Great American Bash
Sunday, June 14th (Flag Day) in Baltimore, MD
Chris Benoit and Booker T started their match off cautiously, with the pace going back and forth, and each of them getting some shots in. Neither of them could keep the upperhand for very long, while Benoit got shots in to Booker T’s knee every chance he got. Benoit eventually got the upperhand, keeping it for most of the match once he set the pace. The crowd would get behind Booker T and he would begin to come back before being shot down once again by Benoit. Booker T got a second wind,and set Benoit up for the Harlem Hangover, but Chris got up in time to nail Booker T with a superplex from the top rope. Both men were gassed by the end of this match. Nobody could get the pinfall as it went back and forth. The victory came after a hard fought bout as Booker T nailed the missile dropkick for the 1-2-3 victory.
Kanyon vs. Saturn – As Kanyon was introduced, another person dressed in the Mortis costume came out instead. Then Kanyon jumped Saturn from behind. It was obvious that Mortis was indeed a fake. Kanyon started off hot, pummeling Saturn from the bell. Saturn quickly rebounded, and took control of the match. Kanyon displayed some impressive moves. The Flock joined Saturn at ringside.Taking advantage of the fact that Nick Patrick had his back turned at one point, they began beating down Kanyon. Saturn then took them all out with a plancha to the outside, before Nick Patrick kicked the Flock out of the area.
During the match, a person dressed up as Mortis came into the ring, followed by another,and they began pummeling each other! As the two Mortis’s fought on the outside,Kanyon got the win with a reversed Russian legsweep. Afterwards, one of the fakes attacked him from behind, gave him the evenflow DDT, and took off the mask to reveal Raven. Raven then confronted Saturn and told him he couldn’t get the job done. Saturn attacked Raven and was then jumped by the Flock as Raven escaped. Saturn came back, however, and cleared the ring.
Dean Malenko vs. Chris Jericho – Dean Malenko and Chris Jericho started it off well, with both reversing each other’s moves and getting their own shots in back and forth. Malenko eventually got the upperhand, beating Jericho down over and over again. But Jericho came back, got the upperhand, and at one point had Malenko in the Liontamer.But Malenko was able to get to the ropes. Malenko returned the favor and had Jericho in the Texas Cloverleaf, only to have Jericho break it when he got to the ropes. The two finally took the match to the outside, where the official threw it out. Malenko continued to beat on Jericho all the way to the back of the building and to the streets. The people along the street and in cars were staring as these two stars clobbered each other. Chris Jericho won by disqualification.
Juventud Guerrera vs. Reese – The match started off with a promo for Juvie, talking about his new attitude and the turn his career has taken since losing his mask. When the real match started, Reese threw Juvie around like a ragdog only to have Juvie keep coming back for more. Reese continued to pummel on Juvie, with the Flock eventually coming into play, distracting the official. Reese got a chair to try to nail Guerrera. It backfired,as the referee took the chair and Juvie jumped on Reese. Hammer nailed Juvie with a chair, but the latter got the pinfall.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero – Eddie didn’t want to face Chavo in this match. In both pre-match and match comments, he said they didn’t have to fight and tried to tell Chavo not to wrestle. But the match went on, and Eddie eventually got the upperhand. Eddie slapped Chavo around, but numerous times during the match Chavo snapped and started going nuts on Eddie. Chavo eventually got the 1-2-3 with a springboard tornado DDT.
Booker T vs. Fit Finley – Booker T came into this match after winning his title shot by defeating Chris Benoit in the 8th bout of the best of 7 series. The match went back and forth, with BookerT coming in with not as much fire due to his earlier fight with Benoit. Finley had the advantage to begin with, being rested, but Booker T continued to fight back. The two exchanged some tombstone piledriver reversals, before Booker T nailed Finley with a piledriver to get the 1-2-3, and become the new WCW TV Champion.
Bill Goldberg vs. Konnan – Konnan came out to a decent pop to the NWO Wolfpack music, but it couldn’t compare to the pop that Goldberg got with his entrance. Konnan was hesitant about getting in the ring, and when he finally did, he was met by an offensive onslaught by Goldberg. Konnan, however, finally did get some offense in, but it was short lived as Goldberg nailed the spike and the jackhammer for the 1-2-3 pinfall. Afterwards, Curt Hennig and Rick Rude attacked Konnan and began to beat him down. Finally, Kevin Nash and Lex Luger made the save to a huge pop.
Hogan/Hart vs. Savage/Piper – Roddy Piper and Hogan controlled the beginning of the match, in a re-match of sorts from their series last year. Hart finally saw some action against Piper, but Savage wasn’t heavily involved during the first part of this encounter. Savage continued to stand on the apron, watching as Hart and Hogan took it to Piper. Finally, Savage was tagged, butNick Patrick did not see the tag and ordered Randy out of the ring. But that didn’t prevent him from getting involved, as Bret Hart was about to nail a headbutt on a fallen Piper. Savage slipped a chair in between Piper and Hart’s head just in time for Bret’s face to meet steel. This enabled Piper to make it to his corner and make the hot tag to Savage, who came in and took it to Hogan and Hart. Finally, all four ended up in the ring as Piper and Savage got the upperhand. Savage went up for the big elbow, and Hogan whipped Piper into the ropes, which knocked Randy to the mat.
Bret Hart took advantage of the injured Savage, and Randy gave up in the Sharpshooter. After the tag team match, Piper tried to help the injured Savage, but he didn’t want any of the Scot’s assistance. Savage nailed Piper a few times, and then hit him with the big elbow from the top rope. He went for the cover, but Piper kicked out after a two count. Then Savage nailed the official, knocking him out. Piper got a second wind, and hit Randy, following it up with a figure four leglock for the submission victory.
Sting vs. The Giant – The Giant came out in the NWO black and white, smoking. Sting arrived, to a big pop, wearing the red and black of the Wolfpack. Before the match started,The Giant blew smoke in Sting’s face, and this made Stinger go ballistic. He nailed a Stinger Splash, and went for a second before being met by a boot to the face. The Giant quickly took control, and began to beat Sting down to the mat over and over again. Sting finally turned things around, and nailed the Stinger Splash and a bodyslam before attempting both the Scorpion Deathlock and the Scorpion Deathdrop, which didn’t work. The Giant then turned it around and attempted a chokeslam, which Sting countered. Sting finally hit a third Scorpion Deathdrop to get the 1-2-3 pinfall victory and the Tag Team Championship.
