Ric Flair took 13 beatings so Dusty could bleed once. The American Dream lives here.
Jim Crockett Promotions used "The Great American Bash" as the name for a tour that had several PPV caliber shows around the country. In 1986, there were 13 Great American Bashes and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Road Warrior Hawk, Ron Garvin, Nikita Koloff, Robert Gibson, Road Warrior Animal, Magnum T.A., Wahoo McDaniel and Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes defeated him for the title at the July 26 Bash. Flair challenged for it on the last Bash on August 2. Nikita Koloff and Magnum T.A. were involved in a best of seven title match series throughout the Bash for the U.S. Title.
Direction
Crockett's tour logistics as guerrilla filmmaking
Acting
Flair selling Morton like he's drowning
Production
Thirteen cities, one narrative, zero safety nets
Director
Jim Crockett Jr.
Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Virgil Runnels
Dusty Rhodes
Terry Allen
Magnum T.A.
Richard Morton
Ricky Morton
Scott Simpson
Nikita Koloff
Oreal Perras
Ivan Koloff
Mike Hegstrand
Road Warrior Hawk
Joe Laurinaitis
Road Warrior Animal
Paul Frederick
Paul Jones
Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Alan Rogowski
Ole Anderson
Martin Lunde
Arn Anderson
Roger Barnes
Ron Garvin
Ruben Gibson
Robert Gibson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This tour marked Crockett's attempt to compete with McMahon's WrestleMania 2 model, betting on regional loyalty against national spectacle. The South chose blood over pyro.
The August 2 rematch where Flair failed to reclaim the title? That was the same night as the final Bash in Charlotte—Crockett's home turf, where the hero was supposed to lose. He didn't.
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