Wrestle-Complex.com Presents Great American Bash Coverage

News Toolbar Download | Site Info | Editorials | Special Content | Diva Gallery | Wrestler Profiles

Written by: Andy Stevens - July 20th, 2008

Event: WWE The Great American Bash
Date: July 20, 8PM ET
Location: Long Island, N.Y.

Dark Match Result:

Umaga beat Kennedy in a Dark Match.

WWE The Great American Bash Opener:
The pay-per-view goes on the air showing footage from the Edge and Vickie Guerrero wedding followed by the disastrous ending which shows Edge cheating on Vickie which was shown last week on SmackDown. We then cut to a promo video for JBL vs. John Cena in their New York City Parking Lot Brawl. CM Punk’s World Title win with Batista challenging him in shown next.

The pyros explode as we’re live from Long Island, New York. Jim Ross gives us the formal welcome and the official attendance figure of 14,126 fans which is a sellout.

The following match is for the WWE Tag Team Championship belts. Champions The Miz and John Morrison are introduced by Justin Roberts first. Jim Ross and Mick Foley are on commentary.

WWE Tag Team Championship
Fatal Four Way Match
John Morrison & The Miz vs. Finlay & Hornswoggle vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs. Jesse & Festus

The Edgeheads - Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins come out next followed by Jesse and Festus. We cut to JR and Foley putting Festus and his in-ring transformation over. Finlay & Hornswoggle are the final team to ringside. Finlay’s got the Shillelagh.

The bell rings and Festus is ready to get it going. The ring ropes are red, white, and blue. Miz and Morrison toss Hornswoggle to face Festus to start things out. Hornswoggle hits a head-first dive on Miz and Morrison. Jesse works them over on the outside as Festus starts things out against The Miz. Festus tosses Miz around like a rag doll as the referee backs him out of the corner. Jesse tags in Festus who mounts offense on Miz. Jesse gets a quick cover and tags in Festus. Finlay tags himself in but takes a boot from Festus. Miz tags in Morrison. Morrison gets in and pounds away on Finlay who was taken out by Festus’ boot.

Morrison tags in Miz. He hits elbows on Finlay’s neck and wrenches in a submission hold. Finlay battles back to his feet. The camera gets a shot of Hornswoggle as Miz hits a drop toe hold. Morrison tags himself in as they hit a double team on Finlay. Morrison gets a near fall on Finlay. He locks in a submission hold on the Irishman on the mat. Finlay battles back to his feet but take a knee from Morrison followed by a neck breaker. Morrison tags in Miz but Finlay fights him off. Miz tries to counter and tags in Morrison. Finlay takes Morrison down to the mat. They go back and forth.

Zack Ryder tags himself in and works over Finlay. Finlay has a somewhat far away look in his eye as the referee checks for submission. The crowd rallies behind Finlay as Curt Hawkins tags himself in. Finlay battles out of the corner but punching Ryder and taking Hawkins down. Hawkins fights Finlay off to get some control. A tag is made and Hawkins is the legal man against Finlay. Finlay went for his signature maneuver but Hawkins counters out. Finlay ends up hitting a Shillelagh shot on Hawkins but the referee didn’t see it. Miz and Morrison makes the save. Horny helps out but Ryder ends up getting tagged in to work over Finlay some more.

Ryder whips Finlay off the ropes but gets a boot to the face. Hornswoggle tags in and goes to work on Ryder. Jesse tags himself in off Hornswoggle. Jesse and Ryder go at in the ring. Jesse hits a snap fisherman’s suplex and a two count. Festus tags in after Ryder sends Horny off the apron. Festus sends Ryder to the mat. Festus hits the flying biscuit on Ryder and takes out Miz and Morrison. Jesse goes to the top but Ryder steals the pin on Jesse.

Winners and NEW WWE Tag Team Champions: Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder

United States Championship
Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin

Matt Hardy, the champion, comes out first. No man who has entered The Bash has ever lost the United States Championship - something that has spanned 23 years. Shelton Benjamin will give it a shot as he enters next.

