|Date: July 7, 1990
|Venue: Baltimore Arena |City: Baltimore, Maryland
|Attendance: 14,000 |Buys: 200,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

The show kicks off with a video package depicting some of WCW’s stars as old paintings of presidents.

Jim Ross and Bob Caudle welcome us to the show.

Brian Pillman vs. Buddy Landell

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Brian Pillman is 1-1 at this event, Buddy Landell drew his previous match at this show.

Match: Flyin’ Brian starts the match off quickly. Buddy Landell uses heel tactics to take control, slowing the pace down. It’s fairly back and forth with Pillman attempting to hit cross-bodies and chops but Landell keeping control for the most part. Landell applies chinlocks and nerveholds between strikes and suplexes. Pillman hits a cross body from the top out of nowhere and gets the three!

Result: Brian Pillman wins by pinfall.

Review: This match felt like it was just getting going. There are 11 matches to get through tonight so maybe we’ll get a few shorter matches tonight. Brian Pillman picks up the win, he’s a star of the future and definitely deserved the victory tonight.

Rating: 4/10

Gordon Solie let’s us know what else to expect tonight.

Mike Rotunda vs. The Iron Sheik

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Mike Rotunda is 1-3, The Iron Sheik wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: The Iron Sheik attacks Mike Rotunda before the bell even rings with his flag and then chokes him with his jacket. Sheik keeps control early until Mike Rotunda fights back with a powerslam and dropkick. Sheik is hugely overweight. He gets a near fall off a suplex. Mike misses with an elbow drop, allowing Sheik to hit a belly to back suplex. Rotunda reverses a suplex but Iron Sheik tosses him out of the ring before suplexing him back in. Sheik looks for an double underhook suplex but Rotunda counters with a backslide and gets the 3.

Result: Mike Rotunda wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a slow match. The Iron Sheik is so far passed it at this point. Mike Rotunda did the best he could, but this wasn’t a classic. A win on PPV none the less for Mike Rotunda.

Rating: 3/10

Gordon Solie is with Harley Race who wants revenge against Tommy Rich, the man that once beat him for the World Heavyweight Championship. Race then says that if Flair isn’t at his best tonight then he’ll lose to Sting.

Dutch Mantell vs. Doug Furnas

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

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

Match: Doug Furnas shows off his impressive power in the early going, lifting Mantell high above his head. Dutch winds Furnas up with slaps which makes Furnas more and more angry. Doug hits some impressive dropkicks. Mantell throws some good right hands, he just doesn’t look like a professional wrestler. Dutch avoids a splash from Furnas and applies an armbar. Mantell then applies a version of the armbar whilst pulling the tights. So far we’ve had three very experienced heels against three babyface stars of the future. Doug hits a belly to belly and then pins Dutch for the win.

Result: Doug Furnas wins by pinfall.

Review: Another not good match. The pace is just so slow when led by these old-school heels. Doug Furnas is still pretty green but he looks impressive. Furnas picks up the win, a third babyface victory in a row.

Rating: 3.25/10

Jim Cornette cuts a promo for the Midnight Express aimed at The Southern Boys.

Tommy Rich vs. Harley Race

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

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

Match: Tommy Rich starts the match off quickly. Harley Race looks a shell of his former self. Harley hits a piledriver and then takes the fight to the entrance way where Race hits a suplex. Tommy Rich hits a powerslam outside the ring and then suplexes Race back into the ring before hitting a right hand off the second rope. Harley hits a belly to belly suplex and then a clothesline and neckbreaker. The two men go tumbling over the top rope together and then slug it out on the outside. Tommy hits a cross body off the top but Race rolls through and keeps Rich down for the three!

Result: Harley Race wins by pinfall.

Review: Another slow match led by a veteran heel. It was better than the last couple of matches but still not great. This match felt like it had more of a background than the other matches so far tonight due to their history. Harley Race sin.

