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{{short description|2009 World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event}}
{{Redirect|The Bash|the WWE event series|The Great American Bash|other meanings|Bash (disambiguation){{!}}Bash}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox Wrestling event
|name       = The Bash
|image      = The_Bash_poster.jpg
|alt        =
|caption    = Promotion poster featuring [[Dave Bautista|Batista]]
|promotion  = [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]]
|brand      = [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]]<br />[[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]]<br />[[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]]
|date       = June 28, 2009
|attendance = 11,946<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/gabash.html#2009|title=The Bash 2009 Results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=December 5, 2010}}</ref>
|buyrate    = 178,000<ref name="Buyrate">{{cite journal|title=WWE Reports 2009 Second Quarter Results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=August 6, 2009|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/documents/PressReleaseQ209FINAL0805Clean.pdf|access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Buyrate 08">{{cite journal|title=WWE Reports 2008 Third Quarter Results|publisher=[[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=November 6, 2008|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/documents/Q3PressRelease115pmFINAL.pdf|access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref>
|venue      = [[ARCO Arena]]
|city       = [[Sacramento, California]]
|lastevent  = [[Extreme Rules (2009)|Extreme Rules]]
|nextevent  = [[Night of Champions (2009)|Night of Champions]]
|event      = [[The Great American Bash]]
|lastevent2 = [[The Great American Bash (2008)|2008]]
|nextevent2 = [[WWE The Great American Bash#2012|2012]]
}}
'''The Bash''' was the sixth annual [[The Great American Bash|Great American Bash]] [[professional wrestling]] [[pay-per-view]] (PPV) [[List of WWE pay-per-view events|event]] produced by [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), and 20th Great American Bash event overall. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]], [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]], and [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] [[WWE brand extension|brand divisions]]. The event took place on June 28, 2009, at the [[ARCO Arena]] in [[Sacramento, California]]. It was the final Great American Bash event to be held on PPV as the event was replaced by [[WWE Fatal 4-Way|Fatal 4-Way]] in 2010. It was also the only Great American Bash to be titled as "The Bash", as in [[The Great American Bash (2012)|2012]], the event was revived as a [[List of WWE SmackDown special episodes|special episode]] of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'', which returned to using the full name of "The Great American Bash". After another eight years, the event was again revived for WWE's [[Farm team|developmental brand]], [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]], in 2020 and has since been held as an annual event for NXT.

There were eight matches on for the event's [[Sports card|card]]. The [[Card (sports)|card]] for the event was a [[Card (sports)#Supercard|supercard]] due to it having three main attraction bouts. This included: [[Randy Orton]] defeating [[Triple H]] in a  [[Professional wrestling match types#Three Stages of Hell match|Three Stages of Hell]] match to retain the [[WWE Championship]], [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[CM Punk]] getting [[Professional wrestling#Rules and other dramatic elements|disqualified]] against [[Jeff Hardy]], and [[John Cena]] defeating [[The Miz]] in the first official encounter between the two. The [[Card (sports)#Undercard|undercard]] for the show featured five matches: [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW Champion]] [[Tommy Dreamer]] defending his title against [[Christian Cage|Christian]], [[Jack Swagger]], [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]], and [[Mark Henry]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Championship Scramble|Championship Scramble match]], [[Chris Jericho]] wagering the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]] against [[Rey Mysterio]]'s [[Professional wrestling match types#Luchas de apuestas|mask]], [[Dolph Ziggler]] versus [[The Great Khali]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match/No Holds Barred match|No Disqualification match]], [[The Colóns (2002–2010)|The Colóns]] defending the [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]] against [[The Legacy (professional wrestling)|The Legacy]] and [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] and Chris Jericho, and [[Michelle McCool]] challenging [[Melina Perez|Melina]] for the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWE Women's Championship]].

The event had 178,000 buys, down on [[The Great American Bash (2008)|The Great American Bash 2008]] figure of 196,000 buys.

==Production==
===Background===
[[File:Sleep Train Arena.jpg|thumb|The event was held at the [[ARCO Arena]] in [[Sacramento, California]].]]
[[The Great American Bash]] is a [[professional wrestling]] event established in 1985. Following [[World Wrestling Entertainment]]'s (WWE) acquisition of [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) in March 2001,<ref name=wcw>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp|title=WWE Entertainment, Inc. Acquires WCW from Turner Broadcasting|access-date=May 5, 2007|date=March 23, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313012636/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp|archive-date=March 13, 2014}}</ref> WWE revived the [[pay-per-view]] (PPV) in [[The Great American Bash (2004)|2004]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Sokol|date=June 27, 2004|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2004/06/28/bash-provides-surprise-endings/|title=Bash provides surprise endings|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=July 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106033549/https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/06/28/517769.html|archive-date=November 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2009 event, which was renamed as The Bash, was the sixth annual Great American Bash produced by WWE and 20th overall. It took place on June 28, 2009, at the [[ARCO Arena]] in [[Sacramento, California]], which was the original date and venue for [[Night of Champions (2009)|Night of Champions]] (which was moved to July 26), and featured wrestlers from the [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]], [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]], and [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] [[WWE brand extension|brands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/schedules/events/eventdetail/?id=9320882|title=The Bash|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=May 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601185526/https://www.wwe.com/schedules/events/eventdetail/?id=9320882|archive-date=June 1, 2009}}</ref>

