Thunderbirds and Blue Angels
Throughout the 1990’s, Andrews Air Force Base would put on an annual air show for the families stationed in and around Camp Springs, Maryland. There was facepainting, hot dogs and hamburgers, music, all the ingredients of a midsummer celebration. You’d see the most talented pilots in the military flying in tandem, doing barrel rolls, flips, leaving smoke lines twisting across the clear blue sky. The Blue Angels, a Navy Team formed in 1946, were draped in the deepest cerulean with goldenrod trim, were the establishment, flying their F-18 Hornets in the diamond pattern they’d pioneered to decades of appearances and applause. But the Thunderbirds? The Thunderbirds were COOL. They’d wrap their sleek white F-16s with navy and red trim, would Calypso Pass in tandem. There was a brashness to them that stuck out, even in a world where everyone’s risking their lives to entertain. It’s one of those traditions, military or not, that kind of defines the American experience. There’s pageantry, there’s risk, and ultimately a sense of pride taken from the ability to have both on command. The Great American Bash, originally the brainchild of Dusty Rhodes, has been one of the most enduring events in professional wrestling. One of the few shows to exist through Jim Crockett/NWA, WCW, WWE and now as an NXT Premium Live Event, looking over the history of some of the standout main events not only informs the times, but helps to understand just why some of the parties involved flew so high.
The Three Peat
You could go full-Jodeci on Ric Flair’s character: take his money, all of his cars. Drop the robes, drop the women flanking him, drop the Arns, the Tullys, the Oles, whoever or whatever: Ric Flair, when that bell rang, what the most impossibly prepared and frustrating thing you’d ever witnessed. There was simply no slowdown in the guy. He was almost always the last guy on the card, having the longest match on the card, and THE best match on the card. For the final Great American Bash exclusively under Jim Crockett Promotions, and the first two under World Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair would go into the show as NWA World Champion, and have one of the most noteworthy strings of opponents: Lex Luger, Terry Funk, and The man they call Sting. Flair and Funk would have a visceral, bloody brawl, in and out of the ring. Up and down the entranceway, with falls on the uncovered concrete, choking, biting, branding irons, absolutely anything you can imagine capable of happening in 1989. Flair ultimately retained by reversing an inside cradle, leading to him being jumped by Funk, The Great Muta, and Gary Hart until his next year’s challenger, Sting, made the save. There’s an almost ten minute post-match brawl between Flair/Sting and Funk/Muta and no one seemed to have left the building, watching them fight all through the crowd. In 1990, Flair would solidify Sting as a superstar, losing to him clean, again with an inside cradle being the deciding factor.
All three shows were held at the Baltimore Arena, the unofficial northernmost border for The National Wrestling Alliance. Luger vs. Flair was the main event for the 1998 edition, and maybe the most impressive of a great run. Luger, with feathered blonde hair draped down his deltoids and a black rode decorated in silver lightning bolts, would enter through the crowd of 14,000 flanked by security. Kids that got to touch his robe as he walked by clapped and celebrated with each other as he broke neither stride nor look towards the ring. Flair, with a similar hairstyle, his robe gold on gold, would enter with JJ Dillon as well as an extra layer of security, only revealing the NWA title upon the match introductions. Jim Ross, flanked by current announce table mate Tony Schiavone, would very clearly state why Flair was in position to go on the aforementioned run. “Well” Ross began as the bell rang “He’s recognized by great fans, casual fans, loyal fans as the greatest World’s Champion of all time.” The presentation of the match stands out almost as much as the action. Luger, having once been a Four Horsemen, was being groomed both on and off screen as a successor to Flair, so they went to great lengths to show off their similarities early on. Aside from the hairstyles and robes, Flair’s in white trunks, yellow knee pads, and white boots, while Luger’s in yellow trunks, white knee pads, and white boots. Flair’s early frustration with Luger