WWE Great American Bash Results, June 27, 2004 – Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia
Submitted by Steven "Rommel" Schaeffer on Sunday, June 27, 2004 at 10:51 PM EST



Steven “Rommel” Schaeffer can be reached via E-Mail and at AIM screen name “Winged Mystery.” He can also be found playing City of Heroes, Virtue Server, as Slash Hellcat the level 22 Blaster or Rikti Infused the level 14 Defender.

The opening package details the storylines for Eddie and JBL, Cena and Angel and The Undertaker and Heyman respectively. Torrie, wearing her Uncle Sam outfit, welcomed the crowd to the Great American Bash. Hey, the red, white and blue ropes are back!

US Championship Fatal Four-way Elimination Match: John Cena © versus Rob Van Dam versus Rene Dupree versus Booker T
Cena was introduced first, who revved up the crowd and rapped. This was an old fashion tornado style match, with all four men in the ring at all times. Well, at all times is a relative to match psychology. While Rene and John wrestled in the ring, Booker and RVD worked outside. When Dupree threw Cena to the outside, Booker T tossed RVD into the ring. Dupree dominated the early goings, until RBD started to connect some of his spots. Meanwhile, Booker T continued to purposefully chill on the outside. Rob used a slingshot to flip Rene over the top rope, and hit a cork screw plancha onto him and Cena. Booker continued to play the fox outside, until Rob got disgusted and rolled outside just to throw him in. Booker hit an explosive Alabama slam. All four men started chaining moves off of one another, until three men (Booker, RVD and Dupree) were down in the ring. Cena went to the top but was knocked off by a revived Rob. He hit a 5* on Booker, and would have scored the pin, but Cena had jumped back up and rolled Rob up for the first cheap elimination. John Cena eliminated Rob Van Dam. Booker T and Dupree began double teaming Cena, until they started squabbling amongst themselves allowing the face to make the usual comeback. He used an Irish whip to smash them together, and used a back body drop on Dupree and a throwback on Booker T. He pumped up the sneakers like it was ninety-five but was cut short by a scissors kick. Inexplicably, Booker pinned Dupree instead of a downed Cena. Booker T eliminated Rene Dupree. Booker was dominating the champion, crushing every hope spot with kicks and slams, focusing on the neck of Cena. John had a huge comeback, hitting the sidewalk slam and five knuckle shuffle punch. It is even less impressive in writing than it is to see. He pumped up again, and once again was cut off, and set up for a scissors kick. Cena dodged this one, and hit the F-U for the final pin fall of the match. John Cena retained the US Championship by eliminating Booker T via pin fall. This was not a bad match at all. **1/2

Backstage, the champion was congratulated by Charlie Haas and Miss Jackie. Miss Jackie looked good enough to eat in Red, White and Blue. John made a lewd comment the two didn’t seem to get. Angle rolled up, disappointed in his former protégé. Angle says he promised his current protégé, Luther Reigns, a match. Charlie was booked against the bodyguard. In the hot tub, Sable talked about her match with Torrie briefly.

Charlie Haas (with Miss Jackie) versus Luther Reigns (with General Manager Angle)
Charlie did the smart thing, out wrestling the bigger man and attempting to take him down. Luther used his superior strength to take and maintain control, though. Luther bashed the former amateur wrestler before throwing him over the top to the outside. He followed him and slammed his spin into the edge of the ring. Back in the ring, Luther locked on a rear chin lock, which even the somewhat bored crowd was unable to aide Haas to escape from. Luther guerrilla pressed Charlie, and slammed him down to follow up with a modified single leg Boston Crab. Haas turned over and kicked his way out. Luther tried a power slam, but Haas jumped down and rolled Reigns up. It angered the big man, who nailed a big clothesline. Charlie was invigorated, however, and started to hit some offense. A vertical suplex preceded a German suplex – but the comeback was squashed when Charlie ran shoulder first into the ring post. Luther locked on his finisher, rolled the dice, and got the win. Luther Reigns defeated Charlie Haas via pin fall. That felt about as important as a velocity match. *

