Digest

This episode of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard dives into the 2006 Great American Bash pay-per-view, exploring the events leading up to the show and analyzing the matches themselves. The episode begins with a discussion of Kurt Angle's suspension for substance abuse and Rob Van Dam's suspension for marijuana possession, highlighting the double standards surrounding drug use in the wrestling industry. The hosts then delve into the challenges of the ECW relaunch, particularly the impact of these suspensions on the brand's viability. The conversation shifts to the WWE's drug policy and its impact on talent, examining the company's stance on drug use and the consequences for those who violate the policy. The hosts also discuss Vince McMahon's different personalities, exploring his ability to be both tough and compassionate. They then explore the double standards that exist in the wrestling business, using examples from other industries to illustrate the concept of "production having its privileges." The episode continues with a discussion of King Booker's rise to prominence in 2006, highlighting his talent as a character actor. The hosts then discuss the origins of the Punjabi Prison match, sharing their thoughts on the match's confusing rules and its place among the worst stipulation matches in wrestling history. The hosts also discuss the transition to high definition television in the wrestling industry, explaining the challenges and complexities of the switch. They then discuss the importance of Batista's return to SmackDown in 2006, acknowledging the impact of losing several top stars due to injuries and suspensions. The episode concludes with a detailed analysis of the Great American Bash pay-per-view, highlighting the various matches and storylines. The hosts criticize the Punjabi Prison match between Undertaker and Big Show, calling it a disaster. They also discuss the main event, a match between King Booker and Rey Mysterio, and the decision to have Booker win the world title. Overall, the hosts conclude that the Great American Bash was one of the worst pay-per-views in WWE history, plagued by bad booking decisions, injuries, and poorly executed matches.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Great American Bash 2006: A Look Back

Conrad Thompson and Bruce Prichard discuss the 2006 Great American Bash pay-per-view, exploring the events leading up to the show and analyzing the matches themselves. The episode begins with a discussion of Kurt Angle's suspension for substance abuse and Rob Van Dam's suspension for marijuana possession, highlighting the double standards surrounding drug use in the wrestling industry. The hosts then delve into the challenges of the ECW relaunch, particularly the impact of these suspensions on the brand's viability.

00:01:54

WWE's Drug Policy and Its Impact

The conversation shifts to the WWE's drug policy and its impact on talent, examining the company's stance on drug use and the consequences for those who violate the policy. The hosts also discuss Vince McMahon's different personalities, exploring his ability to be both tough and compassionate. They then explore the double standards that exist in the wrestling business, using examples from other industries to illustrate the concept of "production having its privileges."

00:30:17

King Booker's Rise and the Punjabi Prison

The episode continues with a discussion of King Booker's rise to prominence in 2006, highlighting his talent as a character actor. The hosts then discuss the origins of the Punjabi Prison match, sharing their thoughts on the match's confusing rules and its place among the worst stipulation matches in wrestling history.

00:40:07

High Definition Television and Batista's Return

The hosts also discuss the transition to high definition television in the wrestling industry, explaining the challenges and complexities of the switch. They then discuss the importance of Batista's return to SmackDown in 2006, acknowledging the impact of losing several top stars due to injuries and suspensions.

00:49:13

SmackDown's Move to the CW Network and Title Changes

Conrad and Bruce discuss SmackDown's move to the CW network in 2006. They debate the significance of the move and whether it represented a downgrade for the show. They also discuss the factors that influence title changes in wrestling, particularly the preference for television versus pay-per-view. They share their insights on the strategic considerations involved in these decisions.

00:59:06

Mark Henry's Injury and a Sold-Out House Show

Conrad and Bruce discuss Mark Henry's knee injury, which occurred during a Saturday Night's Main Event special in July 2006. They explore the impact of the injury on the Great American Bash pay-per-view and the challenges of adapting to unexpected changes in storylines. They also discuss a sold-out SmackDown house show in Houston, Texas. They explore the factors that contributed to the event's success, including the popularity of the talent and the local market's enthusiasm for live wrestling.

01:05:34

Liver Issues and the Wellness Policy

Conrad and Bruce discuss the liver issues that affected Bobby Lashley and the Great Khali in 2006. They explore the impact of the WWE's wellness policy on the roster and the challenges of dealing with unexpected medical situations. They also discuss the widespread impact of the WWE's wellness policy on the roster in 2006. They acknowledge the policy's double-edged sword nature, providing benefits for talent health while also creating challenges for creative storylines.

01:14:05

Balancing Talent Health and Storylines

Conrad and Bruce discuss the challenges of balancing talent health with creative storylines. They explore the decision-making process involved in allowing injured or ill talent to perform, emphasizing the importance of medical professionals' input.

01:18:34

SmackDown Main Event: Ray Mysterio vs. Booker T

The hosts discuss the main event of SmackDown, a match between Ray Mysterio and Booker T. They question the decision to have the match on television instead of saving it for the pay-per-view. They also discuss Ray's underdog character and how his frequent losses contributed to his appeal.

01:20:27

Great American Bash Pay-Per-View: Dark Match and Opening Match

The hosts discuss the dark match and opening match of the Great American Bash pay-per-view. They highlight the talents of Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Kid Kash, and Jamie Noble, and speculate that they would have been bigger stars in a later era.

01:23:19

Believe Podcast and Tag Team Champions

The hosts discuss the Believe podcast and the creative decisions behind the tag team champions. They acknowledge that the tag titles were switched around frequently, but the champions had a lengthy run and were featured more than expected.

