The JWL Great American Bash I

"The time has come at last
(Secret, secret, I've got a secret)
To throw away this mask
(Secret, secret, I've got a secret)
So everyone can see
(Secret, secret, I've got a secret)
My true identity..."

---Styx, "Mr. Roboto"


George Maxwell (Michael Hordern): "You... It's you! But you're dead!"

Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price): "No. Another critical miscalculation on your part. I am well. It is you who are dead."

--Theater of Blood

Live from the Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

You know the drill.

(Video package covering the issues between Rey/Clark and Kaientai Deluxe since their debuts on Episode 49.)

Opening Cruiserweight Tag Team Match: Rey Misterio Jr. and "Mr. 630" Jerrelle Clark vs. Kaientai Deluxe (TAKA Michinoku and Shoichi Funaki)

Clark and Funaki start. We get some great technical wrestling mixed with some highspots. Clark takes control but TAKA cheapshots him from the outside, putting him in the face-in-peril role. Kaientai take control with great offense, drawing great heat. The crowd cheers loudly for Clark, with Rey pounding on the turnbuckle to encourage him. Finally, after a few minutes, Clark fights back and tags in Rey to a HUGE pop. Rey cleans house, finishing with the (619) and the West Coast Pop on TAKA for the pin at 9:00.

LG: "Here are your winners, the team of REY MISTERIO JR. AND 'MR. 630' JERRELLE CLARK!"

(Video package covering Batista debuting as a member of the Royal Assassins on Episode 46 and his subsequent victories over various Hardcore Alliance members to set up the match with Awesome.)

Mike Awesome vs. "The Animal" Dave Batista

JR informs us that this match will not be pretty.

This is a total power match, with each guy trying to top the other. Awesome throws Batista around to the delight of the crowd to start, but Batista comes back and takes control, drawing heel heat. Batista gets the spinebuster, but it only gets 2. Awesome takes over and just pummels Batista. Batista shocks the crowd by fighting back and finishing with a huge Batista Bomb for the pin at 9:00!

LG: "Here is your winner, 'THE ANIMAL' DAVE BATISTA!"

Awesome is furious that he lost and walks to the back trying to figure out why.

(Video package covering the feud between Luna and Sable in WWE and in the JWL.)

Luna Vachon vs. Sable

JR mentions that Luna has never pinned Sable, though she did defeat Sable in an Evening Gown Match at WWE Unforgiven 1998.

Luna tears into Sable in vicious fashion. Sable fights back with some kicks and a clothesline for 2. Sable keeps up the offense, as Luna is forcibly extracting a good match out of Sable. Sable goes for the TKO, but Luna wriggles out of it. Luna fights back and finishes with a piledriver and a top rope splash for the pin at 7:00.

LG: "Here is your winner, LUNA VACHON!"

Luna is smiling what looks to be a sincere smile, as she has finally cleanly defeated Sable in a straight wrestling match.

(Video package covering the feud between the Shooters and the Clique.)

"The Beast from the East" Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader vs. The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash)

JR says "hosses" and "four big bulls" before the match. Mike Tenay points out that if Hall's tag team partner was Shawn Michaels, this match would be an AWA reunion. Tenay also mentions that Harley Race managed Vader and Vinnie Vegas (Nash) in WCW in 1992.

Bigelow and Hall start. Bigelow controls with ease, but Hall digs deep and is able to pull out some good moves of his own. Bigelow fights back to regain control. Bigelow tags in Vader, who pounds the hell out of Hall, as Tenay points out that Vader was Razor Ramon's (Hall) last opponent on WWE PPV before Hall and Nash jumped to WCW in 1996. The crowd is actively cheering on Vader and Bigelow. Hall escapes and tags in Nash, who hits a few moves. Vader comes back and crushes Nash. Finally, Vader powerbombs Nash and Bigelow comes off the top with the diving headbutt for the pin at 10:00.

LG: "Here are your winners, the team of 'THE BEAST FROM THE EAST' BAM BAM BIGELOW AND BIG VAN VADER!"

MNM

COMING SOON TO THE JWL

(Video package covering the feud between the Misfits and High Standards.)

The Misfits (Gangrel, Perry Saturn and Crowbar, w/Luna Vachon and Daffney Unger) vs. High Standards (Kurt Angle, Christopher Nowinski and Bret "The Hitman" Hart, w/Mr. Bob Backlund)

Saturn and Nowinski start, and the two Bay Staters engage in some quality technical wrestling. Nowinski cheats to gain control, putting Saturn in the face-in-peril role. The heels control with quick tags and 2-counts, drawing good heat. Saturn escapes Angle's attack and makes the tag to Gangrel, who takes over with more good wrestling. The heels cheat again to regain control. Gangrel fights back and tags in Crowbar, who blitzes everybody and finishes Angle with a powerbomb and a moonsault for the pin at 11:00.

