WCW Great American Bash 2003
Compaq Center, Houston, TX
Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone, Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler
Overall: 81
The opening video for tonight. WCW Great American Bash normally is kinda mid-season finale, and that is also true for today, as we prepared a great card and a lot of action. (74)
Match 1, WCW United States Championship: AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe. We’re gonna start with a very promising action. Samoa Joe goes with an offense, using tough strikes with elbows, punches, knees and even headbutts, while Styles uses his speed to duck from it. AJ hits some moves of his own. Joe, angered by AJ’s offense, catches one of AJ’s kicks and pulls him into a vicious suplex, throwing AJ halfway across the ring. Joe wastes no time, immediately hitting a running senton that crushes AJ’s ribs. 1…2. Joe’s expression darkens as he stalks AJ, who’s struggling to get to his feet. Joe pulls AJ up and sets him up for the Muscle Buster, but AJ fights out of it with desperate elbows to Joe’s head. AJ lands on his feet and quickly hits a Pele Kick, stunning Joe momentarily…
… AJ needs to take a risk to knock down Joe. He goes to the top rope. Spiral Tap… missed! Joe immediately capitalizes, locking AJ in the Koji Clutch. We might have a new champion in a minute… AJ tries to kick out, but Joe’s hold is tight. AJ inches towards the ropes, his face turning red from the pressure… and he grabs the ropes! Joe, furious, pulls AJ back to the center of the ring and signals for the Muscle Buster…
… Eye rake by Styles! That’s new for him. The ref admonishes AJ, but it looks like Styles doesn’t care. He knows he’s in deep trouble. Enraged Joe charges at AJ, but AJ rolls out of the ring to avoid him. In the ringside Samoa Joe goes after AJ Styles. AJ quickly grabs the chair and hits Joe to the head! Samoan Machine is finally down… but the ref stops the match due the DQ. AJ Styles looks shocked. He slowly realizes what he’s done, but it was an impulse. AJ Styles retains the WCW US Championship, he gets the belt, but he’s definitely not happy and proud. (15:53, 82)
Match 2: Sean O’Haire (w/ Mike Sanders) vs Ken Shamrock. O’Haire takes control early, using his power to dominate Shamrock. Shamrock, realizing he can’t match O’Haire’s power, switches to his MMA background. As O’Haire attempts a powerbomb, Shamrock counters with a knee strike to the face, causing O’Haire to stagger. Shamrock quickly transitions into a single-leg takedown, taking O’Haire off his feet. He then mounts O’Haire and begins raining down punches. Ankle Lock attempts, but O’Haire quickly grabs the ropes and leaves the ring to regroup. Sean is visibly frustrated. Later, Shamrock again goes for an Ankle Lock, Sanders grabs his leg. Shamrock chases Mike Sanders around the ring, O’Haire intercepts with a spinning side slam. Back to the ring. O’Haire goes for a Widow Maker… Shamrock fights back with elbows, slips behind, shoves to the ropes and rolls O’Haire into an Ankle Lock! O’Haire, screaming in agony, claws his way to the ropes, but Shamrock drags him back to the center of the ring. Just when it seems like O’Haire might tap, Sanders, from outside the ring, reaches in and rakes Shamrock’s eyes. Shamrock releases the hold. Blinded Ken Shamrock stumbles back, and O’Haire, using the last of his strength, catches Shamrock with a massive Widow Maker. 1…2…3. (10:36, 75)
