The Great American Bash

The Great American Bash (formely known as The American Bash) is an annual summer professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In the past, it was held by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Jim Crockett Promotions and then in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). According to Ric Flair in his autobiography, To Be the Man, Dusty Rhodes invented the concept of the Great American Bash.

History

National Wrestling Alliance (Jim Crockett Promotions)

1985

The Great American Bash 1985 took place on July 6 1985 at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Jimmy Valiant defeated Paul Jones in a Dog Collar match
• Manny Fernandez, Sam Houston and Buzz Tyler defeated Billy Graham, Konga the Barbarian and Abdullah the Butcher (w/Paul Jones)
  • Houston pinned Graham.
• Ron Bass (w/ James J. Dillon) fought Buddy Landell to a draw
• Ole and Arn Anderson defeated Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater to retain the NWA National Tag Team Championship
  • Ole pinned Sawyer.
• NWA World Tag Team Champions Krusher Khruschev and Ivan Koloff fought AWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) (w/Paul Ellering) to a double disqualification
• Magnum T.A. defeated Kamala (w/Skandor Akbar) by disqualification to retain the NWA United States Championship
• Ric Flair defeated Nikita Koloff (w/Ivan Koloff) with (David Crockett as special referee) to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
• Dusty Rhodes defeated Tully Blanchard (w/Baby Doll) in a Steel cage match to win the NWA World Television Championship
  • Rhodes pinned Blanchard.

1986

Jim Crockett Promotions used The Great American Bash as the name for a tour that had several PPV caliber shows around the country. In 1986, there were 13 Great American Bashes and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Hawk, Ron Garvin, Nikita Koloff, Robert Gibson, Road Warrior Animal, Magnum T.A., Wahoo McDaniel and Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes defeated him for the title at the July 26 Bash. Flair challenged for it on the last Bash on August 2. The cities toured in 1986 were in order as follows: July 1 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 3 in Washington, D.C., July 4 in Memphis, Tennessee, July 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina, July 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 10 in Charleston, West Virginia, July 12 in Jacksonville, Florida, July 18 in Richmond, Virginia, July 21 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, July 23 in Johnson City, Tennessee, July 25 in Norfolk, Virginia, July 26 in Greensboro, North Carolina and August 2 in Atlanta, Georgia.

July 5, 1986 in Charlotte, NC (Memorial Stadium)

• NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Denny Brown fought Steve Regal to a draw
• Robert Gibson def. Black Bart
• Ole and Arn Anderson def. Sam Houston and Nelson Royal
• Manny Fernandez def. Baron Von Raschke (w/Paul Jones) in a Bunkhouse Match
• Wahoo McDaniel def. Jimmy Garvin (w/Precious) in an Indian Strap Match
• Ron Garvin def. Tully Blanchard (w/James J. Dillon) in a Taped Fist Match
• Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering) def. Ivan and Nikita Koloff in a Russian Chain Match
• Jimmy Valiant def. Shaska Whatley (w/Paul Jones) in a Hair vs. Hair Match
• Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A. and Baby Doll def. The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette in a Steel Cage Match
• NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair def. Ricky Morton in a Steel cage match

July 26, 1986 in Greensboro, NC (Greensboro Coliseum)

• Steve Regal def. Sam Houston
• Black Bart and Konga the Barbarian def. Denny Brown and Italian Stallion
• Manny Fernandez def. Baron Von Raschke (w/Paul Jones) in a Loaded Glove on a Pole Match
• Wahoo McDaniel def. Jimmy Garvin (w/Precious) in an Indian Strap Match
• Tully Blanchard (w/James J. Dillon) def. Ron Garvin in a Taped Fist Match
• The Rock 'n' Roll Express fought Ole and Arn Anderson to a draw
• Paul Jones (w/Shaska Whatley) def. Jimmy Valiant in a Hair vs. Hair Match
• Nikita Koloff (w/Ivan Koloff) def. Magnum T.A. in a match in the Best-of-7-Series to win the vacant NWA United States Championship
• Road Warriors and Baby Doll (w/Paul Ellering) def. The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette in a Steel Cage Match
• Dusty Rhodes def. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair in a Steel Cage Match to win the title

1987

The Great American Bash 1987
File:Bash 87.JPG
Promotion	Jim Crockett Promotions
Date	1987
City	Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina and Miami, Florida
Venue	The Omni, Memorial Stadium and Orange Bowl

This was the first use of the WarGames: The Match Beyond match conceived by Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes was on the winning side in both events along with the Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering.