===Storylines===
The event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands,<ref>{{cite web|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|date=January 13, 2006|url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks|publisher=[[Discovery Communications]]|access-date=March 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Live & Televised Entertainment|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=March 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218142749/https://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref> while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'', ''[[WWE SmackDown|Friday Night SmackDown]]'', ''[[WWE ECW|ECW]]'', and ''[[WWE Superstars]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2006/2006_05_25_02.jsp|title=WWE Launches ECW As Third Brand|date=May 25, 2006|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=January 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529015057/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2006/2006_05_25_02.jsp|archive-date=May 29, 2006}}</ref>

[[File:CM Punk Rosemont IL 081808.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[CM Punk]] defended the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] at The Bash against [[Jeff Hardy]].]]
Three weeks ago at [[Extreme Rules (2009)|Extreme Rules]], [[CM Punk]] cashed in his [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank contract]] and defeated [[Jeff Hardy]] to win the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]], after Hardy had already defeated [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] in a [[ladder match]] to win the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2009/matches/10294714|title=Jeff Hardy def. Edge; CM Punk cashes in Money in the Bank to become new World Heavyweight Champion|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 7, 2009|access-date=May 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409200016/https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2009/matches/10294714|archive-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref> On the following episode of ''SmackDown'', both Hardy and Edge demanded rematches, but SmackDown General Manager [[Theodore Long]] then announced a number one contender's match between the two to determine who would face Punk for the championship. The match ended in a no-contest after Punk interfered, resulting in Long making a triple threat match between the three men for the World Heavyweight Championship on the June 15 episode of ''Raw'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06122009/|title=Road to Raw|date=June 12, 2009|last=Passero|first=Mitch|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=May 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627123647/https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06122009/|archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref> where Punk would retain the title by pinning Edge after Hardy had performed a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#High-angle senton bomb|Swanton Bomb]] on him. Punk and Hardy had tense confrontations in the coming weeks, leading to Theodore Long making a championship match between the two for the Bash.<ref name="Trump">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06152009/|title=Trumping the competition|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 15, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627094436/https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06152009/|archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref>

After winning the [[WWE Championship]] at Extreme Rules, [[Dave Bautista|Batista]] was assaulted the next night on ''Raw'' by former champion, [[Randy Orton]], and Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase Jr.) incapacitating Batista and leading to him vacating his title due to a [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimate]] tear in his [[Biceps brachii muscle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06082009/articles/woundedanimal|title=Wounded Animal|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 10, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref> The next week on ''Raw'', a [[fatal four-way match]] was held to determine the new champion, which featured Orton, [[Triple H]], [[John Cena]], and [[Big Show|The Big Show]]. Orton won the match, and it was later announced by WWE Chairman, [[Vince McMahon]], that the next man to face Orton for the title would be the winner of a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|10-man battle royal]]; Triple H won the match, and became the number one contender. It was also announced on this episode of ''Raw'' by [[Kayfabe|storyline]] owner, [[Donald Trump]], that the title would be defended the next week on ''Raw'' between the two in a [[Last Man Standing match]], where the winner would go into The Bash with the title, defending against the other.<ref name="Trump"/> The match ended in a [[Professional wrestling#Draw|draw]] when neither man was able to answer the referee's ten-count; Orton retained the championship as a result. Later in the show, Mr. McMahon acquired ''Raw'' back from Trump with his first act back in control being to change the match between Orton and Triple H at The Bash to a [[Three Stages of Hell match]], consisting of a singles match, [[Falls Count Anywhere match|Falls Count Anywhere]], and a [[stretcher match]] for the first, second, and third falls respectively.<ref name="Raw06222009">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06222009/|title=Thriathlon of terror|last=Adkins|first=Greg|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 22, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704013952/https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06222009/|archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref>

For the two months before the event, [[Christian Cage|Christian]], [[Tommy Dreamer]], and [[Jack Swagger]] had been in constant conflict with each other over the [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW Championship]] with Christian defeating Swagger at [[Backlash (2009)|Backlash]] and [[Judgment Day (2009)|Judgment Day]], and Dreamer defeating both at Extreme Rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/9826616/results/|title=Now Christian has a swagger|last=Rote|first=Andrew|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=April 29, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/matches/10058354/results/|title=Charisma outsmarts Swagger|last=Medalis|first=Kara|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=May 17, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2009/matches/10329958|title=Tommy Dreamer def. Christian & Jack Swagger in Triple Threat Hardcore Rules Match (New ECW Champion)|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 7, 2009|access-date=May 16, 2012}}</ref> In the wake of their conflict, [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]] inserted himself into the rivalry on the June 16 episode of ''ECW'' by attacking all three men.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/06162009/|title=Ready for a fight|last=Rote|first=Andrew|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 16, 2009|access-date=June 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704013920/https://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/06162009/|archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref> It was announced following the program that the four wrestlers, along with [[Mark Henry]], would participate in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Championship Scramble|Championship Scramble match]] at The Bash.<ref name=ECWtitle/>

