19,000 in attendance in Honolulu, Hawaii
Commentary by Mike Tenay & Jim Ross
Fireworks fill the air as commentary welcomes us to Great American Bash 2001! The halfway point of the wrestling year, it's sure to be one hell of a show tonight! With a double-header main event of two world title matches (the first putting Chris Jericho (c) against Mike Awesome for the WCW World Heavyweight championship, and the second putting Kanyon against Lance Storm (c) for the WCW International Heavyweight championship), and a Hart Foundation clash, this is the show to define the first half of 2001! Catch the results below the break!
1. The Dudley Boyz defeated The Road Warriors in an elimination tables match in 5:02. The eliminations saw D-Von out first - he was hit with the Doomsday Device through a table. When the Road Warriors tried to do the same to Bubba, he knocked Animal off balance so he stumbled toward the turnbuckle, allowing Bubba to grab Hawk in a superplex and slam him through the table, with Animal's weight adding extra momentum. The final elimination came when Bubba shoulder tackled Animal through a table in the corner to capture the victory. (62)
2. WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Yoshinari Ogawa (accompanied by Genichiro Tenryu) defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Juventud Guerrera, and Taz in a four way matchup in 8:12. The match ended after Ogawa was able to pin Juvi after Chavo pulled Taz off of him, following a Tazplex. Ogawa stood tall while Taz fumed on the outside. (80)
3. After the match, Tenryu is raising Ogawa's hand when Taz throws Guerrero into the ring! Ogawa and Tenryu quickly escape while Taz continues to punish Chavo. He locks Chavo in an armbar and refuses to let go until he's separated by security - it looks like Chavo might be hurt! (72)
4. Sid Vicious & Scott Steiner defeated Ron Simmons & Vader in 10:02 when Steiner locked Simmons in the Steiner Recliner and forced him to submit. (82)
5. Fatu defeated Steven Richards in 2:46 after a diving splash. The victory was decisive, with Fatu on a hot streak that Richards isn't able to stop. (54)
6. In the ring, the WCW Television champion Scott Norton is out for his scheduled defense - but he's in street clothes! He says that since Steve Corino was pulled out of their match, he doesn't have an opponent. Since he's a genuine badass, he's not surprised no one else has stepped up to face him - and he's going to enjoy his night off. Just then, Steve Austin's music hits! He storms down to the ring, and a brawl begins! (68)
7. WCW World Television Championship: Steve Austin defeated Scott Norton in 1:41 after a short but crazy brawl ending in a Stunner. Steve Austin is the new Television champion! (81)
8. We see Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff watching the pay-per-view together in the lounge in the commissioner's office when we hear the door open and Jim Neidhart walks in. Neidhart says that he's always been the older brother of all of the Hart Family, and if there's anyone who can keep order when the Foundation clashes, it's him. Neidhart doesn't believe anyone else can handle it - he wants to referee the Christian/Castle vs. Benoit/Bulldog match! Flair and Bischoff talk with each other for a brief moment, and Flair turns to Neidhart and makes it official! (72)
9. WCW World Tag Team Championship: Men of War (Sean O'Haire & Mark Jindrak) defeated the team arranged by Mr. Yamaguchi - Jun Akiyama & Kenta Kobashi! O'Haire picked up the victory in 12:59 after landing a spinning neckbreaker on Akiyama and locking in a gator roll neck crank, forcing Akiyama to submit! The victory marks the Men of War's fourth defense of the Tag Team championship. The chemistry of both teams was obvious here, with the in-ring action drawing in even those of the crowd who may not have bought into the idea of a foreign tag team challenging for the championship. (78)
10. Power Warrior and Super Strong Machine went to a 10:29 draw. The match (booked because of Super Strong Machine's alliance with Keiji Mutoh, who Power Warrior believes has been attacking him and Mike Awesome) ended when a blackout happened - when the lights came back out, Power Warrior was laid out in the ring with Super Strong Machine laid out on the outside, and the match was ruled a no contest! (68)
