The Great American Bash opened with a video focusing on the Batista-JBL, Undertaker-Hassan, and Guerrero-Mysterio matches. Tazz and Michael Cole welcomed us to the show, and pointed out that the show was being aired free to troops overseas via the Armed Forces Network.
WWE Tag Team Champions MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro, with Melina) vs. Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich.
MNM had new ring outfits, and Melina was wearing a pair of Bruiser Brody-style boots (in other words, big fuzzy boots). Animal & Heidenreich came out to the LOD theme, and for those that were wondering, no, Heidenreich was not wearing Road Warrior paint or gear. Heidenreich started off with Mercury, hitting a shoulderblock, and Mercury immediately went to the floor to regroup. Mercury got back in and went for a front facelock, and Heidenreich effortlessly tossed him off. Mercury left the ring, got back in, and was given a big boot. Mercury fell to the floor, but Animal tossed him back in. Animal and Heidenreich hit a double shoulderblock, but Mercury hit a boot to the face and tagged in Nitro. MNM went for a double vertical sulex, but Animal reversed it and suplexed both members of MNM by himself. Animal backdropped Nitro, then tagged in Heidereich. Heidenreich lifted Nitro with a choke, but Mercury ran in and clipped his leg.
Mercury tagged in and dropped his weight on Heidenreich’s leg, then yanked on the limb. MNM worked on the leg, including a double legdrop to the leg and chest. Mercury and Nitro continued to tag in and out, working on the leg, and keeping Heidenreich from tagging. Mercury dropped some elbows to the leg, then Heidenreich kicked Mercury away and made the hot tag to Animal. Animal hit Mercury with a back suplex and an elbowdrop, and sort of dropkicked Nitro off the apron. Animal missed a charge in the corner, and Nitro hit Animal with a title belt (Melina distracted the ref). Mercury rolled up Animal, but he kicked out at two. MNM set up Animal for the snapshot, but Heidenreich ran in and speared Nitro. Animal gave Mercury a powerslam, and called for the Doomsday Device. Heidenreich hit the top rope clothesline, and Animal got the pin on Mercury at the six minute mark.
Winners and new WWE Tag Team Champions: Animal & Heidenreich.
Animal got on the mic and said “Hawk, this one is for you!”
Josh Mathews interviewed Eddie Guerrero backstage. Guerrero said he called up Rey Mysterio this weekend and added a stipulation to their match. Guerrero said Mysterio had to agree, or he would reveal Mysterio’s secret. Guerrero talked about how manipulation is his “new addiction”. Guerrero said the stipulation was that Dominic, Rey’s son, has to sit at ringside and watch the match, and if Guerrero wins, Dominic has to get in the ring and hear the “bedtime story”.
Christian vs. Booker T, with Sharmell.
Christian stalled outside the ring at the bell. When he got in, Booker shrugged off some punches and hit a back elbow. Christian left the ring again and headed up the ramp, but Booker went after him and dragged him back to ringside. Booker tossed Christian back into the ring and hit a back suplex. Booker catapulted Christian into a corner for two, but Christian pulled the referee in-between them so he could hit a low blow and throw Booker shoulder first into the ring post. Christian hit a swinging reverse DDT from the second rope for two, then choked Booker against the bottom rope. Booker fought back with punches, but missed a spinkick and Christian hit a cross armbreaker for a two count.
Christian applied a rear naked choke, but Booker fought back with chops. Booker hit a side slam for a two count. Booker missed a side kick and crotched himself on the top rope. There were some cheers for Christian (probably because Buffalo isn’t that far from Toronto, where Christian is from). Christian pulled Sharmell onto the ring apron, and Sharmell slapped him. Christian went to charge Sharmell, but Booker grabbed him and hit the Bookend for a two count. Booker hit a forearm and a clothesline, then delivered a vertical suplex for a two count. Booker hit a sunset flip out of the corner, and Christian rolled through into his own pinning position and grabbed the ropes, but Booker still kicked out. Booker hit a spinebuster, and called for the Spinarooni, which got booed. Christian charged Booker, and Booker hit him with a flapjack. Booker did the Spinarooni, and went for the ax kick, but Christian ducked it and went for the Unprettier, but Booker shoved him into a corner.