beating him to the punch, doing everything he can to throw off Luger’s timing, but Luger using his strength to dominate early set the tone for the 23 minute gem. “The longer you go, you’re in Flair’s court” Schiavone says, telling us Luger needs to do all he can to end this early. Like no one else, Flair’s able to accentuate what Luger does well: Flair’s WRITHING in pain after every gorilla press slam, he’s flat out after every clothesline. And every time Luger seizes momentum, there’s a reversal, there's a rope break, there’s Flair leaving the ring, there’s that last second kick out to salvage his championship. Flair, realizing Luger has his number, rams Luger’s head into the ring post, then distracts the referee so JJ Dillon can do the same one ringpost down. Ross acknowledges that Luger is now bleeding and that the state athletic commissioner is trying to get the ringside doctor’s attention. Flair, realizing the plan has worked, is giving Luger a ten punch in the corner to speed up the bleeding. Luger, who fights out and puts Flair in the Torture Rack, hears the bell, and just like Sting, Dr. Death Steve Williams, and the entire Baltimore Arena, thinks there is a new World Heavyweight Champion. Everyone in the building is chanting “Lu-ger, Lu-ger!” as Lex clenches his fists, taking in the adulation. Then the call: “Fans, in 23 minutes, 45 seconds… and due to the severe lacerations in the forehead of lex luger… (you can audibly make out the collective “huh?” from the crowd) … supervising instructor Ray Inochi and the attending physician, Dr. James Cochran, have stopped the match… the winner and still world heavyweight champion… Ric Flair!”
Lex falls to his knees, the crowd is yelling as everyone in charge, and Sting, in the highest waisted jeans to ever exist, is asking anyone around what the fix is. Maybe the first “bull-shit” chant to end a pay-per-view is given. Luger’s first time in the big time was unsuccessful, but didn’t kill off the goodwill he’d built up with the fanbase. He’d win his first world title in 1991 after Flair vacated the championship, and would win it once more from Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 1997. The title match with Flair, at the peak of his powers, as well as Luger’s ability to keep pace and make the crowd believe he could overpower and overwhelm the champ, helped put Luger on the trajectory to be the top act in both WCW and WWF for a time. Like he’d done before and would continue to do, Flair in particular put together THE STRING of matches for the NWA’s Great American Bashes by getting the absolute most out of his opponent, and making sure the crowd wanted to see the two run back early and often.
One Time for the Working Man
“The American Worker is the Backbone of this Country. ‘Diamond Dallas Page’ has realized the American Dream through his dedication and determination to his sport. His vigilance and hard work has thrust him into the spotlight gaining the attention of the nWo and the Macho Man Randy Savage. He finds himself in a continuing struggle as another chapter unfolds in Savage/Page II at WCW’s Great American Bash!” World Championship Wrestling had a tendency to lay it on as thick as possible with their pay-per-view intros, but that was really the charm: they were dead serious about the narratives that drove the show. For the 1997 edition of The Great American Bash, that narrative was the triumvirate of Hall, Nash and Hogan’s New World Order systematically breaking down WCW’s establishment through muscle, subterfuge and flat out disrespect. While the Stings and Lugers had solidified themselves as the long familiar talent willing to stand against the nWo, a new star had emerged to throw a wrench in their plans for world domination: Hall’s former buddy and former manager, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page. He decided to transition to in-ring competition in late 1991 at Starrcade, and worked and worked and worked to get better. The days he wasn’t booked, he’d be at WCW’s training facility the Power Plant, were he’d work tirelessly until being booked more 1996, a year after he’d won his first championship, WCW’s television title. Upon Hall and Nash’s arrival, they’d play into their real life relationships, helping Page win matches in his feud against Eddy Guerrero. While he was getting more over with the crowd, it was his rejection of the nWo that established him one of WCW’s top babyfaces alongside Flair, Luger and Sting.
