History Of The Great American Bash

View the 2006 Great American Bash Pay Per View page here.

The Great American Bash is an annual summer pay-per-view event held 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).

History Of GAB

National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) & Jim Crockett Promotions

1985

July 6, 1985 in Charlotte, North Carolina (Independence Arena)

* Jimmy Valiant def. Paul Jones
* Manny Fernandez, Sam Houston and Buzz Tyler def. Superstar Billy Graham, Konga the Barbarian and Abdullah the Butcher (with Paul Jones)
* Ron Bass (with James J. Dillon) and Buddy Landell fought to a draw
* National Tag Team Champs Ole and Arn Anderson def. Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater
* NWA World Tag Team Champs Krusher Khruschev and Ivan Koloff fought AWA World Tag Team Champs Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) to a double disqualification
* NWA US Champion Magnum T.A. def. Kamala (with Skandor Akbar)
* NWA World Champion Ric Flair def. Nikita Koloff (with Ivan Koloff) with David Crockett as special referee
* Dusty Rhodes def. Tully Blanchard (with Baby Doll) to win the NWA TV Title in a Cage

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 Champ Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Road Warrior 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 26th 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, DC, 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 (Independence Arena)

* NWA 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 (with Paul Jones) in a Bunkhouse Match
* Wahoo McDaniel def. Jimmy Garvin (with Precious) in an Indian Strap Match
* Ron Garvin def. Tully Blanchard (with James J. Dillon) in a Taped Fist Match
* Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) def. Ivan and Nikita Koloff in a Russian Chain Match
* Jimmy Valiant def. Shaska Whatley (with 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 Cage
* NWA World Champion Ric Flair def. Ricky Morton in a Cage

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 (with Paul Jones) in a Loaded Glove on a Pole Match
* Wahoo McDaniel def. Jimmy Garvin (with Precious) in an Indian Strap Match
* Tully Blanchard (with 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 (with Shaska Whatley) def. Jimmy Valiant in a Hair vs. Hair Match
* Magnum T.A. def. Nikita Koloff (with Ivan Koloff) in a match in the Best of 7 Series for the Vacant U.S. Title
* Road Warriors and Baby Doll (with Paul Ellering) def. The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette in a Cage
* Dusty Rhodes def. Ric Flair in a Cage to win the NWA World Title

1987

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
* Western States Champion Barry Windham def. Rick Steiner
* Ron Garvin and Jimmy Garvin (with Precious) def. Vladimir Petrov and The Barbarian (with Paul Jones)
* UWF Tag Team Champions Tim Horner and Brad Armstrong def. Angel of Death and Big Bubba Rogers (with Skandor Akbar)
* Chris Adams def. Black Bart by DQ (with Skandor Akbar)
* The Fabulous Freebirds def. Ivan Koloff, Manny Fernandez and Paul Jones
* NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock N Roll Express def. The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette)
* Dr. Death 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 (with Dark Journey) in a War Games Match

July 18, 1987 in Charlotte, NC (Independence Arena)

* Kendall Windham, Jimmy Valiant and LazerTron def. Sean Royal, Gladiator #1 and Gladiator #2
* Chris Adams def. Black Bart (with Skandor Akbar)
* Western States Champion Barry Windham def. Big Bubba Rogers (with Skandor Akbar)
* Dr. Death Steve Williams and Terry Gordy def. Eddie Gilbert and Dick Murdoch in a Bunkhouse Match
* NWA US Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (with 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 (with Paul Ellering) def. Arn Anderson (with James J. Dillon)
* NWA US Champion Lex Luger (with James J. Dillon) def. Nikita Koloff
* NWA World Champion Ric Flair (with James J. Dillon) def. Road Warrior Hawk (with Paul Ellering) by DQ
* Dusty Rhodes def. Tully Blanchard (with James J. Dillon & Dark Journey) in a Barbed Wire Ladder Match

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

* Manny Fernandez and The Barbarian (with Paul Jones) def. Randy Mulkey and Bill Mulkey
* Western States Champion Barry Windham def. Incubus
* NWA Florida Tag Team Champions The Sheepherders def. Jimmy Garvin and Ron Garvin (with Precious)
* NWA Florida 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. The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette)
* Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering def. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard and * * The War Machine (with James J. Dillon & Dark Journey) in a War Games Match

1988: The Price for Freedom

July 10, 1988 in Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore Arena)

* Rick Steiner and Dick Murdoch def. Tim Horner and Kendall Windham
* NWA World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (with James J. Dillon) fought Sting and Nikita Koloff to a draw
* The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette) def. The Fantastics to win the NWA US Tag Team Titles
* Road Warriors, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Jimmy Garvin and Ron Garvin (with Precious) def. Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, * Al Perez, The Russian Assassin and Ivan Koloff (with Gary Hart) in a Tower of Doom Match
* NWA US Champion Barry Windham (with James J. Dillon) def. Dusty Rhodes after Ron Garvin interfered
* NWA World Champion Ric Flair (with James J. Dillon) def. Lex Luger

