Great American Bash 7/4/88 Charlotte, NC
Jul 20, 2022 5:41:18 GMT
Post by topo on Jul 20, 2022 5:41:18 GMT
WORLDWIDE WRESTLING PRESENTS
THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH
CHARLOTTE MEMORIAL STADIUM
MONDAY, JULY 4, 1988, 5-8PM EST
LIVE ON PPV AND CLOSED CIRCUIT
ANNOUNCERS: DAVID CROCKETT AND BOB CAUDLE
LANCE RUSSELL WITH BACKSTAGE INTERVIEWS
FIREWORKS FOR THE FANS ON ATTENDANCE AT NIGHTFALL!
1. NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
FIRST ROUND MATCH
“THE IGUANA” AL PEREZ DEF. WAHOO MCDANIEL, 8:33 to advance.
2. OWEN HART + BRIAN PILLMAN def. SCOTT + STEVE ARMSTRONG w/Bob Armstrong, 9:55
3. STF SUBMISSION MATCH
WINNER ONLY WHEN OPPONENT SUBMITS TO THE STF
RICK STEINER w/Gary Hart def MIKE ROTONDO w STF when Rotondo passes out from the pain, 15:23
4. $20,000 v ONE NIGHT WITH PRECIOUS
MANNY FERNANDEZ V JIMMY GARVIN w/Precious
Manny throws Jimmy from pillar to post, and scores near fall after near fall but Precious interrupts every time! At the 9 minute mark, the Ragin’ Bull has HAD IT, and steps out of the ring and points an accusing finger at Precious as Jimmy argues with the ref when . . .what is the meaning of THIS?
RONNIE GARVIN! RONNIE IS HERE TO EXPLAIN TO THE REF WHAT PRECIOUS HAS BEEN UP TO . . . . .
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NO! Manny turns around and RONNIE KNOCKS HIM OUT, HANDS OF STONE! THEN RONNIE THROWS A STUNNED MANNY INTO THE RING, AND Jimmy covers . . . .1-2-3!!!
WINNER, AND EARNING $20,000 FROM MANNY FERNANDEZ: JIMMY GARVIN, 8:30
Ronnie quickly waves Jimmy and Precious out and they leave for the dressing room with the fans in stunned silence! FANS, RONNIE GARVIN HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO!
5. FANTASTICS V DICK MURDOCH + BRET HART w/Gary Hart
10 minutes in after endless interference by Gary Hart, there’s a dreaded REF BUMP when the ref is knocked out of the ring by Dick Murdoch! Murdoch and Hart pound a mudhole into their foes when . . . .coming down the aisle . . . its . .
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ADRIAN ADONIS! HE ENTERS THE RING, AS DICK MURDOCH SEEMS THRILLED AND OFFERS HIS HAND TO HIS FORMER PARTNER! NO!!!! ADONIS KNOCKS OUT DICK! HERE COMES BRET! ADONIS KICKS HIM IN THE GUT AND PUTS HIM IN GOODNIGHT IRENE! Bret is OUT AND HERE COMES GARY HART, HE HAS A FEW WORDS FOR ADONIS, BUT ADONIS HAS HIM BY THE TIE AS the Fantastics are coming too, but Adonis sees the referee coming to as well, let’s go of the hold and heads to the dressing room to the fans applause as it seems Adrian Adonis has been given a short measure of revenge on his former stable!
The Fantastics now have the advantage as Hart desperately tries to pull Bret out of the ring, but the Fantastics want a piece of the still groggy Canadian as the ref is now in the ring still holding his head from the bump. Murdoch is still staggering up from the sucker punch by his former tag team partner. Tommy Rogers pulls Bret in and covers, the ref has zero clue who the legal man is but counts: 1 . . . . .2 . . . .
MURDOCH STAGGERS FORWARD WITH AN AXEHANDLE ON ROGERS TO BREAK IT UP. Bobby Fulton comes in and battles Murdoch out of the ring, where they brawl. So, I guess Bret and Tommy are the legal men. They brawl as well, meanwhile on the outside of the ring, GARY HART THROWS POWDER INTO FULTON’S EYES, and as Bret works over Rogers back, Rogers flies over for a tag and gets Bobby who is leaning on the apron, Bret drags the blinded Bobby into the ring, tags to Dick Murdoch who dropkicks and covers him: 1-2-3!