July 4, 1987 in Atlanta, GA (The Omni)

• Kendall Windham def. Gladiator #1
• Sting def. Thunderfoot #1
• LazerTron def. MOD Squad Spike
• Jimmy Valiant def. MOD Squad Basher
• NWA Western States Heritage Champion Barry Windham def. Rick Steiner
• Ron Garvin and Jimmy Garvin (w/Precious) def. Vladimir Petrov and The Barbarian (w/Paul Jones)
• UWF Tag Team Champions Tim Horner and Brad Armstrong def. Angel of Death and Big Bubba Rogers (w/Skandor Akbar)
• Chris Adams def. Black Bart (w/Skandor Akbar) by disqualification
• The Fabulous Freebirds def. Ivan Koloff, Manny Fernandez and Paul Jones
• NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express def. NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) by disqualification
• Steve Williams def. Dick Murdoch in a Texas Death Match
• Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes and Paul Ellering def. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard and James J. Dillon (w/Dark Journey) in a WarGames Match

July 18, 1987 in Charlotte, NC (Memorial Stadium)

• Kendall Windham, Jimmy Valiant and LazerTron def. Sean Royal, Gladiator #1 and Gladiator #2
• Chris Adams def. Black Bart (w/Skandor Akbar)
• NWA Western States Heritage Champion Barry Windham def. Big Bubba Rogers (w/Skandor Akbar)
• Steve Williams and Terry Gordy def. Eddie Gilbert and Dick Murdoch in a Bunkhouse Match
• NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) def. Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts
• NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express def. The MOD Squad
• Road Warrior Animal (w/Paul Ellering) def. Arn Anderson (w/James J. Dillon) in a Taped Fist Match
• NWA United States Champion Lex Luger (w/James J. Dillon) def. Nikita Koloff
• NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair (w/James J. Dillon) def. Road Warrior Hawk (w/Paul Ellering) by disqualification
• Dusty Rhodes (w/Barry Windham) def. Tully Blanchard (w/James J. Dillon & Dark Journey) in a "lights-out" Barbed Wire Ladder Match for $100,000.

July 31, 1987 in Miami, Florida (Orange Bowl)

• Manny Fernandez and The Barbarian (w/Paul Jones) def. Randy Mulkey and Bill Mulkey
• NWA Western States Heritage Champion Barry Windham def. Incubus
• NWA Florida Tag Team Champions The Sheepherders fought Jimmy Garvin and Ron Garvin (w/Precious) to a double disqualification
• NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Mike Rotunda def. Ivan Koloff
• Kevin Sullivan def. Dory Funk, Jr. in a Texas Death Match
• NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express def. NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) by disqualification
• Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering def. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard and The War Machine (w/James J. Dillon & Dark Journey) in a WarGames Match

1988

The Great American Bash 1988
Promotion	National Wrestling Alliance
Date	July 10 1988
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	14,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Bunkhouse Stampede Next → Starrcade 1988

The Great American Bash 1988: The Price of Freedom took place on July 10 1988 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Dark match: Rick Steiner and Dick Murdoch defeated Tim Horner and Kendall Windham
• NWA World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (w/James J. Dillon) fought Sting and Nikita Koloff to a time-limit draw (20:00)
• The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) (w/Jim Cornette) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (16:23)
  • Eaton pinned Fulton.
• The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal), Steve Williams, Jimmy Garvin and Ron Garvin (w/Precious) defeated Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, Al Perez, The Russian Assassin and Ivan Koloff (w/Gary Hart) in a Tower of Doom match (19:55)
• Barry Windham (w/James J. Dillon) defeated Dusty Rhodes to retain the NWA United States Championship (15:55)
  • Windham pinned Rhodes after interference from Ron Garvin.
• Ric Flair (w/James J. Dillon) defeated Lex Luger to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (23:13)
  • The referee stopped the match due to Luger's excessive bleeding, citing Maryland State Athletic Commission guidelines.

