STEVE AUSTIN VS. BOB HOLLY

 

  Vince McMahon welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, he’s on commentary for this match with Jerry “The King” Lawler. He hypes the Ahmed Johnson vs. Goldust Intercontinental Championship match tonight, along with the continuation of the King of the Ring tournament. Steve Austin makes his way out to the ring, where Bob Holly awaits. We see Ted DiBiase being forced to leave the WWF at Beware of the Dog 2 and the reason there was a Beware of the Dog 2.

 

STEVE AUSTIN VS. BOB HOLLY

(King of the Ring First Round)

WWF Raw (3^rd June 1996)

©World Wrestling Entertainment

   As we return to live action Holly and Austin have locked up, Steve Austin backs Holly into the corner and breaks clean before a tense staredown. Austin gets Holly in a headlock. Bob Holly tries to escape with a top wristlock, but that doesn’t work so he strikes Austin in the gut, who transitions into a hammerlock. Bob Holly counters into one of his own, they fight over a top wristlock but Holly takes Austin down as McMahon Mentions Jake Roberts and Hunter Hearst-Helmsley are also facing in a King of the Ring match tonight. Steve Austin gets to his feet as Holly has control of the arm and backs him into the ropes, forcing the break. Austin backs off but I swear the referee counted 5 and just ignored it. Austin trips Bob Holly with a single leg takedown and drives his elbow into the hamstring, then grapevines the ankle. Bob Holly is able to force Austin down to the mat and drops his leg on Austin’s face to break the hold. Vince finally talks about the match almost 5 minutes into it as they get to their feet.

 

  Steve Austin asks for a test of strength, then kicks Holly in the gut, a clubbing blow to the back of the neck drops Holly, as does the elbow that followed. Bob Holly blocks an attempt at a turnbuckle attack and sends Austin’s head into it. Austin walks across the ring and Holly does the same there, Austin grabs Holly in the corner to buy some time. Austin chops at Bob Holly in the corner but gets an instant receipt. Holly hip tosses Austin out of the corner and slows it down with a chinlock. Austin is able to fight to his feet and takes Holly down, breaking the hold and following up with a back elbow. Austin connects with an elbow drop and fist drop on the mat, then hits a backbreaker on Bob Holly. Steve Austin snapmares Bob Holly down in the perfect position for a knee drop and goes to the middle rope, he hits an elbow drop and covers but only gets 2. Bob Holly fights to his feet but gets dumped through the ropes. Steve Austin hits an ax handle from the apron and breaks the count.

 

  Bob Holly gets back to the apron, Austin snaps his throat off the top rope before bringing him in the ring. Austin snapmares him down and puts on a chinlock. Lawler says Holly will mount an offense when the O-Zone layer gets repaired and it’s not much different with the O-Zone a quarter of a Century later. Anyway, Holly beats the O-Zone by fighting to his feet with right hands. He throws in some lefts for variety and sends Austin off the ropes, Austin kicks Holly and hits an elbow drop to the back of the head, He uses the middle rope to get some height on a knee drop and covers for 2. Steve Austin snapmares Holly down as we go to commercial and Holly’s in a chinlock on the mat as we come back. Bob Holly fights to his feet but can’t get anything going as Austin moves out to the apron, Holly blocks another turnbuckle shot, he sends Austin’s head into it instead, and again. Austin is brought across the ring and his head meets the top turnbuckle on that side too. He pokes Bob Holly in the eye and climbs to the top rope but gets crotched. Austin climbs down to the mat and is sent across the ring into a back body drop. Holly sends him for the ride again, into a back elbow and covers but Austin kicks out at 2. Bob Holly starts a 10-punch in the corner but Austin shoves him down, Steve Austin locks in the Million Dollar Dream, bringing Bob Holly down, Holly tries to fight but Austin puts him away.

 

WINNER: STEVE AUSTIN

 

I was impressed with this match, it was better than I expected going in. They got a decent enough amount of time to have an even match and it’s always fascinating for me watching od mechanic Steve Austin matches. A lot of elbows and knees but these two worked well together and the crowd was into it, one of the better early round King of the Ring matches [***] 6/10.