STEVE AUSTIN VS. BOB HOLLY

 Steve Austin has just lost his manager, Ted DiBiase Sr. At WWF In Your House: Beware of the Dog 2 the previous Tuesday. Vince McMahon welcomes us to the show and hypes up Ahmed Johnson vs. Goldust for the King of the Ring Pay-Per-View during the entrances. 

Jerry “The King” Lawler and Vince McMahon are on commentary for this match. Howard Finkel is our ring announcer. 

STEVE AUSTIN VS. SPARK PLUGG (King of the Ring 1996 round 1) 

WWF Monday Night Raw (3rd June 1996) 

 Steve Austin grabs a headlock, Holly tries to get out with right hands, but Austin turns it into a hammerlock, Bob Holly counters into one of his own. Vince McMahon hypes another King of the Ring first round match between Jake Roberts and Hunter Hearst-Helmsley on this show as Bob Holly takes Austin down in a top wristlock. 

  Steve Austin backs Holly against the ropes to force the clean break. Austin shoots for Spark Plugg’s leg and takes him down before dropping his elbow into Holly’s thigh. Austin traps Holly’s ankle until Bob Holly kicks at Austin with his calf. Steve Austin wants a test of strength as they get back to their feet, Austin kicks Bob Holly in the midsection, but Holly blocks his own path into the top turnbuckle and sends Austin’s head into it instead. Steve Austin grabs a front facelock in the ropes, then chops Bob Holly, who responds with overhand chops in the corner and a hip toss across the ring. Bob Holly works a chinlock until he is thrown over Austin’s shoulder. Austin connects with elbow drops and a rib breaker. Austin smiles before hitting a knee drop, then he goes to the middle rope for an elbow drop, and covers Holly for 2. 

 Bob Holly fights back from his knees but gets sent through the ropes, Steve Austin hits an ax handle from the apron as McMahon hypes the tournament. Austin snaps Holly’s neck off the top rope and brings him back in the ring. Steve Austin snapmares Holly into a chinlock and Lawler makes a joke about the O-Zone layer so you know it’s the 1990’s. Bob Holly is able to fight to his feet, connecting with wild punches on Austin. Bob Holly sends Austin off the ropes but he ducks too early. Austin kicks Bob Holly, and connects with another elbow drop. Steve Austin uses the bottom rope to get some more height on the knee drop, covering for 2 as we go to a commercial break. 

 When we return, Steve Austin has Bob Holly in a chinlock, but Holly fights back to his feet. Austin cuts him off and goes to the apron, but Bob Holly sends him into the turnbuckles either side of the apron. Austin gets a breather with a thumb to Holly’s eye but gets tripped as he tries to climb to the top rope. Bob Holly sends Steve Austin off the ropes into a back body drop, then again into a back elbow for a nearfall. Steve Austin goes to the corner for a breather, but Holly catches him and starts the 10-punches in the corner. Steve Austin shoves Holly to the mat at 6, then stalks him, ready to put in the Million Dollar Dream! Bob Holly starts to fade to the sleeper hold, and the referee calls the match. 

  This match got more time than I was expecting it to, but they didn’t seem to do much with it. Steve Austin still needed DiBiase’s move to win the match, so that’s something to keep note of in the coming weeks. [**] 3/10 

  After the match we are shown the tournament brackets so far. Steve Austin will face either Savio Vega or Marty Jannetty in the next round.