11. WCW Brass Knuckles Championship: Kevin Nash defeated Mick Foley in 6:23 with the Jackknife Powerbomb. Nash was able to avoid most of the hardcore action, though Foley was able to hit him with a chair at one point. (82)
12. Mike Awesome storms out and demands an interview! Jeremy Borash rushes out to meet him, and Awesome calls the co-commisioners out. He says everyone just saw what happened with Power Warrior, it's not going to happen in his match! Mike Awesome demands something happen to prevent interference in the main event! Eric Bischoff comes out and says he can't exactly put a cage up, but he can do something about it. There will be lumberjacks placed outside the ring for the main event to prevent any sort of interference, and Eric says he has a special addition of his own - if the blackout attacker shows up, anyone who can catch him will receive a $100,000 bonus! (74)
13. Dwayne Johnson defeated Konnan in 7:47 after hitting him with the Rock Bottom. (86)
14. Out for an interview with Jeremy Borash is Kanyon and Bobby Heenan! Kanyon says that his big plan has all been leading to this one night - and god, does he love when a plan comes together. Tonight, everyone is going to see Kanyon on top of the mountain - where he belongs - when he wins the International title! He thanks Lance Storm for playing along and giving him this challenge, and he says that none of the roadblocks in his way are gonna stop him - not Raven, not Vampiro, and definitely not Sting. Kanyon says that Bobby Heenan has led plenty of men to gold in the past, but he's going to be his first client in the new generation to pull it off. (77)
15. Sting and Diamond Dallas Page defeated Team Canada (John Tenta, Carl Ouelett, & Steve Corino) in 9:19 when Sting forced Tenta to submit to the Scorpion Deathlock. Interestingly, Corino was visibly frustrated throughout the entire encounter - staying out of the match and immediately tagging out when he was tagged in. (78)
16. Next out to the interview set is Steve Austin! Borash tries to ask him a question, but Austin immediately cuts him off. He says that since Flair or Bischoff were going to keep him away from the World Heavyweight championship, he's going to make his own opportunities, starting with the Television title! Before Borash can follow up, Austin storms off. (68)
17. Christian & Castle went to a 20:00 time limit draw with Chris Benoit & British Bulldog. Jim Neidhart acted as the special guest referee for the match and Mark Henry was at ringside to prevent anything but a clean contest from going on. The intensity was ramped up in this match, with even Christian Cage getting worked up. (73)
18. After the bell rang, tensions still seemed high. Neidhart and Henry stepped in to get between both teams, and Bulldog and Christian seemed to calm down - however, Adam Castle and Chris Benoit were both still fuming. Most of the Foundation leave the ring, but Benoit and Castle stay. Castle rolls to the outside and grabs a chair, sneaking back in behind Benoit! Castle seems poised to strike, when the Hart Foundation music hits again - and Bret Hart walks out! Bret Hart is back! Hart storms down to the ring and forces both men into a huddle. Since he's not mic'd up, the broadcast can't pick up what he says - but whatever it is seems to ease the tension, as Castle and Benoit shake hands and walk up the ramp with the rest of the Hart Foundation. (72)
19. WCW International Heavyweight Championship: Kanyon defeated Lance Storm in 14:27 by disqualification, meaning that Storm retained. The match ended when Vampiro appeared from under the ring and attacked Storm, laying him out with the Nail in the Coffin! Kanyon barely escaped, and Vampiro stood tall! (79)
20. WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Chris Jericho defeated Mike Awesome in 14:01 with the Lionsault to make his first defense of the World Heavyweight championship! The ring was surrounded by lumberjacks to prevent any interference from the mysterious attacker who has been focusing on Mike Awesome and Power Warrior for several months, now - the lumberjacks include: Bam Bam Bigelow, Big T, Greg Valentine, Jim Duggan, Lex Luger, Nova, Paul Wight, Rob Van Dam, Randy Savage, Ray Traylor, and Sabu! (93)
The show fades to black with Chris Jericho standing tall with the WCW World Heavyweight championship! That's all for the Great American Bash! Come back to your national network tomorrow night for Thunder!
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