC HITS. Cole:"The undefeated Tiana Taylor is on her way out for our first semi final match in the Queen of the Ring "! TERRI GOLD's MUSIC HITS. Heenan:"Both these women had impressive wins to get here but only one of them can go to the finals"! Queen of the Ring Semi- Finals Terri Gold vs. Tiana Taylor Terri Gold had things her way almost the entire match. She wrestled a great scientific match and took Taylor to school by continuously going after her knee. Gold hit her with a beautiful bicycle kick and a sit down powerbomb. But Taylor managed to hang in there and slowly draw strngth. Then came her break. After whipping Taylor to the corner, Gold went for a tumbling elbow but Taylor moved, grabbed Gold by her feet and used a slingshot into the turnbuckle. Taylor then capitalized by dropping a dazed Gold with a slow german suplex. Taylor hooked her leg and got the pin. Match Time: 8:16 Cole:"What a turnaround for Tiana Taylor! She stays unbeaten and she's in the Queen of the Ring finals"! Heenan:"How'd she do that? A minute ago she was as good as eliminated"! "ENTER SANDMAN" BY METALLICA BLASTS AGAIN AS MADDOGG COMES OUT WITH THE ENTIRE CONFEDERATION. Cole:"Getting back to the King of the Ring tournament, Maddogg is on his way out but what does he have all his cronies with him for"? A RING OF FIRE SLOWLY BUILDS ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP AS THE GATES OF HELL's MUSIC HITS AND THE LEVIATHAN COMES OUT WITH PAUL BEARER. Heenan:"It may take their whole army to beat this man Michael"! King of the Ring First Round Maddogg vs. The Leviathan Maddogg had no answer for the Leviathan early as he took a one hell of a pounding. After several attempts to get involved in the match, the Confederation was sent back by referee Jim Korderas. But after a dropkick to the knee, Maddogg got some offense going until the Leviathan ran right through him with a clothesline. That led to Maddogg's demise as the Leviathan hit him with a thunderous chokeslam to win the match. Match Time: 9:01 Cole:"What a chokeslam! Maddogg may be out cold folks"! Heenan:"I said when the parings were first announced that this man would be the 2001 King of the Ring! Any doubters"? PRIOR TO COMMERCIAL....BACKSTAGE.... Lilian Garcia has caught up to Chyna Lilian Garcia:"Chyna, what are your thoughts going into your Women's title match with Xstasy in just a couple days on Free 4 All"? Chyna:"First off Lilian, I don't give a damn about the Women's title. But on Free 4 All, I'm gonna kick Xstasy's..... SUDDENLY CHYNA IS CUT OFF BY XSTASY WHO CATCHES HER WITH A KICK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. SHE THEN USES HER WHIP AND RELENTLESSLY BEATS CHYNA AND WALKS AWAY. Cole:"Chyna is hurt folks! Xstasy has sent a huge message"! COMMERCIAL.... A TWF SHOPZONE COMMERCIAL IS SHOWN FEATURING THE NEW "SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY" SHIRT FEATURING ALL 4 CONFEDERATION MEMBERS ALONG WITH BAHAMUT's "MAKING OF A LEGEND" SHIRT. RETURN FROM BREAK.... BACKSTAGE.... AHMED WALKER IS PREPARING IN HIS DRESSING ROOM. Torrie Wilson:"This could be your night baby, you could go to the King of the Ring to fight for the Intercontinental title". Ahmed Walker:"Could be? Nah, it will be". THE BRUTILE BULLDOG's MUSIC HITS AS HE COMES DOWN THE AISLE WITH TERRI. Cole:"Ahmed Walker will be one of the twelve men in that battle royale tonight and he seems very confident". "THE KINGS" BY RUN DMC HITS AS JORDAN ROCKWELL COMES OUT WITH LITA. Heenan:"This is the matchup I've been waitin' for". Cole:"We saw two confrontations between these two on RAW and even one between Terri and Lita. The winner advances to the quarterfinals". King of the Ring First Round The Brutile Bulldog vs. Jordan Rockwell Rockwell came out more agressive that usual against the man who attacked him twice on RAW. He worked exclusively on Bulldog's right arm, putting him in multiple submission holds. He hit the Bulldog with an impressive spinning heel kick and a sambo suplex but the Bulldog got his foot on the bottom rope to avoid being pinned. The Bulldog then lowblowed Rockwell and was caught by referee Tim White who told him not to do it again. The Bulldog then shoved White as Terri got on the apron. But Lita came and took Terri down hard