The 10 Best Great American Bash Matches, According To Cagematch.net

The Great American Bash is the brainchild of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, and the first event under the name took place in 1985 and was produced by the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions. From 1988 the event began broadcasting as a pay-per-view, and after JCP got rebranded as WCW and seceded from the NWA, the event became exclusive to WCW.

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After the purchase of WCW, WWE started to use the PPV under their banner from 2004 and is now used as an annual PPV for NXT. With that said, let's take a look at the ten best matches from the event, according to cagematch.net

10 Randy Savage Vs. Ric Flair (WCW The Great American Bash 1995) - 7.65

The 1995 Great American Bash produced yet another classic pro-wrestling classic, and it was between Randy Savage and Ric Flair. They were supposed to compete in the semi-finals of the WCW US Heavyweight title tournament, but both wrestlers got disqualified after they had a backstage brawl before their match could begin.

However, they got to lock horns at the PPV, and it was a hard-hitting contest that saw both wrestlers taking each other to their limits in a match that lasted 14:42 minutes. The ending saw Flair use Savage's father Angelo Poffo's cane to attack him and pick up the victory.

9 Rey Mysterio Vs. Chavo Guerrero ( WWE Great American Bash 2004) - 7.69

The 2004 WWE Great American Bash emanated from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 27. One of the matches that took place at the event was the WWE Cruiserweight Championship match between Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero.

It was a classic match between the two superstars with intense back and forth action. Chavo Guerrero had the early advantage by putting Mysterio in various submission holds. But the Ultimate Underdog bounced back and pinned Guerrero with a sunset flip to end the match and retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

8 Io Shirai Vs. Sasha Banks (NXT: The Great American Bash 2020) - 7.79

WWE brought back the Great American Bash PPV as exclusive to their NXT brand as a two-day event in July 2020. The main event of day 1 of the PPV saw new NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai take on WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks with her partner Bayley at ringside.

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The title was not on the line at the event, but both Shirai and Banks put on a great performance that saw them take each other to their limits. Shirai overcame the odds despite Bayley's interference to defeat Sasha Banks and celebrate with Raw Women's Champion Asuka to end the show.

7 Sting Vs. Big Van Vader ( WCW Great American Bash 1992) - 7.84

After getting disqualified in his first match against Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in April 1992, Big Van Vader received another opportunity for the title at the Great American Bash PPV in July 1992.

With Harley Race in his corner, Vader looked to out-wrestle Sting at the event and win his first world title in WCW. That's what exactly he did at the event, as he overcame Sting's challenge in a hard-hitting contest and defeated the Icon with a Vader Bomb to become the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

6 Dean Malenko Vs. Rey Mysterio (WCW Great American Bash 1996) - 8.13

The 1996 WCW Great American Bash PPV marked a historic occasion in pro-wrestling as Rey Mysterio made his debut for WCW at the event. He challenged Dean Malenko for the Cruiserweight Championship at the PPV and put on the second-longest match of the night, which lasted for 17:50 minutes.

Mysterio had all the momentum on his side and looked to make a big statement on his debut by winning the Cruiserweight title. But after a hard-hitting contest, Dean Malenko reversed Mysterio's attempt at a hurricanrana into a powerbomb and used the bottom rope as leverage to pick up the victory and retain the title.

5 Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE Great American Bash 2008) - 8.23

Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels had the best feud of 2008, which started from Jericho's assault on Michaels and sending him face-first through the Jeritron 6000.

After the incident, Michaels cost Jericho the Intercontinental Championship at the 2008 Night of Champions PPV, and it led to a match between the two superstars at the Great American Bash.

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They had the longest match of the night, with Jericho dominating Michaels for most of the bout. Michaels got busted open after taking an elbow shot to the eye, and after multiple interferences from his protege Lance Cade, Jericho made Michaels incapable of continuing the match, and the referee had to declare Jericho as the winner.

4 Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole (NXT: The Great American Bash 2021) - 8.36

It was a battle between the former Undisputed Era teammates as Adam Cole took on Kyle O'Reilly at the 2021 NXT: Great American Bash PPV. O'Reilly walked into the event with the momentum on his side after already having a win over Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April 2021.

But Adam Cole came prepared for the challenge and put on a great fight with his former partner in a match that lasted 20:33 minutes. Cole walked out with the victory after getting the pin over O'Reilly after hitting the Last Shot.

3 Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (NWA The Great American Bash 1989) - 8.47

After Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleWar 1989, Terry Funk challenged Flair for the title. It resulted in Funk piledriving Flair on a ringside table, and it led to a match between them at the Great American Bash.

Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk at the event after he reversed a small package with one of his own and retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. However, Flair got attacked by Gary Hart and The Great Muta after the match, only for Sting to come to his aid.

2 The Midnight Express Vs. The Southern Boys ( NWA The Great American Bash 1990 "New Revolution") - 8.66

The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane took on The Southern Boys, Steve Armstrong, and Tracy Smothers at the 1990 NWA Great American Bash PPV in what was possibly the match of the night.

It was the first PPV match for the Southern Boys, and they challenged The Midnight Express for the NWA United States Tag Team Championships at the event. However, Armstrong and Smothers had to settle with a defeat after the Eaton and Lane finished them off with a surprise rollup pin to retain the titles.

1 Chris Jericho Vs. Rey Mysterio ( WWE The Bash 2009) - 9.33

Chris Jericho started to get on Rey Mysterio's nerves after he was unsuccessful in winning the Intercontinental Championship from Mysterio at the 2009 Judgment Day PPV. It led to a heated rivalry between the two superstars, with Jericho targetting Mysterio's mask and even ripping it off his face at the Extreme Rules PPV after beating Mysterio in a No Holds Barred Match for the Intercontinental title.

They looked to settle their differences in a title vs. mask match at The Bash PPV in June 2009. Mysterio outsmarted Jericho by wearing two masks at the same time and used the confusion to win the Intercontinental Championship while getting to keep his mask.