[loopydate]

JUNE 27, 2004 - KING OF THE RING


The preshow match pits Edge against the leader of the new Ministry, Undertaker! Undertaker inexplicably attacked Edge a couple of weeks back, leading up to tonight's contest.

Edge vs. Undertaker

Edge receives some unexciting punishment. Lame kick from Undertaker. Edge takes a right hand to the temple from Undertaker. Big kick from Undertaker. Edge blocks the suplex attempt. Running knee lift from Edge. Undertaker walks into a spike slam. There's a two count on the pin. Undertaker fights out of a grapple. Powerslam from Undertaker on Edge. There's a two count on the pin. Undertaker scores with a crappy looking standing spinebuster. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Edge pushes out of a Undertaker hold. Edge hits some punches. Undertaker blocks a punch. Edge takes a right hand to the temple from Undertaker. Edge is in trouble. Here it comes - Last Ride. 1....2...3, it's finished. Worth a ** rating, but no more than that.

Overall Rating: 65%
Crowd Reaction: 67%
Match Quality: 63%

The pay-per-view kicks off the RAW's final King of the Ring match. The winner will advance to tonight's main event against the winner of the SmackDown! bracket. The winner of tonight's tournament will be 2004 King of the Ring and will earn a title shot of their choice at any time in the next year! Shelton Benjamin earned this spot by defeating Sylvain Grenier, Sean O'Haire, and the previously undefeated Damien. Chris Benoit made it to this match by knocking off Charlie Haas, Rhyno, and Edge.

King Of The Ring RAW Bracket Final - Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Benoit

Shelton gets caught with a belly to belly suplex from Benoit. Shelton takes a back suplex. Stun Gun from Chris Benoit! There used to be this blonde guy in WCW in the early 90's who used that...i wonder what happened to him? Shelton Benjamin takes a butterfly suplex from Benoit. Shelton backdrops Chris Benoit out of a piledriver attempt. Chris Benoit takes a butterfly suplex from Shelton. Shelton hits a stump piledriver on Chris Benoit. Cover for a two count. Chris Benoit reverses a hip toss. Vicious snap suplex! Shelton Benjamin got whipped over hard. Cover for a two count. Devastating Tiger Driver 91 very nearly crushes the neck of Shelton. Misawa is probably laughing with glee at the moment. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Shelton Benjamin fights out of a grapple. Shelton Benjamin uses move #193 (arm-BAR). Shelton Benjamin gets taken down out of nowhere. Chris Benoit snap suplexes Shelton...with authority! ('With authority', trademark G.Monsoon 1986.) Chris Benoit floors Shelton Benjamin. Here it comes...Crippler Crossface! Shelton Benjamin taps! Damien comes running down the aisle, and gets into the ring! Damien spins Shelton around. Damien hits the Choke Slam! Shelton Benjamin has been left down on the canvas. Almost a *** rating, but there were some bits that dragged, so **3\4 instead.

Overall Rating: 76%
Crowd Reaction: 77%
Match Quality: 75%

Six days ago on RAW, Rhyno and Sean O'Haire - two men destined for greatness in World Wrestling Entertainment, battled to a double-disqualification draw. Tonight, they get another shot at each other in one-on-one action.

Rhyno vs. Sean O'Haire

Rhyno hits a right hand. Stiff chop lights up O'Haire. Big backdrop on O'Haire, executed well. Fallaway slam by Rhyno. O'Haire drops out the back of a Rhyno bodyslam attempt. O'Haire slams Rhyno down. Rhyno walks into a spike slam. There's a two count on the pin. Rhyno kicks Sean O'Haire in the gut to reverse the momentum. Spear by Rhyno. Hooks the leg for a two count. Rhyno scores with a standing spinebuster. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Rhyno walks into a trip. Chanelling the spirit of Misawa, Sean O'Haire uses a forearm to the face. O'Haire walks into a trip. Fallaway slam by Rhyno. Sean O'Haire can barely stand. Here it comes - Gore. 1....2...3, it's finished. Rhyno is still in the ring celebrating. Sean O'Haire pushes the referee away. Sean O'Haire spins Rhyno around. Sean O'Haire hits the Prophecy! This one gets a ***1\4 rating, it was a good bout.

Overall Rating: 83%
Crowd Reaction: 85%
Match Quality: 80%

For the last several months, Cruiserweight Champion Christian's most persistent rival has been Rey Mysterio. These two have battled numerous times, and tonight Rey has issued the challenge for a Hardcore Match to finally settle the score.