The bell rings and we’re underway. Benjamin goes for a quick one count and uses some mat wrestling. Shelton goes off the ropes after a whip from Hardy and ends up hitting the mat. Matt Hardy gets Shelton in an inside cradle for a one count of his own. Benjamin goes back to the head of Hardy with a submission hold. Hardy sends him off the ropes and hits an arm drag take down. Shelton counters and sends Hardy to the corner. The referee backs him off as Benjamin works on mounting offense. Hardy was thinking Twist of Fate but can’t connect. Hardy sends Benjamin to the mat with a clothesline off the ropes. Benjamin tosses Hardy over the ropes onto the apron. Hardy holds on but Shelton knocks him to the outside.

Hardy gets back on the apron and buries his head to the midsection of Benjamin. Benjamin throws Hardy into the steel ring post and back to the outside. Benjamin rolls Hardy back in the ring for a cover. One count. Shelton hits a back body drop and gets a two count. He hits a back breaker and goes for a submission hold.

The crowd rallies behind Hardy as Shelton wrenches on a submission hold. Hardy breaks out but Shelton battles back. Shelton hits another back breaker. He locks in a sitting abdominal stretch on Hardy. Hardy counters out and drops Shelton on his back. He gets a two count. Shelton picks Hardy up - he hits a cross-body type move and sends him to the mat. Hardy runs into a Shelton boot and gets taken down. Shelton gets another two count and another near fall.

Shelton, working the spine of Hardy, applies a submission hold. Hardy breaks it with right hands. Shelton goes for a boot, Hardy blocks, and Benjamin hits a spinning heel kick. Benjamin gets caught by Hardy’s adjustment and gets sent to the mat. Hardy whips Shelton in the corner and gets a bulldog. He gets a two count and another near fall. Scoop slam by Hardy. Hardy hits a leg drop off the middle rope. He gets a long two count - boy was that close! Hardy goes off the middle rope again but is caught in mid-air. Benjamin throws him down in a power bomb like type maneuver.

Hardy nearly gets the win out of a counter. He hits the Side Effect and another two count off an inside leg hook. Hardy has the crowd behind him as he attempts Twist of Fate. Benjamin counters and sets Hardy up on the top rope. Benjamin goes up after him. Hardy battles him off with elbows. Hardy misses on a moonsault off the top. Shelton hits his finisher on Hardy out of nowhere and wins the United States Championship.

Winner and NEW United States Champion: Shelton Benjamin

We now get a recap of last monday’s interview with CM Punk.

Another recap, this time of the Edge/Vickie/Triple H stuff.

And of course it is time for Tonight’s WWE Mobile vote:

Who do you sympathize with more?
Edge
Vickie Guerrero

Results later in the show…

ECW Championship
Mark Henry (w/Tony Atlas) vs. Tommy Dreamer

Mark Henry comes out first with the ECW Championship and Tony Atlas. Tazz asks Adamle if they will see another title change after the two previous changes - Adamle says he ‘hopes not’. Tommy Dreamer comes out wearing an ECW t-shirt with Colin Delaney.

The bell rings as Mark Henry runs his mouth. Dreamer locks up with Henry but is pushed down into the corner. Dreamer tries again but is made to look like a rag doll getting manhandled. Dreamer uses stiff right shots and goes off the ropes but eats a Mark Henry clothesline. Slow match.

Mark Henry puts his foot on Dreamer’s face. Henry works over Dreamer in the ropes followed by a headbutt in the middle of the ring. Henry locks a submission hold on Dreamer on the mat with Henry standing. Dreamer gets to his feet and tries to battle back. Henry sends Dreamer to the mat. Dreamer gets up but gets caught in an arm submission hold. Boring chants from the crowd.

Atlas encourages Henry but the crowd gets behind Dreamer. Henry dominates Dreamer but misses with a splash (Adamle called it the World’s Strongest Slam, Tazz corrected him). Henry whips Dreamer into the turnbuckle but Dreamer finally works in some counters and hits a swinging neck breaker. Dreamer gets a two count.

