10 Fascinating WWE King Of The Ring 1996 Facts
8. Austin Needed 16 Stitches After His Match With Marc Mero
If all you've ever seen from the 1996 King of the Ring is Austin's famed promo, you missed some tremendous wrestling from that night. The opener is among the goodness from the card, as Austin went over on "Wildman" Marc Mero in a semi-final match, continuing his unabated path to the crown.
In the midst of what was an exciting see-saw battle, Mero attempted a double-leg rolling cradle that would require propelling his legs into Austin's armpits before flipping him into a pinning combination. One of Mero's feet ascended too high, errantly striking Austin in the mouth.
The two finished the match, and Austin was quickly rushed to the hospital to stitch up the gnarly facial wound. He made it back to the arena with little time to spare before his final match.