WINNERS, BRET HART + DICK MURDOCH, 10:45
6. TEXAS DEATH MATCH
WINNER IS WHOEVER IS THE FIRST TO NOT ANSWER A 10 COUNT AFTER ANY FALL
RONNIE GARVIN V BUDDY LANDELL
As the match progresses, Ronnie Garvin uses more and more underhanded tactics, and when Buddy battles back using his own bag of tricks . . .listen to these Charlotte fans? SOME CHEERS FOR BUDDY? But there’s even more when Buddy scores the first fall lowering the top rope as Garvin flies over to the floor below and is counted out!
The ref then counts to ten, but Garvin makes it to the apron at 7 and while going through the ropes, sucker punches Buddy, wails all over him busting him open and puts him in a SHARPSHOOTER! Buddy briefly goes for the ropes, but knows if he submits, he does not lose, and smartly taps out, but LOOK! RONNIE WON’T LET GO AS BUDDY’S FACE IS NOW A CRIMSON MASK! Buddy screams for mercy but Garvin won’t let go until the ref has to physically pulls him off, and Garvin them demands the ref count to ten, THE REF REFUSES AND ARGUES WITH RONNIE! Fans, fair is fair, Garvin did NOT let go of the move and give Buddy a fair chance to recover from and the count out is cancelled! Good job by the referee here.
Enraged, Garvin is all over Landell, and scores near fall after near fall, but Landell kicks out each time! Garvin finally gets a three count, but Buddy can make the 10 count! This Buddy Landell might be a little tougher than we all gave him credit for.
Frustrated, Garvin realizes he needs to do more to put down Buddy for the ten count than pin or submit him and throws him through the ropes onto the ring announcer table. Garvin steps out with Landell on the table AND GRABS THE RING ANNOUNCERS BELL! THE RING ANNOUNCER TRIES TO STOP HIM BUT GARVIN SHOVES HIM AWAY AND LIFTS THE BELL ABOVE HIS HEAD AND LOWERS IT TOWARDS LANDELLS BLOODY SKILL BUT MISSES AS LANDELL ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY! FANS WHAT A WILD MATCH HERE IN CHARLOTTE . .
Landell is on the ground and uses this position to get up and tackle and shove Garvin back first into the ring post! Both men go down and the ref counts to eight . . .fans if it’s a ten count, the first man to stand up wins . . . BUT NO as both men roll back into the ring at the same time . .
We have a bloodied Buddy Landell at one end of the ring . . . . a Ronnie Garvin holding the back of his head on the other and they fly at ach other, and Landell manages to snatch Garvin, picks him up for a supolex . . . . BANG, COVERS:
1 . . . .2 . . . . 3!
The ref counts as a staggered and stunned Garvin grabs the ropes to get to his feet . . . .1-2-3-4-5-6-7 . . . . . . . 8 . . . .
Garvin stands up and the match continues.
Landell moves in and Garvin catches him with a kick to the mid-section and starts once again wailing on Landell including the cut. Garvin hip tosses Landell, then . . .THE GARVIN STOMP AND A PIN: 1-2-3!
The ref counts, and fans, as valiant as effort Buddy has given here, perhaps enough is enough . . .5----6----7----8------Buddy grabs the refs pants and pulls himself up, the ref stops the count and the match continues!
An enraged Garvin flies at Landell, but the clever Landell steps aside and gets on top of him, remember fans, Buddy Landell was an excellent amateur wrestler before becoming pro, and works Garvin into a rollup and hooks the leg:
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1-2-3!
Fans by our count falls are even steven, but the only one that counts is the one where your opponent cannot answer the 10 count, which Garvin does once again.
Landell is on the advantage and lands a German suplex on Garvin, gets the count, and now Garvin is even more stunned . . . . . he gets up at the 9 count, barely!
Landell continues with his strategy and lands a devastating corkscrew elbow drop on Garvin, covers:
1-2-3!
The ref starts counting, and this time Garvin almost doesn’t make it up at 10 but is still alive as Landell has now beaten Garvin 5 times versus 3 falls!
And am I hearing what I think I’m hearing? Scattered chants of “Buddy! Buddy!” throughout the Memorial Stadium? Some of the fans not appreciating Ronnie Garvin’s actions so far tonight, and respecting Buddy’s heart!
Buddy is exhausted from the loss of blood and struggles more and more to get Garvin down one more three count, that final three count that surely will earn him the KO victory as Garvin kicks out of another pinfall bid.