We called The Rock “The People’s Champion” because we think it’s cool that the most popular guy in class would take the time to talk to us. We called DDP The People’s Champion because it was like your buddy finally got moved up to manager after pretty running the damn company without proper compensation. Dallas Page was in shape but not a bodybuilder, crafty but while not particularly athletic. You lived vicariously through everyman Steve Austin, but you felt like you KNEW DDP. So in the vein of Dusty Rhodes before him, DDP was given impossible situations to a normal guy to fight out of. And there’s really no one more impossible than Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage. The nWo gave Savage a new lease on life. While he’d been very good in WCW, it was the sheer physicality the “Madness” version of Savage that took him to a new level, willing to fight anyone and everything to further Hogan’s doctrine. While the nWo had battled Page before, Savage made it his personal mission to take out DDP. He’d give DDP’s wife Kimberly the nWo spray paint graffiti on her back, and he and Hogan would attack and lay the couple out on Nitro. Their first match had been at Spring Stampede 1997, with Page emerging victorious in the main event. But Savage was intent on running it back, continuing to attack DDP just about every Monday until a No Holds Barred match was agreed upon for The Bash. This feud would be the only ever in WCW to main event twice with no titles on the line.
It’s maybe the most American fight ever: Florida man and Florida man settle their frustrations at a cookout. WCW leaned into patriotism in both props and payroll, with giant American flags, circular drapes, and an entire barbeque setup. Michael Buffer, in a tuxedo white as the Ross/Rachel conundrum, would announce the match as a “Lights Out” match, that era’s way of saying anything goes in the allotted time. Page would attack Savage from behind at the bell, with Kimberly Page and Miss Elizabeth accompanying them to ringside, respectively. Page would attack Savage with a crutch, throw him into the arena risers, and slam him through a picnic table. Savage would attack referees, a cameraman, and would threaten to attack Kimberly before being stopped by official Nick Patrick. He’d rip off DDP’s signature tape, protecting his ribs, and stomp his stomach repeatedly. Every time Page would begin to make a comeback, the crowd would chant his name, and Savage would immediately go back to the ribs to halt Page’s progress. You can probably count ten WRESTLING moves throughout the match, staying true to the severity of the feud. Page would hit his signature Diamond Cutter, but Scott Hall would stop the referee’s count, hit his Outsider’s Edge on Page, then allow Savage win the match via top rope elbow drop. They’d go off the air with Hall, Savage and Miss Elizabth standing tall, and Tony Schiavone stating that “The nWo has once again shown it’s domination.” Even in this losing effort, DDP out-craziedt the craziest man in the company, only losing to being outnumbered. That People’s Champion moniker was never more evident, as he fought the nWo even harder for the rest of the year. This would be the jumping off point for Page as one of WCW’s frontmen, winning the United States Title from Curt Henning at Starrcade, and becoming the company’s go-to for celebrity tag team superfights.
Big Shot Bob
John Cena loves America. Plenty of people do, it’s not a rarity, but I don’t know if you understand the extent to which John Cena loves America. After he stopped practicing Thuganomics, after he saved a few Mitchell and Ness Throwbacks for the rest of us, and before he ran through every color WWEShop could find, John Cena would wear camo shorts, dogtags, and salute out of appreciation for our nation’s military. He’d be the first person to announce on television that a significant moment in the War on Terror had taken place. John Cena cut maybe the very best promo of his career walking down the street of Everytown, USA, sharing the differences between love for your country and pride for your country. So it was fitting that one of the toughest challenges in Cena’s first sustained title run came in the form of US Army Veteran, Bobby Lashley. This would be the fourth Great American Bash under the WWE umbrella, and the first with the WWE title on the line. GAB had been a Smackdown exclusive show, giving us previous highlights like Paul Bearer being written off via concrete, and Booker T’s first World Title win in WWE. Bobby Lashley had most recently been ECW champion, being the tentpole of that brand after a great mid-card run on Smackdown. He was made to vacate the ECW title upon being drafted to RAW. After winning a “beat the clock” challenge, he was named number one contender to Cena’s title. Jim Ross, lover of all things big, fast and strong, was really in his bag explaining the magnitude of the match.