1989

The Great American Bash 1989
Promotion	National Wrestling Alliance
Date	July 23 1989
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	12,500
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Wrestle War 1989 Next → Halloween Havoc 1989

The Great American Bash 1989 took place on July 23 1989 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Sid Vicious and Dan Spivey (w/Teddy Long) won a Two-Ring King of the Hill Battle Royal, also involving: Eddie Gilbert, Terry Gordy, Scott Hall, Bill Irwin, Brian Pillman, Ranger Ross, Mike Rotunda, Ron Simmons, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner and Kevin Sullivan
• Brian Pillman defeated Bill Irwin (10:18)
  • Pillman pinned Irwin.
• The Skyscrapers (Sid Vicious and Dan Spivey) (w/Teddy Long) defeated The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas) (9:14)
  • Spivey pinned Ace.
• Jim Cornette defeated Paul E. Dangerously in a Tuxedo match (6:22)
• The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Mike Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan in a Texas Tornado match (4:22)
  • Both Steiners pinned Sullivan.
• Sting defeated The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) to retain the NWA World Television Championship (8:40)
  • Sting pinned Muta.
• Lex Luger defeated Ricky Steamboat by disqualification to retain the NWA United States Championship (10:26)
• The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal), The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) and Steve Williams (w/Jim Cornette) defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin, Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy) and The Samoan Swat Team (Samu and Fatu) (w/Paul E. Dangerously) in a WarGames match (22:18)
  • Hawk forced Garvin to submit.
• Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk (w/Gary Hart) to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (17:23)
  • Flair pinned Funk.

1990

The Great American Bash 1990
File:GAB 90.jpg
Promotion	National Wrestling Alliance
Date	July 7 1990
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	10,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Capital Combat Next → Halloween Havoc 1990

The Great American Bash 1990: New Revolution took place on July 7 1990 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Dark match: David Sierra defeated Mr. X (10:06)
  • Sierra pinned X.
• Doug Furnas defeated Dutch Mantel (11:18)
  • Furnas pinned Mantel.
• Mike Rotunda defeated The Iron Sheik (6:46)
  • Rotunda pinned Sheik.
• Brian Pillman defeated Buddy Landell (9:29)
  • Pillman pinned Landell.
• Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) (w/Teddy Long) defeated The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) to retain the NWA World Tag Team Championship (15:40)
  • Reed pinned Gibson.
• Paul Orndorff, The Junkyard Dog and El Gigante defeated The Four Horsemen (Sid Vicious, Arn Anderson and Barry Windham) (w/Ole Anderson) by disqualification (8:53)
• Harley Race defeated Tommy Rich (6:32)
  • Race pinned Rich.
• Big Van Vader defeated Tom Zenk (2:16)
  • Vader pinned Zenk.
• The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) (13:45)
  • Scott pinned Hayes.
• The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) defeated The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong) to retain the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (18:14)
  • Eaton pinned Smothers.
• Lex Luger defeated Mark Callous (w/Paul E. Dangerously) to retain the NWA United States Championship (12:10)
  • Luger pinned Callous after a clothsline.
• Sting (w/The Dudes with Attitudes) defeated Ric Flair (w/Ole Anderson) to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (16:06)
  • Sting pinned Flair after countering his Figure-Four Leglock attempt into a small package.

World Championship Wrestling

1991

The Great American Bash 1991
File:GAB 91.JPG
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	July 14 1991
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	7,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous SuperBrawl I Next → Halloween Havoc 1991

The Great American Bash 1991 took place on July 14 1991 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

The card was originally to be highlighted by a Steel cage match between Ric Flair and Lex Luger for the WCW World Championship, and this match was heavily promoted on WCW TV. However, just a few days before the show, WCW Executive Vice President Jim Herd fired Flair over a contract dispute, stripping him of the title in the process. Since Flair owned the physical "Big Gold Belt", he took it with him to the World Wrestling Federation, so WCW had to make a temporary WCW World Heavyweight Championship belt just for the event. An old belt (Dusty Rhodes' Florida Heavyweight Championship belt) was used in its place.