as Rockwell scored with a backdrop suplex from behind the Bulldog. Rockwell then showed his aerial skills as he hit Bulldog with an awesome elbow drop off the top rope. Rockwell methodically waited for the Bulldog to get up and when he did, he dropped him with "Extreme Measures" to get the pin. Match Time: 5:28 Cole:"Jordan Rockwell has emphatically advanced to the elite eight"! TERRI IS IN THE RING TRYING TO HELP THE BULLDOG UP. Heenan:"The Bulldog looks like he doesn't know what hit him" NURSE BETTY's MUSIC HITS AND SHE COMES OUT WITH ELECTRIC COMA. Cole:"One of these women will join Tiana Taylor in the finals and this is a woman many are surprised to see here". JESSICA LOPEZ' MUSIC HITS AND SHE COMES OUT TO A GOOD RESPONSE. Heenan:"Nurse Betty has some good wrestling skills but so does this lady here". Queen of the Ring Semi Finals Nurse Betty vs. Jessica Lopez Lopez again was on top of her game as she outworked Nurse Betty. As she did against Molly Holly in the first round, Lopez applied a submission hold like a reverse chin lock or single leg crab after nearly every move. The match less experienced Nurse Betty couldn't figure out how to combat this style. She tried to throw Lopez outside the ring to Electric Coma but Lopez managed to elude him each time. After Nurse Betty missed a high risk move off the top rope, Lopez applied a dragon sleeper and she quickly tapped out. Match Time: 10:32 Cole:"Jessica Lopez' run continues! She'll face Tiana Taylor in the finals on Free 4 All"! Heenan:"Lopez has suddenly become a dangerous submission wrestler! Taylor better be ready"! "CHEAP VODKA" BY ACID BATH HITS AND PLAYS INTO THE GATES OF HELL THEME AS NAILS APPEARS WITH PAUL BEARER. Cole:"This is one of the most intriguing matches in the King of the Rinhg tournament and even though it won't be for the Hardcore title, there's a lot at stake"! "FALLING AWAY FROM ME" BY KORN HITS AS STRIFE COMES OUT WEARING THE HARDCORE TITLE. Heenan:"And these two are no strangers. They know each other very well and have had brutal matches in the past"! King of the Ring First Round Nails vs. Strife The title wasn't on the line but the rivalry between the two was still bitter. Nails got right after Strife with right hands and boots to the chest. But Strife quickly absorbed the abuse and caught Nails with a running boot to the face. He then gorilla press slammed him after an irish whip to the ropes and followed that with the move of the night, a powerbomb right into the turnbuckle! Strife then picked Strife then picked Nails up and lifted him to the top turnbuckle where he brought him off with his devastating flipping slam which he calls the "Derailment" into a pinning predicament to get the 1-2-3. Match Time: 4:41 Heenan:"The Hardcore champ is still alive in the tournament"! SUDDENLY, A MAN DRESSED IN BLACK WEARING A SKI MASK CAME OUT OF THE CROWD WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A RING BELL AND SMASHED STRIFE OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. THE DARK FIGURE THEN JUMPED BACK INTO THE CROWD AND VANISHED. Cole:"Who the hell was that guy? Strife has been ambushed"! PRIOR TO COMMERCIAL..... VINCE's OFFICE.... VINCE IS SITTING AT HIS DESK. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. Vince:"Come in". TAJIRI ENTERS WITH HIS TRANSLATOR AND SAYS SOMETHING IN JAPANESE. Translator:"Tajiri wants to know if you saw him attack The Rock on RAW as you asked". Vince(grinning) Yes, yes I did. And I said I'd reward you so here it is. Tajiri, at King of the Ring, you will compete in a triple threat match for the lightheavyweight title along with Spike Dudley and Jerry Lynn". THE TRANSLATOR TELLS THIS TO TAJIRI WHO GETS AN EXCITED LOOK ON HIS FACE AND THEN BOWS TO VINCE. Translator:"Tajiri thanks you". THEY THEN LEAVE HIS OFFICE. COMMERCIAL.... KING OF THE RING PROMO IS SHOWN AGAIN. RETURN FROM BREAK.... ARENA BASEMENT... THE GATES OF HELL ARE STANDING IN A DARK CORRIDOR WITH A CANDLE LIT. Paul Bearer:"Things are starting to come into form my friends. Oh yes, the TWF will soon feel the wrath of the Gates of Hell again, oh yes, very soon". Heenan:"What was that about"? "THE KINGS" BY RUN DMC HITS AS SHAWN O'HAIRE COMES OUT WITH CHUCK PALUMBO. Cole:"I'm not sure Brain, but Shawn