Match 3: Raven vs Perry Saturn. These guys have a long history. And they gave us a very intensive ECW-style action. Raven has a fast offense, but after a quick bulldog Saturn kicks out on one count, showing that it will take much more to put him away. Raven leaves the ring and goes for a weapons. The ref doesn’t interfere. I guess we’ll have a No DQ match now. After exchanging the offense using chairs and other stuff, Raven and Saturn go to the announcing table. Raven tries to put Saturn through it, Perry counters with a knee to the head. Back to the ring, Raven puts Saturn into a sleeper. The crowd is behind Perry. Saturn kicks out, pushes Raven into the ropes and catches him with a powerbomb onto the steel chair in the ring. The impact is brutal. 1…2…NO! Saturn goes to the top rope… MOONSAULT… missed! Both are down. Raven slowly gets up and goes to Perry… Saturn, out of sheer willpower, kips up and catches Raven with a T-bone suplex out of nowhere! Rings of Saturn! Raven screams in agony. Raven struggles, trying to reach the ropes, but he’s trapped in the center of the ring with no escape. With no other option, Raven taps out, giving Perry Saturn the hard-fought victory. (11:12, 82)
Match 4, WCW RAGE Tag Team Championship: Booker T and Sting vs Brian Kendrick and Paul London. Kendrick and London start the match by utilizing their speed, constantly tagging in and out, keeping Booker T and Sting off balance. Experienced champions managed to slow them down. Kendrick hits Sting with a spinning heel kick and hot tags London. Dropsault by London on Sting, enzuigiri on Booker T, standing shooting star press on Sting! 1…2. Booker T is more and more frustrated. He tags himself in and starts pulling out some cheap tactics like choking Kendrick against the ropes and ignoring the referee’s count. The crowd had mixed reactions. Sting watches as Booker T begins to lose his cool and yells to keep it clean. They argue. London and Kendrick take advantage of it. London superkicks Booker, and Kendrick immediately hits a Sliced Bread #2! 1….2… Sting breaks the pin! All four men in the ring. Kendrick and London manage to take Sting out of the equation, hitting him with a double dropkick that sends him crashing to the floor. Kendrick hits Booker with a superkick. London is up at the top rope… Shooting Star Press… Booker dodges. Looks like London is out of the match too. Kendrick and Booker T gets up… Booker kicks with a low blow!... (Sting is just up and sees it from the ringside)... Axe Kick! 1…2…3. (12:18, 82)
Post-match, Sting wants some answers, but Booker T takes his championship belt and leaves.
Billy Kidman backstage interview.
“Punk, you might have a bright future in WCW. Your potential is huge, I won’t deny it. But this… THIS… is the biggest night in my career, the biggest opportunity I ever had. So tonight I’m bringing everything I got. I MUST leave tonight as the first WCW North American Champion”. (64)
Match 5, WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Elix Skipper vs Shane Helms vs TAKA Michinoku. This was cruiserweight action at its finest. In fact, it was the best match on the show. All three men went all out. TAKA catches Skipper with a quick arm drag, transitioning into a crossface! The crowd is on their feet as Skipper screams in pain, desperately reaching for the ropes. Just as it looks like Skipper might tap, Helms slides back into the ring and breaks up the submission with a dropkick to TAKA’s face. Michinoku Driver on Helms! 1...2... Skipper breaks the pin. Michinoku knocks him down. Determined to win, he climbs to the top rope. Moonsault... missed! With TAKA down, Skipper quickly tries to capitalize by going after Helms. He sets Helms up for the Play of the Day. Helms counters, spinning out and nailing Skipper with a superkick! 1...2... TAKA is here and breaks the pin! All three men are down, exhausted but still fighting. Helms sets Elix up for the Vertebreaker, but TAKA nails Helms with a dropkick, sending him into the turnbuckle. TAKA tries to capitalize with a tornado DDT, but Helms shoves him off, and TAKA crashes into Skipper. TAKA stumbles back, and Helms takes the opportunity to hit the Shining Wizard, connecting flush with TAKA’s head! Vertabreaker on Michinoku! Helms covers TAKA as Skipper, still dazed from the collision, is too late to break up the pin. The referee counts 1… 2… 3! We have the NEW WCW Cruiserweight Champion! (12:11, 87)
CM Punk backstage interview.