JBL was in his dressing room, discussing his disqualification victory at Judgment Day – and how tonight Eddie could not be disqualified. More of the usual from JBL, with his lament racism mixed with guarantees that he would be the champion tonight.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Chavo Guerrero versus Rey Mysterio Junior ©
They show clips of the Battle Royal where Chavo became the number one contender, and I wonder why the WWE doesn’t try mixing up who challenges for this title. Chavo immediately tried taking Rey down, which ended up in a near fall when Mysterio tried a bandito roll up. Rey would attempt more interesting pin types, all kicked out of. Tazz and Michael Cole discussed the similarities and differences of the two wrestler’s styles, while Chavo and Rey began working on each other’s arms with some unorthodox moves. Rey hit a springboard moonsault, which Chavo caught, and Rey turned into an arm drag take down. Chavo took Chavo to the mat and began to work over the arm with kicks and knees. Rey went to the top rope, but Chavo used a springboard drop kick to drop Mysterio outside. Chavo sold that his knee hit the edge of the ring apron, and Chavo followed up with attacks to the knee of Rey Rey. Chavo locked on a vicious looking single leg Boston Crab, even using Rey’s own mask as leverage at one point. Rey kicked out and sat up in Chavo’s arms, spinning around to Bulldog Chavo down. Still, the Champion was in clearly more pain than the challenger, actually falling to the ground in pain during an Irish whip. Guerrero continued his assault on the knee of Rey, kicking Rey in the back of the knee again and again and even wrapping Rey’s leg around his shoulders. Rey escaped that by using his legs as scissors, and hitting an arm drag when Chavo lifted him straight into the air. He went to the corner, and used a corkscrew ‘rana to take Chavo down. When he went to follow up the offense, however, his knee buckled and Guerrero was able to recover. In the tree of woe, Rey was able to escape just in time so that Chavo flew from the ring. Rey climbed to the top and launched himself onto Guerrero outside the ring. The two combatants fought to the top rope, with Rey looking for a head scissors and Chavo looking for a superplex to the outside. Neither could get the advantage, and both men ended up slamming one another face first down to the mat. Chavo was up first, but Rey seemed revived. He chained his spots, most of which I do not know how to call since only Rey uses them. It seemed for naught, however, when Guerrero hit the Gory bomb. Rey kicked out in a very near fall, and the challengers started to seem very cocksure. He went for the leg again and ate an enziguri to the back of the head. 619! Mysterio tried a springboard, but was caught and locked into the single leg Boston Crab. The crowd exploded for the first time tonight, as Rey strained for the ropes. Chavo pulled him back, so Rey had to crawl and struggle again to finally get to them. Chavo tried another Gory Bomb, but this time Rey was just able to counter through Chavo’s legs and roll him up for a three count. Rey Mysterio Junior defeated Chavo Guerrero via pin fall to retain the Cruiserweight Title. Excellent match, that was. ***1/4

In the hot tub, Torrie had a few cruiserweights (Including her husband) arguing over who would have beaten Rey had they faced them. She stood up, and they stopped arguing to gawk.

Kenzo Suzuki (with Horroko) versus Billy Gunn
Oh my God! Billy Gunn still works for the WWE? Did I just get transported to the nineties with red, white and blue ropes encasing an anti-American Japanese wrestler and Billy Gunn while a Geisha girl watches on? Where is Mr. Fugi? Kenzo used “Martial Arts” moves to work over the badass, taunting the crowd with his evil Asian eyes and fake karate chops. I feel for the Smackdown! guy. Kenzo repeatedly locked on a “Nerve hold” onto the throat of Billy Gunn, using it to chain into impressive holds like a vertical suplex and head lock. A man in the crowd was wearing a white, furry pimp costume and was bowing at the ring. Billy had a brief comeback with a splash to the corner which had as much impact as a Power Rangers episode. Kenzo ended it with some weak kicks to the back and legs of Billy. Kenzo used a low blow when Billy started to mount some offense, and hit a back breaker with an over hook to win the night. Kenzo Suzuki defeated Billy Gunn via pin fall. No one in the audience cared, and neither did I. ½*

Backstage, Paul Heyman talked with a tied up Paul Bearer about how everyone, authorities included, thought he was bluffing. He told Paul about how he was not bluffing, taking glee in describing what would happen when he buried Paul alive in concrete. Not that it will happen, since he knows that the Undertaker would do the right thing.