Hardcore Match for the Cruiserweight Title - Rey Mysterio vs. Christian (c)

Kick from Rey Mysterio to the leg. Dropkick connects, Christian goes down. Rey uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Rey Mysterio hits a rolling kick on Christian. Christian reverses a waistlock. Big dropkick by Christian, who got good elevation. Rey walks into a spike slam. There's a two count on the pin. Christian gets taken down out of nowhere. Rey crushes Christian with a running senton. Hooks the leg for a two count. Vicious kick to the teeth from Rey Mysterio. Pin, but Christian is out just before the three count. Christian kicks Rey Mysterio in the gut to reverse the momentum. Christian drives a forearm into the chest of Rey. Rey Mysterio fights out of a grapple. Rey Mysterio hits a rolling kick on Christian. Rey Mysterio moves in for the kill. Here it comes - West Coast Pop. 1....2...3, it's finished. Rey Mysterio remains in the ring, celebrating the victory. *** rating for a good bout.

Overall Rating: 86%
Crowd Reaction: 91%
Match Quality: 77%

Since returning to World Wrestling Entertainment, Jeff Hardy has been a thorn in John Cena's side. He made his return by costing Cena the WWE Title to Jeff's brother Matt. He also cost Cena his King of the Ring quarterfinal match against Matt. Tonight, Cena looks for revenge.

John Cena vs. Jeff Hardy

Spinning back kick from Jeff Hardy. Hardy only gets knees on a splash. Cena hits a right hand. John Cena misses a clothesline...and takes out the referee by mistake. Death valley driver by John Cena, Jeff Hardy got planted. Cover, but there's no one to count for John Cena. Hardy counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Driven DDT by Jeff Hardy. The ring shook violently, instantly making it better at selling than some of the current roster. Hardy crushes Cena with a running senton. Cover for a two count. Tornado DDT from Jeff Hardy, Cena got planted. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Hardy drops an elbow...but misses. Fate can be so cruel. Full nelson slam on Hardy. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Hardy counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. John Cena is stunned as Hardy heads to the top rope. Whisper In The Wind! 1....2....3. John Cena leaves and walks back down the aisle. Wait...Jeff Hardy comes running as well, and Cena gets dropped with a clothesline, followed by a load of stomps. He is left lying in the aisle. Almost a *** rating, but there were some bits that dragged, so **3\4 instead.

Overall Rating: 81%
Crowd Reaction: 87%
Match Quality: 70%

Speaking of side-thorns, Chris Jericho has been one for World Champion Kurt Angle. Tonight, Angle hopes to finally put his rival away for good in a Submission Match!

Submission Match for the World Title - Kurt Angle (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho gets slammed. Flying shoulder tackle by Angle sends Jericho to the mat. Rude Awakening on Chris Jericho by Angle. Jericho ducks a wild right hand. Springboard reverse elbow by Chris Jericho. Excellent move. Chris Jericho misses a clothesline. Massive backbreaker, Jericho got nailed. Kurt Angle nearly kills Jericho with a released tiger suplex. Angle only gets knees on a splash. Angle walks into a high dropkick from Chris Jericho. Jericho walks into a trip. Jericho tastes a high angle back suplex. It probably tasted like chicken. Kurt Angle has Chris Jericho down...and locks in the Angle Lock for the submission victory! Kurt Angle climbs each turnbuckle in turn, working the crowd as he celebrates his victory A **** rating for a good contest.

Overall Rating: 88%
Crowd Reaction: 90%
Match Quality: 86%

Chris Benoit has already advanced to the finals of King of the Ring by winning our opening contest tonight. His opponent in that match is about to be determined. The Rock made it to the finals of the SmackDown! bracket by defeating John Layfield, Christian, and his long-time rival Brock Lesnar. WWE Champion Matt Hardy Version 2.0 beat Paul London, Eddie Guerrero, and John Cena for this spot. If Matt walks away King of the Ring tonight, what does that mean for the WWE Champion? Will he go after Kurt Angle's World Title?

