The PG Era Rant: 2015 King of the Ring

The PG Era Rant for the 2015 King of the Ring Final Four.

Well, I was supposed to rant on Tuesdays and then Main Event disappeared. But hey, this is a Tuesday show, so let's have some fun together and enjoy the show.

This show is dedicated to the memory of Verne Gagne.

We start with a video about past kings and how winning the King of the Ring title leads to big things for all involved. So which of the four tonight will join them?

Live from the WWE Network.

Your hosts are Michael Cole, JBL, and master of ceremonies Jerry Lawler. Lawler welcomes us and talks about being King of the Ring. But first, highlights of the quarterfinals.

Byron Saxton interviews Sheamus. He says he'll be a 2-time King, but first he has to beat Neville. Yes, Neville defies gravity – but not while he's unconscious. And it doesn't matter who's in the final; Sheamus will become King and make you kiss his arse.

Renee Young, meanwhile, gets Adrian Neville. He reminds us he was a long-reigning NXT Champion, and in just a month, he's in the King of the Ring semis. No one thought he could do this – just as no one thinks he'll win tonight – but he defies gravity and expectations. He's ready to show Sheamus what he can do.

2015 King of the Ring Semifinals: Sheamus v. Adrian Neville. The 1980s Kings are now canon, because Sheamus is trying to join Bret Hart as 2-time King. Sheamus starts with the “lol you're short” hand signal. He shoves Neville in the corner a couple times and talks trash, but Neville forearms and kicks out. Neville handsprings out of the corner, boot is caught, clothesline ducked, but Neville runs into the Irish Curse. Neville shoves Sheamus away as the ref checks on him. Sheamus charges in on kneelifts and delivers a second Irish Curse. Neville tries to fight back from a kneeling position, but Sheamus clubs him down and gets a running knee. Boot choke in the corner follows, and Sheamus goes to a rear bearhug as the crowd chants for Neville. Neville elbows out, then gets the Tito Santana forearms to rattle Sheamus. Sheamus recovers with a knee to the gut, then tosses Neville to try the Ten of Clubs. Neville fights out, so Sheamus throws him into the announce table from the apron. They tease the countout, but Neville's in at 9. Sheamus disgustedly pounds away on Neville before throwing him halfway across the ring. Sheamus with White Noise on Neville... but Dolph Ziggler is here to get his attention. You know, with how Dolph won at Extreme Rules? Sheamus is furious and misses the Brogue Kick from it, and the enzuigiri and Red Arrow ends it at 5:44. Would a clean finish kill them? *3/4

Dolph puts Neville over before addressing Sheamus and saying that, um, there was supposed to be a stipulation for when he won, and it's time to collect. He charges the ring and gets a few shots in, but Sheamus escapes. Sheamus is furious and decides to race back in to continue the fight as ALL the referees come out to do something about it. Sheamus' right eye is busted open from the fight.

I know it wouldn't be very insightful, but I would pay money if the entire Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon podcast was Jericho finding newer ways to call Stephanie a trashbag ho like back in 2000. But that's just me.

Moments ago, for those who don't understand how video on demand works.

Renee Young is with Bad News Barrett. First off, Neville beating Sheamus is one of the biggest upsets in King of the Ring history. Renee said it, not Wade. Barrett wants to know why he should be worried about R-Truth. Once Barrett beats a has-been, he'll take out a never-will-be. When he's done, Neville will be the Man That Everyone Forgot, and they'll only remember Barrett as King.

Byron Saxton is with R-Truth for the rebuttal. Truth's final thoughts: he's still afraid of spiders. But he has a plan: he's not facing his fears. He has something concrete. His plan is become King of the Ring, and when he does, he'll declare that spiders are banned in wrestling. He'll build a castle, make a drawbridge, fill up a moat... wait, are there water spiders? As for Barrett, he's not invited to the castle unless he can kill spiders. He's a goooooooooooooooood R-Truth again.

