WCW Great American Bash '96 - Sunday, June 16th, 1996
- It's time for WCW Great American Bash 1996!
- I must say that I'm impressed with the all the hype that every match besides the Cruiserweight and United States title matches have gotten.
- That's what happens when Hulk Hogan isn't around.
- Here's a rundown of the card with predictions for the match and whatever else I feel needs to be said.
- Malenko/Rey Jr. for the Cruiserweight Title. I've got to take Malenko here. Rey hasn't been promoted well and I can't see WCW putting the belt on someone no one really knows. Though, it is WCW.. So anything is possible.
- Konnan/Gato for the US Title. Same thing applies to the Cruiserweight match. Konnan is my pick.
- Tenta/Rogers. Since Rogers has all the momentum, Tenta will be able to pick up the win and proceed to shave his head completely.
- DDP/Bagwell. I believe we are witnessing a push for DDP here. I wouldn't be surprised to see Scotty Riggs accidentally screw Bagwell over and set up a heel turn.
- Steiners/Fire & Ice. This is a toss up, if WCW were to be looking to create a solid new tag team, the Steiners would do the job. I don't see that happening, so the Steiners will win.
- Benoit/Sullivan. Considering Sullivan has seemingly never won a big contest in a long time, I don't expect him to change that.
- Sting/Regal. If you really believe Regal has a chance then your going to be disappointed. I wouldn't be shocked if this was a squash.
- NFL/Horsemen. I'm taking Greene and Mongo. Athletes in wrestling really never lose, and Mongo is playing the defense of his wife. Anderson will eat the pin.
- Giant/Luger. Luger already has two titles, I don't see him getting the third. I really believe that Giant is in for a long title run.
- Oh, and how can I forget the appearance of Ramon and Diesel? I do not see them getting involved in-ring wise. Most likely a interview segment.
- A couple of plugs for some cool places, if I do so say so myself.
- http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/ plenty of reviews from any promotion you can think of. Besides, the name pretty much rules.
- http://bigelow34.proboards.com/index.cgi? This is the PLACE TO BE. The only place were you can talk wrestling, share your opinions and not get ripped on. Well, most of the time at least!
- Lastly, I am on plenty of message boards and such. Some people do not believe that I am "Bob" that does these wonderful reviews. Well, I am. So, if you see a "ChosenOne, "ChosenOne1989" and even a "Special Referee"... it's me. Believe it!
- Let's get this show on the road!
- Video of Bobby Heenan telling Savage he isn't afraid. Randy Savage and the NFL goons saying "Oh Yeah". Flair and Anderson are taking no prisoners.
- Luger is coming after Giant's World Championship. Giant says that Luger will suffer the choke slam again.
- We are LIVE from Baltimore, Maryland!
- Sgt. Craig Pittman comes out with the US flag for the national anthem. Pittman is actually slightly booed.
- That's Baltimore for you.
- Tony Schiavone and Dusty Rhodes are commentating tonight. That means I won't understand half the things said tonight. Referring to Dusty.
- Schiavone mentions the death of Dick Murdoch and Rhodes says he was a great friend.
- Let's start the show!
- There Must Be A Winner: Fire & Ice versus Steiner Brothers
- Fire & Ice get one of the worst reactions ever. The crowd acts as if they have no idea who they are.
- Dusty with the brilliant comment that the Steiners were born brothers. This is going to be a long night.
- Steiners take their opponents down with clotheslines to start the match.
- Norton uses his size to control Rick with a clothesline, but Rick comes with one out of the corner. Rick with a belly-to-belly suplex as well.
- Fire & Ice control Scott for a good amount of time.
- Scott with an exploder suplex and drops Norton on his shoulder which looks to have shaken Norton up for a moment.
- Norton connects with the shoulder breaker and goes for the submission win but Rick enters and kicks Norton several times.
- Norton with a second shoulder breaker but Rick got the tag. Rick cleans house with a suplex and clothesline.
- Fire & Ice with a power bomb/big splash combo nearly picks up the win on Rick.
- Rick with a DDT on Norton. Rick plants Norton with a top rope bulldog and Scott gets a near fall.
- Scott botches the Frankensteiner on Norton but they still win.