BUT WAIT! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? ITS . . . . JIMMY . . . .”GARVIN” AND PRECIOUS, AND PRECIOUS IS ON THE RING, AND DISTRACTS THE REF AS Buddy throws Ronnie against the ropes while Ronnie reaches into his trunks and PULLS OUT SOME WHITE OBJECT AROUND HIS KNUCKLES AND KABLAMMO! RIGHT ON THE CUT! LANDELL IS OUT COLDER THAN A MOTHER IN LAW’S KISS AS GARVIN THROWS AWAY THE OBJECT! Precious steps down as RONNIE ARROGANTLY steps on Landell’s chest, flexes his muscles and grins at the crowd:
1-2-3!
Jimmy runs to the other side of the ring and gathers up the foreign object as the ref counts:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8- . . . .
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Landell is just not moving . . .
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10!
WINNER: RONNIE GARVIN, 21:33
Wait, there is commotion outside the babyface dressing room! Its . . .. MANNY FERNANDEZ! HE IS BURNING MAD AND STORMS TOWARDS THE RING LOOKING FOR ASS! SECURITY GATHERS AROUND HIM AS RONNIE TAUNTS HIM, WITH Jimmy Garvin and Precious joining him in the ring. Manny pushes forward towards the ring, and as soon as he is near ringside, Ronnie, Jimmy and Precious leave and Ragin’ Bull is escorted back to his dressing room as medics attend to Buddy.
Fans, we may all agree or disagree with Buddy Landell’s tactics . . . but after tonight I think we can ALL agree about his burning desire to win at all costs!
7. SID VICIOUS DEF. JERRY BLACKWELL, 1:45
8. UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
RON SIMMONS def. JERRY LAWLER w/Luna, 13:00 with a running shoulder tackle followed by an inverted powerslam for the pin.
WINNER, AND STILL US HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, RON SIMMONS, 13:00
9. WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ARN ANDERSON + TULLY BLANCHARD w/JJ Dillon V POWERS OF PAIN w/Wendi Richter
The Powers of Pain throw the smaller world champions around pillar to post, but when JJ Dillon interferes to give his team the advantage multiple times, Wendi Richter has had enough! She goes over to JJ and slaps him to the floor! WAIT! ARN AND TULLY SEE THIS AND MENACE WENDI! That doesn’t sit well with her proteges, and Barbarian and Warlord hop out of the ring and pound the tar out of the world champions at ringside, the ref steps down to try and break it up, getting thrown to the floor by Warlord for his troubles, the ref has had it and orders the bell rung. As the Powers chase the World Champions, fighting to the back!
WINNERS VIA DQ, AND STILL WORLD CHAMPIONS, ARN ANDERSON + TULLY BLANCHARD, 7:14
MAIN EVENT
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
DUSTY RHODES V TERRY TAYLOR
It’s all glitz and glamor as a convertible limo heads out to the ring to “TV Dinners” with Terry Taylor in his fancy robe comes out, and chicken struts to and into the ring. “Bad to the Bone” plays and pyro goes off as its DUSTY RHODES, who walks to the ring with the title belt like the Common Man he truly is!
The bel rings and both men circle and look at the Rooster, he wants to have Dusty put up his dukes? Dusty does and winds up his left fist then jab-jab-jab with the right and Terry is discombobulated and tumbles out of the ring in retreat! A lot of stalling and clowning by the challenger until the ref pushes back Dusty and Terry uses it to the pull Dusty down by the leg, and takes over on the mat. Dusty makes several comebacks but Terry foils them each timed with eye rakes, back rakes and other dastardly old-timey heel tactics.
Dusty has had enough and starts no selling Taylor’s offense, throws him to the ropes: BIONIC ELBOW! Now its Dusty’s turn to show who’s the boss with arm twists, head locks, and chokes, and then, he goes for the FIGURE FOUR, but Taylor is too close to the ropes, the hold is broken, and as Dusty staggers up Taylor tries to land a quickie clothesline, and misses, and Dusty takes over again! He starts covering Taylor who kicks out each time until Dusty throws Taylor into the ropes, goes for the clothesline himself, but Taylor hooks himself on the ropes, Dusty staggers forward, and Terry grabs his tights and THROWS HIM THROUGH THE ROPES! DIRTY POOL BY THE ROOSTER!