• Dark match: The Junkyard Dog defeated Black Bart (12:45)
  • JYD pinned Bart.
• P.N. News and Bobby Eaton (w/Salt-N-Pepa) defeated Steve Austin and Terrance Taylor (w/Lady Blossom and Alexandra York) in a Scaffold match (6:19)
  • Eaton grabbed Austin/Taylor's flag to win.
• The Yellow Dog defeated Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long) by disqualification (6:00)
  • Badd was disqualified when Long interefered.
• Ron Simmons defeated Oz (w/Merlin the Wizard) (7:55)
  • Simmons pinned Oz.
• Big Josh defeated Black Blood (w/Kevin Sullivan) (5:39)
  • Josh pinned Black Blood.
• Dustin Rhodes and The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong) defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Badstreet, Jimmy Garvin, Michael Hayes) (w/Big Daddy Dink) in a Elimination match (17:10)
  • Hayes pinned Armstrong (13:49)
  • Hayes was disqualifed (14:04)
  • Garvin pinned Smothers (15:16)
  • Rhodes pinned Garvin (15:24)
  • Rhodes pinned Badstreet (17:10)
• The Diamond Stud (w/Diamond Dallas Page) defeated Tom Zenk (9:00)
  • Stud pinned Zenk.
• El Gigante (w/a bunch of midgets) defeated One Man Gang (w/Kevin Sullivan) (6:13)
  • Gigante pinned OMG.
• Richard Morton (w/Alexandra York and Mr. Hughes) defeated Robert Gibson (17:03)
  • Morton pinned Gibson.
• Nikita Koloff defeated Sting in a Russian Chain match (11:38)
• Lex Luger (w/Harley Race and Mr. Hughes) defeated Barry Windham in a Steel cage match to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship (12:25)
  • Luger pinned Windham.
• Rick Steiner and Missy Hyatt defeated Arn Anderson and Paul E. Dangerously in a Steel cage match (2:08)
  • Steiner pinned Dangerously.

1992

The Great American Bash 1992
File:GAB 92.jpg
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	July 12 1992
City	Albany, Georgia
Venue	Gray Civic Center
Attendance	8,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Beach Blast 1992 Next → Halloween Havoc 1992

The Great American Bash 1992 took place on July 12 1992 at the Gray Civic Center in Albany, Georgia.

• Dark match: The Super Invader (w/Harley Race) defeated Marcus Bagwell
  • Invader pinned Bagwell.
• Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat defeated Jushin Liger and Brian Pillman (19:26)
  • Steamboat pinned Pillman.
  • This was a quarter-final match in a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.
• Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham defeated Steve Austin and Rick Rude (w/Paul E. Dangerously) (19:15)
  • Rhodes pinned Austin.
  • This was a quarter-final match in a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.
• Hiro Hase and Shinya Hashimoto defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) (9:16)
  • Hase pinned Garvin.
  • This was a quarter-final match in a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.
• Terry Gordy and Steve Williams defeated Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat (21:39)
  • Williams pinned Steamboat.
  • This was a semi-final match in a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.
• Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham defeated Hiro Hase and Shinya Hashimoto (14:55)
  • Windham pinned Hase.
  • This was a semi-final match in a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.
• Big Van Vader (w/Harley Race) defeated Sting to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (17:17)
  • Vader pinned Sting after a powerbomb.
• Terry Gordy and Steve Williams defeated Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham to win the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship (21:10)
  • Williams pinned Rhodes.
  • This was the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA Tag titles.

1995

The Great American Bash 1995
File:GAB 95.jpg
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 18 1995
City	Dayton, Ohio
Venue	Hara Arena
Attendance	6,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 1995 Next → Bash at the Beach 1995

The Great American Bash 1995 took place on June 18 1995 at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio.

• Dark match: Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) (6:46)
  • Booker pinned Rogers.
• Dark match: Sgt. Craig Pittman defeated Scott D'Amore (2:16)
  • Pittman forced D'Amore to submit.
• Dark match: Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck defeated Frankie Lancaster and Barry Houston (3:52)
  • Houston was pinned.
• Alex Wright defeated Brian Pillman (15:42)
  • Wright pinned Pillman.
• Dave Sullivan defeated Diamond Dallas Page (w/The Diamond Doll and Maxx Muscle) in an Arm Wrestling contest
  • Sullivan won a date with The Diamond Doll by winning.
• Jim Duggan defeated Sgt. Craig Pittman by disqualification (8:13)
• Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) (w/Sister Sherri) defeated Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck (w/Colonel Robert Parker and Meng) (8:39)
  • Booker pinned Buck.
• The Renegade defeated Arn Anderson to win the WCW World Television Championship (9:07)
  • Renegade pinned Anderson.
• The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) defeated The Bluebloods (Earl Robert Eaton and Lord Steven Regal) to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship (15:03)
  • Knobbs pinned Eaton.
• Sting defeated Meng (w/Colonel Robert Parker) to win the vacant WCW United States Championship (13:34)
  • Sting pinned Meng.
  • This was a semi-final match in a tournament for the vacant US Title, but the other semi-final match ended in a no-contest making this match for the title.
• Ric Flair defeated Randy Savage (w/Angelo Poffo) (14:42)
  • Flair pinned Savage.