Rating: 3.75/10

Gordon Solie is with Paul Heyman and Mean Mark. Heyman tells Luger that Mean Mark is going to rip off his head and spit down his throat.

The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) vs. The Wild Eyed Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong) – United States Tag Team Championship match

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Bobby Eaton is 2-5, Stan Lame is 2-3 and The Southern Boys wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: All four men go at. itas the bell rings, battling outside the ring and then back in. Steve Armstrong and Bobby Eaton get the match underway officially and Armstrong takes the early advantage. Steve hits a big clothesline off the top rope. Armstrong tags out and Smothers hits a nice back kick to Eaton. Stan Lane tags in and we get a martial arts match between he and Tracy Smothers. It’s a real back and forth match between these two teams with The Southern Boys having control for the most part. All four men go at it with Armstrong taking out both opponents with a cross body. Stan Lane makes a blind tag and launches Smothers over the top rope where Bobby Eaton and Jim Cornette get involved behind the referee’s back. The Midnight Express dictate the pace from here. Eaton hits a big legdrop off the top rope. Armstrong eventually gets the hot tag and he picks up the pace against both opponents. Armstrong hits a big dropkick off the top but. the referee is out of position. The Midnight Express hit the rocket launcher but Armstrong gets his shoulder up. Lane hits a big kick. tothe back of head of Smothers and Eaton rolls him up for the three!

Result: The Midnight Express win by pinfall.

Review: This match was a big improvement on what we’ve seen so far tonight. The Midnight Express pick up the win but The Southern Boys had a really good showing tonight. A good match between these two teams.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Freebirds are with Gordon Solie painted up with full faces of makeup, they’re confident they’ll be beating The Steiner Brothers tonight.

Z-Man vs. Big Van Vader

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

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

Match: This is an NWA debut tonight for Big Van Vader. He lays into Z-Man with right hands and a big splash in the corner. Vader hits a big military press slam and an elbow drop before hitting a clothesline and a splash for the win.

Result: Big Van Vader wins by pinfall.

Review: This was short and sweet. There was nothing special here, just a dominant performance from a big newcomer. I’m surprised Z-Man was the man to lose this match after having a good push for a year or so. A big win for Vader tonight.

Rating: 3.5/10

Gordon Solie is with The Horsemen. Ole Anderson and Barry Wundham are the only men to speak, Sid and Arn Anderson stand there menacingly.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “PS” Hayes & Jimmy Garvin)

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Rick Steiner is 1-2, Scott Steiner is 1-1, Michael Hayes is 2-1 and Jimmy Garvin has won 2, lost 3 and drawn 1.

Match: The Freebirds attack The Steiner Brothers before the bell, dispose of rick and then double team Scott. Rick saves his brother and they dispose of The Freebirds. Rick Steiner starts the match officially against Jimmy Garvin who the crowd chant “faggot” at. Rick absolutely nails Garvin with a clothesline. Scott clears the ring of both Freebirds who head to the back but then return. Scott lays into Michael Hayes as The Freebirds struggle to get into the match. It takes a cheap shot from Garvin and a big left hand from Hayes for them to take the advantage. Hayes hits a bulldog on Rick for a two count and then tags in Jimmy. Scott Steiner gets the hot tag and hits clotheslines and then a Frankensteiner on Hayes. Jimmy Garvin hits a DDT on Scott but the referee didn’t see the blind tag. Rick hits Hayes with a belly to belly suplex and drags Scott on top of him. The referee counts the three!

Result: The Steiner Brothers win by pinfall.

Review: A fairly predictable win for The Steiner Brothers in a bit of a stop/start match. It won’t be long until the Steiners are back in the tag title picture. A decent enough match but not a spectacular one.

Rating: 6/10

The Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff & El Gigante vs. The Horsemen (Arn Anderson, Barry Windham & Sid Vicious

Background: The Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff and El Gigante (as well as Sting, Lex Luger and The Steiner Brothers) have joined forces as of late as the Dudes With Attitudes to take down the Four Horsemen. A match was made with three of those Dudes to take on the Horsemen at The Great American Bash.