LG: "Here are your winners, the team of GANGREL, PERRY SATURN AND CROWBAR, THE MISFITS!"

(Video package covering the history between the Dungeon of Doom and the defunct Franchise Foundation and recent conflicts between Kamala and Kane.)

Kamala the Ugandan Giant (w/"The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart) vs. "The Big Red Machine" Kane

We get an inset promo from Kane:

"KAMALA, TONIGHT I DO WHAT MY LOSER BROTHER THE UNDERTAKER COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH 14 YEARS AGO. THAT IS PUT YOU DOWN FOR GOOD!"

This is just a nasty, ugly brawl. Kamala actually controls for a time, getting some 2-counts. Kane fights back and gets some 2-counts of his own. JR references the Undertaker's feud with Kamala in 1992 in WWE and how their match at WWE SummerSlam 92 was Kamala's PPV debut. We get back and forth action for several minutes. Kane takes control and chokeslams Kamala. Kane then signals for the Tombstone, picks up Kamala...

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AND HITS IT!!!

Kane covers Kamala for the 1....2......3 at 10:00!!!!

LG: "Here is your winner, 'THE BIG RED MACHINE' KANE!"

KANE: "WHETHER IT IS BENOIT, OR IT IS RAVEN, ONE OF THEM WILL SOON BE SEEING RED!!!!"

THE SMACKDOWN HOTEL

COMING NEXT WEEK TO THE JWL

(Long video package covering the feud between Ric Flair and Shane Douglas, going back to Shane issuing challenges in 1994 in ECW.)

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair (w/"The Horny Little She-Devil" Terri Runnels) vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas (w/"The Head Cheerleader" Francine)

Flair and Shane go right at each other with serious, stiff wrestling. Both guys are focused, knowing that a win could end this long feud. Flair unleashes some NASTY chops, drawing great pops. Shane takes control with his usual stuff, drawing good heel heat. Flair clips Shane's knee, allowing him to work it over in order to set up the figure-four leglock. Shane is trying to fight back but the knee keeps holding him back. Shane tries to to make it a completely ground-based match in order to rest his knee, but Flair keeps working it over. Francine attacks Terri, but the refs and security break it up and both women are sent to the back separately. Back in the ring, Flair takes advantage of the distraction to low blow Shane and lock on the figure-four for the tapout at 12:00.

LG: "Here is your winner, 'THE NATURE BOY' RIC FLAIR!"

Shane turns to the camera and says, "This isn't over. This isn't over."

(Video package covering the history of tables matches, starting with the Public Enemy [RIP] vs. Sabu and the Tazmaniac at ECW Double Tables, February 4, 1995, through their use in WWE and the Hardyz-Dudleys match on Episode 18.)

JWL World Tag Team Titles Tables Match: The Faces of Fear (Meng and the Barbarian) (w/"The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan)(c) vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray and D-Von)

Meng and Bubba brawl around the arena while Barbarian and D-Von do some wrestling. None of the fancy highspots in the Dudleys' tables matches with the Hardyz and Edge/Christian, this is just a fight. Tenay points out that this could be actual strategy on the part of the Faces of Fear, since if you split up the Dudleys like this, they can't hit the 3D. Meng and Bubba make their way back to the ring area, where Meng blocks a Bubba Bomb and slams him right through, you guessed it, the Spanish Announce Table. It's 1-0 for the Champs. Meanwhile, D-Von suplexes Barbarian through a table to even up the match. Meng and D-Von fight some more, leading up to Meng frogsplashing D-Von through a table to retain the titles at 12:00.

LG: "Here are your winners, and STILL JWL WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, MENG AND THE BARBARIAN, THE FACES OF FEAR!"

(Video package covering Molly, Jazz and Jacqueline's conflicts with each other in WWE.)

JWL Women's Title Three-Way Dance: Molly Holly (c) vs. "The Female-Fighting Phenom" Jazz vs. Jacqueline

Molly and Jackie start and we get a lot of great straightforward wrestling. Jazz gets involved and controls until Jackie takes over again. Molly gets a 2-count on Jazz with a DDT. Jackie regains control and gets some 2-counts on Molly. Jackie dumps Jazz to the floor and just controls the entire match. To the crowd's shock, Jackie pins Molly with the Tornado DDT at 6:30 to eliminate Molly from the match!

LG: "Molly Holly has been eliminated, the match continues."

Molly, broken-hearted and dejected, slowly heads to the lockerroom and is met by her Revolution stablemates Ivory and "The Total Athlete" Roxy Powers, who help her to the back.

