WWF King of the Ring '85 (alt-WWF)

WWF King of the Ring is a 1985 professional wrestling event put on by the World Wrestling Federation. It was the first iteration of the King of the Ring event and the fourth event overall in the alternate-WWF timeline. The event, broadcast on Closed Circuit Television, emanated from the Boston Garden in Boston Massachusetts, with a paid attendance of 12, 810. The centerpiece of the event was an 8-Man, One Night tournament to determine who "the thoughest, most durable wrestler" in the WWF was. Other matches taking place on the card include WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defending his title against The Magnificent Muraco and WWF Tag Team Champions The US Express defending against The Gargantuans.

Prelude
The King of the Ring Tournament was set up to determine who the toughest man in the WWF was, according to commissioner Arnold Skaaland. 8 Men were given a chance to compete for the prestigious title, which included bragging rights and an undisclosed cash purse (as well as ceremonial crown and scepter). Entering the tournament, several future stars would be competing in the first round, including Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat and Bret Hart.

The Magnificent Muraco was granted a title shot against WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by way of winning a 20-Man Battle Royal (though this battle royal was untelevised). Muraco and manager Mr. Fuji then made fun of the Hulkster by spoofing him on an episode of "Fuji Vice", with midget wrestler Lord Littlebrook appearing as "Hulk Hogan". This led to a confrontation with the Hulkster, which ended with Fuji throwing salt into the champion's eyes.

Bobby Heenan had paired up his two biggest clients, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy, to form what was billed as the "largest tag team in professional wrestling history." Having destroyed every team they had gone against, Heenan demanded and received a title shot for his men, with the US Express portrayed as heavy underdogs despite being champions entering the match.

Event
The show kicked off with the four first round matches of the KOTR tournament, beginning with the "Macho Man" Randy Savage facing David Sammartino, who was accompanied to the ring by his father Bruno. The younger Sammartino was the toughest challenge the undefeated Savage had faced up to that point, but the Macho Man defeated him nonetheless. Ricky Steamboat then faced Bret Hart in what would prove to be the match of the night, with both men putting on a technical clinic, and Steamboat winning via rollup just before the time limit expired on the match.

Paul Orndorff, having turned face the month previous, faced against former WWF Champion The Iron Sheik. Despite the Sheik attempting several times to lock Orndorff into his patented Camel Clutch, Orndorff persevered and defeated him with a piledriver. Roddy Piper finished off the first round, defeating former IC Champion Tito Santana with help from his bodyguard, Bob Orton. In between rounds, TV Champion Rocky Johnson defended his title against Moondog Rex.

In the semifinals, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat put on a master class that was cut short when, accidentally, Elizabeth was knocked from the ring apron by Steamboat. While The Dragon was apologetic in checking on Elizabeth, Savage's jealousy took hold and the Macho Man hit Steamboat with a double axehandle off the top to the outside, before tossing him back in and attacking with reckless abandon. After refusing to break a choke hold, Savage was disqualified, but he didn't leave before delivering two top rope elbows to the injured Dragon. In the other semifinal match, former allies Orndorff and Piper squared off for the first time, and it was clear Orndorff was more worried about getting back at Piper and Orton for their betrayal of him. Orton was neutralized early on after being rammed into a post, but the distraction he provided later in the match when he returned to ringside gave Piper the opening he needed to win via rollup while holding on to the tights.

The Gargantuans steamrolled the US Express in dominant fashion, winning the tag team titles despite the best efforts of Windham and Rotunda. In the final match of the tournament, it was clear that the injured ribs of Steamboat hindered him greatly. Piper was handicapped by a directive from Arnold Skaaland that banned Orton from ringside, but in the end this was not an issue as Piper defeated Steamboat with a sleeper hold and became the first ever King of the Ring. At the coronation ceremony, Piper promised to reign over all his subjects with abject unfairness and tyranny, before being chased off stage by Orndorff.

In the main event, Hogan sold the "injuries" to his eyes, but overcame them eventually, turning the match against Muraco and emerging victorious once more.

Aftermath
Following their tag title victory, Heenan would turn his attention to "squashing" Hulkamania and capturing the WWF title as well. Piper and Orndorff would continue to feud for much of the year, exacerbated by an incident when Orndorff destroyed Piper's ceremonial scepter and crown.