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Arn Anderson has won 2, drawn 2 and lost 3, Barry Windham has an impeccable 4-0 record and Sid is 2-0. The babyfaces all wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Paul Orndorff and Sid Vicious kick off the match. Sid demonstrates his power and gets a decent reaction too. Orndorff fights off all three opponents until his partners come in and the Horsemen run away from El Gigante. JYD has his fun with Arn and Barry before tagging in Orndorff who get hit with a cheap shot from Sid. The crowd chant “we want Sid” who gets tagged in and lays into Orndorff. The Horsemen make quick tags and keep Mr Wonderful away from his corner. JYD gets a tag but gets triple teamed. They throw JYD over the top rope and it’s a disqualification! El Gigante didn’t even tag in. I don’t think the crowd are happy about that.

Result: Paul Orndorff, Junkyard Dog and El Gigante win by disqualification.

Review: This match had a lot of potential and for the most part it was a good match. The ending really stunk though. And we didn’t even get to see El Gigante beat down the Horsemen. A decent match which suffered to a terrible finish.

Rating: 5.5/10

Gordon Solie interviews Lex Luger who warns Paul E. Dangerously to stay out of his way and predicts Sting to win the World title.

Lex Luger (c) vs. Mean Mark – United States Championship match

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

Great American Bash PPV Record: Lex Luger is 2-3, Mean Mark wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match as Paul E Dangerously watches from the outside. Lex applies a wristlock and then hits a hiptoss. Luger has the best of the opening stages, he hits a cross body for a two count. Mean Mark takes control with right hands and a big boot. It’s pretty back and forth for a while with Mean Mark dictating the pace and Luger getting the odd shot in. Lex no-sells a suplex and hits some big clotheslines and then locks on the torture rack! Luger accidentally swings Mark into the referee, taking him out so Dangerously whacks Luger with his phone! Mean Mark covers the United States Champion but only for a near fall. Luger counters a heart punch, nails Paul E with a right hand and then takes down Mean Mark with a clothesline before pinning him for the three!

Result: Lex Luger wins by pinfall.

Review: This wasn’t a bad match. Both men are good athletes and the put on a decent back and forth match. Lex Luger wins and continues his long title reign.

Rating: 6.75/10

Gordon Solie is with Sting who says there are no excuses for the loser tonight.

Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed) (c) vs The Rock N Roll Express – 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 won 3, lost 1 and drawn 1, Robert Gibson has won 4 and drawn 1, Ron Simmons lost his previous match at The Bash and Butch Reed wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Robert Gibson and Ron Simmons kick off the match and it’s a battle of power vs speed. There’s plenty of tags between both teams. The Rock N Roll Express double team both opponents to take control but when the odds are evened it’s Doom with the advantage. Doom make quick tags, keeping Gibson from tagging in Morton. Ricky Morton does make a tag but soon meets the same fate as his partner. Theodore Long cheers on his team from the outside. Butch Reed hits an elbow drop off the middle rope. Lots more quick tags from Doom until Robert Gibson gets the hot tag and picks up the pace. All four men are soon involved. Gibson sends Reed into Teddy Long on the apron before nailing Long with some right hands. Butch Reed then comes off the top with a shoulder block which is enough for the three!

Result: Doom win by pinfall.

Review: This wasn’t a bad match. It wasn’t a mat classic but it was decent enough. It was a solid first defence for Doom who beat an established team.

Rating: 5.75/10

There’s a pre recorded interview with Ric Flair who had a brand new custom made suit for his title celebrations. He tells Sting that he needs to beat the man to be the man.

