5 Most Memorable Great American Bash Moments
WWE NXT The Great American Bash kicks off TONIGHT!
It's been a whole 35 years since "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes created a name that soon cemented itself forever into the legacy of the promotion, The Great American Bash. It began in 1985 as the handle for a supercard held before 27,000 fans at a North Carolina baseball stadium. The Bash grew to take on different forms, including a touring circuit, singular pay-per-views, and later a pale resurrection on the part of WWE.
The Bashes through the years have been varied in quality. Some of the older ones, like 1989 and 1990, are an indelible part of the legacy of the event, while the 1996 card, at the onset of a black-and-white invasion, was an all-around excellent show. Then there are the clunkers, including the infamous 1991 event, and the final pair that WCW coughed out in 1999 and 2000. Point being, Bashes have ran the gamut.
But we're here today to talk about moments. As we prepare for the NXT rendition of the event, let's look back at the five most memorable Bash moments ever.
5. Vader Conquers Sting (1992)
Sting was essentially WCW's answer to Hulk Hogan: an indomitable hero beloved by children, and could display an invincible streak in the clutch. As World Champion, Sting took on all comers, but came to meet his match in the monstrous Big Van Vader.
While not as one-sided as the Cena/Lesnar match from the 2014 SummerSlam, the spirit was there, as Vader systematically cut Sting down piece by piece, before polishing him off to capture the WCW title. Few could beat the face-painted hero so thoroughly, but Vader was an obvious exception.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