“The main event at The Great American Bash, presented by RAW, features two of the youngest, most powerfully athletic superstars to compete in the WWE for the most coveted title in years, that has a global anticipation.” WWE Hall of Famers Steve Austin, Batista, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, JBL all did candid interviews highlighting the strengths of the competitors, who they’d pick to win and why. It was the most sports-like feel of a match since Lesnar/Rock years prior at Summerslam. The tale of the tape graphic stressed Lashley’s weight advantage, but the accolades and consistency, particularly Cena’s then 308 day title run, had him as the favorite. The titantron was made to be circular, housing a giant white star with 3 giant red LED stripes accompanying it on each side. Tee ropes are Red, White and Blue and Lillian Garcia’s all white outfit has a rendition of the logo on the tron. There’s a full minute long pause after Bobby’s in the ring to create the anticipation. Spinner Belt John Cena’s applause is tough to explain: he’s both the hottest thing in the company and you see men just… looking on at him. There are very clear high pitch screams and scattered deep voiced boos. There are “it’s your time Lashley” signs, and “Cena will retain!” signs. With so few face vs. face matches, and so few long title runs, especially in 2007, there’s reason to think both guys have a real shot. Lashley uses every amateur move he can think of to ground Cena to open the match, and when Cena attempts his version of the STF, titled for the times as the STFU, Lashley vacates the ring to regroup. Almost 8 minutes into the match, Lashley hit’s a 6 second delayed vertical suplex with one arm. 2 minutes later, John Cena hit’s a top rope standing leg drop halfway across the ring. It’s everything WWE could want at the time: two guys with the looks they’ve coveted for decades, but with the ability to go out there and WORK for 15 minutes. The turning point in the match sees Cena hit his signature 5 knuckle shuffle, then Lashley reversing his FU into a powerslam. Lashley kicks out of an FU, escapes an STFU, then spears Cena for a two and 8/9’s count. Ultimately, Cena hits an FU off the middle rope to retain the title. Post-match, Cena and Lashley have a staredown, and shake hands, showing a mutual respect. Again highlighting that both are to be cheered, and to really lean into the spirit of the event, Ross takes his queue from the handshake. “Oh there you see it Ladies and Gentlemen, not one, but two great Americans who laid it all on the line for each and every one of us at The Great American Bash.” Definitely the best match of Lashley’s career to that point, and possibly Cena’s, Jim Ross continues to praise Lashley, saying he gave Cena the toughest fight of his life and that he’s a great wrestler. It was a ringing endorsement not only from management, but the crowd, who believed on multiple occasions Lashley had the match won. It would take an additional 14 years for Lashley to finally win the WWE Title, but it’s hard to argue he’s ever been better than he is right now.
Flight Plans
Across territories, promotions and platforms, The Great American Bash has endured, with every banner it’s fallen under putting a unique spin on shared past time. The NWA used to showcase Ric Flair, their do-it-all World Champion, but also to test the waters for the talent they felt could bring them into the 1990s. WCW, almost exactly one year into the nWo project, was building up one of their top stars ever, by allowing him to main event with one of the largest living legends of the time, backed by the hottest group at the time. WWE had found, polished and positioned John Cena as their number one guy, but having multiple brands meant there was room for more than one star. Bobby Lashley’s trajectory was to be with the Ortons and Batistas and Edges of the time, and this match was the biggest resume builder he’d had to date. With so many of The Bash’s previous top matches being establishment vs. experiment, how does the property shifting over to an NXT Premium Live Event create the feel of having to pick the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds? You simply go with all Thunderbirds. When everyone involved is on the front end of their careers, while also confident in their abilities, trajectories are shared and not split. With all of the stars created from excellent showings, The Great American Bash becoming NXT tradition should be the proper kind of air show, the one where the flight itself is the win. The next of stars looking for those stripes are positioned to go high.