“I'm just better than Billy Kidman. And everybody knows it. Even Kidman knows it. Every time we meet in the ring, it ends badly for Kidman. Tonight will be no exception - it will end badly for your fan-favorite, guy-next-door, Billy Kidman.” (69)
Match 6: Steve Corino vs Chris Hero. Hero takes control with a series of early hard-hitting strikes. Corino leaves the ring and then uses the outside environment to his advantage. As Hero follows him outside, Corino grabs him by the tights and sends him crashing into the steel steps. A little brawl at ringside. Then back to the ring. Swinging neckbreaker by Corino. 1...2. Hero fights back with a discus forearm and follows up with a release German suplex. Corino ducks under a rolling elbow and hits a low blow behind the referee’s back! Small package. 1...2. The match becomes a battle of attrition, with both men trading near falls. Old School Superkick by Corino! 1...2...NO! Hero responds with a ripcord elbow, staggering Corino, and follows up with a Cyclone Kill. 1...2...NO! The frustration is evident on both men’s faces as they realize that it’s going to take something special to win this match. Corino brings a chair into the ring, but the referee intervenes. Corino shoves the referee into Hero, sending him into the corner. Corino then swings the chair at Hero, but Hero ducks, and the chair rebounds off the ropes, hitting Corino in the face! Hero hits a brutal rolling elbow! Hero's Welcome! 1...2... it must be it... 2,5... NO! Hero pulls Corino up and delivers a knockout discus elbow to the back of Corino’s head, followed by a second ripcord elbow to the jaw. Corino crumples to the mat, and Hero covers him. 1...2...3. (13:36, 83)
Match 7, WCW Nitro Tag Team Championship: Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley vs Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn. Kazarian and Bentley were trying to isolate Lynn, as they saw RVD as more dangerous. Lynn desperately tries to reach RVD, but Kazarian and Bentley keep pulling him back to their corner, working him over with quick tags and double-team maneuvers. Kazarian hits a springboard leg drop, followed by a cover, but Lynn kicks out at two. Bentley tags in and attempts a superkick, but Lynn ducks and counters with an enzuigiri, taking Bentley down! Hot tag to RVD! Flying crossbody on Bentley by Lynn, and split-legged moonsault by RVD right away! 1...2... but Kazarian pulls the referee out of the ring, saving the match. Kazarian slides back into the ring and takes out RVD with a dropkick, followed by a reverse DDT on Lynn. He quickly pulls Bentley to their corner and tags himself in. Kazarian goes for the Flux Capacitor but Lynn fights out of it, pushing Kazarian off the top rope. Rob Van Dam immediately connects with a 5 Star Frog Splash! 1...2... and... 3! We have the NEW WCW Nitro Tag Team Champions! (13:09, 83)
It’s time to reveal the new RAGE General Manager, as Jerry Lawler announces. Music hits… and we have Ernest Miller, The Cat, coming down to the ring! Former WCW Commissioner is the new GM? He grabs the mic. He says he would be the best GM this show ever saw. He would be fair, he would be good to the stars, he would be just the greatest! Now it’s time to dance! Music hits… but Jerry Lawler gets some updated info and stops it. Ernest Miller is not the new RAGE GM. Did he really think that nobody would find out? What a clown… THIS man is the new RAGE General Manager. Music hits again and it’s… no way… OOOOOOOOHHHHHH YEAAAAAAH! It’s “MACHO MAN” RANDY SAVAGE! He’s back! The crowd is ecstatic. Savage grabs the mic:
“OOOOOOHHHH YEAH! It’s nice to be here. It’s great to be the GM. And it’s damn awesome to give you the best show starting this Thursday, but… who the hell are you?!” The Cat tries to weasel his way into being at least Savage’s assistant. Randy is promising to think about it… for 3 seconds… because he knocks him down with a clothesline. FLYING ELBOW connects! Now Randy Savage really is back! (88)
Match 8, WCW North American Championship: Billy Kidman vs CM Punk. It might be the biggest match in both their careers to be honest. Kidman was using a lot of high-flying offense. Punk, realizing he needs to slow Kidman down, goes on the attack. He catches Kidman with a kick to the gut, followed by a snap suplex. Punk quickly follows up with a backbreaker, driving Kidman’s lower back onto his knee. Punk then locks in a bow and arrow submission, pulling back on Kidman’s arms and legs, stretching his back painfully. From now on Punk is focused on the back. A couple of nearfalls later Kidman is leading again. He goes for a dropkick, but Punk holds onto the ropes, causing Kidman to crash hard onto the mat. Punk quickly capitalizes, grabbing Kidman and hitting a snap powerslam, followed by a cover. 1...2...NO! Punk tries an Anakonda Vice, but Kidman rolls him up. 1...2. Sit-out spinebuster by Kidman! He's going for a Shooting Star Press! He slowly climbs to the top rope, the exhaustion evident on his face. Punk starts moving... but Shooting Star Press connects anyway. 1...2...3. (15:21, 87)
Post-match, Billy Kidman gets the belt. He’s the first ever WCW North American champion. And it’s the biggest victory in his career. We have a big celebration with other WCW stars.
