The Great American Bash (2008)

The Great American Bash (2008)
Promotional poster featuring CM Punk, Triple H, John Cena, Batista, and Shawn Michaels
Promotion World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s) Raw
SmackDown
ECW
Date July 20, 2008
City Uniondale, New York
Venue Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Attendance 12,454[1]
Theme
song(s)		 "Move to the Music" by American Bang[2]
Sponsor(s) AT&T
Pay-per-view chronology
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The Bash

The Great American Bash (2008) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and presented by AT&T. It took place on July 20, 2008, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. It was the fifth annual Great American Bash and starred wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands.[3]

The main match on the SmackDown brand was between Triple H and Edge for the WWE Championship. Triple H won the match and retained the WWE Championship after pinning Edge following a Pedigree.[4] The primary match on the Raw brand was between CM Punk and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship, which ended in a double disqualification following interference from Kane.[5] The predominant match on the ECW brand was between Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer for the ECW Championship, which Henry won by pinfall due to the interference and heel turn of Colin Delaney, with Henry proceeding to perform a World's Strongest Slam to retain the championship.[6] The featured matches on the undercard included John Cena versus John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) in a New York City Parking Lot Brawl and Shawn Michaels versus Chris Jericho.[7][8] The event also crowned the first WWE Divas Champion.

Production

Background

The event was sponsored by AT&T. The Great American Bash was the last pay-per-view World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event to have a TV Parental Guidelines rating of TV-14. Two days later, all WWE programming transitioned to a PG television rating.[9]

Storylines

The stage setup for The Great American Bash

The main feud heading into The Great American Bash on the SmackDown brand was between Triple H and Edge, with the two feuding over the WWE Championship. On the July 4 episode of SmackDown, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced that Triple H would defend the WWE Championship at The Great American Bash against Edge. This prompted Edge to take his frustrations out on Vickie due to the fact that he lost the World title (that he had won at One Night Stand in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match) to CM Punk several days earlier Raw and told her the wedding was off.[10][11] The following week, however, after Guerrero saved Edge from a con-chair-to by The Big Show, Edge re-proposed, and the wedding was back on. On the July 18 episode of SmackDown, Edge and Vickie Guerrero held their kayfabe wedding reception. At the end of the reception as Guerrero and Edge were in the ring, Triple H appeared to reveal Edge's secret love affair with Edge and Guerrero's wedding planner, Alicia Fox.

The primary feud going into The Great American Bash on the Raw brand was between CM Punk and Batista, with the two feuding over the World Heavyweight Championship. On the June 23 episode of Raw, CM Punk and Batista were drafted to Raw, while WWE Champion Triple H was drafted to SmackDown. At Night of Champions, it was determined that either Batista or John Cena would bring a World Championship to the Raw brand. During that event, Batista was unsuccessful at winning the World title from Edge while John Cena failed to defeat Triple H for the WWE title in a WrestleMania 22 rematch. On the following night on Raw, CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract that he won at WrestleMania XXIV and defeated Edge to capture the title, after Batista delivered a beating to Edge. Later on that night, Punk defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) to retain the World Championship with the help from John Cena and Cryme Tyme.[12] On July 7, on Raw, CM Punk successfully defended his World title over Snitsky. Later that night, Batista became the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship after defeating JBL, John Cena, and Kane in a Fatal Four-Way match.[13][14] The following week, Punk defeated Kane by countout in a non-title match. After the match, Kane attempted to attack Punk, but Batista ran to the ring to stop Kane. Batista took a steel chair and hit Kane in the forehead, as Kane rolled out of the ring. Punk offered Batista a handshake, but Batista declined and instead delivered a spinebuster to Punk.[15]

The predominant feud on the ECW brand was between Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer. On the July 1 episode of ECW, Henry faced Colin Delaney in a match where if Delaney had won, Dreamer would receive a title shot against Henry. Henry won the match, and Dreamer was not granted a title match.[16] The following week on ECW Henry faced Dreamer in a non-title match. The match ended in a no-contest after Henry escaped the ring to try to attack Delaney, who was at ringside with Dreamer. Tony Atlas was the special guest ring announcer for this match, and stepped in to save Delaney from Henry's attack. Instead, Atlas turned heel, and allowed Henry to attack Delaney. Henry then returned to the ring to attack Dreamer, as the match was ruled a no-contest.[17]

Event

The first match was a fatal four-way tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship in which John Morrison and The Miz defended the titles against Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder, Jesse and Festus and Finlay and Hornswoggle. As the bell rang, Festus cleared the ring until The Miz and Morrison tossed Hornswoggle in the ring. The Miz and Morrison then jumped onto the ring apron, but Festus knocked them off. Hornswoggle dove out of the ring through the top and middle ropes to land on top of The Miz and Morrison. Throughout the match, the eight wrestlers would attempt to make physical contact with their respective partners to get themselves tagged into the match. Hawkins and Ryder won the titles after throwing Jesse off of the top rope and pinning him.