1989: The Glory Days

July 23, 1989 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* Sid Vicious and Dan Spivey (with Theodore Long) won a battle royal
* Brian Pillman def. Bill Irwin
* The Skyscrapers (with Theodore Long) def. Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas
* Jim Cornette def. Paul E. Dangerously
* The Steiner Brothers def. Mike Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan
* Sting def. The Great Muta (with Gary Hart)
* Lex Luger def. Ricky Steamboat by disqualification
* Road Warriors, The Midnight Express and Dr. Death Steve Williams (with Jim Cornette) def. Fabulous Freebirds and The Samoan Swat Team (with Paul E. * Dangerously) in a War Games Match
* NWA World Champion Ric Flair def. Terry Funk (with Gary Hart)

1990: New Revolution

July 7, 1990 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* David Sierra def. Mr. X
* Doug Furnas def. Dutch Mantel
* Mike Rotunda def. The Iron Sheik
* Brian Pillman def. Buddy Landell
* NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom (with Theodore Long) def. The Rock N Roll Express
* Paul Orndorff, Junkyard Dog and El Gigante def. Sid Vicious, Arn Anderson and Barry Windham (with Ole Anderson)
* Harley Race def. Tommy Rich
* Big Van Vader def. Tom Zenk
* The Steiner Brothers def. The Fabulous Freebirds
* The Midnight Express def. Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong
* NWA US Champion Lex Luger def. Mean Mark Callous (with Paul E. Dangerously)
* Sting (with The Dudes With Attitudes) def. Ric Flair (with Ole Anderson) to win the NWA World Title

World Championship Wrestling

1991

July 14, 1991 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* P.N. News and Bobby Eaton def. Stunning Steve Austin and Terrance Taylor (with Lady Blossom & Alexandra York) in a Capture-the-Flag Scaffold Match
* The Yellow Dog def. Johnny B. Badd (with Theodore Long)
* Ron Simmons def. Oz (with Merlin)
* Big Josh def. Black Blood (with Kevin Sullivan)
* Dustin Rhodes, Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong def. Fabulous Freebirds (with Big Daddy Dink) in a Tag Team Elimination Match
* The Diamond Studd (with Diamond Dallas Page) def. Tom Zenk
El Gigante def. One Man Gang (with Kevin Sullivan)
Richard Morton (with Alexandra York & Mr. Hughes) def. Robert Gibson
Nikita Koloff def. Sting in a Russian Chain Match
Lex Luger (with Harley Race & Mr. Hughes) def. Barry Windham to win the vacant WCW World Title in a Steel Cage Match
Rick Steiner and Missy Hyatt def. Arn Anderson and Paul E. Dangerously in a Steel Cage Match

Trivia

This edition is considered to be the worst WCW pay-per-view ever (and one of the worst wrestling PPVs ever), and is best remembered for the live audience loudly chanting WE WANT FLAIR! throughout the show. The card was originally scheduled 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 television. However, just a few days before the show, then-WCW Executive Vice President Jim Herd fired Flair over a contract dispute, stripping him of the title in the process. Barry Windham, whom the fans hardly considered on Flairs level (although he did work few main events in the past, generally against Flair), was quickly penciled into the match as a substitution. Luger, who had been one of WCWs top babyfaces going into the match (and who seemingly was to finally get his long-awaited title victory over Flair before the behind-the-scenes turmoil threw the booking into disarray), turned heel by its conclusion, which also infuriated fans; Lugers turn, it was widely held, made no sense. Since Flair also took the big gold belt with him to the WWF, as he was still recognized as the world champion of the NWA at the time, WCW had to make a temporary WCW World Heavyweight Championship belt just for the Bash. An old PWF belt (in this case, the old Dusty Rhodes promotion PWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION belt) was used, with a plain-looking gold plate etched with the words WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
Also, while Missy Hyatt was billed as being a competitor in the final match, she did not actively participate in the match, due to restrictions by the Maryland State Athletic Commission (she was carried back to the backstage area by the tag team, The Hardliners)
It is also the first Bash under the WCW banner (the previous Bashes were under the NWA banner)
Eric Bischoff made his announcing debut for WCW.

