- Larry Stoy

July… the epitome of summer.  During this hot, sweltering time we have such sports endeavors as Wimbledon and Major League Baseball’s All Star game.  During these events, the best of the best in tennis and baseball gather to test their supremacy.  Unfortunately, the MLB game is only one night.  Wimbledon lasts about two weeks.  How would you feel if you could watch all these stars for the entire month of July?  Or, in some cases, into August!

Well, in the mid 1980’s, Jim Crockett gave the fans this opportunity.  And, for the next three years the Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling faithful were treated to a veritable World Series of Wrestling throughout the entire southeast region!  On July 6^th, 1985 in Charlotte’s Memorial Stadium, the one and only GREAT AMERICAN BASH was born.  From there, the tour only got bigger and better!

With names like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Magnum TA, The Road Warriors, Ole and Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard on the marquee, how could this road show be anything but exciting?  JCP made sure that all the bash events were filled with top stars from the opening bell until the main event.  Some fans that lived close to a couple of major venues could actually see the GAB more than once…but the level of competition is each and every GAB stop was always top notch.

I will now share my picks for ten of my favorite matches from the GAB 1985-88.  Although these may not be considered the “best” matches of this time, they are my favorites for various reasons.  With all the wonderful cards that took place in this three-year period, it is difficult to narrow it down to ten bouts.  But, I’m an ambitious son-of-a-gun, so…here goes!  I’ll list them in chronological order, as it would be too difficult to rate them 1 through 10.  

July 6^th, 1985 Charlotte Memorial Stadium  

Arn & Ole Anderson defeated "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer & "Dirty" Dick Slater by pinfall to retain the National Tag Team Titles.  (I always liked all the Anderson combinations.  And seeing them in the ring against Sawyer & Slater made for a very good match)

Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev (NWA World Tag Champions) battled The Road Warriors (AWA World Tag Champions) to a double DQ. (Quite an achievement getting the reigning AWA Tag Champs to battle the NWA Tag Champs.  Although, the Road Warriors would eventually show up in JCP & Georgia within the next year.)  

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair (arriving by helicopter) defeated "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff by pinfall to retain the NWA World Title (guest referee was David Crockett). (The entrance by Flair from the helicopter was priceless!  And, having David Crockett as the ref…you just knew Flair would win!)  

July 4^th, 1986 Memphis, Tennessee

The Road Warriors defeated Ivan Koloff & Krusher Krushchev in a double Russian Chain match. 

(Basically a rematch from last year, but it was the firs time I’d ever seen a double chain match!  Brutal match none the less).  More...