Dreamer hits a DDT and knocks Atlas off the apron. Dreamer gets on the middle rope, Colin pumps him up on the apron. Colin jumps off but he pull Dreamer into the ropes. Henry gets the pin with an easy powerslam. Colin looks on with a sneaky grin.

Winner: Mark Henry
The events leading to the Jericho/HBK feud are shown.

Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho’s music hits as he is first to ringside. Shawn Michaels is next and he gets a tremendous pop from the live crowd.

Both are in the ring as there a stare down ensues. The bell rings and the match is officially underway. No blows and exchanged as the two lockup and finally some shots from Jericho. He backs Michaels down, working the midsection. HBK whips Jericho into the corner.

Michaels could have legitimately hurt his ribs as he favors them and tells the referee that they are bothering him. Michaels hits a chop block on Jericho and his version of the Figure Four. Jericho gets to the bottom rope to break the hold. Shawn kicks Jericho in the corner - the referee back him out but Michaels lands another kick. Michaels goes back to the corner and hits Jericho in the face with a right hand. HBK works over Jericho in the corner - with Marty Elias finally telling him to stay out of the corner.

Jericho gets a counter which leaves Michaels on the apron where he eats Jericho’s dropkick. Jericho sells the knee as Michaels is knocked to the outside. Jericho works Shawn over on the outside and rolls him back in the ring. Jericho lands a kick to the ribs of Michaels as he winces in pain. Jericho hits a belly-to-back suplex. It appears that HBK could be working the ribs as Jericho focuses his offense on them. Jericho puts a knee to the spine of HBK with the referee checking for submission.

The crowd gets behind Michaels as he tries to get to his feet and break Jericho’s hold. Michaels finally connects a blow to Jericho’s midsection but Jericho fights back. Michaels counters but gets hit with a kick to the face. Jericho gets a two count. Scoop slam from Jericho to Michaels. Jericho gets on the middle rope and waits for HBK. He gets up and counters as Jericho goes off the middle rope. HBK gets an atomic drop and goes off the ropes with a slam on Jericho. HBK gets to his feet but gets caught in a quick roll-up then the Walls of Jericho.

Jericho has the Walls of Jericho hooked in as Michaels reaches for the ropes. He finally makes it as Jericho is reluctant to break the hold. Jericho stomps Michaels by the ropes. The referee backs him down. Jericho counters a Sweet Chin Music attempt. Jericho hits Michaels in the face in the corner. Michaels is whipped into the corner but out of nowhere lands a clothesline on Jericho. Michaels gets a two count.

HBK goes to the top rope with Jericho on the mat. Jericho gets up and hits the ropes, sending Shawn dangling from the top rope. Jericho is dazed as Michaels looks shaken up on the ropes. Jericho comes over and nails a right hand. Jericho climbs the ropes but Michaels keeps pushing him off. Jericho finally gets on the middle rope but Michaels counters. Jericho tries a superplex. HBK backs him down again with right hands. HBK kicks Jericho to the mat. Michaels hits his elbow off the top rope onto Jericho.

The crowd wants Sweet Chin Music as Michaels dials it up. Lance Cade hits the ring and eats a blow from Michaels. After being distracted, Jericho nearly gets the victory but Michaels counters for a near fall of his own. Jericho gets another near fall. Now both men are battling it out on their feet. Michaels launches Jericho over the top ropes onto the outside on Lance Cade. Michaels climbs to the top rope and hits a moonsault onto Cade & Jericho on the outside. HBK can’t keep taking hard bumps like that to the outside.

Jericho strikes Michaels on the outside. Jericho gets back in the ring, Michaels follows. Michaels is bleeding - they’re selling it that it is from the eye injury. Michaels hits Jericho in the face and whips Jericho off the ropes. Michaels leans down but eats a kick from Jericho. Jericho works the eye of Michaels. Michaels’ face is a crimson mask in the corner. Referee checks on Michaels but the match continues. They show a replay of Michaels getting busted open off a Jericho elbow. Michaels is bleeding very bad as he lays on the mat. Jericho comes over and kicks him in the face. The referee warns him as Lance Cade gets a cheap shot from the outside.

