King of the Ring 1998: A Night of Brutality and Championship Drama
The 1998 edition of the King of the Ring stands as one of the most visceral events in professional wrestling history. Held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the pay-per-view combined a high-stakes tournament with some of the most dangerous match stipulations ever seen in the ring. From the technical battles of the tournament to the legendary carnage of the Hell in a Cell match, the event delivered a series of unforgettable moments.
Key Facts
- Tournament Winner: Ken Shamrock won the 1998 King of the Ring tournament.
- Historic Match: The Undertaker vs. Mankind Hell in a Cell is regarded as one of the most discussed matches in wrestling history.
- Title Change: Kane defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a First Blood match to become the WWF Champion.
- Venue: The event took place at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The King of the Ring Tournament
The event kicked off with a series of preliminary matches and the tournament brackets. The night began with a six-man tag team encounter where Taka Michinoku and The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated Kaientai (Funaki, Men's Teioh, and Dick Togo) after Michinoku executed a Michinoku Driver on Funaki.
The tournament semifinals featured intense competition and outside interference. Ken Shamrock advanced by forcing Jeff Jarrett to submit to an ankle lock, despite interference from Jarrett's manager, Tennessee Lee. In the other semifinal, The Rock secured his spot in the finals after D-Lo Brown attacked Dan Severn with a frog splash while the referee was distracted by the Nation of Domination.
In the tournament final, The Rock faced Ken Shamrock. Following a competitive back-and-forth contest, Shamrock applied his signature ankle lock, forcing The Rock to submit and crowning Shamrock the 1998 King of the Ring.
Undercard Highlights and Title Defenses
Beyond the tournament, the event featured several grudge matches. Al Snow and Head faced Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor) with Jerry Lawler as the special guest referee. Lawler's bias led to a victory for Too Much after Christopher pinned Head using a bottle of shampoo.
In a clash between D-Generation X and the Nation of Domination, X-Pac defeated Owen Hart. The match saw interference from Mark Henry and Vader, but it was Chyna's DDT on Hart that allowed X-Pac to secure the pinfall.
The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) successfully defended their WWF Tag Team Championship against The Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob). Despite Jim Cornette's attempts to interfere with his racket, the Outlaws retained their titles after a low blow from Chyna and a high-impact move on the ropes.
The Legendary Hell in a Cell: Undertaker vs. Mankind
The penultimate match of the evening was a Hell in a Cell match—a specialized bout where the ring is enclosed by a giant steel cage—between The Undertaker and Mankind (Mick Foley). This match is renowned for the extreme physical risks Foley took, including ideas brainstormed with Terry Funk to top the previous year's event.
The match was defined by three harrowing moments: Undertaker tossing Mankind from the top of the cell onto the Spanish announce table, a chokeslam through the roof of the cell, and a finale involving thumbtacks. Despite Mankind applying the Mandible claw, The Undertaker eventually won after delivering a Chokeslam and a Tombstone Piledriver onto the thumbtacks.
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The Main Event: First Blood for the WWF Championship
The night concluded with a First Blood match—a stipulation where the first wrestler to bleed loses—between the WWF Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Kane. The match was chaotic, involving the lowering and raising of a Hell in a Cell structure.
The climax occurred when Mankind interfered on Kane's behalf. The Undertaker attempted to stop Mankind with a chair, but the blow accidentally struck Austin, causing him to bleed. Although Austin subsequently attacked Kane with a chair to make him bleed, the referee had already spotted Austin's injury. Consequently, Kane was awarded the victory and the WWF Championship.
Event Summary
| Match Type | Winner | Loser(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six-Man Tag | Taka Michinoku & Headbangers | Kaientai | Michinoku Driver finish |
| KOTR Semifinal | Ken Shamrock | Jeff Jarrett | Submission (Ankle Lock) |
| KOTR Semifinal | The Rock | Dan Severn | Interference by Nation of Domination |
| Singles Match | Too Much | Al Snow & Head | Jerry Lawler as guest referee |
| Singles Match | X-Pac | Owen Hart | Interference by Chyna |
| WWF Tag Team Title | New Age Outlaws | Midnight Express | Titles Retained |
| KOTR Final | Ken Shamrock | The Rock | 1998 Tournament Winner |
| Hell in a Cell | The Undertaker | Mankind | Featured falls from the cell |
| WWF Championship | Kane | Stone Cold Steve Austin | First Blood stipulation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1998 King of the Ring tournament?
Ken Shamrock won the tournament by defeating The Rock in the final round using an ankle lock submission.
What happened during the Hell in a Cell match between Undertaker and Mankind?
The match is famous for Mankind being thrown from the top of the cell onto the announce table and being chokeslammed through the roof of the cell, ending with a Tombstone Piledriver onto thumbtacks.
How did Kane win the WWF Championship from Steve Austin?
In a First Blood match, Mankind accidentally caused Austin to bleed when The Undertaker's chair shot missed Mankind and hit Austin instead. Because Austin bled first, Kane was declared the winner.
Where did the event take place?
The event was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Who were the commentators for the event?
The English commentary team consisted of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, with Triple H joining for the tournament finals. The Spanish team featured Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich, with Chyna joining for the finals.