1996

The Great American Bash 1996
File:GAB 96.JPG
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 16 1996
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	9,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 1996 Next → Bash at the Beach 1996

The Great American Bash 1996 took place on June 16 1996 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Dark match: Rocco Rock defeated Jerry Sags (1:46)
  • Rock pinned Sags.
• Dark match: Michael Wallstreet defeated Jim Powers (3:07)
  • Wallstreet pinned Powers.
• Dark match: Jim Duggan defeated Disco Inferno (2:09)
  • Duggan pinned Inferno.
• The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Fire and Ice (Scott Norton and Ice Train) (10:29)
  • Scott pinned Norton after a Frankensteiner.
• Konnan defeated El Gato to retain the WCW United States Championship (6:03)
  • Konnan pinned Gato after a Flapjack Spinebuster into a Jackknife Pin.
• Diamond Dallas Page defeated Marcus Bagwell (w/Scotty Riggs) (9:39)
  • Page pinned Bagwell after a Diamond Cutter.
• Dean Malenko defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. to retain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (17:50)
  • Malenko pinned Misterio after a Powerbomb and used ropes for extra leverage.
• John Tenta defeated Big Bubba Rogers (w/Jimmy Hart) (5:24)
  • Tenta pinned Rogers after a Powerslam.
  • After the match, Tenta shaved Rogers' goatee off.
• Chris Benoit defeated Kevin Sullivan (w/Jimmy Hart) in a Falls Count Anywhere match (9:58)
  • Benoit pinned Sullivan after a Superplex.
  • After the match, Arn Anderson came to the ring and helped Benoit attack Sullivan.
• Sting defeated Lord Steven Regal (w/Jeeves) (16:30)
  • Sting forced Regal to submit with a Scorpion Deathlock.
• Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (w/Woman and Miss Elizabeth) defeated Kevin Greene and Steve McMichael (w/Randy Savage, Debra McMichael and Terri Greene) (20:51)
  • Flair pinned Greene after McMichael turned on Greene and hit him with a steel briefcase.
  • After the match, Chris Benoit came out and the reformed Four Horsemen attacked Greene.
• The Giant (w/Jimmy Hart) defeated Lex Luger to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (9:21)
  • Giant pinned Luger after a Chokeslam.

1997

The Great American Bash 1997
File:GAB 97.jpg
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 15 1997
City	Moline, Illinois
Venue	The MARK of the Quad Cities
Attendance	9,613
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 1997 Next → Bash at the Beach 1997

The Great American Bash 1997: Savage/Page II took place on June 15 1997 at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois.

• Ultimo Dragon defeated Psychosis (w/Sonny Onoo) (14:20)
  • Dragon forced Psychosis to submit with the Dragon Sleeper.
• Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) (w/Sister Sherri) defeated The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) by disqualification (12:02)
  • The Steiners were disqualified when Vincent attacked Harlem Heat, Harlem Heat became #1 contenders to the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
• Konnan defeated Hugh Morrus (10:34)
  • Konnan forced Morrus to submit with the Tequila Sunrise.
• Glacier defeated Wrath (w/James Vandenburg and Mortis) (12:02)
  • Glacier pinned Wrath after hitting him with a chain Mortis threw into the ring for Wrath.
  • During the match, Mortis was handcuffed to the ring post.
• Akira Hokuto (w/Sonny Onoo) defeated Madusa in a Title vs. Career match to retain the WCW Women's Championship (11:41)
  • Hokuto pinned Madusa after a Brainbuster.
  • Due to the loss, Madusa had to retire.
• Chris Benoit defeated Meng in a Death match (14:59)
  • Benoit forced Meng to submit with the Crippler Crossface.
• Kevin Greene defeated Steve McMichael (w/Debra McMichael) (9:21)
  • Greene pinned McMichael after Jeff Jarrett accidentally hit McMichael with a steel briefcase.
• The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) defeated Ric Flair and Roddy Piper to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship (10:02)
  • Hall pinned Piper after an Outsider's Edge.
• Randy Savage (w/Miss Elizabeth) defeated Diamond Dallas Page (w/Kimberly Page) in a Falls Count Anywhere match (16:56)
  • Savage pinned Page after a Flying Elbow.

