History of WWE Great American/The Bash

[Mike]

I will soon post the history of the WWE Great American Bash. Discuss your favorite moments if you'd like.

[Mike]

WWE Great American Bash 2004[/u]

Sunday, June 27, 2004
Norfolk Scope
Norfolk, Virginia
Attendance: 6,500
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz
"Join Our Party."

Matches:[/u]

--John Cena def. Booker T, Rene Dupree and Rob Van Dam in a Fatal Four Way Match to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--Luther Reigns w/ Kurt Angle def. Charlie Haas w/ Miss Jackie.

--Rey Mysterio def. Chavo Guerrero to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Kenzo Suzuki def. Billy Gunn

--Sable def. Torrie Wilson

--Mordecai def. Hardcore Holly

-- Undertaker def. the Dudley Boys in a Concrete Crypt Match.

--JBL def. Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bull Rope Match to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Eddie vs. JBL.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--The order of elimination for the U.S. Match was RVD by Cena, Dupree by Booker T, and Booker by Cena.
--Torrie Wilson's shoulders were up when Sable pinned her, however the referee didn't see it.
--Guerrero was originally awarded the win in the Bull Rope Match, however GM Kurt Angle came out and showed that as both men were vying to touch the fourth corner, JBL's shoulder touched the corner before Eddie's hand did, despite Eddie performing a splash.
--The stipulation to Taker/Dudley's was that if the Dudleys won, they'd cover Paul Bearer in cement. Undertaker won the match and still covered Bearer with it anyway, killing that character off.
--This was the only Bash to take place in June up until 2009.
--This was a SD only PPV.
--JBL would go on to hold the WWE Title for 9 months, losing the belt to Cena at WrestleMania 21 in April 2005.

[Mike]

WWE Great American Bash 2005[/u]

Sunday July 24, 2005
HSBC Arena
Buffalo, New York
Attendance: 8,000
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz

Matches:[/u]

--The Legion of Doom (Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal) def. MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro) (with Melina) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Booker T w/ Sharmell def. Christian.

--Orlando Jordan def. Chris Benoit to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--The Undertaker def. Muhammad Hassan w/ Daivari.

--The Mexicools (Super Crazy, Juventud and Psicosis) def. The Blue World Order (Big Stevie Cool, The Blue Meanie and Hollywood Nova) in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Rey Mysterio def. Eddie Guerrero.

--Melina def. Torrie Wilson in a Bra and Panties Match.

--JBL w/ Orlando Jordan def. Batista by DQ in a Match for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match of the Night: Eddie vs. Rey.

Intersting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first WWE Bash to take place in July.
--The event was SD only.
--Masked men led Muhammad Hassan to the ring and proceeded to interfere in his match.
--Guerrero said if he wont the match against Rey he'd reveal a secret that the families didn't want to know, however Eddie lost, though he would reveal the secret that he was Rey's son Dominick's real father on the next SD.
--Candice Michelle was the Guest Referee for the Bra and Panties Match, and all three ended up stripping at the end.
--Batista got DQued by using a Steel Chair.

[Mike]

WWE Great American Bash 2006[/u]

Sunday, July 23, 2006
Conseco Field House
Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: 9,750
Announcers: Michael Cole and Tazz

Matches:[/u]

--Paul London and Brian Kendrick def. The Pit Bulls (Jamie Noble and Kid Kash) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Finlay def. William Regal to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--Gregory Helms def. Matt Hardy.

--The Undertaker def. The Big Show in a Punjabi Prison Match.

--Ashley Massaro def. Kristal Marshall, Jillian Hall, and Michelle McCool in a Fatal Four Way Bra and Panties Match.

--Mr. Kennedy def. Batista by DQ.

--King Booker w/ Queen Sharmell def. Rey Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match of the Night: Booker vs. Rey.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Lashley was supposed to face Finlay for the US title, but couldn't due to liver issues. Regal replaced him and was hit with his own shoe to lose the match.
--Undertaker was supposed to face Khali, but Khali was replaced by Big Show due to also having liver issues. Long said he was punishing Khali for attacking Undertaker in storyline, and that's why he was out of the match.
--This was the second Bash in a row to feature a Bra and Panties Match and also the second consecutive Bash to have Batista get DQued, this time for an illegal choke hold.
--Chavo Guerrero turned heel by hitting Mysterio with a chair and aiding King Booker to winning the Title.
--This was also a SD only PPV.

[Mike]

WWE Great American Bash 2007[/u]

Sunday, July 22, 2007
HP Pavilion
San Jose, California
Attendance: 14,900
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), JBL (SD), Tazz (ECW), Joey Styles (ECW)

Matches:[/u]

--MVP def. Matt Hardy to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--Hornswoggle def. Chavo Guerrero (c), Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Funaki and Jamie Noble in a Cruiserweight Open to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Carlito def. The Sandman in a Singapore Cane on a Pole Match.

--Candice Michelle def. Melina to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Umaga def. Jeff Hardy to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--John Morrison def. CM Punk to retain the ECW Championship.

--Randy Orton def. Dusty Rhodes in a Texas Bull Rope Match.

--The Great Khali def. Kane and the Big Show in a Triple Threat Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

--John Cena def. Bobby Lashley to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Morrison/Punk and Cena/Lashley

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first Bash to feature all 3 brands rather than just SD talent.
--Hornswoggle was a surprise entrant who came from under the ring and hit the Tadpole Splash onto Noble for the win.
--Randy Orton was attacking Dusty after the bell and his son Cody came down to make the save. Little did they know, the two would be in a stable called the Legacy a little over a year later.
--6 of the 7 titles defended were retained.

[Mike]

WWE Great American Bash 2008[/u]

Sunday, July 20, 2008
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Uniondale, New York
Attendance: 14,126
Announcers: Michael Cole (RAW), Jerry Lawler (RAW), Jim Ross (SD), Mick Foley (SD), Todd Grisham (ECW), Matt Striker (ECW)

Matches:[/u]

--Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder def. John Morrison and The Miz, Jesse and Festus, and Finlay and Hornswoggle in a Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Shelton Benjamin def. Matt Hardy to win the WWE United States Championship.

--Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas def. Tommy Dreamer w/ Colin Delaney to retain the ECW Championship.

--Chris Jericho def. Shawn Michaels.

--Michelle McCool def. Natalya to win the WWE Divas Championship.

--CM Punk and Batista fought to a Double DQ in a match for the World Heavyweight Championship, therefore Punk retained.

--JBL def. John Cena in a New York City Parking Lot Brawl Match.

--Triple H def. Edge to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Shelton/Hardy, and Edge/Triple H.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Though it still had the red, white, and blue ropes, this was the first Bash to have a non-American theme to it as the logo was changed as seen above. This was the last Bash to have the words Great American before it as well as the red, white, and blue ropes.
--Hawkins and Ryder hail from Long Island, and thus they won the Tag Titles in their home town.
--Colin Delaney turned on Tommy Dreamer, aiding Mark Henry to victory.
--Jericho beat HBK until he couldn't go anymore, and Lance Cade interfered many times on Jericho's behalf behind the ref's back.
--Michelle McCool became the inaugural WWE Divas Champion by beating Natalya.
--Kane interfered in the Batista/Punk match, leading to the double DQ.