The next match was for the WWE United States Championship, with Matt Hardy defending against Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin executed the Paydirt on Hardy,after a reversal of Hardy’s Moonsault and pinning Hardy to win the United States Championship.

The next match was for the ECW Championship, with Mark Henry defending against Tommy Dreamer. Tommy Dreamer was on the turnbuckle about to finish Henry off but Delaney turned on him and pulled him into the top rope. Henry then executed the World's Strongest Slam to get the win.

Chris Jericho attacking Shawn Michaels' damaged eye during their match

The next match was a singles match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. The match started and already Michaels suffered kayfabe cracked ribs and internal bleeding. During the match Jericho executed an elbow to Michaels' right eye. Michaels was bleeding for the remainder of the match. Lance Cade also interfered and executed many cheap shots on Michaels while the referee's back was turned. After Jericho executed many shots on Michaels' face the referee deemed Shawn Michaels unable to continue, therefore Chris Jericho was declared the winner.

The next match to determine the inaugural WWE Divas Champion between Michelle McCool and Natalya. McCool forced Natalya to submit with a Heel Hook. After the match, Eve Torres and Cherry joined McCool in the ring to celebrate.

The next match was for the World Heavyweight Championship between CM Punk and Batista. Each man continually built momentum on different occasions. Batista managed to execute a Spinebuster on Punk outside of the ring. As Batista pushed Punk back into the ring Kane interfered by attacking both Batista and Punk which ended the match in a double disqualification. After the match, Batista gave Punk a Batista Bomb

The next match was a New York City Parking Lot Brawl between John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). They both performed extreme moves including Cena using JBL's body to smash a car door off its hinges. In a planned spot, JBL set fire to a car with Cena inside. Cena destroyed a car with JBL in it with a forklift. Cena was about to execute the FU but JBL countered and pushed Cena into a window, which cut Cena's arm, allowing JBL to win the match.

The main event was for the WWE Championship between Triple H and Edge. Both men were dominating at different times of the match. Near the end Alicia Fox tried to give Edge the WWE Championship belt to use it as a weapon. Vickie Guerrero started brawling with Fox, however, and Edge accidentally speared Guerrero in an attempt to hit the referee to delay the match. The distraction allowed Triple H to execute a Pedigree, retaining the WWE Championship.

Aftermath

On the July 25 episode of SmackDown, Edge apologized to Vickie Guerrero for his actions at The Great American Bash. Guerrero accepted the apology, but informed Edge that she has already re-instated The Undertaker (Mark Calaway), who had been fired as a part of the storyline between himself and Edge. Guerrero announced that at the upcoming pay-per-view event, SummerSlam, Edge would face Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match, where the ring is surrounded by a steel structure.[18] On SmackDown the following week, Mick Foley gave Edge a stern taking about what he needed to do to win Hell in a Cell against the Undertaker. After recalling his own words from the past, describing Edge as the "Greatest Superstar in the WWE", Foley warned that if the new Edge – the "white-tuxedo-wearing" and "luffa-sponge bathing Edge" – walks into Hell in a Cell, the Undertaker will tear him apart. After Foley's cutting words, Edge claimed to understand the advice but suddenly attacked Foley, leading to a melee culminating in Edge leaping from atop of the ladder and smashing Foley through a table. At SummerSlam, Undertaker defeated Edge after performing a Tombstone Piledriver.[19] Following SummerSlam, Edge was scripted to be out of action. Undertaker began to feud with Guerrero and Big Show (Paul Wight) at the next pay-per-view event, Unforgiven, when Big Show attacked Undertaker to save Guerrero from being attacked.[20]

After Chris Jericho beat Shawn Michaels in a singles match, Michaels came to the ring on August 17 at SummerSlam to announce his storyline retirement. Jericho, however, interrupted the announcement and, in an attempt to punch Michaels, accidentally struck Michaels' wife Rebecca.[21] On the following night on Raw, Jericho stated that he had no remorse for what he did to Michaels wife, claiming that Michaels "had it coming to him".[22][23] The following week on Raw, Michaels announced he was not going to retire and asked Jericho for an Unsanctioned match at Unforgiven. Jericho agreed to the match and the following week on Raw there was a contract signing for the match. The signing ended with Jericho and Michaels attacking each other. During the match at Unforgiven, Michaels' persistent assault on Jericho would lead to Jericho obtaining a legitimate bruised and swollen jaw.