1998

The Great American Bash 1998
File:GAB 98.JPG
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 14 1998
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	12,810
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 1998 Next → Bash at the Beach 1998

The Great American Bash 1998 took place on June 14 1998 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Booker T defeated Chris Benoit (16:20)
  • Booker pinned Benoit after a Missile Dropkick to become #1 contender to the WCW World Television Championship.
  • This was the final match in a Best-of-Seven series.
• Kanyon defeated Saturn (14:46)
  • Kanyon pinned Saturn after a Flatliner.
• Chris Jericho defeated Dean Malenko by disqualification to win the vacant WCW Cruiserweight Championship (13:52)
  • Malenko was disqualified after hitting Jericho with a steel chair.
• Juventud Guerrera defeated Reese (w/Lodi) (8:45)
  • Guerrera pinned Reese after Van Hammer hit Reese with a steel chair.
• Chavo Guerrero, Jr. defeated Eddy Guerrero (14:46)
  • Chavo pinned Eddy after a Tornado DDT.
• Booker T defeated Fit Finlay to win the WCW World Television Championship (13:13)
  • Booker pinned Finlay after a piledriver.
• Goldberg defeated Konnan (w/Rick Rude and Curt Hennig) to retain the WCW United States Championship (1:57)
  • Goldberg pinned Konnan after a Jackhammer.
  • After the match, Hennig and Rude turned on Konnan and attacked him.
• Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart (w/The Disciple) defeated Roddy Piper and Randy Savage (11:40)
  • Hart forced Savage to submit with the Sharpshooter.
• Roddy Piper defeated Randy Savage (1:37)
  • Piper forced Savage to submit with the Figure-Four Leglock.
• Sting defeated The Giant (6:40)
  • Sting pinned Giant after a Scorpion Deathdrop from the middle rope.
  • Sting and The Giant were the WCW Tag Team Champions but had split up, the winner of this match would get to pick their new partner. Sting would choose Kevin Nash to be the new co-holder of the championship.

1999

The Great American Bash 1999
File:Wcwgab99.gif
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 13 1999
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	11,672
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 1999 Next → Bash at the Beach 1999

The Great American Bash 1999 took place on June 13 1999 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Hak (w/Chastity) defeated Brian Knobbs (w/Jimmy Hart) in a Hardcore match (5:41)
  • Hak pinned Knobbs after Hart accidentally hit Knobbs with a kendo stick.
  • After the match, Hugh Morrus came out and attacked Hak.
• Hammer defeated Mikey Whipwreck (8:35)
  • Hammer pinned Whipwreck after a Cobra Clutch Slam.
• Buff Bagwell defeated Disco Inferno (10:33)
  • Bagwell pinned Inferno after a Buff Blockbuster.
• The No Limit Soldiers (Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr.) defeated The West Texas Rednecks (Curt Hennig and Bobby Duncum, Jr.) (10:44)
  • Misterio pinned Duncum after Swoll attacked Duncum.
• Ernest Miller (w/Sonny Onoo) defeated Horace Hogan (5:10)
  • Miller pinned Hogan after hitting him with his shoe.
• Ric Flair (w/Arn Anderson and Asya) defeated Roddy Piper by disqualification (8:16)
  • Piper was disqualified when Buff Bagwell came out and attacked Flair, Flair became president of WCW.
  • After the match, Piper helped Flair and Anderson to attack Bagwell.
• Rick Steiner defeated Sting in a Falls Count Anywhere Match to retain the WCW World Television Championship (10:35)
  • Steiner won after Sting was attacked backstage by dogs and Rick forced the referee to declare him the winner.
• The Jersey Triad (Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon) (w/Bam Bam Bigelow) defeated Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship (19:13)
  • Kanyon pinned Benoit after a Diamond Cutter from Page.
• Kevin Nash defeated Randy Savage (w/Gorgeous George, Madusa and Miss Madness) by disqualification to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (7:29)
  • Savage was disqualified after Sid Vicious made his return to WCW and attacked Nash.

2000

The Great American Bash 2000
File:Wcw bash 2000.JPG
Promotion	World Championship Wrestling
Date	June 11 2000
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Venue	Baltimore Arena
Attendance	7,031
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Slamboree 2000 Next → Bash at the Beach 2000

The Great American Bash 2000 took place on June 11 2000 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

