July 25th, 2004
From the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 48,787
Announce Team: "The Professor" Mike Tenay and Bret "The Hitman" Hart 
Joining Tony Schiavone, Don Callis and Maria Kanellis on tonight’s panel are special guests Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Teddy Hart
On the Worldwide Live pre-show: Hayabusa over Antonio Banks, Rellik over Human Tornado and Calgary Bulldogs over Rampage Brown and Larry Sweeney.Cruiserweight Shootout for a shot at the Unified Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Japan Supershow between Billy Kidman, Brian Kendrick, El Generico, Paul London, Shane Helms and Volador Jr.This was here to get the show off to a strong and exciting start, and it succeeded. I thought all six guys did a nice job of holding their own and turning in a good performance, though I would definitely say Kendrick and Kidman shone a bit above the rest.
I had to protect Brian Kendrick to keep him happy since he wasn’t going to be getting the win, and we accomplished that by having him seemingly moments away from victory after a Sliced Bread on London only for Generico to knock him over the top rope with a big boot. From there Generico was able to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on London to get the pin before anyone else could make it in for the save.
Team Madness (AJ Styles and Kevin Steen) vs. King Corino and Prince DevittThis match was nothing special, but solid enough. To the surprise of no one, it was Corino and Styles who elevated this match to another level any time they were in the ring. Steen and Devitt did fine but they weren’t the stars of the show. In the end it was Styles who got the win on behalf of Team Madness with a Styles Clash on Devitt.
The panel discussed the upcoming Crockett Cup, and it was little surprise that Chavo (Los Guerreros) and Teddy (Shooting Stars) predicted victories for their respective teams.
Rey Mysterio Jr. and Konnan vs. The Jung DragonsI’d be lying if I said this match wasn’t a disappointment. It wasn’t terrible but it definitely underachieved. I think that can pretty clearly be chalked up to Konnan, because the Dragons looked great and so did Rey. The match slowed down any time Konnan was in the ring, which was unfortunate.
The finish of the match saw Keibler flash a bit of leg at Konnan, distracting him just enough for the Jung Dragons to take control and put him away.
Dawn Marie and Made in Italy were guests on Piper’s Pit. Dawn posed with a blown-up version of her Bash at the Beach poster, and said she would look just as good posing next to the Crockett Cup trophy after her team won it all. They were interrupted by the Calgary Bulldogs, who “respectfully” said that they were going to be drinking out of that trophy like it was the Stanley Cup.
Matt Hardy vs. The DestroyerThis match was more about the story of Hardy battling with Salvation than it was about the actual action in-ring. While I think most would view Matt as the superior worker, it was definitely Destroyer who led the way tonight, He looked very good in his role as the powerhouse, and even showed some improved technical skills while he was at it. But this match was all about the finish, because as Sheriff Sting cut off Mortis and Rellik and backed them up the ramp with his bat…
..He could do nothing about the returning Enigma slipping in from the back side and dropping his brother with an inverted Twist of Fate! From there it was easy for Mortis to finish him off and steal the win.
The panel discussed what they’d just seen between the former Hardy Boys, whose relationship seemed completely severed now.
Bobby Roode vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (©) for the World Television ChampionshipThis match had very good in-ring action, but we’re still trying to get the crowd behind Nakamura fully. In Nakamura’s 11th title defense, he moved four successful defenses away from a World title match by tapping Roode out with a Cross Armbreaker. Mike and I made sure to play this up as the biggest win yet for the outstanding newcomer in his fast rise.
As Nakamura held up his belt after the match, a familiar face unexpectedly came to the ring and confronted him…
“The World’s Most Dangerous Man”, Ken Shamrock, said he’d been watching Nakamura over the past couple of months. And while he was impressive, he was due for a fall back down to earth. “Tomorrow night your rise ends, because you won’t be climbing anywhere after I break your ankle and take your title!”
Chris Jericho and Lance Storm vs. The Dangerous Alliance (©) for the World Tag Team ChampionshipThis was the best match of the night to this point, as all four men looked great and O’Haire and Douglas showed their natural chemistry, doing a great job of building heat throughout the match. Interestingly I feel like Douglas, the oldest man in the match and the least regarded by some, actually looked the best here tonight. He just does such a great job as a prick heel. Ultimately Paul Heyman gave his team a little bit of subtle non-physical help, and his warning to O’Haire about a springboarding Storm allowed Sean to catch him out of mid-air and hit the Cyclone for a successful title defense.
