King of the Ring First-Round Matches 2014

Brian Christopher pinned Ric Flair after a sunset flip in 0:01:26.
Rating: ** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

Interview:
Ric Flair announced his immediate retirement to a weeping crowd.
Click here to see highlights.

Dean Malenko made Diamond Dallas Page submit to the Texas Cloverleaf in 0:05:23
.
Rating: ** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Ken Shamrock made Arn Anderson submit to the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:09:53.
Rating: **** 1/4
Click here to see highlights.

Hayabusa pinned Ahmed Johnson after a standing moonsault in 0:04:36.
Rating: ** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

Kendo Ka Shin made Brian Pillman submit to a kneebar in 0:15:00.
Rating: *** 1/4
Click here to see highlights.

Shinjiro Otani pinned Tiger Jeet Singh with the Dragon Suplex in 0:10:34.
Rating: -3/4*
Click here to see highlights.

Jushin Liger pinned Tatsumi Fujinami after a tiger suplex in 0:19:35.
Tatsumi Fujinami tore his right calf muscle. He will be out for approximately 7
 cards.
Rating: ****
Click here to see highlights.

Hollywood Hogan defeated Rocky Maivia via pinfall in 0:15:16.
Rating: * 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Bret Hart and Val Venis defeated Dan Severn and Masato Tanaka when V. Venis
 pinned Severn with the Money Shot in 0:04:53.
Rating: ****
Click here to see highlights.

Al Snow pinned Vader after a springboard dropkick in 0:12:13.
Rating: **** 1/4

Interview:
Cactus Jack and Sabu challenged anybody to a title match.
Click here to see highlights.

Steve Williams and Stan Hansen defeated Cactus Jack and Sabu when S. Williams
 defeated Sabu by disqualification in 0:16:40.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Cactus Jack and Sabu retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
Click here to see highlights.

Chris Benoit pinned Rob Van Dam after a Northern Lights suplex in 0:33:16.
Rating: *****
(Chris Benoit retained the WWF World Title.)
Click here to see highlights.


Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

An era has ended. 

Thanks to Vince McMahon's stupid stipulation that the losers of all first-round
matches would have to leave the WWF at the year's end, "The Nature Boy" Ric 
Flair has decided to hang up his boots effective immediately - no fanfare, no
retirement ceremony, but a lot of bitterness.

Bitterness by the fans towards Vince McMahon, bitterness by Ric Flair towards
Vince McMahon, bitterness by the fans towards Brian Christopher for his comments
about Flair.

Flair isn't the only one who's getting the proverbial axe, though. Arn Anderson,
another legend in his own right, will also have to retire, as will Diamond
Dallas Page and Brian Pillman - thus definitely ending either incarnation of
the Four Horsemen.

Ahmed Johnson and Tiger Jeet Singh's losses weren't unexpected and Fujinami's
loss isn't one of great importance since he was a guest anyway but it is very
unfortunate that The Rock will also have to bite the bullet at the end of the
year.

At least not everything is lost in the latter case, though, as federation 
officials are carefully examining the footage from the ending of the Hogan vs
Maivia match.

Bret Hart and Val Venis may be turning into the sensation of the decade. A tag
team title match is imminent. Who the tag champs will be ? That will be decided
at the King of the Ring, although this unconventional team should be able to
easily adjust to anyone else.

Vader has also made it clear that it will be several months before he makes his
WWF return as his injuries seemingly haven't healed all that well yet. 

Chris Benoit and Rob Van Dam put up an absolute wrestling clinic tonight. It's
only a matter of time until Van Dam carries the federation gold. However, on
this night, Chris Benoit was the better man. Al Snow is next.