• Lt. Loco (w/Captain Rection, Major Gunns, Corporal Cajun) defeated Disco Inferno (w/Konnan, Tygress, Rey Misterio, Jr., Juventud Guerrera) to retain the WCW Crusierweight Championship (4:57)
  • Loco pinned Inferno after a Cajun Legsweep from LeRoux.
• KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) defeated The Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull) (9:20)
  • Clark pinned Johnny after a High Times to make KroniK the #1 contenders to the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
• Mike Awesome defeated Diamond Dallas Page (w/Chris Kanyon) in an Ambulance match (9:41)
  • Awesome put Page in the ambulence to win.
• GI Bro defeated Shawn Stasiak in a Boot Camp match (13:58)
  • Stasiak couldn't get up before the 10 count after being hit with a Lex Flexer.
• Shane Douglas defeated The Wall in a Best of 5 Tables match (8:12)
  • Douglas put Wall through a third table to win.
• Scott Steiner (w/Midajah and Shakira) defeated Rick Steiner and Tank Abbott in an Handicap Asylum match (3:46)
  • Scott forced Abbott to submit with the Steiner Recliner.
• Hulk Hogan defeated Billy Kidman (w/Torrie Wilson) (w/Horace Hogan as Special Guest Referee) (11:39)
  • Hulk pinned Kidman after hitting him with brass knuckles to become #1 contender to the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
  • If Hulk had lost, he would have had to retire.
• Ric Flair defeated David Flair (w/Vince Russo) (10:16)
  • Ric forced David to submit with the Figure-Four Leglock.
  • If Ric had lost, he would have had to retire.
• Vampiro defeated Sting in a Human Torch match (7:23)
  • Vampiro set Sting on fire to win the match.
• Jeff Jarrett defeated Kevin Nash (w/Ernest Miller as Special Guest Referee) to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (17:22)
  • Jarrett pinned Nash after a Spear from Goldberg.
  • Konnan was guest bellringer, Rey Misterio, Jr. was guest timekeeper, Disco Inferno was guest beltkeeper, Juventud Guerrera was guest ring announcer.

World Wrestling Entertainment

The Great American Bash remained inactive for the next four years, until WWE revived the event as part of an expanded pay-per-view lineup. The Great American Bash was a SmackDown! brand PPV from 2004-2006. A feature of the event now is that, anyone in the American military could watch the show for free, either at the event or on television.

2004

The Great American Bash 2004
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	SmackDown!
Date	June 27 2004
City	Norfolk, Virginia
Venue	Norfolk Scope
Attendance	6,500
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Bad Blood 2004 Next → Vengeance 2004

The Great American Bash 2004 took place on June 27 2004 at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia.

• Sunday Night HEAT match: Spike Dudley defeated Jamie Noble (4:13)
  • Spike pinned Noble after a Dudley Dog.
• John Cena defeated René Duprée, Booker T and Rob Van Dam in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match to retain the WWE United States Championship (15:52)
  • Cena pinned RVD with a roll-up after RVD hit both Duprée and Booker with Five Star Frog Splashes (8:19)
  • Booker pinned Duprée after an FU from Cena (11:17)
  • Cena pinned Booker after an FU (15:52)
• Luther Reigns (w/Kurt Angle) defeated Charlie Haas (w/Miss Jackie) (7:11)
  • Reigns pinned Haas after a Reign of Terror.
• Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (19:40)
  • Mysterio pinned Chavo after countering the Gory Bomb into a roll-up.
• Kenzo Suzuki (w/Hiroko) defeated Billy Gunn (8:06)
  • Suzuki pinned Gunn after an Inverted headlock backbreaker.
• Sable defeated Torrie Wilson (6:06)
  • Sable pinned Wilson with a Schoolgirl after faking a head injury.
  • Torrie's shoulders were not down on the mat but the referee counted anyways.
• Mordecai defeated Hardcore Holly (6:31)
  • Mordecai pinned Holly after a Crucifixion.
• John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope match to win the WWE Championship (21:06)
  • JBL won after touching all four turnbuckles. The ending of the match was identical to the Russian Chain match between Sting and Nikita Koloff at the Great American Bash in 1991.
• The Undertaker defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) (w/Paul Heyman) in a Concrete Crypt handicap match (14:42)
  • Undertaker pinned D-Von after a Tombstone Piledriver.
  • After the match, The Undertaker pulled a lever which filled the glass crypt Paul Bearer was in with cement.

2005

The Great American Bash 2005
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	SmackDown!
Date	July 24 2005
City	Buffalo, New York
Venue	HSBC Arena
Attendance	8,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Vengeance 2005 Next → SummerSlam 2005

The Great American Bash 2005 took place on July 24 2005 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The official theme song was "Pay the Price" by Eric & The Hostiles.