As the ref counts, Taylor rolls out of the ring and smashes Dusty head on the guardrail, then posts him, and as Taylor rolls into the ring to break the count, Dusty is BUSTED WIDE OPEN! THE AMERICAN DREAM IN BIG TROUBLE HERE IN CHARLOTTE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! As the match continues, LOOK WHO IS STANDING OUTSIDE THEIR RESPECTIVE DRESSING ROOMS FANS: RON SIMMONS, RONNIE GARVIN (who must still be waiting for his gear from the babyface dressing room)AND SID VICIOUS! Both must be eyeing a potential title shot opportunity at the Bashes ahead, no matter the winner!
Meanwhile, Taylor has thrown Dusty back in and works on that cut, kicking, stomping and punching at it. Make no mistake: one of the reasons they call him the “Rooster” is he has a streak of “gamecock” in him! And then: IT’S THE FIGURE FOUR! Taylor has the bloodied and injured World Champion trapped in the middle of the ring as Dusty screams for mercy but will not submit!
Not only that but look at this: DUSTY REVERSES THE FIGURE FOUR, AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE CHALLENGER TO SUFFER! Its takes Taylor FOREVER to make it to the ropes, and both men stagger up, BUT ARE BOTH HOBBLED! By this time, both the dressing rooms empty out, no one in World Wide Wrestling wants to miss an opportunity to witness this title match in person!
Dream is able to stand up, and limps over to Taylor, who is still on his knees as TAYLOR PUNCHES RHODES IN THE YAM BAG! DOWN GOES DUSTY AS THE REF IS ALL OVER TERRY TAYLOR! HE’S GOING TO DISQUALIFY TAYLOR! Taylor is still on his knees but this time begging for the referee to show mercy! The ref keeps turning to the bell, but Taylor stops him each time, and tugs at his shirt and Taylor and the ref starts grabbing each other as the ref tries to get Taylor off his shirt . . . . WAIT!
DUSTY IS BACK OVER AND GRABS TAYLOR AND CHOKES HIM WITH BOTH HANDS! RHODES IS CHOKING THE CHICKEN! (Ok that was bad). THAT’S A DQ TOO! THE REF COUNTS AND THEN HAS TO PHYSICALLY PULL DUSTY OFF BY THE HAIR, AND DUSTY RAISES A FIST TO THE REFEREE AS TAYLOR IS IN THE CORNER, GASPING FOR AIR! NOW THE THE REF IS THREATENING TO DISQUALIFY BOTH MEN!
WAIT! NOT AGAIN! TAYLOR, still grabbing his throat and gasping for air CLIPS RHODES KNEES FROM BEHIND, AND NOW BOTH MEN ARE DOWN . . . .Rhodes crippled, Taylor out of oxygen! The referee, who has shown a lot of restraint in this world title match, starts a ten count! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 . . . both men answer the bell and pull themselves up on the ropes just by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins.
The men both run the ropes, as best they can, and Taylor hits Rhodes with a Lou Thesz Press . . . .NO! RHODES GRABS TAYLOR, SPINS HIM AROUND AND SLAMS HIM TO THE CANVAS! 1 . . . . . .2 . . . . . .
TAYLOR KICKS OUT! WOW! Fans, you might not like his cockiness, his tactics, but Terry Taylor just like the farm rooster will fight claw his way to win a fight! Rhodes bounces off the ropes, and goes for the BIONIC ELBOW DROP, MISSES! TAYLOR COVERS . . . . 1-2- . . . . . .
RHODES KICKS OUT, BUT TAYLOR CINCHES UP AGAIN:
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THREE!!!!
WINNER, AND NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, TERRY TAYLOR, 34:22
BUT WAIT! DID TAYLOR HAVE HIS FEET ON THE BOTTOM ROPE? THE VTR SHOWS HE DOES AS THE RING ANNOUNCER AND BELL GUY TRY TO SHOW THE REF, BUT FANS, THE REFEREE’S DECISION IS FINAL AND TERRY HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE WORLD TITLE BELT AND IS HEADED TO THE DRESSING ROOM!
Boy oh boy, you want to talk about controversy fans, I bet promoters from all over the Bash cities will be on the phone with the championship committee within minutes looking to already host a rematch! Fans thanks for tuning in that is all from the Great American Bash, YOUR NEW CHAMPION IS TERRY TAYLOR!
This card is dedicated to the memory of Adrian Adonis, who passed away July 4, 1988. Thanks to Kimmel for his contributions booking this show.
Working on it now.