Following The Great American Bash, John Cena and JBL ended their feud, as did Batista and CM Punk (after a rematch the next night on Raw, which ended in no contest, thus Punk retained the title).[24] On the July 28 episode of Raw, John Cena and Batista defeated JBL and Kane in a tag team match. After the match, on-screen authority figure, Mike Adamle announced that at SummerSlam, Batista would face John Cena in a standard match.[25] On the following episode of Raw, Cena and Batista defeated Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase to capture the World Tag Team Championship.[26] On the August 11 episode of Raw, Cena and Batista lost the tag team championship to Rhodes and DiBiase in a tag team rematch.[27]

On the August 4 episode of Raw Adamle announced that JBL and Chris Jericho would face CM Punk in a two-on-one match that night, where whoever pinned Punk (if anyone) would face Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. JBL won the match for his team after he pinned Punk, setting up the match between himself and Punk for SummerSlam.[26]

Reception

The event was met with mixed to positive reception from critics. The Sun rated the event as 8 out of 10. The reviewer praised the Michaels/Jericho match, with particular praise going to Shawn Michaels. Similar praise was given to the emphasis on storylines and good quality wrestling, such as the Edge/Vickie storyline and the Cena/JBL match. The World Heavyweight Championship match was criticized, however, as was the fact that Punk played a very minor role in both the match and the outcome.[28]

Results

No. Results Stipulations Times
1D Umaga defeated Mr. Kennedy Singles match 04:00
2 Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder defeated Finlay and Hornswoggle, Jesse and Festus and John Morrison and The Miz (c)[29] Four-way tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship 09:05
3 Shelton Benjamin defeated Matt Hardy (c)[30] Singles match for the WWE United States Championship 09:33
4 Mark Henry (c) (with Tony Atlas) defeated Tommy Dreamer (with Colin Delaney)[6] Singles match for the ECW Championship 05:29
5 Chris Jericho defeated Shawn Michaels[8] by technical knockout Singles match 18:18
6 Michelle McCool defeated Natalya by submission[31] Singles match for the inaugural WWE Divas Championship 04:41
7 CM Punk (c) vs. Batista ended in a double disqualification[5] Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship 11:10
8 John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated John Cena[7] New York City Parking Lot Brawl 14:36
9 Triple H (c) defeated Edge[4] Singles match for the WWE Championship 16:48
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
  • D – indicates the match was a dark match

References

  1. ↑ "Great American Bash 2008 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  2. ↑ "The Great American Bash website". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Greatest Moments in Pay-Per-View History". WWE Magazine: 64–65. 2007.
  4. 1 2 Adkins, Greg (July 20, 2008). "Maul in the Family". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  5. 1 2 Tello, Craig (July 20, 2008). "Big Red invasion". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  6. 1 2 Rote, Andrew (July 20, 2008). "World's strongest betrayal". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  7. 1 2 Sitterson, Aubrey (July 20, 2008). "JBL drives it home". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Vermillion, James (July 20, 2008). "The Great American Bash: The worst has come". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  9. ↑ "WWE goes PG". WWE. July 22, 2008. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ Passero, Mitch (July 4, 2008). "A champion scorned". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  11. ↑ "SmackDown! 2008 07 04". Online World of Wrestling. July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  12. ↑ "WWE RAW 2008 06 30". Online World of Wrestling. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  13. ↑ Sitterson, Aubrey (July 7, 2008). "Rough Night in the Big Easy". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  14. ↑ "WWE RAW 2008 07 07". Online World of Wrestling. July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  15. ↑ "WWE RAW 2008 07 14". Online World of Wrestling. July 14, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  16. ↑ "WWE ECW on Sci-Fi 2008 07 01". Online World of Wrestling. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  17. ↑ "WWE ECW on Sci-Fi 2008 07 08". Online World of Wrestling. July 8, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  18. ↑ "A woman's scorn, a Deadman reborn". World Wrestling Entertainment. July 25, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  19. ↑ Martin, Adam (August 17, 2008). "WWE SummerSlam PPV Results". WrestleView. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  20. ↑ Martin, Adam (September 7, 2008). "WWE Unforgiven PPV Results". Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  21. ↑ Vermillion, James (August 17, 2008). "Jericho hits new low... and HBK's wife". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  22. ↑ Golden, Hunter (August 18, 2008). "Raw Results – 8/18/08 – Chicago, IL (SummerSlam fallout, and more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  23. ↑ Caldwell, James (August 18, 2008). "Caldwell's WWE Raw Report 8/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live USA Network broadcast". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  24. ↑ Golden, Hunter (July 21, 2008). "Great American Bash fallout". WrestleView. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  25. ↑ Golden, Hunter (July 28, 2008). "Raw gets new GM". WrestleView. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  26. 1 2 Golden, Hunter (August 4, 2008). "New World Tag Champs". WrestleView. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  27. ↑ Golden, Hunter (August 11, 2008). "New Tag Champions". WrestleView. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Michael's proves he's best". The Sun. London. July 22, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  29. ↑ Passero, Mitch (July 20, 2008). "Out of the shadows, into the golden light". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  30. ↑ DiFino, Lennie (July 20, 2008). "The Great American Bash: Midas Touch". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  31. ↑ Burdick, Michael (July 20, 2008). "A Diva of destiny". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
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