The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash was an annual summer PPV in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions and then in WCW. After WCW was sold to WWE, WWE took over the promotion of the event.
History
NWA & Jim Crockett Promotions
The first NWA Great American Bash was on July 6, 1985 in Charlotte Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The headline match was NWA World Champ Ric Flair defending his title against "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff. 32,000 fans attended this event that saw Flair defeat Koloff and even a fan attacking Koloff.
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, They had around 20 Great American Bash's and NWA World Champ Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Road Warrior Hawk, Ron Garvin and Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes defeated him for the title at one of the last shows.
The last NWA Great American Bash was on July 7, 1990 in Baltimore, Maryland and saw Sting defeat NWA World Champ Ric Flair for the title.
WCW
At first, WCW kept the tour idea for The Great American Bash but made it a once a year PPV starting in 1995. The first WCW Great American Bash was on July 14, 1991 in Baltimore, Maryland and was highlighted by Lex Luger vs. Barry Windham for the vacant WCW World Title. Luger won with the help of his new manager, Harley Race. Nikita Koloff also defeated Sting in a "Russian Chain Match".
The last WCW Great American Bash was held on June 11, 2000 in Baltimore, Maryland. The main event saw WCW World Champ Jeff Jarrett defeat Kevin Nash with Ernest Miller as the special referee.
WWE
The first WWE Great American Bash was held in 2004 at The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia and saw John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeat Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope Match. As well as the Undertaker beating The Dudley Boyz in a Concrete Crypt Match, which resulted in Paul Bearer being buried in the crypt.
The next edition of The Great American Bash is scheduled to take place on July 24, 2005 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.