Ric Flair (c) vs. Sting – Lumberjack match for the World Heavyweight Championship

Background: Ric Flair kicked Sting out of The Four Horsemen back in February and would later go on to injure Sting, taking him out of action for months. Sting was recently cleared and announced as Ric Flair’s opponent at The Great American Bash. Jim Herd would then announce that the match would be a lumberjack match with members of The Dudes With Attitude surrounding the ring to make sure The Four Horsemen would not get involved. On top of this, Ole Anderson will be handcuffed to El Gigante.

Previous PPV matches: This is the second PPV match between these two men. Sting previously beat Ric Flair at Starrcade 1989.

Great American Bash PPV Record: Ric Flair is 5-3, Sting has won 2 and drawn 1.

Match: The lumberjacks surrounding the ring consist of The Steiner Brothers, Junkyard Dog and Paul Orndorff. Ole Anderson is handcuffed to El Gigante. It’s a cagey back and forth start to the match but Sting hits an impressive military press. Flair slows the pace down, hitting knee drops and a suplex but Sting no-sells and hits a cross body for a two count. Flair works the knee of Sting but misses with a knee drop and Sting locks on the figure four but Flair quickly gets to the ropes. The fight goes to the outside and back in the ring with Sting no-selling some offence and showing off his impressive power. Sting hits a Stinger splash and then locks on the Scorpion deathlock. Arn Anderson, Sid and Barry Windham run out from the back but The Steiners, JYD and Orndorff fight them off. Ric gets to the ropes to break the scorpion. Flair then looks for the figure four but Sting rolls him up for the three!

Result: Sting wins the World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a fantastic match added to by the excellent commentary and hot crowd. The psychology was top notch and we finally get to see the crowning of Sting as the world champion. A really good main event tonight.

Rating: 9/10

After the match Gordon Solie interviews Sting who puts over Ric Flair as the greatest world champion of all time and says that he will do his best.

And that was The Great American Bash 1990. It truly was a show of two halves. The first few matches featured heel veterans against up and coming babyfaces for the most part. Brian Pillman beat Buddy Landell, Mike Rotunda beat The Iron Sheik, Doug Furnas beat Dutch Mantell and then Harley Race became the exception to the rule, beating Tommy Rich. These were all poor matches with Brian Pillman and Buddy Landell the pick of the bunch. The Midnight Express and Wide-Eyed Southern Boys then put on a really fun match. I like The Southern Boys, basically because of this match, it could really put them on the map. The Midnight Express retain tonight. Big Van Vader then beat Z-Man which is a very credible opponent for Vader to beat on his debut. Vader is going to be a big character, I look forward to seeing his journey in WCW.

The Steiner Brothers beat The Fabulous Freebirds in a good match. The Steiner Brothers are so stiff with their offence and The Freebirds were complimentary opponents for them tonight. I wonder how long Michael and Jimmy have left in them at this point. The six man tag was a little disappointing, mostly because El Gigante didn’t even get properly tagged in! It was the one thing everyone wanted to see and it didn’t happen. Lex Luger beat Mean Mark in a good match. These two had more chemistry than I expected and Luger continues to have good PPV matches. He’s held the US title for well over a year now, who will be the man to dethrone him? Doom beat The Rock N Roll Express in a solid first PPV defence and then in the main event, Sting finally beat Ric Flair to become World Heavyweight Champion. I loved this, it was near perfect. Sting is the babyface to end Flair’s historic reign and he has the fans behind him. It was a fantastic match and a big moment. I look forward to seeing Sting’s reign and I hope he has a long one.

Overall Rating: 51.8/100 (ranked 12th out of 19 NWA/WCW PPV’s reviewed so far)

Match Of The Night: Ric Flair vs. Sting
Worst Match Of The Night: Mike Rotunda vs. The Iron Sheik
Surprise Of The Night: El Gigante isn’t involved in the six man tag
Worst Booking Of The Night: El Gigante isn’t involved in the six man tag
Superstar Of The Night: Sting
The Great American Bash 1990 Will Be Remembered For: Sting winning the World Heavyweight Championship