1992

July 5, 1992 in Atlanta, GA (The Omni)

* Bobby Eaton (with Paul E. Dangerously) def. Larry Zbyszko
* Jushin Liger and Johnny B. Badd battled to a draw
* Dustin Rhodes def. Greg Valentine
* Ron Simmons def. Super Invader (with Harley Race)
* Barry Windham def. Stunning Steve Austin (with Madusa)
* Terry Gordy and Dr. Death Steve Williams def. WCW World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers to win the titles
* WCW US Champion Rick Rude (with Madusa) battled Nikita Koloff to a Double Disqualification
* Brad Armstrong defeated WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Scotty Flamingo to win the title
* WCW World Champion Sting defeated Arn Anderson (with Paul E. Dangerously)

July 12, 1992 in Albany, Georgia (Albany Civic Center)

* NWA World Tag Team Tournament Matches
* Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat def. Jushin Liger and Brian Pillman
* Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham def. Stunning Steve Austin and Rick Rude (with Paul E. Dangerously
* Hiro Hase and Shinya Hashimoto def. Fabulous Freebirds
* Terry Gordy and Dr. Death Steve Williams def. Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat
* Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham def. Hiro Hase and Shinya Hashimoto
* Terry Gordy and Dr. Death Steve Williams def. Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham to win the Vacant NWA World Tag Team Titles
* Other Matches
* Dark match: Super Invader (with Harley Race) def. Marcus Bagwell
* Vader (with Harley Race) def. Sting to win the WCW World Title

1995

June 18, 1995 in Dayton, Ohio (Hara Arena)

* Alex Wright def. Brian Pillman
* Dave Sullivan def. Diamond Dallas Page (with Diamond Doll Kimberly & Maxx Muscle) in an arm wrestling match to win a date with Kimberly
* Jim Duggan def. Craig Pittman by DQ
* Harlem Heat (with Sherri Martel) def. Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck (with Col. Rob Parker & Meng)
* Renegade def. Arn Anderson to win the WCW TV Title
* WCW World Tag Team Champs The Nasty Boys def. Earl Robert Eaton and Lord Steven Regal
* Sting def. Meng (with Col. Rob Parker) to win the Vacant WCW US Title
* Ric Flair def. Randy Savage (with Angelo Poffo)

1996

June 16, 1996 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* The Steiner Brothers def. Scott Norton and Ice Train
* WCW US Champ Konnan def. El Gato
* Diamond Dallas Page def. Marcus Bagwell (with Scott Riggs)
* WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko def. Rey Mysterio, Jr.
* The Booty Man (with The Booty Girl) defeated Hugh Morrus
* John Tenta def. Big Bubba Rogers (with Jimmy Hart)
* Chris Benoit def. Kevin Sullivan (with Jimmy Hart) in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
* Sting def. Lord Steven Regal
* Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (with Woman & Miss Elizabeth) def. Kevin Greene and Steve McMichael (with Randy Savage, Debra McMichael & Terri Greene)
* WCW World Champion The Giant (with Jimmy Hart) def. Lex Luger

Notes:

This is a historically notable show for several reasons. Firstly, Rey Mysterio Jr. made his WCW debut on this show; his addition to the roster would greatly boost the profile of the nascent Cruiserweight division of the company, as well as open doors for other luchadores to enter WCW. Also, the configuration of the Four Horsemen went through another change, as Steve Mongo McMichael (previously an announcer on WCW Monday Nitro) joined the group. Mongos then-wife, Debra, initially got into a catfight with Woman and Miss Elizabeth during his match, before running to the back with them. Some time later, she returned to the ring carrying a steel briefcase, which contained much money and a Four Horsemen t-shirt. After viewing the contents and thinking it over, McMichael hit his partner, Kevin Greene, with the briefcase, thus turning heel and becoming the fourth member of one of wrestlings most elite groups. (The Horsemen were considered THE elite group in wrestling for years, however the nWo has long since been credited with their destruction.) Finally, and perhaps most importantly to WCWs fortunes, The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) appeared on the entranceway demanding to know who WCW Executive Vice-President Eric Bischoff had selected to answer their challenge. When Bischoff refused to divulge his choice, Hall punched him in the gut, and then Nash powerbombed him through a table adjacent to the entrance ramp. This incident proved to be the precursor to the formation of the nWo.

