WWE In 1997 | Wrestling Timelines

16. June 8 | King Of The Ring

Faarooq Undertaker
WWE

King Of The Ring is a decent show, but nothing hugely special.  

While the decision to crown Hunter Hearst Helmsley as the King feels like the WWF is forcing it with him, again, his win over Mankind is good, if too long (again). Mick Foley elevating Triple H becomes one of the WWF’s long-term stories. ‘Taker retains the WWF title over Faarooq in a drab main event; increasingly, the title picture over which so many minds were lost on and offscreen in the spring feels irrelevant and unexciting relative to a sensational and bombastic upper midcard scene. On the subject of which, Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels, who cannot co-exist, go to a double disqualification. The match is pulsating, and only a cop-out finish lowers the score. Austin is on fire. A certain pair of wrestlers, engaged in a real-life battle over the top spot, would do well to recognise his emerging threat; instead, 24 hours later, they are rather preoccupied…

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!