WCW Great American Bash 85'

NWA The Great American Bash 85'

Charlotte, North Carolina - July 1985

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion was Ric Flair, Magnum TA was the United States Champion, the World Tag Team Champions were "The Russians" (Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev), Tully Blanchard was the Television Champion, and the National Tag Team Champions were the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Arn and Ole Anderson.

This show doesn't feature any commentary, which makes it an interesting watch and definitely one "for the nerds." Prior to this popping up on the WWE's YouTube "Vault" page, it was considered something of a holy grail for NWA fans, I guess. 

Buddy Landell vs. Ron Bass go the distance in the opening match (though some of it gets cut out). I like Landell just fine and Ron Bass was over, but this match is too long, going its full 20-minute time limit. I liked JJ Dillon's work on the outside more than anything either guy did in the ring. (1.5/5)

The Andersons (Ole and Arn) take on Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater in the next match. Arn is the best worker of the bunch, taking the most spirited bumps. The heels get the win by disqualification after 10 minutes of forgettable action. Not much to love or hate here. (2/5)

A six-man tag follows as The Barbarian, Abdullah the Butcher, and Billy Graham took on Buzz Tyler, Sam Houston, and Manny Fernandez. I don't think I've ever seen Buzz Tyler before and I've probably seen less than 5 Sam Houston and Manny Fernandez matches. Predictable stuff here with the babyfaces shining until Sam Houston, the smallest guy in the match, comes in to take a beating (and gets tossed out of the ring in a great spot at one point too). Graham, Barbarian, and Fernandez show some surprising agility and more energy than one might expect, but nobody would confuse any of these guys with the kind of athletes we see in AEW or WWE today. The roll-up finish gets a big response but its kind of obscured by a bunch of craziness going on all around it. (2/5)

A Dog Collar match between Paul Jones (who is seconded by Abdullah the Butcher) and Jimmy Valiant (who is backed up by Buzz Tyler) is the next match. Valiant is not known for his technical prowess, but I always dig the energy. Jones was a manager at this point in his career, but was a wrestler in the 60s and 70s. Abdullah attacks Valiant before the bell, which means he's already busted open before the match even starts and Jones as the initial advantage. I like the Boogie Woogie Man's ring tights, which shamelessly advertises FM 100. Jones ends up busted open and gets pinned. Abdullah comes in after the match and hits Valiant with a fork but then gets chased off by a chair-wielding Tyler. At least it didn't take up too much time. (1/5)

The Russians (Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev) took on The Road Warriors in the next match. As one would expect, the Road Warriors (backed up by Paul Ellering in a gi [karate suit]) were mega over with the crowd. Not a ton of great wrestling in the early going, but plenty of posing and, despite their reputation, the Road Warriors actually take some bumps and sell a little for the Russians. Animal can't get quite Kruschev up for a military press at one point but manages to slam him anyway. Hawk's press slam on Koloff goes better later on. There's some more sloppiness when Koloff and Kruschev have to sell not being able to make a tag despite being well within reach and a somewhat awkward double-clothesline spot, but, for the most part, the match works because the action and story is straight-forward and, when it matters most, both teams know how to be physical and make their admittedly simple offense look damaging (check out Koloff's huge kick out of the corner on Animal, for example). The finish isn't great as Kruschev strikes Animal in the back with a chair only to get the chair ripped out of his hands and used against him and his partner. The chair shots don't look too good, but kudos to the Russians are blading despite very obviously getting their arms up to protect themselves. This didn't overstay its welcome, the crowd was very into it, and, for the most part, it was entertaining. Nothing great, but not bad for what it was. (2.5/5)

Kamala vs. Magnum TA for Magnum's United States Championship was next. Kamala was accompanied to the ring by Skandor Akbar. Kamala attacked early, chopping Magnum and then sending him into the post. Magnum hit a big crossbody and then hit Kamala with a series of punches, sending him out of the ring for a powder. Back in the ring, TA continued with some strikes but Kamala fought back, dropping Magnum neck-first on the top rope and then hitting him with a series of chops to the head. Magnum's selling is really great in this match and offers plenty of evidence as to why he is considered one of wrestling's great "What Ifs." Magnum gets some color and Kamala applies a weird "muscle lock," a choke on the mat, and then again goes after the inner shoulder. Magnum TA fights up to his feet, eats a chop, and then takes a splash for 2. Kamala wears him down again and goes for another splash, but when he goes for the cover, "forgets" that he can only do so when his opponent is lying on their back (and not their stomach). Classic Kamala there. Kamala goes after the inner shoulder again and gets a 2-count, but Magnum rallies once more, getting to his feet and coming back with a series of big right hands. Magnum comes off the ropes but Kamala chops him in the back to cut him off. Magnum eats more chops but dodges a splash in the corner and is all fired up! Magnum with some strikes and then three dropkicks! In comes Akbar to break the pin attempt and the ref calls for the bell. After the bell, Magnum ends up bodyslamming Kamala and even hitting him with a belly-to-belly off the ropes. This wasn't too bad, mostly because of how electric and entertaining Magnum TA was. They kept it short and while Kamala's offense was repetitive, Magnum sold it all beautifully. (2.5/5)