King Of The Ring SmackDown! Bracket Final - The Rock vs. Matt Hardy Version 2.0

Driven DDT by Matt Hardy Version 2.0. The ring shook violently, instantly making it better at selling than some of the current roster. Super frankensteiner on Rock, who hit hard. There's a two count on the pin. Rock blocks the suplex attempt. The Rock fires off some right and left hands. Fallaway slam by The Rock. Hooks the leg for a two count. The Rock scores with a standing spinebuster. Pin, but Matt is out just before the three count. Rock slams Matt Hardy Version 2.0 down. Matt counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Super kick by Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Cover for a two count. Vicious kick to the teeth from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Driven DDT by Matt Hardy Version 2.0. The ring shook violently, instantly making it better at selling than some of the current roster. Rock walks into a high dropkick from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. The Rock fights out of a grapple. Running knee lift from The Rock. Lifting DDT by The Rock, looked good. Jeff Hardy comes running down the aisle with a chair! Matt goes to irish whip The Rock into the ropes. Hardy prepares to swing the chair...but The Rock reverses! Hardy accidentally smacks Matt with a chair to the back! Matt Hardy Version 2.0 can barely stand. Rock Bottom!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! Hardy Boyz are beating down on The Rock! The music of John Cena hits, and he comes running down the aisle into the ring. Matt and Hardy bail out of the ring, leaving The Rock down in the ring. John Cena may have saved The Rock from a brutal beating. A good *** rating.

Overall Rating: 88%
Crowd Reaction: 94%
Match Quality: 75%

Two weeks ago, Vince McMahon announced a match which wound up being the following. Eddie Guerrero against Brock Lesnar for a shot at Matt Hardy's WWE Title. After the match was announced, Lesnar and his manager Paul Heyman have made Eddie's life a living hell. Can Eddie get his revenge - and a title shot - tonight?

#1 Contender Match for the WWE Title - Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar

Eddie tastes a high angle back suplex. It probably tasted like chicken. Reverse DDT on Eddie. There's a two count on the pin. Eddie blocks a punch. Lesnar walks into a high dropkick from Eddie Guerrero. Eddie hits a dropkick on Brock Lesnar. Hooks the leg for a two count. Power drive elbow by Eddie Guerrero. Pin, but Lesnar is out just before the three count. Second rope flying axe handle, Lesnar goes down. Eddie only gets knees on a splash. Eddie walks into a jaw breaker. There's a two count on the pin. Brock Lesnar brings out a jumping powerbomb to nearly kill Eddie. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Gut buster, Eddie hits hard. Brock Lesnar fires off some right and left hands. Eddie reverses a Brock Lesnar hammerlock. Spin kick by Eddie Guerrero to the face. Power drive elbow by Eddie Guerrero. Brock Lesnar gets knocked to the ground by Eddie, who is already climbing the turnbuckle. Frog Splash!!! 1....2....3!! It's all over. Lesnar grabs the referee, then nails him with a right hand! Dozens of people hit the ring to stop any further incident. A good *** rating.

Overall Rating: 88%
Crowd Reaction: 94%
Match Quality: 76%

And now it's time for our main event! For the last several weeks, thirty-two men have battled it out for a shot to be King of the Ring. Thirty have fallen by the wayside, and now it's time to crown a king. Will it be the Great One, the People's Champion, RAW Bracket winner The Rock? Or will it be the sadistic, vile, Rabid Wolverine, SmackDown! bracket winner Chris Benoit?

King Of The Ring Final - The Rock vs. Chris Benoit

Rock gets caught with a belly to belly suplex from Benoit. Back suplex on Rock, which is a backdrop to you NOAH fans. Rock tastes a high angle back suplex. It probably tasted like chicken. Big dropkick by Chris Benoit, who got good elevation. Benoit only gets knees on a splash. Bodyslam by Rock. Massive backbreaker, Benoit got planted. Early reports indicate that the back was *not* actually broken, so the move's name should actually be backhurter. Cover for a two count. Benoit blocks a kick from The Rock. Reverse DDT into a backbreaker by Chris Benoit, great move. There's a two count on the pin. Corkscrew brainbuster suplex, Benoit hit it well. Hooks the leg for a close fall. The Rock ducks a clothesline attempt. Benoit gets slammed. Rock walks into a trip. Vertical suplex by Chris Benoit. Chris Benoit floors The Rock...and climbs the turnbuckles. Through the air, Swandive Headbutt! 1....2....3. Chris Benoit climbs each turnbuckle in turn, working the crowd as he celebrates his victory *** rating, as it was good, but nothing too special.

Overall Rating: 83%
Crowd Reaction: 87%
Match Quality: 75%