Booker went to punch Christian in the corner, but Christian pulled out a powerbomb and put his feet on the ropes for a two count. Booker rolled to the apron, and Christian went to grab him, but Booker yanked him throat first across the top rope. Booker hit a missile dropkick, but Christian got his foot on the ropes to break up the pin. Christian gave Booker a thumb to the eyes, and tossed him to the floor. Christian went outside, but Booker tossed him into the ringpost and the ring steps. Booker tossed Christian back into the ring, then hit ax kick off the second rope for the pin at the eleven minute mark.
Winner: Booker T.
Backstage, Steve Romero interviewed Melina, who vowed that MNM would become Tag Champions again. She also said there was no way the fans would see her stripped to her bra and panties later tonight.
A Summerslam commercial aired.
U.S. Champion Orlando Jordan vs. Chris Benoit.
They locked up at the bell and had to be separated by the referee in the corner. On the second lockup, Benoit hit some knees in the corner, then a clothesline off the ropes. Benoit hit some chops in the corner, but Orlando fought back with punches. Benoit hit some chops and delivered a snap suplex, then dropkicked Orlando in the face for two. Orlando grabbed an armbar and pounded Benoit’s shoulder. Benoit rolled under a kick and hit an awkward dragon screw leg whip. Orlando rolled to the floor. Benoit went for a baseball slide, but Orlando dodged it and rammed Benoit back first into the ring post. Orlando got in the ring and tried to loosen a turnbuckle, but Benoit grabbed him and hit a German suplex.
Benoit chopped Jordan and delivered a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Orlando came back with elbows and punches, pounding Benoit in a corner, where he stomped him down. Orlando whipped Benoit across the ring into the opposite corner and hit a clothesline. Jordan gave Benoit a cross armbreaker, then applied a variation on the short arm scissors. Jordan applied a traditional armbar, but Benoit tripped out, and the two exchanged punches on the mat. Jordan applied a weird kind of hammerlock, then grabbed a cradle for two. Benoit grabbed Jordan’s legs, but Jordan kicked him away.
Benoit hit some chops, but Jordan punched him down, and sort of applied a crossface chicken wing, but the crossface part wasn’t quite right. Jordan hit a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Jordan hit a reverse elbow for another two, then applied a surfboard. Jordan slammed Benoit, as a “Boring” chant started up. Jordan went to the top rope, but Benoit crotched him. Benoit hit some chops, then hit a top rope superplex. Benoit hit some forearms and a backdrop, then elbowed a charging Jordan. Benoit went for the Sharpshooter, but Jordan kicked it off. Benoit hit a German suplex. Jordan blocked a second, missed a right hand, and Benoit hit two more German suplexes. Benoit hit the top rope headbutt, but only got a two count.
Benoit hit Jordan with some chops. He threw Jordan into a corner, but Jordan bounced out and collided heads with Benoit. Benoit fell to the mat, and Jordan pulled the pad off a top turnbuckle. Benoit grabbed Jordan from behind for German suplex, but Jordan held onto the ropes. Jordan pulled forward, and Benoit went headfirst into the exposed steel turnbuckle. Jordan then scored the pin at the fourteen minute mark.
Winner: Orlando Jordan.
They kept the camera on Benoit for a while after the match, and the fans applauded him before he left the ring.
A video package on the Hassan-Undertaker feud was shown.
Number One Contender Match: The Undertaker vs. Muhammad Hassan, with Daivari.
The masked men that are not terrorists (Cole called them “sympathizers”) carried Hassan to the ring on a makeshift throne. Hassan got on the mic and demanded respect from the crowd. Hassan said if he didn’t defeat The Undertaker, he would never appear on Smackdown again. Hassan promised to beat The Undertaker, return to Smackdown, win the World Heavyweight Title, and become the first Arab-American champion in WWE. Hassan said he sacrificed Daivari and his lawyer to the Undertaker because he will do anything to win the WWE Title. Hassan said he wasn’t afraid of the Undertaker. The lights then went off for The Undertaker’s entrance. The masked man surrounded the ring at the direction of Daivari after Taker got in the ring.
Hassan danced in the ring, avoiding the Undertaker at the start. Hassan fired off some right hands and kicks, ticking off Taker. UT tossed Hassan in the corner and pounded him down, then drove a knee into the midsection, following with a kick and an elbow. Undertaker charged into a boot by Hassan, but Hassan then ran into a big boot by Taker. Undertaker grabbed an arm wringer and hit an elbow to the shoulder. Undertaker did the Old School rope walk and hit a forearm, then hit a facedriver for a two count. Taker punched Hassan down in a corner with punches, then choked him. Taker went for a big boot in the corner, but Daivari moved Hassan out of the way, and Taker fell to the floor. One of the masked men distracted the referee while the others attacked Taker. Hassan recovered and rammed Taker into the ringsteps.