- Looked like Ice Train was pinning Rick, but that doesn't matter because they weren't legal.
- Your Winners: Steiner Brothers via pinfall
- Good match, but was kind of repetitive.
- Backstage, Gene is talking with Jimmy Hart and Kevin Sullivan.
- Hart says they don't need help from anyone. Sullivan says that he showed Brian Pillman was a quitter.
- Sullivan says that this match is for Arn Anderson.
- For the WCW US Championship: El Gato versus © Konnan
- I thought Fire & Ice got a dull reaction, until Gato came out.
- Dusty gives Tony advice on how to speak. If you know Dusty, you will see how that is funny and ridiculous.
- Gato with a sit down power bomb gets a near fall midway through the match.
- Konnan with a sunset flip power bomb on the floor! Fans liked that.
- Konnan with a whiplash move out of the corner and picks up the three.
- Your Winner: And STILL WCW US Champion, Konnan via pinfall
- Backstage, Gene is with Sting. Gene calls Regal a sissy.
- Sting mocks the way Regal drinks tea.
- Sting also puts down gay Americans saying that "we don't breed American men that way in America."
- I'm assuming WCW will get some calls for that.
- Lord of the Ring: Diamond Dallas Page versus Marcus Bagwell
- Before the match, DDP rips on the ladies and calls Cal Ripken, Carl Ripken.
- Bagwell charges the ring but DDP bails. Bagwell turns his back, which is something you never do in a fight.
- Something my grandma told me.
- Bagwell recovers and nails Page with a forearm shot. Page is stuck between the ropes until he is dropkicked out.
- Bagwell with a cross body to the floor. Page crotches Bagwell on the top rope.
- Page with a gut wrench backbreaker for a near fall. Page with a interesting leg trapped back suplex.
- Page with a tombstone slam. Bagwell battles back with a clothesline.
- Bagwell takes Page down with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Page blocks a suplex and plants Bagwell with the Diamond Cutter.
- Page covers and picks up the win.
- Your Winner: And STILL Lord of the Ring, Diamond Dallas Page via pinfall
- Backstage, Gene is with the WCW World Heavyweight Champion The Giant and Jimmy Hart.
- Gene is still talking about the connection Hart and Luger have.
- I thought it was pretty clear after Slamboree. Luger doesn't like the DoD.
- Giant calls himself the best champion in WCW history.
- Giant says Luger is mistaken to believe he will get Giant in the Torture Rack.
- For the WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Mysterio Jr. versus © Dean Malenko
- Rey with a fairly dead response as well. Mike Tenay has joined commentary for this match.
- Fairly slow start as they are feeling each other out, as there is their first meeting.
- Rey dropkicks Malenko off the apron to the floor. Malenko catapults Rey over the top to the floor.
- Malenko slides to the floor but Rey slides back into the ring.
- Malenko works on Rey's left arm with a hammerlock scoop slam. Rey is dropped arm first over the guard railing.
- Rey attempts a hurricanrana but Malenko blocks and stops Rey with a clothesline.
- Malenko continues to work on the left arm of Rey, which really slows down the match.
- Malenko with a surfboard and changes into a pinfall to get a slow near fall.
- Rey with a couple of dropkicks to send Malenko to the floor. Rey with a springboard somersault splash!
- Springboard missile dropkick by Rey for a near fall. Dusty says everyone is standing, but everyone is still sitting.
- Rey with a springboard Frankensteiner for a near fall. The referee for this match is horrible.
- Rey with a Frankensteiner off the top rope. Rey blocks a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker with a cross body for another near fall.
- Malenko blocks a Frankensteiner with a power bomb and uses the ropes for leverage for the win.
- Your Winner: And STILL WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Dean Malenko via pinfall
- Backstage, Gene is with Lex Luger.
- Luger says he isn't mentally there for the interview.
- He does say that Giant has changed the sport. Luger has a lot of pride in being a champion.
- Luger almost forgets what he was going to say. He plans on leaving the champion.
- Big Bubba w/Jimmy Hart versus John Tenta
- Tenta comes out without any music and the crowd is DEAD.
- Shows how great this angle is going. People are booing him, even though he is the baby face.
- Bubba nails Tenta with a roll of quarters it looks like.