Sable versus Torrie
Sable wore a furry one piece with knee high boots. Torrie wore a two piece with hot pants and knee high covered books over fish nets. Cole and Tazz tried not to laugh as the two wrestled, though the two were doing there best. I will say that they didn’t do anything they couldn’t, and sold every move rather viciously. Still, neither is a trained wrestler so the snap mare take downs and rear chin locks were about the extent of the of move set. You know, I could have been to the Yankee and Mets game tonight. How much do I love you people? Not enough not to turn to ESPN during this. I returned to find that Sable and Torrie collided head first (Badly) and both women were down. Torrie got up, but Sable sold that she was out cold. Torrie wanted to go for the pin, but official Charlie Robinson was insistent she be checked first. This allowed Sable to play possum and roll Torrie up for a cheap pin. The replay showed clearly that Torrie’s shoulders were both clearly up. Sable defeated Torrie via pin fall. ½*

Dawn Marie (looking absolutely fabulous) interviewed Rene Dupree over his loss earlier tonight. Rene promised to protest for a rematch, and started to hit on Dawn. The FBI interrupted, and Nunzio showed off his big feet, for obvious reasons.

Mordecai versus Hardcore Holly
Mordecai had a fiery entrance as Michael Cole referred to him as the fourth rider of the apocalypse. This was anything but a technical match. The two men hit one another to start, hit each other in the middle, and continued to hit each other until the match was over. Holly gave Mordecai a hotshot onto the top rope, and Mordecai bounced off causing the two to bang heads. Mordecai does not look intimidating, by the way. He looks like he should be selling fried chicken. Holly took control after the two banged heads by hitting a flying clothesline, an inverted-DDT and a Holly drop kick. When he attempted the Alabama Slam Mordecai countered into his razor’s edge for the victory. Mordecai defeated Hardcore Holly via pin fall. I’m not sure that match contained any wrestling. ½*

A vignette detailing the WWE Championship feud between JBL and Eddie Guerrero was shown.

WWE Championship Texas Bull Rope Match: Justin Layfield Bradshaw versus Eddie Guerrero ©
Does JBL always enter like that, with the lights and music and the no one in the audience caring? I turned on the Yankee/Met game which I cared a lot more about. I came back with Bradshaw using the cowbell to knock Eddie down to start touching the corners, which light up green for Bradshaw and red for Eddie. If the one man knocks the other down, however, the referee waved off the all the lights and the process had to start again. JBL uses the rope as a noose, tying it around Guerrero’s throat as he hangs in upside down in the corner. JBL takes Eddie to the outside and begins beating the champion against the announce table. Both men get to their feet, but Eddie jumps off and uses the rope to trip Bradshaw on the hard wood. Eddie uses the rope to pull JBL into the ring post twice, but Eddie would be throw across the announce table into Cole’s lap. Eddie grabbed a steel chair, and knocked Bradshaw down with a shot to the head. As advertised, blood was poured – but it was Bradshaw’s this time. Back in the ring, Eddie hit JBL again with the steel chair, and nearly had all three corners lit before JBL wrapped himself under the ropes and pulled Eddie away. The champion was still in control through, wrapping the bull rope around Bradshaw’s throat to try and pull him along the corners. Once again JBL hung onto the ropes and prevented the last corner from being lit. Bradshaw hit a desperation kick to Eddie’s face, and took control – until the rope was wrapped into his crotch by the champion. Eddie hit the three vertical suplexes in a row, and climbed to the top rope and hit the frog splash to try and incapacitate the challenger. Before he could get to the fourth corner JBL rolled outside the ring, which was too far for the rope to reach. Eddie wrapped the rope over the top rope next, using it like a pulley to force Bradshaw into the ring. It would have worked, but he was hit in the head by the cowbell and throw onto the announce table from the ropes. The table did not break. JBL, who was a bloody mess at this point, made sure the table broke by power bombing Eddie through it. JBL slowly pulled the champion into the ring and went for the corners, getting three before Eddie pulled him back by holding onto the bottom rope. Bradshaw then hit Eddie with the cowbell, and was literately inches from getting the final corner before Eddie used the cowbell on Bradshaw’s crotch. Guerrero went on the assault, beating Bradshaw with the bell again and again. Eddie went for the turnbuckles, and Bradshaw tapped them right after. Bradshaw was literately inches from touching the last the last turnbuckle, so Eddie splashed into him to touch the corner. Kurt Angle came out to show the footage, which showed that due to the splash Bradshaw’s back hit the corner first and JBL was the winner. JBL defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bull Rope match to win the WWE Championship. Better than it had any right to be, but I have seen that finish so many times in so many bull rope matches prior to this that I saw it coming a mile away. Also, it would have been better if the official had just awarded the victory, instead of having Kurt Angle come out to reverse the decision. **3/4