Match 9, “Loser Leaves Nitro” Ladder Match: Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero. We have a Nitro contract hanging over the ring and a couple of ladders laying around. Rey Mysterio quickly goes on the offensive with a series of lightning-fast arm drags, sending Chavo to the outside. Rey wastes no time, diving through the ropes with a suicide dive that sends Chavo crashing into the barricade. Rey sets up the ladder in the center of the ring, but as he begins to climb, Chavo recovers and pulls him down. Chavo attempts to whip Rey into the ladder, but Rey reverses and leaps onto the ladder, using it as a springboard to hit a twisting crossbody on Chavo! The crowd erupts as Rey pulls off the first high-risk move of the night. He then props the ladder against the ropes and whips Chavo into it, but Chavo reverses and sends Rey crashing into the ladder instead…
...Chavo, ever the strategist, realizes he needs to ground Rey. He grabs a ladder and slams it down onto Rey’s leg, focusing his attack on weakening Rey’s ability to fly. Chavo then locks in a single-leg Boston crab, using the ladder as leverage. Rey screams in pain, but there are no submissions in a ladder match. Chavo releases the hold and sets up the ladder under the briefcase, beginning his climb…
… Rey manages to get to his feet and pushes the ladder over, sending Chavo crashing to the mat. Rey builds some weird construction with ladders. Something like two ladders on their sides and one between them like a bridge. He puts Chavo on it and climbs to the top of the standing ladder. Legdrop from the very top... Chavo dodges... Rey crashes his body down on these ladders! Chavo, now in control, grabs the bent ladder and slams it onto Rey’s back repeatedly. He then sets up a ladder in the corner and positions Rey for a suplex. Chavo lifts Rey, but Rey shifts his weight and counters with a tornado DDT off the ladder! Both men are down...
... Both men set up ladders side by side and begin to climb simultaneously. They reach the top, trading punches, each man teetering on the brink of disaster. Rey gets the upper hand, smashing Chavo’s face into the top of the ladder. As Rey reaches for the briefcase... there's some man in the mask here. He pushes ladder with Rey down. Chavo looks at this man. Masked man invites him to grab the contract. Chavo understands nothing, but does it. And he wins! Rey Mysterio will never perform on Nitro again! (15:43, 84)
Post-match, the masked man congratulates Chavo. He slowly puts the mask off... and it's... to the shock of the crowd... EDDIE GUERRERO! He’s back in WCW! Chavo is shocked (but happy), everyone is shocked. Latino Heat is here!
Match 10, Street Fight: Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart. They finally meet each other at the center of the ring. The crowd buzzing with anticipation. It’s clear Bret isn’t in peak shape. Bret goes for a body slam, but his body gives out, allowing Michaels to counter with a quick DDT. Bret, realizing he needs to change the pace, rolls out of the ring to catch his breath. Michaels, not giving him any space, follows, but Hart slams his head into the barricade. Steel chair shot by Hitman! Whip into the steel steps. More chair shots. Back to the ring. Russian legsweep on the chair by Bret Hart. 1...2. Backdrop by HBK. HBK is on the top... Flying Elbow… missed! Hart Rolls HBK up. 1...2. Quick DDT by HBK...
… and he's ready for Sweet Chin Music! The announcers mention that similar superkick by another star almost killed Bret merely 3 years ago. Can his head take another one?.. It could be really dangerous. But fortunately for him Bret dodges, rolls HBK up and puts into a Sharpshooter! Michaels fights with everything he has, refusing to submit. And he grabs the rope! Bret Hart is furious…
… He's going for a Sharpshooter again, but HBK rolls him up. 1...2. Back on the feet… flying forearm by HBK! And now we're going to listen to Sweet Chin Music... Elix Skipper is running to the ring! He's on the apron… and gets a Sweet Chin Music! Doug Williams and Nigel McGuinness are also here, but they are immediately attacked by American Dragon with the chair. HBK is going for Sweet Chin Music again. And now there no one to help The Hitman. But wait… Some man is going through the crowd. He's in the ring! It's… it's… TEST FROM WWE?.. Yes, he's here! DEVASTATING BIG BOOT TO THE HEAD OF HBK! The crowd is booing. Pumphandle Slam on the steel chair by “Andrew Martin, superstar from another company” as Mike Tenay said! Bret pins HBK. 1...2...3. (11:12, 74)
Match 11: The Rock vs Jeff Jarrett. The Rock is definitely angry with Jeff Jarrett. The match begins with a furious exchange of punches, with The Rock gaining the upper hand, backing Jarrett into the corner. Jarrett quickly rolls out of the ring to regroup, but The Rock isn’t giving him any breathing room. He follows Jarrett outside and slams his head into the barricade. Jarrett, ever the opportunist, rakes The Rock’s eyes, blinding him momentarily. Jarrett then takes advantage, grabbing The Rock and sending him shoulder-first into the steel steps…
… Back in the ring, Jarrett focuses on The Rock’s injured shoulder, stomping it repeatedly before locking in a grounded hammerlock, applying pressure. A couple of shots and submissions later, and The Rock's shoulder is really injured…
… Jarrett whips The Rock into the ropes, looking for a back body drop, but The Rock counters with a swinging neckbreaker. Both men are down. The Rock takes control, hitting Jarrett with a series of punches, followed by a Samoan drop that shakes the ring. 1...2... NO!