- Bubba wraps Tenta's leg around the ring post. The crowd must be asleep as they aren't making any noise whatsoever.
- Tenta catches Bubba off the top and slams Bubba down for the win.
- Your Winner: John Tenta via pinfall
- After the match, Tenta cuts of a piece of Bubba's beard.
- Backstage, Gene is with Mongo and Greene who have their wives with them.
- Mongo is coming after the Horsemen. They say "baby" about twenty times too many.
- Randy Savage comes over and puts over his tag team.
- Falls Count Anywhere: Chris Benoit versus Kevin Sullivan w/Jimmy Hart
- Benoit and Sullivan brawl on the entrance way to start the match. This is going to be wild.
- Sullivan sends Benoit into the crowd. They are trading right hands while on the steps.
- They brawl all the way to the MENS BATHROOM.
- Sullivan slams the stall door into Benoit's head three times! Double stomp in the bathroom.
- Benoit returns the favor and slams the stall door against Sullivan head.
- Dusty goes crazy when he sees a lady in the men's bathroom.
- Sullivan whips Benoit with a bag full of paper towels.
- Tony manages to throw an insult to Brian Pillman, who has left to go to the WWF.
- Sullivan throws Benoit down the steps. Sullivan with a clear boot to the groin.
- While they brawl in the crowd, some overweight guy is smiling and making sure he is seen on camera. Kind of a weird moment.
- Benoit has a table, which Tony calls a chair. Sullivan misses a running elbow as Benoit is on the table.
- Benoit places the table across the top turnbuckle. Sullivan backdrops Benoit onto the table.
- Benoit with a superplex off the table and picks up the win.
- Your Winner: Chris Benoit via pinfall
- After the match, Benoit continues to beat down Sullivan.
- Arn Anderson runs down and pulls Benoit off.
- Anderson delivers a shot to Sullivan and Jimmy Hart is shocked.
- The Dungeon of Doom run down and the Horsemen bail.
- Anderson got a pretty good pop when he hit Sullivan.
- Wonder what they will get for the tag match later on.
- Also, I don't see how the table could cause anything different from a regular superplex. Benoit didn't get any better elevation.
- Backstage, Gene is standing with the Four Horsemen.
- Anderson says that Benoit earned his spot in the Horsemen.
- Flair puts over Anderson and Benoit.
- Heenan assures Gene that he is not worried about Savage.
- Lord Steven Regal w/Jeeves versus Sting
- Sting gets the biggest reception so far. Mainly because of the girls screeching.
- Regal in control with a few uppercuts. Regal bails once Sting gets the advantage.
- While on the floor, Regal is trash talking with ECW Straw Hat Guy. Though, he didn't have a straw hat on. I know it was him.
- Regal uses various locks to control Sting for a few moments.
- Regal with a dropkick which gets him a near fall. Regal is very deliberate and keeps his offense very simple.
- Sting with a dropkick and a few clotheslines for a near fall.
- Regal stops Sting on the top turnbuckle and brings Sting down with a double under hook suplex from the top.
- Regal proceeds to lock in the Regal Stretch and has it locked right in the middle of the ring.
- For some reason, Regal lets go and continues to work on Sting with open palm strikes.
- Sting begins to "Sting Up" and delivers several blows in the corner stopping Regal.
- Sting goes for the Stinger Splash but Regal gets both knees up to block it.
- Backdrop by Sting and quickly locks in the Scorpion Death Lock.
- After about five seconds, Regal taps out.
- Your Winner: Sting via submission
- Ric Flair/Arn Anderson w/Woman, Elizabeth and Bobby Heenan versus Kevin Greene/Steve McMichael w/Debra, Greene's wife and Randy Savage
- This is being built up as a legends of wrestling against legends of football.
- Greene and Mongo do some football warm ups, and look like fools.
- Anderson takes Mongo down with a hip toss. Mongo challenges him to a football stand off, and shoulder blocks Anderson down.
- Anderson outsmarts Mongo the second time with a drop toe hold.
- Mongo with another shoulder block, this time from the middle turnbuckle.
- Greene gets the tag and they pound on Anderson. Savage nails Anderson with a right hand on the floor. Heenan runs away from Savage.