In the ring, Marty Elias checks on Michaels. HBK tells him not to stop the match as Jericho works him over more. Michaels gets back to his feet and finally catches Jericho in the crossface, but he counters out sending HBK to the ropes. Jericho works Michaels over more as the referee pushes Jericho off. They argue in the ring as the crowd chants ‘HBK’. Michaels pleads for the match to continue as he eats more right hands from Y2J. Jericho stands in the corner while Elias checks on Michaels.

Michaels tells the referee again not to stop the match. Jericho kicks him in the face several more times as Jericho screams that he isn’t stopping because HBK said no. Elias pleads with Jericho to ease up. Michaels is a bloody mess. Jericho stands over Michaels as Michaels grabs his pants. Jericho hits more right hands and takes Shawn to the mat. Jericho works his face while screaming ’see what happens Michaels’ at him. The referee finally pulls Jericho off and stops the match.

Winner - Chris Jericho because the referee deemed Michaels unable to continue

After the match, Trainers hit the ring and tended to HBK.

Backstage:
Jim Ross and Mick Foley put over the unusual finish. JR interviews Edge who is in the back. JR asks Edge how he feels. Edge asks JR how does he thinks he feels? Edge says that Triple H crossed lines that you just don’t cross in this business. He calls Hunter a pervert and says that he took away his personal life. Edge says he only has a professional life but that’s OK because what he has done is make him desperate. Edge says when he is desperate he is even more dangerous. He says that Hunter ruined his life and that he is going to ruin his by taking the WWE Championship.

Divas Championship
Michelle McCool vs. Natalya

Michelle McCool comes out first as this match will determine the first ever WWE Divas Champion.

The bell rings and we’re underway. Mick Foley tells the fans to disregard the emotional scene that we just witnessed. Michelle McCool gets the opening control, working over Natalya. Natalya tries a counter by whipping McCool off the ropes but another counter from Michelle. Natalya finally starts to mount offense and gets aggressive on the mat.

Natalya applies a surf board arch submission maneuver. The referee checks on Michelle. McCool breaks the hold and locks a Brazilian heel hook. Natalya gets to the ropes. She goes to the outside and applies an illegal submission hold on Michelle. Natalya gets a one count on Michelle back in the ring. McCool backs her down but Natalya goes for the Sharp Shooter. Natalya locks it in as Michelle screams. Michelle goes for the ropes and finally makes it.

Natalya works over McCool after the rope break. She brings Michelle back to the center of the ring and goes for the Sharp Shooter again. Michelle counters with that Brazilian heel hook. Natalya screams in pain and finally taps out.

Winner and FIRST Divas Champion: Michelle McCool

- As the Divas are celebrating with Michelle McCool in the ring, Chris Jericho tells the fans to save their ticket stubs because it is the night that Shawn Michaels had his last match. Jericho says that Shawn has been diagnosed with a detached retina and his career is over. Jericho says that Shawn Michaels can rest in one thing and that is that the worst has finally come.

- After a Ric Flair DVD commercial, we are shown CM Punk and Batista warming up for their match. Cue footage explaining Punk’s title win beginning with his MITB ladder match victory.

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Batista

The following match is scheduled for one fall and is for the World Heavyweight Championship. CM Punk comes out first. Batista comes out as the pyros explode upon his tremendous entrance. Lilian Garcia does the formal in-ring introductions and we are ready to go!

Senior WWE official Mike Chioda is the referee. Punk and Batista lock up after the bell rings. Batista sends Punk to the mat and looks cocky in the ring. Batista taunts him in the ring. Punk uses his feet to the calves of Batista. Batista can’t block them as Punk follows with right hands. Batista nearly slams Punk but he uses his speed to escape. Finally Batista hits a big elbow on Punk in which he gets a two count eventually.

Page will automatically refresh every 60 seconds, feel free to manually refresh for the latest content. Thank you for your support of Wrestle-Complex.com

Reporters Plug: WC-Forums.com Revamped! Discuss Undertaker's Return, WWE Summerslam & More!