… Frustrated, Jarrett reaches for his guitar, bringing it into the ring. The referee tries to stop him, but Jarrett shoves the ref aside. As Jarrett swings the guitar at The Rock, The Rock ducks, causing Jarrett to smash the guitar against the turnbuckle. The Rock then grabs Jarrett and plants him with a DDT. 1...2...2,5...NO!
The Rock Bottom attempt… Jarrett kicks out with elbows… DDT by Jarrett! 1...2. Diving fist drop by Jarrett from the second rope missed. Spinebuster by The Rock! People's Elbow! 1...2...NO!
Ok, it was a shock. Either People's Elbow has become weaker since WWE career (because there weren't a lot of people to kick out from it), or Jeff Jarrett is much stronger than we expected. The Rock is going after Jarrett - JJ hits a low blow with the leg! Figure-Four Leglock! The Rock screams in pain, trying desperately to reverse the hold. The crowd is fully behind The Rock. The Rock reverses the pressure, forcing Jarrett to release the hold…
… Both men struggle to their feet, exhausted and battered. Jarrett tries to hit The Rock with the Stroke, but The Rock elbows his way out of it. The Rock spins Jarrett around and hits him with the Rock Bottom out of nowhere! 1...2... and ...3! (16:45, 82)
Match 12, WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Goldberg vs Lance Storm. Goldberg quickly overpowers Lance Storm, shoving him across the ring. Knowing he can’t match Goldberg’s power, Storm shifts his strategy. He feints another lock-up but ducks under and delivers a swift low kick to Goldberg’s leg, followed by another, and another, trying to chop the big man down. Goldberg stumbles slightly, giving Storm an opening to hit a dropkick to Goldberg’s knee, taking him down to one leg. From now on Storm is dodging attacks by Goldberg and puts him into one submission after another, making him angry and weaker… up until Goldberg hits Spear out of nowhere! 1...2...NO!
… Goldberg lifts Storm for a Jackhammer… Storm wriggles free at the last second, landing behind Goldberg and immediately hitting a superkick to the back of Goldberg’s head! Storm covers, 1… 2… Goldberg kicks out! Storm is on the top rope. Missile dropkick! Goldberg jumps back on his feet immideately… and got a springboard dropkick from Storm again! 1...2…NO!
Lance Storm goes for a Maple Leaf submission… Goldberg rolls out of it, on his feet - and Spear again! Jackhammer attempt… and he hits it! This must be the end. 1… Bret Hart runs in… 2… Bret Hart pulls the referee out of the ring and knocks him down! Hart is in the ring with the championship belt, but before he could hit, Goldberg sees him! Bret begs for mercy. Goldberg knocks him down with a clothesline. Now the champion prepares for… superkick? The same superkick that ended Bret’s career and caused a stroke?... You must be kidding. But before damage could be done, Lance Storm hits a low blow!...
… Now Lance Storm grabs the championship belt. The ref is still down. Lance is waiting for Goldberg to be back on his feet. Wait, who’s that! Chris Kanyon is in the ring! And he hits Storm with a Flatliner! The crowd is crazy. Kanyon picks the belt… looks at the lying Storm… looks at Goldberg, who’s back on his feet… and HITS GOLDBERG WITH THE BELT!...
… He knocks out both of the competitors. But… why?... Chris Kanyon leaves the arena. The referee is back to life and what he sees? Both of the competitors are down. Bret Hart is down at ringside. The ref counts to 10. On the 9 both are slowly getting up… and with his last breath Goldberg hits a Spear again. 1…2…3. Goldberg retains the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but let’s be honest, it wasn’t a clear and decisive win. (14:20, 78)
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Prediction Game Results:
henriquesser 7/12
ddpwcw 6/12
johnnyboombatz 4/12
Asaemon 4/12