Hassan tossed Taker back into the ring and choked him with his boot. Hassan distracted the referee, and a masked man choked Taker. Hassan hit a DDT and applied a rear naked choke. Undertaker through off the choke and went for a backdrop. Hassan kicked away the backdrop, which got Taker mad. Undertaker punched Hassan to the mat, then went to the floor and knocked down one of the masked men. Another masked man pulled out a wire and choked Taker with it, then rolled him back into the ring. Hassan applied a camel clutch, but Undertaker stood up and gave Hassan the Electric Chair. Taker hit a pair of splashes in the corner, then gave a masked man a big boot when he ran into the ring. Taker hit Snake Eyes on Hassan, then booted another masked man. Another masked man in, and he gets punched down. Undertaker dropped an elbow on Hassan, then punched out two more masked men. Undertaker went for the tombstone, but Hassan floated over it. Hassan whipped Taker into the ropes, but Taker ducked a clothesline and hit a chokeslam for the win at the eight minute mark.
Winner: The Undertaker.
Post-match, the masked men attacked, with Undertaker destroying several of them, including driving a chair into the throat of one, chokeslamming another on the floor, and tossing one over the Spanish Announcers table. Undertaker got back in the ring, and Hassan shoved Daivari towards him and escaped the ring. Undertaker chokeslammed Daivari. The masked man with the wire from earlier got in the ring, and Taker gave him a boot to the face and a tombstone piledriver. Undertaker went to the floor and tossed Daivari through the wooden front of the Spanish Announcers table. Hassan had crawled to the top stage. Undertaker went after him and chokeslammed him on the stage. Undertaker then removed several of the metal grates on the top of the stage, making a large hole. Undertaker then gave Muhammad Hassan a Last Ride powerbomb through the hole in the stage. Undertaker then stood over the hole, raised his arm, and walked off. After some replays, the camera moved to the hole and showed Hassan lying across the concrete, a metal lighting truss under his back, his body occasionally convulsing.
Steve Romero interviewed Torrie Wilson, who promised to show that girls can “kick ass” and said she would give the men what they want to see, Melina stripped to her bra and panties.
They went to the hole in the stage, where a now-bloody Hassan was being put on a stretcher.
The Mexicools (Juventud, Psicosis & Super Crazy) vs. The BWO (Big Stevie Cool, Da Blue Guy & Hollywood Nova).
The Mexicools drove out on lawnmowers and gave the Spanish announcers a rake. The BWO drove out on Big Wheels. There was an “ECW” chant for the BWO. Nova started out with Juventud, with Juvi flipping over Nova and doing a moonwalk. Juvi went for a hiptoss, but Nova flipped him to the mat. Richards came in and helped Nova clean house on Crazy and Psicosis. Meanie avalanched Crazy and Psicosis, and the BWO cleared the ring. Juventud hit Nova with a springboard spinkick as he was distracted by Psicosis. Juventud hit a spinkick and applied an armbar on Nova. Juventud hit some punches, and a spinkick, then tagged in Crazy. Crazy hit a snapmare and a running dropkick to Nova’s head for two. Juventud applied an armbar on Nova, who came back with a big boot to the face. Nova finally made the tag to Stevie, who backdropped Psicosis, dodged a Juventud springboard, and hit Psicosis with a sideslam. The match broke down, and Richards was left in the ring with Psicosis. Richards missed a charge in the corner, and Super Crazy hit him with a springboard moonsault. Psicosis followed with a guillotine legdrop and got the pin on Richards at the five minute mark.
Winners: The Mexicools.
A video package on the Rey Mysterio-Eddie Guerrero feud was shown.
Rey Mysterio was shown in the locker room with his son Dominic (who now has blonde hair). Dominic said he was scared, and Rey told him there was nothing to be scared about, and that he loved him.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio.
