10 Things You Totally Forgot About WWE In 1997
1. Hunter Hearst Helmsley Actually Lost During The King Of The Ring Tournament
Finally, one the most interesting facts of 1997 that fans often forget is that the eventual King Of The Ring winner, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, was actually defeated in the first round of the tournament.
Not only that, but, ironically enough, the man that defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in the first round of the tournament would be the man that Hunter would defeat in the third round of the tournament, Ahmed Johnson.
On the May 12th Monday Night RAW, in an opening round contest, Hunter was disqualified after only a few minutes into his match against Ahmed Johnson. The following week, Hunter was given Vader's spot in another opening round contest against Crush. This was explained on television as being the result of Helmsley threatening to pursue legal action against the World Wrestling Federation for not properly instructing him that a disqualification would result in elimination from the tournament.
In reality, Vader (the original opponent for Crush) had sustained an injury that forced him to be removed from the tournament.
Helmsley would defeat Crush and then, at the pay-per-view, face Ahmed Johnson in a rematch of round one. On his way to being crowned the 1997 King Of The Ring, Hunter pinned Ahmed after delivering the Pedigree in what was considered a pretty big upset at the time.
This marks the second major award of 1997 that was won be a competitor that was previously eliminated (Royal Rumble, King Of The Ring).