1997

June 15, 1997 in Moline, Illinois (The MARK of the Quad Cities)

* Ultimo Dragon def. Psicosis (with Sonny Onoo)
* Harlem Heat (with Sherri Martel) def. The Steiner Brothers by DQ to win a WCW World Tag Team Title Match
* Konnan def. Hugh Morrus
* Glacier def. Wrath (with James Vandenburg) with Mortis handcuffed to the ring post
* WCW Womens Champion Akira Hokuto (with Sonny Onoo) def. Madusa in a Retirement Match
* Chris Benoit def. Meng in a Death Match
* Kevin Greene def. Steve McMichael (with Debra McMichael)
* WCW World Tag Team Champions Scott Hall and Kevin Nash def. Ric Flair and Roddy Piper
* Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) def. Diamond Dallas Page in a No DQ Match

1998

June 14, 1998 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* Booker T def. Chris Benoit for a TV Title Match
* Chris Kanyon def. Perry Saturn
* Chris Jericho def. Dean Malenko by DQ to win the Vacant WCW Cruiserweight Title
* Juventud Guerrera def. Reese (with Lodi and Riggs)
* Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. Eddie Guerrero
* Booker T def. Fit Finlay to win the WCW TV Title
* WCW US Champion Bill Goldberg def. Konnan (with Rick Rude & Curt Hennig)
* Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart (with The Disciple) def. Roddy Piper and Randy Savage
* Roddy Piper def. Randy Savage
* Sting def. The Giant to win the held up WCW World Tag Team Titles (Sting later picked Kevin Nash as his partner. The Giant had picked Scott Hall to be his partner if he won)

1999

June 13, 1999 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* Hak (with Chastity) def. Brian Knobbs (with Jimmy Hart) in a Hardcore Match
* Van Hammer def. Mikey Whipwreck
* Buff Bagwell def. Disco Inferno
* Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Curt Hennig and Bobby Duncum, Jr.
* Ernest Miller (with Sonny Onoo) def. Horace Hogan
* Ric Flair (with Arn Anderson & Asya) def. Roddy Piper by DQ to become President of WCW
* WCW TV Champion Rick Steiner def. Sting in a No DQ Match
* Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon (with Bam Bam Bigelow) def. Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn to win the WCW Tag Team Titles
* WCW World Champion Kevin Nash def. Randy Savage (with Gorgeous George, Madusa & Miss Madness) by DQ

2000

June 11, 2000 in Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Arena)

* WCW Cruiserweight Champion Lt. Loco (with Misfits In Action) def. Disco Inferno (with Filthy Animals)
* KroniK def. The Mamalukes to win a World Tag Team Title Match
* Mike Awesome def. Diamond Dallas Page (with Chris Kanyon) in an Ambulance Match
* GI Bro def. Shawn Stasiak in a Boot Camp Match
* Shane Douglas def. The Wall in a Tables Match
* WCW US Champion Scott Steiner (with Midajah & Shakira) def. Rick Steiner and Tank Abbott in an Asylum Cage Match
* Hulk Hogan def. Billy Kidman with Horace Hogan as referee
* Ric Flair def. David Flair (with Vince Russo)
* Vampiro def. Sting in an Inferno Match
* WCW World Champion Jeff Jarrett def. Kevin Nash with Ernest Miller as referee

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 is a SmackDown! brand PPV. A great feature of the event now is that, anyone in the American military could watch the show for free, either at the event or over television.

2004

Held on June 27, 2004 at Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, VA.

* Spike Dudley def. Jamie Noble (Sunday Night HEAT)
* WWE United States Champion John Cena def. Rene Dupree, Booker T and Rob Van Dam in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match to retain the title (15:44)
* Luther Reigns def. Charlie Haas (7:02)
* WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio def. Chavo Guerrero to retain the title (19:45)
* Kenzo Suzuki def. Billy Gunn (8:00)
* Sable def. Torrie Wilson (6:02)
* Mordecai def. Hardcore Holly (6:29)
* John Bradshaw Layfield def. WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope Match to win the title (21:11)
* The Undertaker def. WWE Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz in a Concrete Crypt handicap match (14:38). After the match, the Undertaker, pulled a lever which buried Paul Bearer in cement.

2005

Held on July 24, 2005 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

* Sunday Night HEAT: Paul London defeated Nunzio to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
* Heidenreich & Road Warrior Animal defeated MNM w/ Melina to become the new WWE Tag-Team Champions (6:40)
* Booker T defeated Christian (11:35)
* Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Benoit to retain the United States Championship (14:11)
* The Undertaker defeated Muhammad Hassan to become the number 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship (8:04)
* The Mexicools defeated The bWo in a 6-Man Tag Team Match (4:55)
* Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero (15:38)
* Melina defeated Torrie Wilson in a Bra and Panties Match (with Candice Michelle as Special Guest Referee) (5:00)
* JBL defeated Batista by disqualification. Batista retains the World Heavyweight Championship (19:50)

2006

The 2006 Great American Bash is set to take place on July 23, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Scheduled matches

* World Heavyweight Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Booker T, wineer of an over the top rope battle royal on July 7th edition of Smackdown.
* Punjabi Prison Match: The Great Khali (w/Daivari) vs. The Undertaker.
* Khali issued the challenge for this match, Undertaker has yet to respond.
* Batista vs. Mark Henry

View the Great American Bash Pay Per View page here.