Back in the ring, Jazz has taken over and is drawing some good pops for her stuff. Jazz keeps up the attack for a few minutes, leading to the Brainbuster and the STF. Jackie holds on for a little bit, but finally TAPS OUT at 10:00 to give Jazz the win and the title!

LG: "Here is your winner, and THE NEW JWL WOMEN'S CHAMPION, 'THE FEMALE FIGHTING PHENOM' JAZZ!"

Jazz's Hardcore Alliance stablemates Tommy Dreamer, the Sandman, Mikey Whipwreck and manager Terry Funk come out to celebrate Jazz's win, but she holds up her hand and shakes her head "no."

JAZZ: "I did this all by myself. You guys had nothing to do with me winning this title. I don't need you guys and I don't need any of you fans, since you had nothing to do with this either. I am through with the Hardcore Alliance. All I care about is me and my title. The bitch is back."

The Hardcore Alliance members look confused and upset and head to the back as Jazz leaves the ring with her new title to a chorus of boos.

(Video package covering the feud between Benoit and Raven in WCW and the JWL.)

JWL World Heavyweight Title: "The Crippler" Chris Benoit (c) vs. Raven

Before the match, Lilian announces that the Nest, Stevie Richards, Tori, the Dudley Boys and Rhino, have been banned from ringside for this contest by order of JWL Commissioner Mick Foley. However, this match will be conducted under "Raven's Rules," meaning no-DQ, no-countout and falls will count anywhere in the building.

A vicious brawl starts this match, with weapons being utilized. Raven gets a few chairshots, leading to a 2-count. Benoit hits a few chairshots of his own, and adds a backdrop suplex on a chair for a 2-count of his own. Benoit unleashes some NASTY chops to Raven. Raven comes back and gets the drop-toehold into the chair. Raven goes for the Raven Effect DDT but Benoit powers him into the ringpost and hits a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Then a Northern Lights Suplex. Raven keeps fighting back, drawing good heel heat. Raven hits the Russian Legsweep to the barricade. It gets 2. Back in the ring, Raven goes for the Mr. Wrestling II kneelift, but Benoit grabs the leg, hits a Dragon Screw legwhip and turns it into the Sharpshooter for the tapout at 30:00.

LG: "Here is your winner, and STILL JWL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, 'THE CRIPPLER' CHRIS BENOIT!"

Refs and security help both guys to the back.

(Video package covering the feud between the Stranger and Shawn Michaels starting from the Stranger's surprise debut at the end of Episode 37.)

Mask vs. Career Hell in the Cell: The Stranger vs. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

Lilian announces that in this match, falls count anywhere inside the Cell, either in the ring or on the floor. However, the match can only be conducted inside the Cell, not outside it.

Like the World Title and World Tag Title matches, this one is just a vicious, violent brawl. They fight in the ring and on the floor all around the Cell. Chairs are used. Shawn piledrives the Stranger on the steel steps, but Stranger somehow kicks out at two. Stranger fights back with his unorthodox, unpredictable offense, including a Misawa Rolling Elbow and some leg strikes. Shawn comes back with his usual stuff, getting a 2-count off the flying forearm. Shawn adds some stomps and a chairshot, but still only gets 2. Stranger fights back and drags Shawn's face along the wall of the Cell, drawing blood. Stranger keeps punching away at the cut, leaving Shawn a bloody mess. Back in the ring, Stranger controls while JR and Tenay acknowledge that the fact that Stranger changes his style in every match makes it impossible to figure out who could be under the mask. Shawn fights back, somehow, and hits Sweet Chin Music, but it only gets 2. Shawn goes for the piledriver, as JR points out that Shawn beat the Stranger at Slamboree with SCM, a piledriver and another SCM. The Stranger backdrops out of the piledriver and hits one of his own. The Stranger then hits a superkick of his own. The Stranger crawls over and covers for the 1.......2........3 from referee Nick Patrick at the 20:00 mark.

LG: "The winner of the mask vs. career Hell in the Cell match is THE STRANGER! Shawn Michaels must now retire."

The crowd cheers for the Stranger's win as he exits the Cell, grabs a mic, and goes back into the ring.

STRANGER (weird voice): "I have done it! I have ended the career of Shawn Michaels. Now, the time has come for me to reveal my identity."

The Stranger unties his mask and the crowd is shocked when they see....

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MARTY JANNETTY?

Shawn wakes up and is horrified to see that the Stranger was really Marty Jannetty all along. Shawn crawls out of the ring and out of the Cell and heads to the back humiliated and with his career over.

Marty takes in the cheers while "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest plays as JR and Tenay try to recover from the shock as well, finally wrapping up the show and thanking everyone for watching.