TAKA vs. Samoa JoeThis match was a step back from the previous, but I sort of had that thought in mind when I put the show together. This wasn’t actively here to calm the crowd down, but it still served as a bit of a breather. It was a decent enough match that followed a basic David vs. Goliath formula, with the newly face TAKA trying to hit and run. Joe stopped him on the top rope and delivered a vicious Island Driver off of the middle rope for a decisive win though. TAKA didn’t look happy when he was told he was going to lose backstage, but one look at Samoa Joe convinced him not to speak up and just take the loss.
The panel gave their thoughts on the final three matches of the night, with predictably Chavo going on an extended rant about why his uncle Eddie would become world champion in the main event.
Steven Regal vs. Bryan Danielson (©) in a No Time Limit match for the United States ChampionshipExpectations were high here after their great match last month, and Bryan and Regal were up to the challenge again. Both men looked great as they had another mat-based clinic, this time going a bit past the thirty minute mark as we explored the no time limit nature of the rematch. For a match built around a teacher versus a mentor, the finish was all the more galling when it came. Regal knocked Danielson out with a pair of brass knuckles to the head and then slapped on the Regal Stretch. As Bryan was obviously unconscious, referee Mark Johnson called for the bell and awarded both the match and the title to Regal.
CM Punk stopped in to check on Lance Storm following his loss, and again pitch the idea of True Heroes entering the Crockett Cup together. Lance was too busy getting checked on by the trainer to give a firm answer either way, but Jericho stood up and suggested Punk worry about his singles title, since he’d already sacrificed the tag titles he and Lance worked so hard for to hold onto it. The tension between Lance’s two partners was obvious as Punk turned and walked out to get ready for his match with Eddie Guerrero.
Goldberg vs. The Unnatural in a Steel Cage matchAfter a pre-match hype video, we got down to business. This was a very strong match; it wasn’t quite on a level with the technical masterpiece Regal and Danielson put on, but it was an excellent and brutal brawl. It suffered from a lack of selling, but other than that there wasn’t much bad to be said about this match. They utilized the cage very well, working it in to enhance the violence and drama. I’ve always felt cage matches work better without the escape option, and this was a prime example. Two guys beat the hell out of each other in a memorable feud-ender. Both guys got juice here, but it was Goldberg who stood bloody but victorious after spearing Unnatural into the side of the cage and then finishing him with a Jackhammer.
The rest of Salvation surrounded the ring as the cage was raised after the match. Goldberg prepared for a fight, but the group parted to clear a path for him. He looked confused, but they made no move to attack him or impede his progress as he walked to the back. The group stared at a bloody and motionless Unnatural, and rather than helping him up they simply turned and walked back up the ramp one by one, not one of them looking back at their fallen leader.
Eddie Guerrero cut a promo just before the title match, and he was very amused by the strife between Punk, Storm and Jericho earlier. “You have no friends left, and in a few minutes you’ll have no title either!”
Eddie Guerrero vs. CM Punk (©) for the World ChampionshipAfter a strong last couple of matches, the pressure was once again on. Punk and Eddie were ready, delivering a great main event that was at least on par with the US title match. Which match you preferred was really down to what style of wrestling you like more; this was a faster-paced match with more high spots worked in. It was still a very fundamentally sound match though, telling a great story that had the fans invested from the opening bell right up through the end of the 20-plus minute match.
The camera cut to Chavo leaving his spot at the panel table to come down the ramp and attempt to interfere on his uncle’s behalf. There was no sign of Lance Storm, Chris Jericho or any other friend of Punk’s, but he received aid in the form of Sheriff Sting, whose job it is to keep people from interfering. He hurried down and kept Chavo back, leaving the match to be decided between champion and challenger in the ring as it’s supposed to be. Eddie nearly won the title based solely on his own merits and skill, but a missed frog splash opened the door and allowed Punk to get a tap out with the Second City Stretch.
News Updates:Bash at the Beach poster girl Dawn Marie signed a 3 year contract extension hours after the show.
After the show, the Observer noted that Bash at the Beach feels like a very highly regarded event now.
“Colt Cabana is money. Put a rocket on that guy.” –The Enigma
“Samoa Joe’s going to be great, and the two of us are going to do big business together some day. I know he’s got Heyman, but I think you should let him do some talking for himself too.” –CM Punk
Elsewhere in the wrestling world:The Fabulous Moolah passed away at the age of 80. She has a complicated legacy, but she was undoubtedly a very important figure in women’s wrestling and wrestling in general for decades.
WWE re-signed Christian to a four year contract. I did reach out and initiate negotiations with him, but they were never serious.
I like the idea of bringing back the Crockett Cup. It seems we cannot get enough of a good tournament around here!
I love me a tournament for sure! Maybe TOO much--if you count New Japan, I'll be running three tournaments at the same time!
When is this going to be updated?
...Now?