01:25:09

Bobby Lashley's Absence and Real-Life Storylines

The hosts discuss Bobby Lashley's absence from the pay-per-view due to an elevated enzyme count in his liver. They discuss the decision to use a real-life situation as a storyline and the challenges of balancing reality and fantasy in wrestling.

01:27:24

Fit Finley vs. William Regal: A Brutal Match

The hosts discuss the match between Fit Finley and William Regal, highlighting their chemistry and brutal style. They compare their match to a similar rivalry between Les Thornton and Jeff Port in the 1970s.

01:29:48

Hurricane vs. Matt Hardy: A Fun Match

The hosts discuss the match between Hurricane and Matt Hardy, noting their friendship and chemistry. They also discuss Hardy's impending suspension and how the match served as a form of punishment.

01:31:30

Undertaker vs. Big Show: A Last-Minute Substitution

The hosts discuss the last-minute substitution of Big Show for Great Khali in the Undertaker's Punjabi Prison match. They explain the reasoning behind the change, including Khali's injury and the potential for a disastrous match.

01:35:00

The Punjabi Prison Match: A Disaster

The hosts discuss the Punjabi Prison match between Undertaker and Big Show, criticizing the structure and the match itself. They also discuss the reactions of those involved, including Vince McMahon's likely displeasure.

01:39:24

Braun Strowman's Victory and Mr. Kennedy's Injury

The hosts discuss the four-way dance match won by Braun Strowman and the match between Mr. Kennedy and Batista. They highlight Kennedy's gruesome injury and the impact it had on the match.

01:41:24

King Booker vs. Rey Mysterio: World Title Change

The hosts discuss the main event of the pay-per-view, a match between King Booker and Rey Mysterio. They discuss the match itself, Booker's ring, and the decision to have Booker win the world title.

01:44:58

The Great American Bash: A Snake-Bit Pay-Per-View

The hosts discuss the overall quality of the Great American Bash pay-per-view, concluding that it was one of the worst in WWE history. They compare it to other snake-bit pay-per-views, such as No Mercy 2007.

01:45:48

Something to Wrestle with: Eighth Anniversary

The hosts discuss the upcoming eighth anniversary of their podcast, Something to Wrestle with. They reminisce about their first show and the start of their relationship with Megan, Bruce's wife.

01:47:22

Next Week's Show: The Big Show

The hosts announce that next week's show will focus on The Big Show, a highly requested topic. They discuss the significance of the character and the backstory behind his debut.

01:50:52

SummerSlam: A Big Event

The hosts discuss the upcoming SummerSlam event, highlighting its importance and their personal feelings about the event. They also discuss their plans for watching the event and their anticipation for the show.

01:51:43

Talkville Season Four

The hosts briefly discuss the end of Talkville season four and their anticipation for season five, which they believe will be a better season. They also mention their dislike for the tattoo storyline.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were some of the challenges faced by the ECW relaunch in 2006?

  The ECW relaunch faced several challenges, including the suspensions of Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam, two of its top stars. The revival of a dead brand also proved difficult, as many fans felt that the new ECW was not true to its original spirit.

• How did the WWE's drug policy impact the roster in 2006?

  The WWE's drug policy had a significant impact on the roster in 2006, leading to several suspensions and absences. While the policy aimed to promote the health and well-being of talent, it also created challenges for creative storylines and roster availability.

• What were some of the factors that contributed to the success of the sold-out SmackDown house show in Houston?

  The sold-out SmackDown house show in Houston was likely a result of several factors, including the popularity of the talent, the local market's enthusiasm for live wrestling, and the timing of the event. The market was likely hungry for live action, and the show provided a unique opportunity for fans to see their favorite wrestlers in person.

• How did the transition to high definition television impact the wrestling industry?

  The transition to high definition television in the wrestling industry required significant changes, including the use of new cameras, monitors, and makeup techniques. The switch also led to a shift in the philosophy of how matches were shot, with more quick cuts and camera angles used to protect the \"magic\" of professional wrestling.

• Why did the hosts question the decision to have Ray Mysterio vs. Booker T on television instead of saving it for the pay-per-view?

  The hosts felt that the match was too important to be shown on television, as it could have been a major draw for the pay-per-view. They believed that the match deserved a bigger stage and a more significant build-up.

• What was the reasoning behind Bobby Lashley's absence from the pay-per-view?

  Bobby Lashley was unable to compete due to an elevated enzyme count in his liver, a real-life medical issue that was incorporated into the storyline.

• How did the hosts compare the match between Fit Finley and William Regal to a similar rivalry from the 1970s?

  The hosts compared the match to a rivalry between Les Thornton and Jeff Port, who were known for their brutal and hard-hitting style. They felt that Finley and Regal had a similar chemistry and intensity.

• What was the reasoning behind the last-minute substitution of Big Show for Great Khali in the Undertaker's Punjabi Prison match?

  Khali was injured and unable to compete, and the creative team felt that a match between Undertaker and Khali in the Punjabi Prison would be disastrous. They also didn't want to risk further injury to Khali.

• What were the hosts' criticisms of the Punjabi Prison match between Undertaker and Big Show?

  The hosts criticized the structure of the Punjabi Prison, which they felt was poorly designed and hindered the match. They also felt that the match itself was poorly executed and lacked any real excitement.

• What was the significance of Mr. Kennedy's injury during his match with Batista?

  Kennedy's injury was a real-life accident that significantly impacted the match. It forced the creative team to change the finish and resulted in a gruesome spectacle.

Show Notes