If there was one thing you have to give NWA/WCW credit for, it’s coming up with clever titles for its major PPV telecasts. Halloween Havoc will always stand out, but you can’t forget about The Great American Bash. World Wrestling Entertainment, having seen how well its WCW-themed DVD and Blu-ray releases have sold, have decided on a compilation for The Great American Bash, the PPV spectacular that NWA/WCW hosted from 1985 to 1992, then brought back in 1995 and had it run through 2000. WWE would resurrect the PPV in 2004 and have it as part of its annual PPV line-up through 2009. For the purpose of the forthcoming “United We Slam: The Best of Great American Bash no matches from the WWE version of the event are included.
Dusty Rhodes will serve as host guiding the WWE universe through some of the best matches in the history of The Great American Bash. Set to be released on DVD (three discs) and Blu-ray (two discs) on August 8th, 2014.
DISC 1
Bringing the Game Up a Level
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Ric Flair vs. Nikita Koloff
Charlotte, NC • July 6, 1985
Exclusive Commentary Provided by Dusty Rhodes & Larry Zbyszko
#1 Contender’s Match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship
Rock N’ Roll Express vs. Arn & Ole Anderson
Greensboro, NC • July 26, 1986
Exclusive Commentary Provided by Dusty Rhodes & Larry Zbyszko
Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes
Charlotte, NC • July 26, 1986
Exclusive Commentary Provided by Dusty Rhodes
Victory is Mine!
War Games Match
The Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff & Paul Ellering vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger & JJ Dillon
Atlanta, GA • July 4, 1987
The Mighty Road Warriors
Sting & Lex Luger vs. Road Warriors
Charlotte, NC • July, 1988
Exclusive Commentary Provided by Dusty Rhodes & Larry Zbyszko
DISC 2
Double Header
NWA World Television Championship Match
Sting vs. The Great Muta
Baltimore, MD • July 23, 1989
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk
Baltimore, MD • July 23, 1989
Birth of an Icon
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Ric Flair vs. Sting
Baltimore, MD • July 7, 1990
Steiner Brothers vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
Baltimore, MD • July 7, 1990
Tag Team Turmoil
Quarter Finals Match in the NWA Tag Team Title Tournament
Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham vs. “Stunning” Steve Austin & Rick Rude
Albany, GA • July 12, 1992
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting vs. Vader
Albany, GA • July 12, 1992
DISC 3
Getting Back on Track
Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair
Dayton, OH • June 18, 1995
Afraid of Outlaws
WCW Responds to The Outsiders’ Challenge
Baltimore, MD • June 16, 1996
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
Moline, IL • June 15, 1997
Things Only Genies Could Conjure Up
Ultimo Dragon vs. Psicosis
Moline, IL • June 15, 1997
Chavo Guerrero vs. Eddie Guerrero
Baltimore, MD • June 14, 1998
WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match
Dean Malenko vs. Chris Jericho
Baltimore, MD • June 14, 1998
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper & “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan & Bret “Hit Man” Hart
Baltimore, MD • June 14, 1998
Somebody Call Me an Ambulance!
Ambulance Match
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Mike Awesome
Baltimore, MD • June 11, 2000
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
Jeff Jarrett vs. Kevin Nash
Baltimore, MD • June 11, 2000
Ups, Downs, Heartbreaks & Laughter
BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVES
Steel Cage Match
Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA & Baby Doll vs. The Midnight Express & Jim Cornette
Charlotte, NC • July 5, 1986
Exclusive Commentary Provided by Dusty Rhodes & Larry Zbyszko
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger
Baltimore, MD • July 10, 1988
Russian Chain Match
Sting vs. Nikita Koloff
Baltimore, MD • June 14, 1991
Kevin Greene & Steve McMichael vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson
Baltimore, MD • June 16, 1996
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
Kevin Nash vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
Baltimore, MD • June 13, 1999
Instant Thoughts: Overall, I love the make-up of this collection of Great American Bash matches. There are a few that I wish had been included, however.
From 1990:
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) versus The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong) for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship
From 1996:
Dean Malenko versus Mysterio, Jr. for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (Yes, I know it’s been on a lot of compilations and wrestler retrospectives already. Still doesn’t discount it from being one of the best GAB matches.)
Sting vs. Lord Steven Regal
