Preview for WWE The Bash Pay Per View

June 28, 3:38 PMNY Pro Wrestling ExaminerAaron Glazer

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 The Bash is tonight and many are on the fence about ordering it. Let’s go through match by match and determine a recommendation.

World Heavyweight Championship CM Punk © vs. Jeff Hardy

The story: CM Punk used his Money in the Bank win to take the title from Jeff Hardy after Hardy was in a grueling ladder match.  Since then, Punk has been slowly turning heel, as he doesn’t care that he won the title through underhanded means. 

What should happen:  Punk needs to continue to straddle the line between face and heel until Jeff decides if he’s renewing his contract.  If he does, then Punk can go full heel down the line for a series of gimmick matches and if not, Punk can face a major heel in order to be deemed a good guy by fans again.  Either way, Punk needs a win here to build legitimacy.

What will happen:  Punk may have turned heel, hitting the Go to Sleep on John Morrison after Morrison beat him on Smackdown.  As such, he’ll still likely win here, though with far more underhanded tactics.

WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell (Normal Match, Falls Coutn Anywhere, and StretcherMatch): Randy Orton © vs. Triple H

The story: Orton, while wining the WWE title, attacked Triple H’s whole family, including his wife.  He then injured Triple H, as well.  Triple H is now back for revenge in a rarely used gimmick match.

What should happen: Orton needs a win here.  Triple H got the win at the bigger stage, Wrestlemania and generally does when these two face off.  Beating H is the last stage of legitimacy a long Orton run needs before putting this feud to rest for awhile.  Orton can go on to face MVP and Triple H can do something with a returning Michaels, Big Show, or John Cena.

What will happen:  When unsure, house money rides on Triple H, the boss’s son-in-law, to carry the day.  If he does, expect the feud to go on with more interference from Orton’s stable, Legacy, to keep things from getting staler than they already are.  The other option is Triple H vs. Cena at Summerslam, which wouldn’t necessarily need the title, but after last year’s aborted Cena vs. Batista, couldn’t hurt.

ECW Championship Scramble Match: Tommy Dreamer © vs. Christian vs. Jack Swagger vs. Finlay vs. Mark Henry

The story: Dreamer had to win the title at the last show from Christian and Swagger or he would retire, so he won and is continuing to defend the belt against the guys whose issue he interrupted, the clear top two of ECW, Christian and Jack Swagger.  Christian and Dreamer accidentally hit Finlay during their brawl, so he turned heel to beat them both up as revenge.  Lastly, Henry appears to just be thrown in to fill out the numbers.

What should happen:  Dreamer got his belt and feel good moment.  Swagger appears to be on his way off the brand, and Christian should be as well, since he’s so over and there are holes at the top of Smackdown and Raw he’d nicely fill.  That leaves Henry, a throw in with no shot, and Finlay.  Finlay is the best, smartest worker on the brand and could easily win the title to face the younger guys on the show in matches mixed with training.

What will happen: Dreamer probably retains.  This feud is still fairly young and has some legs, so if they drag the finale out to Summerslam, the brand can reset from there.

Women’s Championship: Melina © vs. Michelle McCool

The story: McCool is a heel and wants Melina’s title.

What should happen: McCool is at least somewhat different for a female heel and should win so we can get the devious, cheating woman’s champion.

What will happen: WWE seems bored with Melina as a face, so McCool having the belt makes sense.

Intercontinental Championship vs. Mask: Chris Jericho © vs. Rey Misterio

The story: Jericho’s gimmick is basically that he’s the only honest man in wrestling, and how dare that dastardly Rey wear a mask.  Rey, for his part, just wants the title. They’ve had multiple (great) matches with Jericho staying one step ahead, so Rey is putting up his mask for one last shot at the title.

What should happen: No way should Rey lose the mask.  It’s a great gimmick that really sells.  Jericho has owned this feud and could stand a loss to keep it going for a gimmick mask match.  The title really isn’t needed here and could be taken off the winner of this match at random on a Smackdown.

What will happen: I have a sinking feeling Jericho loses the title, but still unmasks Rey here, leading to a ladder match for both the title and the mask. It’d be great wrestling, everything these two do is, but Rey loses a lot the instant that mask is gone.

Unified Tag Team Championship: The Colons © vs. Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Cody Rhodes

The story:  There’s only one tag title in the company and the Legacy duo feel they should have it.  Of course the Colons are also a team with a legacy from father Carlos, but hey, don’t let that get in the way of a good match.  DiBiase is good with a world of potential, Carlito is pretty good, as well, while Rhodes is actually really great in the ring.  If Primo doesn’t botch too much, this should be good.

What should happen: The Legacy win all the belts and go on to an Evolution like reign of terror.

What will happen: Same as what should happen.

John Cena vs. the Miz

The story: Miz has been calling out Cena every week, claiming victories while Cena was busy embroiled in a huge feud with the Big Show.  Well, the feud with the Show is done and Cena wants revenge for all the smack Miz talked.

What should happen:  This should be a long match with Miz nearly stealing it numerous times, only for Cena to come out ahead. Miz can then be shown respect by Cena, only to spit in his face and continue things.

What will happen: Cena is a main eventer and golden boy, while Miz is treated like a joke and buried in under 10 minutes, maybe even under 5.

No Disqualification Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. The Great Khali

The story: Khali is a giant who wants to shut up Ziggler, who despite his size disadvantage, has been cheating to stay one step ahead.  With no disqualifications, Khali can even the odds on the cheating and get his hands on the dastardly Diggler.

What should happen: Khali is a comedy giant and Dolph should be able to use his wiles to keep ahead and win, hopefully with something terribly clever, even after a huge beating.

What will happen:  Ziggler will cheat, but it won’t work as he gets his comeuppance and Khali destroys him.

Worth ordering:  Jericho vs. Rey is guaranteed to be great, but that alone isn’t worth the money.  Here’s what you need to ask yourself if you’re going to buy this.  First, will Triple H vs. Orton finally show that they have chemistry?  Next, will Hardy and Punk be allowed to go all out? Finally, does the WWE take the Miz seriously enough to allow him to threaten Cena?  If you answered yes to two of those, order the Pay Per View.

For more info:  Pulse Wrestling has both a Podcast Preview and Traditional Predictions and, of course, WWE has their own information and ordering options.