WWE King of the Ring special
April 28, 2015
Moline, Ill.
Aired on WWE Network
Report by PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell

WWE is airing a one-hour special Tuesday night on WWE Network with the final rounds of a two-night King of the Ring tournament.

The bracket:

- Sheamus beat Dean Ambrose (Raw)
- Neville beat Luke Harper (Raw)
- Semi-Final: Sheamus vs. Neville (tonight)

- R-Truth beat Stardust (Raw)
- Bad News Barrett beat Dolph Ziggler (Raw)
- Semi-Final: Barrett vs. Truth (tonight)

- Finals: Bracket A winner vs. Bracket B winner (tonight)

The special opened with "In Memory" for Verne Gagne, who died Monday.

Up first was a video package documenting past King of the Ring winners. Will Neville, Bad News Barrett, Sheamus, or R-Truth win this edition?

In the arena, Michael Cole and JBL were on the call. Ring announcer Eden Stiles then introduced Jerry "the King" Lawler, who emerged on-stage to stand next to the coronation station and introduce the 2015 King of the Ring tournament. Lawler recapped the tournament thus far before introducing a video package documenting the Final Four.

In the locker room, Byron Saxton asked Sheamus about the tournament. Sheamus over-looked Neville, then looked ahead to facing either Bad News Barrett or R-Truth. Sheamus vowed to win and make every "little fella" in WWE kiss his arse.

Over to Renee Young, who was backstage with Neville. Neville noted he was the longest-reigning NXT champion in history and here is two victories away from being 2015 King of the Ring. Neville said no one expects him to beat Sheamus, but he has spent his life defying expectations, just like he defies gravity. Neville vowed to show Sheamus what a "little fella" like him can do. Strong babyface promo. Effective and to the point.

In-ring: Sheamus was introduced first for the opening semi-final match. After Sheamus confidently strolled down to the ring, Neville was introduced as the "new sensation" going opposite the 2010 King of the Ring winner. On the call were Cole, JBL, and now Lawler.

1 -- SHEAMUS vs. NEVILLE -- Semi-Final King of the Ring tournament match

Once the bell sounded, Sheamus cockily walked toward Neville, noting the size difference. Neville did not back down, using his quickness to run around Sheamus until running into a backbreaker. Sheamus soaked in his work as Neville sold intense pain to his mid-section. Sheamus followed up with knees to the gut as the crowd started a "Let's Go Neville" chant. Sheamus with another backbreaker as Sheamus sold anger over the chant.

Sheamus continued to apply pressure before Neville fought back with kick strikes to the thigh. Sheamus flung him over the top rope to the ring apron, though, and continued to target the ribs. Sheamus then pushed Neville off the ring apron hard into the announce table. The ref applied a ten count as Neville sold on the floor. Neville made it back into the ring just in-time, so the match continued with Sheamus punishing Neville. JBL said Neville was just prolonging the inevitable.

Sheamus wanted White Noise, and he connected. Suddenly, Dolph Ziggler interrupted from the stage. Ziggler asked Sheamus if he remembers what happened at Extreme Rules, when he Ziggler beat him. Sheamus, angered, charged Neville for the Brogue Kick, but Neville avoided and kicked Sheamus in the head. Neville then climbed to the top turnbuckle as the crowd rose to their feet and he connected with Red Arrow for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Neville at 5:44. Big win for Neville. Sheamus was protected by dominating for the most part, but Neville got in his finish for the win, as opposed to Ziggler winning by roll-up at Extreme Rules.

Post-match, WWE replayed the Red Arrow from a few different angles before Neville hit the stage to celebrate with Ziggler. Ziggler endorsed Neville, then continued his promo on Sheamus. He noted he's here to collect on the Extreme Rules stipulation. Ziggler charged the ring to try to force Sheamus to kiss his arse, but Sheamus absorbed some punches before rolling out of the ring. Sheamus started to leave, but then decided to run back into the ring to continue the fight. Refs spilled out from all corners of the arena to try to separate Ziggler and Sheamus, but the fight continued.

On the pull-apart, it was apparent Sheamus was bleeding heavily from his eye. The right side of his face was all messed up. Sheamus eventually rolled out of the ring and collected himself on the floor as WWE focused on the blood streaming from Sheamus's right eye. Sheamus tried to no-sell by wiping the blood across his pale chest. They focused on Ziggler to close the intense post-match segment.

[Network Break]

Backstage: Renee Young brought in Bad News Barrett, who over-looked R-Truth, saying he should have Bullhammer-phobia instead of a fear of spiders tonight.

Locker Room: Byron Saxton brought in R-Truth, who said he has a concrete plan. Check it out. His plan is to win King of the Ring, become King, and then declare some things. Like getting rid of all the spiders. The whole family. R-Truth painted a picture of a castle with a drawbridge and a moat. What about his opponent, Barrett? Truth said he's not invited to the castle unless he knows how to kill spiders. Truth said he's got to go, leaving Saxton befuddled.

