The King of the Ring 1999, held on June 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina, featured a series of contentious matches that left fans divided. With an attendance of 19,761, the event was a showcase of the chaotic nature of the Attitude Era, culminating in a ladder match for control of the company between Steve Austin and the McMahon family.
The show opened with a brief introduction highlighting the tension between Vince McMahon and Austin, setting the stage for the evening’s dramatic encounters. The tournament format featured several well-known competitors, including Ken Shamrock, Big Show, and Chyna. However, the matches quickly drew criticism for their execution and lack of coherence.
Quarterfinal Matches Prove Disappointing
The first quarterfinal match saw Hardcore Holly face off against X-Pac. Holly’s aggressive tactics led to a disqualification at just over three minutes, leaving the audience unimpressed. The match was rated a mere D+, indicating a lack of quality that characterized several contests throughout the evening. A post-match altercation further exacerbated the negative sentiment towards Holly’s performance.
Following this, Kane clashed with Big Show. This bout ended with a chair shot that resulted in a pinfall for Kane after a similarly chaotic sequence. The match received an F grade, highlighting the excessive reliance on interference and the absence of a clean finish.
The third quarterfinal featured Billy Gunn against Shamrock, who appeared injured but still fought valiantly. Despite his effort, the referee stopped the match, awarding Gunn the victory. This match, rated C-, showcased some action but ultimately felt rushed and lacking in substance.
Tag Team Action and Main Events
In a notable tag team match, the Hardy Boyz took on Edge and Christian. This encounter was a refreshing change, as it allowed the competitors to demonstrate their skills without the excessive interference seen in previous bouts. The Hardys secured a victory with a Twist of Fate, earning a B- rating for its energy and execution.
The main event saw the Rock challenge Undertaker for the WWF Title. The match was eventful, featuring multiple ref bumps and outside interference, yet it felt overly drawn out and cluttered. The finish came when Undertaker retained his title with a Tombstone after a series of chaotic exchanges, earning a D+ rating from critics.
The evening culminated in the ladder match for company control between Austin and Shane McMahon. After a tumultuous bout filled with high spots and dramatic moments, Shane emerged victorious, pulling down the briefcase after a series of chaotic exchanges. The match received a B- rating, though many felt it lacked the significance it was intended to hold, given the subsequent storyline developments.
As the dust settled on King of the Ring 1999, the consensus among fans and critics was that the overall presentation was lackluster. With excessive reliance on chaos and interference, the tournament aspect felt overshadowed by the narrative surrounding the McMahons and Austin. The show concluded with the feeling that while it delivered some memorable moments, it ultimately failed to meet expectations, marking it as a significant low point in the series.