2015 King of the Ring Semifinals: R-Truth v. Wade Barrett. Truth with a quick rollup for two. The two exchange strikes, with Barrett doing better in it, but Truth stops a whip to dance and get another cradle for two. Barrett boots Truth down for one. Choke on the second rope by Barrett, then some knee strikes and a running boot to send Truth to the outside. On the outside, Barrett sends Truth into the apron and gets two back in. To the chinlock! Barrett misses a blind charge and Truth gets the clotheslines and front suplex for two. Axe Kick misses, but the Lie Detector gets two. A second one gets two. Little Jimmy gets blocked, Bulhammer missed, and the Bossman Slam gets two. Barrett with kicks in the corner, but a blind charge airballs and Little Jimmy gets two, but Barrett gets to the rope. No one bought that as a near fall. Barrett with an eye rake and Bullhammer more or less from nothing to win at 4:38. This never got out of the blocks. ½*

A video tribute to Verne Gagne. It gets a classy ovation. Lawler and JBL share their thoughts.

Renee Young is with Dolph Ziggler. We're reminded of how Ziggler got Sheamus to advance by DQ over Dean Ambrose. But Ziggler eliminated Sheamus this time. Dolph says he's tired of Sheamus being a loud-mouthed bully. He even called Dean Ambrose to apologize, so that story thread is going nowhere. He promises there's more pain to come for Sheamus. This isn't about kissing an arse – it's about kicking one.

This week: Mick Foley! Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon! WrestleMania Rewind – Money/Giant!

Highlights from the Extreme Rules kickoff show, where Neville scored an upset.

Byron Saxton is with Barrett. Saxton says there's some bad news: Neville's already beaten Barrett. Barrett doesn't like fighting twice in one night, but Neville is in trouble because Barrett destroyed R-Truth and has all the momentum. And from here, Barrett will be the King of the Ring.

They really should not have shown the Neville/Barrett highlights. Too many fans know about 50/50 booking nowadays. Of course, those that do also remember Sunday's match...

2015 King of the Ring: Adrian Neville v. Wade Barrett. Winner becomes King of the Ring. With any luck, the loser gets his first name back. Fun little detail: Barrett comes out and points at the throne, clearly shouting “That's mine” as he does. Barrett stalls to start. Lockup leads to a knee from Barrett and works the ribs. Neville with the handspring and head-scissors, then a back heel kick. More kicks, but Barrett pounces on Neville and clotheslines him out of the ring. Barrett with a slam on the outside, then he shoves Neville into the apron. Back in, Barrett gets one. Barrett hangs Neville on the top roe and clubs the back before kicking the ribs for two. Slingshot backbreaker gets two. He stomps on the ribs before going to a half-surfboard with his knee in Neville's ribs. Neville kicks out, staggering Barrett, but Barrett recovers. Neville flips out of another slingshot and kicks away, this time ducking Barrett's rush and sending him out. Neville follows with a springboard quebrada. Back in, Neville with a springboard dropkick. He strikes Barrett with every limb he's got, getting a sliding dropkick and German suplex for two. Neville runs into the Bossman Slam for two. Wasteland try, but Neville escapes and gets a kick before... running back into Wasteland for two. Barrett's running out of ideas, with nothing but the Bullhammer left, and he's ready to deliver it. It misses, and Neville with a cradle and bridge for two. Enzuigiri by Neville and he goes up, but the Shooting Star Press misses. Neville rolls through and charges... right into a Bullhammer for the crown at 7:06. A neat little story they told there, with Neville showing fighting spirit and Barrett unloading the hard shots and winning with experience. **1/4

Barrett puts on the robe and takes the throne. Lawler makes it official. Barrett says he's got the class and elegance to call himself King. He will rule with an iron fist and a Bullhammer. Boom.

And with that, I throw it back to Tommy Hall to take you through the rest of the week. If you want me to do a Network recap, let me know. See you later!