Barry Windham vs. Rick Steiner – NWA Western States Heritage Championship match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Both men wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Windham kicks off the match with a big dropkick. There are two rings in this stadium because of War Games later. Steiner hits 2 big clotheslines for a two count. Jim Ross is on commentary with Tony Schiavone. Rick hits a big belly to belly suplex and then knocks Windham outside the ring. Steiner suplexes Windham back into the ring but Barry manages to counter it into a pinfall for the three! It’s a quick match and the crowd don’t seem happy.

Result: Barry Windham wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was short and sweet. Barry Windham gets the victory over newly-acquired talent Rick Steiner. Interesting that the crowd boo’d the decision. Windham is a hot babyface right now and could easily be inserted into the main event picture but I’d also like to see him as a contender for the United States Championship. Rick Steiner looks like a good pick up for Crockett.

Rating: 2.75/10

The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) vs. Manny Fernandez, Ivan Koloff & Paul Jones

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time six man tag team match between these six teams.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Paul Jones is 1-1, Ivan Koloff has drawn 1 and lost 1, Manny Fernandez is 3-0. The Freebirds make their Great American Bash debut tonight.

Match: Michael Hayes and Manny Fernandez kick off the match where Hayes shows off his charisma. It’s all Hayes in the early going. Buddy Roberts tags in and a cheap shot from Paul Jones allows Manny Fernandez to take control. Ivan Koloff comes in illegally and keeps control for his team. Paul Jones tags in and misses with a knee drop allows Roberts to tag in big Terry Gordy who takes shows at everyone. All six men go at it and Gordy hits an elbow drop on Jones for the win.

Result: The Freebirds win by pinfall.

Review: This was another short match but not a terrible one. The Freebirds win which was the expected result. It was very similar to the tag match previously on the tour. Terry Gordy just finishes off matches doesn’t he.

Rating: 3.25/10

The Rock n Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) (c) vs. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) – World Tag Team Championship match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first PPV match between these two teams.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Ricky Morton has drawn 1 and lost 1, Robert Gibson is 1-1-0, Bobby Eaton is 0-2 and Stan Lane wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Robert Gibson and Bobby Eaton kick off the match. It’s all Gibson in the early going, he takes on both Eaton and Lane before tagging in Ricky Morton. Morton really picks up the pace, he hits a big hurricanrana on Bobby Eaton. Stan Lane hits a big right hand on Gibson as he attempts a flying head scissors and The Midnight Express take control. Eaton knocks Gibson out of the ring and Big Bubba Rogers gets involved. There’s lots of quick tags and double team moves from The Midnight Express. Gibson manages to make a hot tag to Morton who once again picks up the pace. The Rock n Roll Express hit a double dropkick but Stan Lane breaks up the pinfall attempt. Big Bubba Rogers then gets involved behind the referees back and slams Ricky Morton but when Earl Hebner turns around he sees Rogers hat and sunglasses and calls for the bell!

Result: The Rock n Roll Express retain the World Tag Team Championships by disqualification.

Review: This was a good match but not as good as their previous match on this tour. Still, a better match than most of this tour. This rivalry will just keep on going. A truly epic tag team rivalry. There’s no hotter tag in wrestling than when Ricky Morton comes in.

Rating: 6/10

Dr Death Steve Williams vs. Dick Murdoch – Texas Death Match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first match between these two men.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Debuts for both men.

Match: Dick Murdoch has Eddie Gilbert in his corner whilst Steve Williams is accompanied by Magnum TA. I feel like we join this match half way thorough. Murdoch smashes Dr Death with the bell hammer a couple of times. Dick then works the injured arm of Steve Williams. The two men slug it out until Williams hits a 3 point charge. He attempts another but Murdoch sidesteps it. Dick then goes to the top but Dr Death catches him with an elbow. Dr Death gets to his feet and Murdoch is counted out! After the match Murdoch and Gilbert double team Steve Williams but Magnum TA hands Williams his cane and he fights off Murdoch and Eddie Gilbert with it!

Result: Steve Williams win by TKO.

Review: I think the edit I watched of this match was much shorter than the actual match so its hard to review it properly. Steve Williams gets the win though after smashing his cast into the face of Dick Murdoch. Murdoch won the previous match on this tour but this time it’s Dr Death who has his hand raised in victory.

Rating: N/A

Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Hawk, Animal & Paul Ellering vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger & J.J. Dillon – War Games

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time 8 man match involving these men.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Dusty Rhodes is 3-0, Nikita Koloff is 0-3, Animal and Hawk have won 2 and drawn 1, Ric Flair is 2-1, Arn Anderson has won 2 and drawn 1, Tully Blanchard is 1-2 and Lex Luger, Paul Ellering and JJ Dillon wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Dusty Rhodes and Arn Anderson kick off the match for their teams. Dusty flies off the second rope with a kick as the two men fight from one ring to the other. Rhodes hits his trademark jabs and then a low blow! It’s all Rhodes in the early going. Dusty is bleeding early, I’m not sure why as he dominates against Arn. Rhodes applies a figure four to a bleeding Arn Anderson. Presumably the Horseman will have the advantage, they do, in goes Tully Blanchard. Rhodes manages to fight off Arn and Tully for a while but not for long. Tully and Arn dominate from then until Animal joins the match to a huge pop. Animal slingshots Tully Blanchard into the cage repeatedly. It’s all Dusty Rhodes and Animal during this part of the match. Ric Flair is in next and the 3 on 2 advantage gives The Horsemen control. Flair and Arn double team Animal whilst Tully lays into Rhodes. Ric Flair low blows Dusty to make sure he doesn’t gain any momentum. Nikita Koloff is in next but Ric Flair catches him with a poke to the eye as soon as he gets in the ring.

Nikita Koloff lays into Tully Blanchard as Animal pairs off with Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes with Arn Anderson. Lex Luger is in next and goes right for Nikita Koloff. Flair hits Koloff with a low blow as Luger goes after Animal. Animal is bleeding from the head but fights on. Flair and Luger hit a spike piledriver on Nikita. Hawk is the next man to enter and he picks up the pace, taking on anybody that moves. JJ Dillon is in next but Hawk completely no-sells his right hands. Three of the Horsemen triple team Hawk as Luger hammers away at Nikita. Paul Ellering enters the match and “the match beyond” officially begins. Ellering goes after JJ Dillon with his spiked glove. Nikita takes down Luger and Blanchard. The Road Warriors take down Dillon with a double clothesline before hitting with a top rope clothesline. JJ Dillon surrenders the match and the bell rings!

Result: Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and The Road Warriors win by surrender.

Review: This match was mental. From start to finish it was exciting, fast-paced and action-packed. I loved it. I thought The Horsemen might get the win but I was wrong, Dusty and co pick up the big win after torturing JJ Dillon into submission. This is a hell of a concept and it’ll be a lot of fun to watch these matches over the years.

Rating: 9/10