Next up - Nikita Koloff, who comes in looking like one of the baddest men on the planet in a loud, red outfit (with one of the NWA's 6-Man Championship belts around his waist and accompanied by Ivan Koloff), challenges Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Flair's entrance is ridiculous as the announcers ask fans to clear the field so that he can arrive via helicopter. Bonkers! This match can be total dogshit and I'll still it award it a point for Flair's arrival. Things start out well with Flair doing a great job of selling how much of a threat Koloff's power is. Unfortunately, as it goes on and the match turns into more of a grind, with Koloff applying bear hugs and headlocks and Flair sticking to his formula, it never really gets to that "higher gear." Flair blades on the outside of the ring to add to the drama and I liked his comeback, though I wish he actually worked on Koloff's knee to build towards the figure four. The finish was extra sloppy with the referee out of position and no transition from Flair hitting some punches on Koloff on the apron and then Koloff hoisting him up but falling back and losing via pin. Like the pre-match, the post-match was excellent, though, with the Russians beating up on Flair and getting a ton of heat. Sub-par match. (2/5)

Main event time - Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard in a Steel Cage Match for the TV Title and for the "rights" to Baby Doll, which is a stipulation that used to happen all the time in wrestling but has (thankfully) been retired. I've become a bigger and bigger Blanchard fan since I started watching more of his work so I was looking forward to this one. I liked the attention to detail with the referee checking Tully's arm pad for weaponry before the match began. Dusty controlled early with a quick elbow drop and a bodyslam off the ropes but not much of a sustained attack. Dusty got hold of Tully's ankle and hit him with an elbow to the inner thigh. Blanchard did some rabbit punches and then sent Dusty into the cage wall by his tights, allowing the Dream to open up himself up with a blade above the eye. Tully attacked the wound and sent him into the cage again. Tully maintained control with a headlock and then got some 1-counts before applying an arm bar. Dusty tried to break free with some punches so Tully released the hold. Back on their feet, Dusty hit an elbow and then sent Blanchard into the cage and then bashed his head into it repeatedly before rubbing his cut forehead into it as well. Good bumping and selling by Tully as he staggered around but managed to get some shots in. Big headbutt by Dusty sends Tully to the mat but he's too dazed to capitalize on it. In the corner, Tully worked Dusty over with big right hands but Dusty rallied back with chops. Another elbow by Dusty. Tully went to the door but it was locked. Dusty with another elbow and a clothesline after Tully escaped a suplex attempt. Dusty applied the figure four and Tully was in all sorts of trouble, grabbing and pulling at the referee! Tully turned it over to reverse the pressure and Dusty broke the hold. Tully went for Dusty's knee as the Dream tried to catch his breath in the corner. Tully went for a piledriver but Dusty back body dropped him into the cage. Tully went to climb the cage but Dusty followed him up and hit him with some headbutts and then an elbow that sent him down to the mat. Dusty went for an elbow drop but didn't fully connect as Tully crawled away. Tully went back up the cage wall and got handed something by Baby Doll. Rhodes brought him back down and delivered a piledriver to get the W. Good performance out of Tully, for sure, and the crowd was super into this, but this wasn't anything truly special and felt a bit short and like it could've used more "meat" in the middle. Then again, they did make the cage itself seem like a dangerous environ where matches can't go long because they're just too brutal. (3/5)

With a Kwang Score of just 2.06-out-of-5, the 1985 Great American Bash is a pretty weak show with only the main event being remotely worth watching (and largely because of how good Tully Blanchard is). The Russians/Road Warriors and Magnum TA/Kamala matches are decent but owe much of their watchability to the hot crowd (and Magnum TA showing just how far pure charisma can carry a match). The Flair/Koloff match is a bit of a disappointment, the opening match goes far too long, and the Andersons match and six-man are unremarkable. Not worth your time unless you're really craving content from this era.

FINAL RATING - DUDleyville