King of the Ring 1996

Commentary Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Owen Hart
This was the first King of the ring where the full tournament was not shown on the PPV. The King of the Ring 1996 PPV began with the Semi-final round, where Stone Cold Steve Austin took on Marc Mero, managed by Sable. This was a good performance from both Marc Mero and a quicker Steve Austin. Both competitors performed some impressive moves and the match is definitely worth a watch. It is Steve Austin who advances to the final of the King of the Ring 1996.
The next match is the second semi-final of the King of the Ring 1996 tournament with Vader taking on Jake the Snake Roberts. Surprisingly, it is Jake the Snake Roberts who beats Vader by disqualification and advances to the final to face Steve Austin later in the PPV.
The next match is for the tag team titles with champions Smoking Gunns, Billy and Bart along with their new manager Sunny, versus the Godwinns, Henry and Phineas. Sunny previously managed the Godwinns until she turned on them and joined the Smoking Gunns. The Smoking Gunns take the win though at the end when Bart strikes Phineas with his boot to the back of the head, thus retaining their titles.
The next match is between the Ultimate Warrior and Jerry the King Lawler. The match is short but this really would not have been any better if it was longer. Jerry Lawler does hit his finishing move the piledriver, and the Ultimate Warrior immediately gets up just like he did with Triple H’s finisher the pedigree at Wrestlemania 12. Following his usual moves of shoulder block, gorilla press drop, and running splash, the Ultimate Warrior gets the win. King of the Ring 1996 was the last WWE PPV that the Ultimate Warrior appeared at.
Mankind takes on the Undertaker after sparking their feud at In Your House 8 1996, when Mankind interfered in the Undertaker’s match and caused him the loss. Rather than his usual aisle entrance, The Undertaker appears on top of the ring post when the lights turn on and attack Mankind. The match ends when Paul Bearer accidentally hits the Undertaker with his own urn and thus allowing Mankind to apply the mandible claw and claim the victory.
The next match is between Intercontinental champion Goldust, with his manager Marlena defending his title against Ahmed Johnson. The match is a little longer than what it needs to be, but Ahmed eventually defeats Goldust to become the new Intercontinental champion.
Brian Pillman appears do cut a promo for his signing with WWE although he does appear with crutches and promotes his deranged personality.
The final of the King of the Ring 1996 is next with Jake the Snake Roberts who is already injured against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Although the match is very short, it is nearly stopped by WWE President Gorilla Monsoon, as Jake is injured. However, Jake insists it continues until Steve Austin finally pins him.
Steve Austin then delivers his classic speech during his crowning as the King of the Ring 1996. This is the moment where Austin 3:16 is born.
The main event is a repeat from the last PPV In Your House 8 1996, with WWE Champion Shawn Michaels with Jose Lothario against The British Bulldog with Jim Cornette. Mr Perfect is assigned as the special enforcer. This match is longer than the previous one they had. Diana Smith again is at ringside watching the match as the feud between Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog involved accusations that Shawn was making advances at Diana. The match is decent due to the talent of both individuals, although it does not feel like the main event match. Shawn Michaels does pin the British Bulldog to win, however, then Owen Hart does disrupt the match at the end, but Ahmed Johnson arrives to even followed Vader and then finally the Ultimate Warrior. At the end Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson and the Ultimate Warrior celebrate. The main event is then announced for In Your House 9 as a six-man tag, with British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Vader versus Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson and the Ultimate Warrior.