In-ring: R-Truth jumped from the locker room to the arena for the next semi-final match. Truth rapped down to the ring, then Bad News Barrett was introduced as his opponent.

2 -- R-TRUTH vs. BAD NEWS BARRETT -- King of the Ring Semi-Final match

Truth wanted to dance early on, frustrating Barrett, who responded with a big boot underneath the chin for a two count. Barrett hung up Truth in the ropes, then knocked him down to the floor in front of the ring apron scoreboard. Back in the ring, Barrett slapped on a headlock. Truth broke free and executed a flapjack for a two count. He followed with the Lie Detector, but Barrett kicked out of a pin. Truth then hit What's Up?, but Barrett got his foot on the bottom rope to avoid a three count.

Barrett rolled to the outside to recover, luring in Truth to thumb him in the eye. Barrett then jumped back into the ring to nail the Bullhammer elbow on a disoriented Truth. Barrett pinned Truth for the win.

WINNER: Barrett at 4:36, advancing to face Neville in the finals. Truth had an unusual amount of offense, setting up Barrett to falsely brag about dominating the match later on...

Announcers: Cole and Co. transitioned to remembering Verne Gagne, calling it a sad day today.

Video Package: Verne Gagne through the years. Included was a portion of his WWE Hall of Fame speech. Back live in the arena, the Midwest town applauded after the video aired.

Announcers: Lawler spoke fondly about Gagne, saying Verne believed in him to be AWA champion in the 1980s. JBL said he lived an incredible life.

Backstage: Renee Young brought in Dolph Ziggler. First, a review of the KOTR tournament. They showed Ziggler inadvertently helping Sheamus advance in the tournament by attacking Sheamus, giving Sheamus a DQ win, last night on Raw. However, tonight, Ziggler cost Sheamus his chance to win. Ziggler said he could not take it anymore after what happened at Extreme Rules. He said he apologized to Dean Ambrose for costing him a shot to become King of the Ring, then paused. Ziggler said that was just a taste of what Sheamus is going to get from him. He warned Sheamus not to worry about kissing his arse, but getting it kicked.

Video Package: A look back to the Extreme Rules pre-show, where Neville beat Bad News Barrett. Tonight, Barrett gets a re-match with a high-stakes King of the Ring crown on the line.

Backstage: Saxton was standing by with Barrett. Barrett did not want to hear about Neville beating him at Extreme Rules. He said he is a roll after beating R-Truth, playing a heel lying about plowing through Truth when Truth dominated the match, and now he will sit on his throne.

In-ring: Neville was introduced first for the KOTR Finals. Neville sold rib injuries from his match against Sheamus, then Bad News Barrett was introduced. Barrett confidently strutted down to the ring, telling Neville that he is going to become King tonight. Neville stood stoically in the ring unmoved by Barrett's boasts.

3 -- NEVILLE vs. BAD NEWS BARRETT -- King of the Ring tournament finals

As soon as the bell sounded, Barrett left the ring to make Neville wait to lock up. Barrett eventually returned to the ring and Neville remained standing in-place, not playing Barrett's games. They eventually locked up and Barrett went right for the injured ribs. Barrett followed with a backbreaker for a two count. "Neville, Neville" chant from the crowd as Barrett bent and stretched Neville mid-ring.

Neville broke free, then repeatedly kicked Barrett in the thigh. Neville then ducked a clothesline and smashed Barrett with a powerful lariat that sent Barrett over the top rope to the outside. Neville opted not to catch his breath, but keep the pressure on Barrett by connecting with a majestic moonsault. Both men recovered on the floor.

Back in the ring, Neville lit up Barrett with kicks and strikes, then hit a running boot to the head. Neville followed with his lift-up German Suplex with a bridge for a two count. Neville tried to run the ropes to follow up, but Barrett caught him with Winds of Change for a nearfall of his own. Neville escaped Wasteland, but not a second time. Barrett covered, but Neville kicked out again. Neville followed up with a reverse pin and bridge for a very close two count. Cole thought it was a three count, but the match continued. Neville wanted the Red Arrow, but Barrett rolled out of the way. Barrett then nailed the Bullhammer elbow, and it was good for the win.

WINNER: Barrett at 7:06 to win the KOTR tournament. The outcome fit WWE's booking style to have Barrett get his win back, and likely set up the rubber match. Overall, Neville is well on his way to being a big star for WWE despite some early TV losses. He's just that good in the ring.

On-stage: Barrett made it to the King of the Ring station to receive his robe from the referee. Barrett picked up his crown and scepter, then Jerry Lawler emerged on-stage to congratulate Barrett on the win and interview him. Barrett said he will rule with Bullhammers for all. Boom. Fireworks shot up around the podium as Barrett stood proudly in front of his throne. WWE replayed the finish of the finals, then went to a final shot of Barrett sitting down on his throne sneering toward the crowd.

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