O'haire has a chance to make a huge name for himself here if he can knock off the former TWF champion Travis Wakeman"! TRAVIS WAKEMAN's THEME BY WESTSIDE CONNECTION HITS WITH A FIERWORKS DISPLAY AS HE COMES OUT WITH TRISH. Heenan:"Well Wakeman had a tough match against Chris Benoit in the qualifying round and O'haire's comin' off a huge upset of Kane so it's possible". Cole:"We've also got two huge announcements to make folks. During the break, Shawn Michaels and The Rock challenged Chris Michaels and Triple H to a tag team match later tonight which was accepted! The Rock's also gonna be in that battle royale which is next"! Heenan:"Not only that, but we've been told that someone has signed Drew Blood's open contract to face him for the European title at King of the Ring. The only information we got is that it's a man who's been out with an injury for several weeks"! King of the Ring First Round Shawn O'haire vs. Travis Wakeman O'haire gave Wakeman all he could handle here. O'haire seemed much quicker than Wakeman anticipated and got the best of Wakeman early on. After several high impact manuevers, O'haire went for his big superkick. But Wakeman caught his leg and drove his knee into the ground. This turned out to be a key factor in the match as Wakeman went to the knee any chance he got, hobbling O'haire. The fight went outside the ring where Wakeman whipped him into the steel steps. Wakeman had things in control until O'haire scored with a Harlem side kick off a counter. O'haire then went for the kill. He went to the apron and attempted a slingshot roundhouse kick but Wakeman ducked and over sailed over him. Wakeman capitalized by locking in his "Round Table" submission hold as O'haire tapped out with no other alternative. Match Time: 7:47 Heenan:"We almost saw O'haire pull another upset"! Cole:"What a unique submission hold there by Wakeman as he advances to the elite eight of the most prestigous tournament in our industry"! RHYNO's MUSIC HITS AS HE COMES TO THE RING WITH STEVE CORINO AS RING ANNOUNCER TONY CHIMEL BEGINS TO INTRODUCE THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE BATTLE ROYALE. Heenan:"This is my pick! The manbeast Rhyno"! Cole:"Interesting battle royale set up here by Mr. McMahon on RAW. The last three men in the ring will join Val Venis to compete in a fatal four way elimination match at King of the Ring for the vacant Intercontinental title"! 12 Man Over the top Battle Royale Participants Rhyno Raven Shawn "The Star" Stasiak Chris Benoit Hardcore Holly The Rock Ahmed Walker Mike Norton Test Matt Hardy The bell rang and the brawl started. A little over 1 minute in, Papa Shango was tossed out by Rhyno. Shortly thereafter, a right hand from Stasiak put Hardcore Holly out of it. It took several minutes for another elimination until Test threw Rhyno out and immediately after that, tossed Stasiak out. After being dropkicked to the apron by Matt Hardy, Raven caught a right hand from Norton and was put out. Then, after a series of trading shots, Ahmed Walker was knocked out of the ring by a stinging right hand from Matt Hardy. After Test and Norton battered Matt, The Rock came from behind, spun Norton around, spit into his hand and knocked him out of the ring with a right hand of his own. But after a double team move in which Matt clotheslined The Rock off Kane's shoulders, Kane chokeslammed The Rock all the way to the floor for the elimination. This left Kane, Test, Chris Benoit and Matt Hardy in the ring. The 4 men went at it vigourously and refused to be eliminated. Kane suddenly dropped Benoit with the Tombstone but at the same time, Matt caught Test with a dropkick that sent him sailing over the top rope. The bell sounded but the 3 men continued to go at it as Val Venis came out to join the fight. Several TWF officials finally came out to break it up. Cole:"Kane, Chris Benoit and Matt Hardy will go to the King of the Ring along with Val Venis with a chance to become Intercontinental champion"! Heenan:"Well Val had the spot promised to him by Vince. These three just earned it and at King of the Ring, one of them will be leaving with gold"! CHRIS MICHAELS' MUSIC HITS AND HE COMES OUT TO A CHORUS OF BOOS. Cole:"After the videotape this man showed the world on