Guerrero came out first, then Rey came out with Dominic and sat him in a chair at ringside. The fans chanted “Eddie Sucks” as Eddie made gestures and smiles towards Dominic. There was a “Let’s Go Eddie” chant from some fans. Eddie told Rey to shake his hand, and Rey did, with Eddie pointing out the handshake to Dominic. Rey then hit a short arm clothesline to start the match, and followed with a clothesline and a backdrop. Rey missed a springboard bodypress, but flipped out of a back suplex attempt and went for a series of rollups for two counts. Rey hit a bulldog out of a bodyscissors for a two count. Eddie whipped Rey across the ring, but Rey put on the breaks and hit a back elbow. Eddie hit a reverse atomic drop out of the corner as Rey tried to punch him. Eddie went to the top rope, but Rey crotched him. Mysterio gave Guerrero a top rope rana for a two count. Mysterio went to the top rope, but Guerrero crotched him.
Guerrero pulled Rey off the ropes for a crucifix bomb, but Rey turned it into a rana. Rey hit a 619 to the midsection, then gave him a West Coast Pop for a two count. Eddie rolled to the floor, and could be heard saying “He almost beat me”. Eddie walked over to Dominic, and gave him a hug. As Rey went after him, Eddie held Dominic in front of him. Rey yelled at Eddie to let him go. Eddie told Rey to get down on his knees, then when Rey did, Eddie shoved Dominic to the side and attacked Rey. Eddie threw Rey back into the ring, and Tazz called Guerrero an “ass****” for what he did. Guerrero kicked Rey on the mat and pounded him in the back. Eddie tossed Rey to the floor on one side of the ring, then went over to Dominic again and smiled at him.
Back in the ring, Eddie continued to pound Guerrero, choking him against the ropes. Eddie went for a series of covers, but Rey kept kicking out at two, frustrating Guerrero. Guerrero went to stare at Dominic again, then worked over Rey with kidney punches. Rey reversed a backbreaker attempt into a bodypress for a two count. Eddie put Rey in a Gory Special, and there was a light “boring” chant. Rey flipped out into a sunset flip, but Eddie rolled through it and catapulted Mysterio over the top rope and to the floor. Eddie went towards Dominic again and started talking to him, patting him on the head. Rey charged Guerrero and hit a series of rights.
As they made it back into the ring, Mysterio dropkicked Guerrero’s leg out from under him, then kicked him in the face for a two count. Mysterio went for a springboard moonsault, and Eddie caught him, by Mysterio swung around into a DDT. Mysterio draped an arm over Guerrero for a two count. Mysterio gave Guerrero a springboard dropkick to the back of the head, then hit the 619. Mysterio went for a springboard legdrop, but Guerrero moved and Mysterio crashed to the mat. Guerrero hit the Three Amigos vertical suplexes, then went to the top rope, but Rey was rolling away from the corner, out of range of the frog splash. Eddie got off the ropes, then gave Rey two more vertical suplexes. Eddie Guerrero hit a brainbuster, then delivered the Frog Splash. Eddie slowly and arrogantly laid across Rey for a cover, and Rey rolled Guerrero over into a crucifix for the flash pin at the seventeen minute mark.
Winner: Rey Mysterio.
Mysterio and Dominic left ringside quickly, while an angry and frustrated Guerrero argued with ringside fans.
Josh Mathews interviewed JBL, who now has a Red, White and Blue hat and vest. JBL took a shot at the Buffalo Bills for never winning the big one. JBL guaranteed that he would win tonight.
Bra & Panties Match: Torrie Wilson vs. Melina, with Candice Michelle as the referee.
Candice came out first, and Michael Cole and Tazz noted that she would be the first ever referee to wear a garter to the ring. Melina came out wearing pants and a T-Shirt (she had a mini-skirt and skimpy top during the opening tag match). Torrie also wore pants and a shirt to the ring. They locked up at the bell, with Melina breaking clean in the corner. Melina lightly slapped Torrie, and Torrie shoved her to the mat. Melina pulled Torrie to the mat by her hair, but Torrie came back with a sloppy headscissors. Torrie cradled Melina and went for her pants, but couldn’t get them off. Torrie applied an abdominal stretch and pulled off Melina’s shirt. Torrie rolled up Melina and tried for the pants, but Melina kicked Torrie off, through the ropes and to the floor. Melina grabbed Torrie, tossed her back in, and pulled off Torrie’s top. Melina kept up the attack, but couldn’t get Torrie’s pants off. Melina choked Torrie, and Candice forced her to break. Torrie kicked Melina in the head from the mat. Melina crawled to the apron, but Torrie pulled her back into the ring. Torrie hit a dropkick and clothesline, then hit a vertical suplex. Torrie went for her pants, but Melina monkeyflipped her off. Torrie went for Melina, but Melina hit a Hot Shot, knocking out Torrie. Melina pulled of Torrie’s pants to get the win at the five minute mark. We have several pics from this match available at the link below this report.