• Sunday Night HEAT match: Paul London defeated Nunzio to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (2:33)
  • London pinned Nunzio after a Shooting star press.
• Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal defeated MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) (w/Melina) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship (6:45)
  • Heidenreich pinned Mercury after a Doomsday Device.
• Booker T (w/Sharmell) defeated Christian (11:37)
  • Booker pinned Christian after a Scissors Kick from the second turnbuckle.
• Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Benoit to retain the WWE United States Championship (14:23)
  • Jordan pinned Benoit with a roll up after sending him face first into an exposed turnbuckle.
• The Undertaker defeated Muhammad Hassan (w/Daivari) (8:04)
  • Undertaker pinned Hassan after a Chokeslam to become the number 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.
  • After the match The Undertaker gave Hassan a Last Ride through the stage.
• The Mexicools (Super Crazy, Juventud, and Psicosis) defeated The bWo (Big Stevie Cool, The Blue Meanie, and Hollywood Nova) (4:53)
  • Psicosis pinned Stevie after a Guillotine leg drop.
• Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero (15:39)
  • Mysterio pinned Guerrero with a Cradle.
  • As a result of losing, Eddie could not tell Mysterio's secret (that Eddie was the biological father of Rey's son Dominick).
• Melina defeated Torrie Wilson (w/Candice Michelle as Special Guest Referee)in a Bra and Panties Match (3:53)
  • Melina stripped Torrie to win.
  • After the match, Candice stripped Melina and then stripped herself.
• John Bradshaw Layfield (w/Orlando Jordan) defeated World Heavyweight Champion Batista by disqualification (19:47)
  • Batista was disqualified for attacking JBL with a chair. As a result, Batista retained the title.
  • After the match Batista delivered several chair shots and a Batista Bomb to both JBL and Jordan.

2006

The Great American Bash 2006
File:TGAB06.jpg
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	SmackDown!
Date	July 23 2006
City	Indianapolis, Indiana
Venue	Conseco Fieldhouse
Attendance	9,750
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Vengeance 2006 Next → SummerSlam 2006

The Great American Bash 2006 took place on July 23 2006 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The official theme song was "Lonely Train" by Black Stone Cherry.

• Dark match: Funaki defeated Simon Dean
  • Funaki pinned Dean with a small package.
• Paul London and Brian Kendrick defeated The Pit Bulls (Jamie Noble and Kid Kash) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship (13:28)
  • Kendrick pinned Kash with a sunset flip after a Dropsault from London.
• Finlay defeated William Regal to retain the WWE United States Championship (13:49)
  • Finlay pinned Regal after hitting him with his boot.
  • Bobby Lashley was originally supposed to be in the match, making it a Triple threat match. Lashley was removed from action due to elevated enzymes of the liver.
• Gregory Helms defeated Matt Hardy (11:43)
  • Helms pinned Hardy with a roll-up and hooked his tights.
  • Super Crazy was originally supposed to challenge Helms for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, but was replaced by Hardy due to liver problems.
• The Undertaker defeated The Big Show in the first Punjabi Prison match (21:35)
  • Undertaker won by escaping the structure.
  • The Great Khali was originally supposed to face Undertaker, but was replaced by Big Show due to an elevated enzymes in his liver.
• Ashley Massaro defeated Kristal Marshall, Jillian Hall, and Michelle McCool in a Fatal Four-Way Bra and Panties Match (5:17)
  • Ashley won by stripping Kristal.
• Mr. Kennedy defeated Batista by disqualification (8:38)
  • Batista was disqualified for refusing to stop choking Kennedy against the ropes with his foot.
  • After the match Kennedy had to get 20 stitches to close a wound (suffered in the match) exposing his cranium.
  • Mark Henry was originally supposed to face Batista, but was replaced by Kennedy due to a knee injury suffered at Saturday Night's Main Event.
• King Booker (w/Queen Sharmell) defeated Rey Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Championship (16:46)
  • Booker pinned Mysterio after Chavo Guerrero hit Mysterio with a chair.

2007

The Great American Bash 2007
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	RAW SmackDown! ECW
Date	July 22 2007
City	San Jose, California
Venue	HP Pavilion
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Vengeance 2007 Next → SummerSlam 2007

The Great American Bash 2007 will take place on July 22 2007 from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

• WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Bobby Lashley

• World Heavyweight Championship: Edge (c) vs. Kane

See also

• List of WCW pay-per-view events
• List of WWE pay-per-view events
• World Championship Wrestling
• Jim Crockett Promotions
• National Wrestling Alliance

External link

• Official Website of The Great American Bash