RAW, he'll probably never have these fans' respect". "THE GAME" BY MOTORHEAD HITS AS TRIPLE H SLOWLY STEPS OUT WITH STEPHANIE. Heenan:"Well you can't deny his talent and you definitely can't deny this man's talent"! "SEXY BOY" HITS AS SHAWN MICHAEKLS STEPS OUT TO A DYNAMIC OVATION. Cole:"No I can't Brain and Triple H still doesn't know who he'll be facing at King of the Ring but this man's gonna face his brother who stands in the ring staring a whole right through him"! "IF YA SMELL...WHAT THE ROCK....IS COOKIN' HITS AS THE ROCK COMES OUT TO AN ELECTRIFYING RESPONSE. Heenan:"I can't believe The Rock's comin' back after that battle royale"! Cole:"That's why he's the people's champ brain"! Triple H and Chris Michaels vs. The Rock and Shawn Michaels Triple H and The Rock had a short series to start the match before giving way to the brothers. Shawn and Chris tore into each other as Chris surprised Shawn with a drop toe hold early. But after walking into a dropkick, HBK controlled. Suddenly all 4 men came into the ring and The Rock and HBK sent Triple H and Chris Michaels into each other. Triple H fell backward as a staggered Chris Michaels turned right into "Sweet Chin Music" as Shawn fell on him and got the pin. Match Time: 4:11 Cole:"HBK's gotten the best of his little brother again"! A DEJECTED CHRIS MICHAELS LEAVES AS VINCE AND THE REST OF ALLIANCE COME OUT AND ATTACK HBK AND THE ROCK. AUSTIN HIT BOTH MEN WITH THE STUNNER AND RUBBED THE TWF TITLE IN THEIR FACES. VINCE HAD A BIG SMIRK ON HIS FACE UNTIL MUSIC FAMILIAR TO HIM PLAYED OVER THE ARENA. Heenan:"What's this? Who's comin' now"? Cole:"Who could it be Brain"? Heenan:"Oh no, it's Linda"! SUDDENLY LINDA McMAHON APPEARS IN THE ENTRANCE WAS AS THE CROWD COMES TO THEIR FEET. Cole:"Look at this! The CEO of the TWF is out here and she's gonna talk"! Linda:"Hi there Vince. I thought that since you and your alliance were all in the same place, this would be a great time to break some news to you. (FANS LOUDLY CHEER) First, I have come up with a new way to name a new TWF Commissioner. I figured, why make a bunch of men fight in a battle royale? Why not let the fans choose their own Commissioner? (Fans are exuberant) Well Vince, that's what the TWF is all about right, the fans? So that's exactly what we're gonna do! After King of the Ring, there's gonna be an election on TWF.com to select a new TWF Commissioner! Wait till you see these candidates"! Cole:"That's a major announcement"! Heenan:"She can't do this"! Linda:"Now on to King of the ring. We'll start with yoy Regal. Remember this? FOOTAGE IS SHOWN FROM SNME ON MAY 5, 2001 I thought you would. Well William, the man you attacked that night, Superfly Jimmy Snuka, wants you at King of the Ring and I've decided to give him to you"! Heenan:"Snuka? This has gotta be a joke"! Linda:"Kurt Angle, you call yourself a hero. Yet none of these people respect you at all. I've found a very special opponent for you who is a hero to his culture and he is Native American Tatanka"! Cole:"What? Listen to these fans"! Linda:"Triple H, I was gonna put you in a singles match but your whining of late has gotten you two opponents. You will however have a partner, my husband Vince! You two are gonna face a couple of good ol' Minnesota boys. They are Mr. Perfect and the Governor of Minnesota Jesse "The Body" Venura"! Heenan:"There's no way! No way, Vince and Jesse can't even be in the same building let alone the same ring"! Linda:"Now Stone Cold, I've saved the best for you. As you know you will be defending the TWF title. When you lose that title, you can thank Vince for the vengeance your opponent has from an incident in which Vince screwed him in a match in his own home country. And I'll be honest, it was tough to get him here, he didn't wanna do it. But his love for the ring and the prospect of getting his hands on Vince was too much. He is one of the best wrestlers the world has ever known and truly the best there is, best there was and the best there ever will be, Bret "Hitman" Hart"! Heenan:"No! No! No"! Cole:"I can't believe what we just heard! Stone Cold's gotta defend the title against Bret Hart"! VINCE's JAW REMAINS DROPPED AS THE ALLIANCE IS FURIOUS. PRIMETIME GOES OFF THE AIR WITH A SHOT OF LINDA GRINNING.