A long vignette of the Undertaker’s feud with Paul Heyman and the Dudleyz was shown.

Concrete Crypt Match: The Dudley Boyz © versus The Undertaker
Paul Bearer was locked in a clear case, with a concrete trunk ominously nearby. Wow is that ridiculous. Before the match, Heyman gave the Undertaker a demonstration to what would happen if the Undertaker did not do the right thing, and filled the case to Paul’s calves. Bubba commanded the Undertaker to lay down for the pin. ‘Taker seemed torn, but finally laid down. I cannot believe this angle is the main event. Bubba straddled Undertaker, and said he was waiting for this for his entire life. Undertaker shot his hand up and grabbed both Dudleyz by the throats. The three men brawled in and outside the ring, with Heyman yelling for ‘Taker to do the right thing. When ‘Taker went to the top rope for Old School, Heyman started screaming “Bad Dog” and filled the crypt some more with concrete. The Dudleyz began to beat Undertaker. Have you ever seen an angry Pay-Per-View crowd before? Watch this show if you want see. Undertaker started to battle back, and started walking up the ramp. Heyman got upset, and pulled the lever to release the concrete into the crypt while the Dudleyz beat the Undertaker back. Bubba ran up to push the lever back up as it reached Paul’s chin, claiming Devon and him could handle the Undertaker themselves. Heyman told Bubba to train his big dog. Back at the ring, the Undertaker was on the receiving end of a beating courtesy of the tag team champions. After five minutes of one sided action, the Undertaker started to fight back. He hit the Old School rope walk, but a low blow by Devon ended the momentum. The Undertaker sat up just as Paul Heyman walked to the ring with the urn. He crushed the Dudley Boyz, and hit a tombstone pile driver on Devon for the pin fall. The Undertaker defeated the Dudley Boyz via pin fall. ½*

After the match, a lightning bolt prevented Heyman from getting to the cement truck. So of course, the Undertaker walked over him, told Paul to rest in peace, and pulled himself. With absolutely no ovation from the crowd, the tank filled up and the show ended.

Match Results:
John Cena retained the US Championship by eliminating Booker T via pin fall.
Luther Reigns defeated Charlie Haas via pin fall.
Rey Mysterio Junior defeated Chavo Guerrero via pin fall to retain the Cruiserweight Title.
Kenzo Suzuki defeated Billy Gunn via pin fall.
Sable defeated Torrie via pin fall.
Mordecai defeated Hardcore Holly via pin fall.
JBL defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bull Rope match to win the WWE Championship.
The Undertaker defeated the Dudley Boyz via pin fall.








EXCLUSIVES: Top 10 Trish Stratus Moments, Top 10 WCW Cruiserweight Matches, MORE!

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