- Greene takes care of Flair and Anderson. Flair bails but Savage sends shim back in.
- A couple of leaping clotheslines by Greene. Flair goes for a tag, but Mongo chases Anderson off the apron.
- Flair tries to chop Mongo in the corner, but Mongo is crazy and slaps himself.
- Mongo slams Flair off the top turnbuckle. Mongo locks in the figure four on Flair.
- Greene locks the figure four on Anderson.
- Woman pokes Mongo's eyes. Anderson with a DDT on Mongo. The NFL wives are chased to the backstage area.
- Mongo is beaten down for a good while, until he clotheslines Flair.
- Mongo manages to atomic drop Anderson into Flair and gets the tag to Greene.
- Greene with a series of tackles and scoop slams. Greene doesn't go for the cover after a power slam.
- Flair Flip and he is met with a big boot by Mongo on the apron.
- Greene suplexes Flair back into the ring from the apron. Anderson clips Greene's left knee.
- Flair locks in the figure four on Greene who is in the hold for a record time.
- Chris Benoit runs down and attacks Savage on the floor.
- Wait a second. Debra is walking down with Woman and Elizabeth.
- Debra has a briefcase that is full of money. Mongo nails Greene with the briefcase.
- Flair covers Greene to pick up the win.
- Your Winners: Ric Flair and Arn Anderson via pinfall
- After the match, Savage tries to attack Flair but is beaten down by Mongo, Anderson and Benoit.
- Flair nails Savage with the briefcase.
- Mongo has joined the Four Horsemen as Dusty and Tony cry.
- Eric Bischoff is at the top of the entrance way. Bischoff mentions the "interruptions" they have had over the past several weeks.
- Razor Ramon and Diesel come from the backstage area, again.
- You would think WCW guys would beat them up. I guess not.
- Bischoff tells them that they will get a war, in the ring.
- Bischoff says they will have the match at Bash at the Beach.
- Bischoff asks if they work for the WWF. They both say no.
- Ramon wants to know the three men. Ramon puts down Savage and Hogan.
- Ramon again mentions the surprise man. Bischoff will tell them on Nitro tomorrow night.
- Ramon nails Bischoff with a right hand to the midsection.
- Diesel doubles Bischoff over and power bombs him off the entrance way through a table!
- Bischoff is placed on a stretcher.
- Dusty and Tony hype up what we just witnessed.
- Tony leaves the broadcast area and checks on Bischoff.
- Which leaves Dusty alone to ramble on. Dusty also talks about Mongo turning for a second.
- Time for the main event!
- For the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger versus © The Giant w/Jimmy Hart
- Luger checks on Eric Bischoff before heading to the ring.
- Luger clotheslines Giant to the floor. Giant press slams Luger back into the ring.
- Giant shoves Luger away a few times. Luger leaps onto Giant's back with a sleeper hold.
- Hart goes to hit Luger with the megaphone but Sting runs down and chases Hart backstage.
- Giant rams Luger back first into the corner and delivers a series of boots.
- Giant with a backbreaker and a modified version of a standing backbreaker.
- Luger attempts a scoop slam but Giant is too big and falls onto Luger.
- Series of clotheslines by Luger and a couple of running forearm smashes.
- Luger chop blocks the knee of Giant to drop him to one knee.
- Giant is on the top turnbuckle and delivers a few boots. Luger gets under Giant and almost has him in the Torture Rack but Giant is too big.
- Giant grabs a limp Luger and choke slams Luger for the win.
- Your Winner: And STILL WCW World Heavyweight Champion, The Giant via pinfall
- Tony Schiavone signs off for Dusty and Gene.
- That's a wrap.
- The Good: Opening tag match was good for what it was worth. Sullivan/Benoit was a fun brawl. Regal getting a good amount of offense in against Sting. Mongo heel turn has to be seen as unexpected. But it makes sense... it's all about money. The segment with Ramon and Diesel was nicely done as well. Giant retaining is a good thing.
- The Bad: The referee for the Malenko/Rey match. He was very slow and seemingly didn't know when Rey was going for pins. The crowd was mainly dead for anyone that wasn't Sting or Randy Savage.
- The Ugly: Tenta/Bubba was horrible.