‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin‘s 1996 King of the Ring victory is perhaps the most famous one to this date. While it wasn’t necessarily the best victory, it certainly was the most impactful one and one that also changed the timeline of WWE history. All of it came out as a matter of circumstance because Austin was never scheduled to win the tournament in the first place.
That aside, the overall PPV itself was that of fantastic quality, with many comparing it to the biggest PPVs in terms of quality. That aspect of it often goes overlooked but there were quite a few circumstances surrounding Austin’s win and the PPV in general that not many people know about.
This isn’t simply about Austin’s win, but the overall PPV in itself. Here are a few incredible facts from that PPV.
Next Page: The Bottom Line: Fun Facts About Steve Austin’s 1996 King Of The Ring Victory
#5.) Marc Mero was handed his first televised loss at the PPV
Marc Mero seemed to be quite the steal for WWF, being the first person in the company’s history to get a guaranteed contract. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t live up to the expectations during his first few months and he was protected until King of the Ring, where Steve Austin defeated him in the semifinals clean as a whistle.
While he did have an Intercontinental title run later that year, it didn’t really pale in comparison to what had happened. It was a clear indicator that they had somewhat given up on Mero and didn’t push him the same way again.
Next Page: The Bottom Line: Fun Facts About Steve Austin’s 1996 King Of The Ring Victory