Winner: Melina.
Post-match, Melina attacked Candice, so Candice and Torrie double teamed her and pulled off Melina’s pants. Melina ran off, and Candice stripped down to her own bra and panties, so the crowd got to see all three women in their underwear tonight.
The events leading to the main event were recapped.
World Champion Batista vs. John Bradshaw Layfield.
JBL entered in a limo with police escort, with red, white and blue confetti falling from the ceiling. JBL handed out small flags to the audience. As Batista came out, Michael Cole informed us that Batista is the first man to headline a Raw-brand and Smackdown-brand PPV in the same month. There was a “Batista” chant before the two men locked up. Batista backed JBL into the corner on the initial lockup, and broke clean. They locked up again, and JBL went for a waistlock, but Batista elbowed him away. Batista hit a shoulderblock, and then flexed in the center of the ring. JBL hit a knee to the gut and threw some forearms. JBL whipped Batista across the ring, but Batista came back with a clothesline and JBL went to the floor to regroup.
Batista gave chase, and JBL kicked him as they got back into the ring. Batista reversed a whip and hit a side slam for a two count. Batista hit some elbows in the corner, then choked him with his boot. Batista ran into a JBL boot, and JBL downed Batista with a running shoulderblock. Batista reversed a whip and hit a back body drop, then clotheslined JBL over the top rope and to the floor. Batista threw JBL into the security wall, and then back into the ring. As Batista got on the apron, JBL tried to suplex Batista into the ring, but Batista blocked it, so JBL dropped down, yanking Batista throat first across the top rope. Batista was on the floor, and JBL tried to jump on him from the apron, but Batista caught him and rammed him into the ring apron. Batista hit a kneelift and rolled Batista back into the ring.
Back in the ring, JBL begged off, then poked Batista in the eyes and threw him shoulder first into the ringpost. JBL hit a boot to the face, and Batista fell to the floor. JBL tackled Batista on the floor, sending both men over the announcers table. JBL pounded Batista on the floor, and knocked out a camera. JBL stood on the table and hit a flying punch. Batista was rolled back in the ring and JBL covered for a two count. JBL catapulted Batista into the middle rope, then choked him against the bottom rope. JBL hit a boot to the face, then dropped a trio of elbows for a two count. JBL applied a sleeperhold, and held onto it for a long time. The referee checked Batista’s arm, but the champion kept it up on the third check.
Batista elbowed out, and hit a back suplex. JBL grabbed Batista by the trunks and pulled him through the ropes and to the floor. JBL went outside and rammed Batista into the ring steps. JBL rammed Batista into the steps a second time, then punched him on the floor. JBL rammed Batista into the ringpost, but Batista came back with a boot to the face, then hit a clothesline, sending both men over the security wall and into the crowd. Batista pounded JBL on the floor, then rolled JBL back over the wall to ringside. They went back into the ring, with JBL hitting some forearms. Batista reversed a whip and hit a back elbow. JBL reversed a whip, and sent Batista into a corner. JBL bounced off the ropes for the Clothesline From Hell, but hit the referee, knocking him to the floor. Batista gave JBL a spinebuster. Orlando Jordan ran out, but Batista knocked him off the apron. Batista grabbed JBL for a powerbomb, but Jordan crawled in with a chair and hit Batista in the back. JBL covered Batista, and Jordan revived the referee. The referee counted, but Batista got his shoulder up at two.
JBL hit a Clothesline From Hell, but the still groggy referee was lying on the mat and unable to crawl over and count. JBL measured for another clothesline, but ran into a Batista spinebuster. Jordan got in the ring and charged, but Batista backdropped him over the top rope and to the floor. Batista hit some shoulderblocks in the corner on JBL, whipped him across the ring and hit a clothesline. Batista powerslammed JBL. Jordan got on the apron with a chair, but Batista pulled him into the ring. Batista took the chair and hit Jordan with hit, then hit JBL with it. The referee saw Batista hit JBL with the chair, and called for the bell at the 20-minute mark.
Winner via disqualification: JBL.
Batista, enraged, took the chair and hit Jordan and JBL repeatedly in the back with the chair. Batista then took his title belt and walked off. As Batista got to the stage, they announced that JBL was the winner. Batista turned around, walked back to the ring and powerbombed Orlando Jordan. Batista then gave JBL a powerbomb, and walked off, ending the show.
