The King of the Ring 1999 unfolded on June 27, 1999, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, attracting an audience of 19,761 fans. This event, set during the height of the Attitude Era, featured a mix of tournament matches and a high-stakes handicap ladder match for control of the company, showcasing the intense rivalry between Vince McMahon and Steve Austin.
The show commenced with a video package highlighting McMahon’s disdain for Austin, who was portrayed as running the company. The primary focus of the night was a ladder match, where the winner would gain control of the WWF. Alongside this, several quarterfinal matches were held to determine the King of the Ring.
Quarterfinal Matches and Early Drama
The tournament began with Hardcore Holly facing X-Pac. Holly’s aggressive style led him to use a chair, resulting in a disqualification at just 3:01, earning a rating of D+. The match failed to deliver a strong opening, leaving fans disappointed. Following this, Big Show faced Kane, but the match also suffered from interference and a lack of cohesive storytelling, culminating in another low rating of F.
In the third quarterfinal, Billy Gunn took on Ken Shamrock. Despite Shamrock’s severe injury, the match ended prematurely due to a referee stoppage, garnering a C- rating. The tension built as the audience anticipated the next matchup, which featured Road Dogg against Chyna. The match included significant interference from Triple H, further diluting the competition’s integrity and earning a D+ rating.
Tag Team Action and Semifinals
One of the highlights of the evening was a tag team match between Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz. This fast-paced encounter showcased the agility and teamwork of both teams, resulting in a B- rating. The Hardys secured victory with a Twist of Fate, providing a brief respite from the evening’s misfires.
As the semifinals approached, Billy Gunn faced Kane, but once again, the match was marred by repetitive interference and a lack of clean finishes, resulting in another D+ rating. The final semifinal match featured X-Pac against Road Dogg, which, despite being cleanly executed, ended quickly with X-Pac’s victory.
The anticipation for the finals mounted as the audience awaited the main event of the night.
Main Event and Aftermath
The main event featured a ladder match between Vince McMahon and Steve Austin, with Shane McMahon originally slated to participate but later revealed as the surprise partner. The match was chaotic and included several dramatic moments, with Austin ultimately winning after Shane pulled down the briefcase to secure victory for his team at 17:13. Although the match had its moments, it felt disconnected from the overall narrative of the evening, receiving a B- rating.
In conclusion, the King of the Ring 1999 event suffered from a series of issues, including excessive interference, low-quality matches, and poor storytelling. The tournament aspect felt like an afterthought, overshadowed by the chaos surrounding the ladder match. As a result, many fans left feeling that the evening had not lived up to its potential and that the showcase of talent was ultimately wasted.
The final results from the tournament were as follows:
– X-Pac def. Hardcore Holly via DQ
– Kane def. Big Show with a chair shot
– Billy Gunn def. Ken Shamrock via referee stoppage
– Road Dogg def. Chyna with a pumphandle slam
– Hardy Boyz def. Edge and Christian with a Twist Of Fate
– Billy Gunn def. Kane with a chair shot from Big Show
– X-Pac def. Road Dogg with the X-Factor
– Undertaker def. The Rock with a Tombstone
– Billy Gunn def. X-Pac with a middle rope Fameasser
– Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon def. Steve Austin, with Shane pulling down the briefcase
Overall, the event is remembered as a low point for the promotion, illustrating the need for a reset in storytelling and match execution for future events.