After [[Rey Mysterio]] retained the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] against [[Chris Jericho]] at Judgment Day, Jericho had begun a moral crusade, accusing Mysterio of being dishonest to the fans for wearing his [[Lucha libre#Masks|mask]], not showing his true face; he assaulted him after posing as a fan in the crowd wearing one of Mysterio's masks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/matches/10169444/results/|title=A wing and a prayer and a 619|last=Burdick|first=Michael|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=May 17, 2009|access-date=May 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05292009/|title=Wild West|last=Passero|first=Mitch|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=May 29, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615061655/https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05292009/|archive-date=June 15, 2009}}</ref> This led to another match between the two at Extreme Rules, in which Jericho won the title in a [[No Holds Barred match]] by removing Mysterio's mask.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2009/matches/10296258|title=Chris Jericho def. Rey Mysterio in No Holds Barred Match (New Intercontinental Champion)|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 7, 2009|access-date=May 16, 2012}}</ref> On the June 15 episode of ''Raw'', Mysterio received his rematch against Jericho, but failed to win.<ref name="Trump"/> On the June 19 episode of ''SmackDown'', it was announced that the Intercontinental title would be defended at The Bash in a match where [[Professional wrestling match types#Luchas de apuestas|if Mysterio were to lose, he would remove his mask]].<ref name="IC">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06192009/|title=Rampage in Roanoke|last=Burdick|first=Michael|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 19, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref>

Since being [[2009 WWE Draft|drafted]] to Raw in April, [[The Miz]] had been making challenges to John Cena.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04272009/|title=Judgment is coming|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=April 27, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref> These were generally made after Cena either had been injured or was already in a match, leading to The Miz claiming victory by forfeit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/9808960/results/|title=Fueled by hatred and desperation|last=Passero|first=Mitch|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=April 26, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/photos/mizspeaks/|title=Miz speaks|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=May 17, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref> This would continue until The Miz accumulated a record of 7–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06012009/|title=Crime against nature|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 1, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref> After some confrontations, as well as an ambush by The Miz with a steel chair as a weapon, on the June 22 episode of ''Raw'', it was announced Cena and The Miz would officially meet in a match at The Bash.<ref name="Raw06222009"/>

==Event==
{| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;"
|+Other on-screen personnel
|-
!Role:
!Name:
|-
|rowspan=6|English [[Sportscaster|commentators]]
|[[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] {{small|(Raw)}}
|-
|[[Jerry Lawler]] {{small|(Raw)}}
|-
|[[Jim Ross]] {{small|(SmackDown)}}
|-
|[[Todd Grisham]] {{small|(SmackDown)}}
|-
|[[Matt Striker]] {{small|(ECW)}}
|-
|[[Josh Mathews]] {{small|(ECW)}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Spanish commentators
|[[Carlos Cabrera]]
|-
|[[Hugo Savinovich]]
|-
|[[Interviewer]]
|Josh Mathews
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Ring announcer]]
|[[Lilian Garcia]] {{small|(Raw)}}
|-
|[[Justin Roberts]] {{small|(SmackDown)}}
|-
|[[Tony Chimel]] {{small|(ECW)}}
|-
|rowspan=6|[[Referee (professional wrestling)|Referees]]
|[[Charles Robinson (referee)|Charles Robinson]]
|-
|[[Mike Chioda]]
|-
|[[Scott Armstrong (wrestler)|Scott Armstrong]]
|-
|[[Jack Doan]]
|-
|Marty Elias
|-
|Chad Patton
|}
===Dark match===
Prior to the show airing live on pay-per-view, the crowd in attendance was shown an [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#dark match|untelevised match]] pitting [[R-Truth]] against [[Shelton Benjamin]], which saw the former defeat the latter by [[pinfall]].

===Preliminary matches===
The event began with the ECW Championship Scramble match. The match began with two wrestlers competing for three minutes with another wrestler entering every three minutes thereafter; when a wrestler scored a decision over another, they were declared the interim champion, and only lost the distinction if another wrestler scored a decision after them. Whoever was the interim champion as the time limit expired would be named the official champion. The first two competitors were Christian and Jack Swagger before the entrance of Finlay. Swagger became the first interim champion by pinning Finlay with a [[Pin (professional wrestling)#Roll-up|roll-up]]; Finlay retaliated with a [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Over-the-shoulder back-to-belly piledriver|Celtic Cross]] to Swagger. When incumbent champion Tommy Dreamer and Mark Henry entered the match, Henry became the interim title holder by pinning Dreamer after a [[Powerslam#Falling powerslam|World's Strongest Slam]], only to have Swagger become interim champion by pinning Henry following a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Corner slingshot splash|Swagger Bomb]]. As the time limit was set to expire, Dreamer executed a [[DDT (professional wrestling)|DDT]] on Christian to remain champion. As the final minute of the match progressed, Dreamer spent the time preventing the four other men from scoring a decision to win the match and retain the title.<ref name="WON">{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/9783/|title=WWE Bash live coverage from Sacramento – 3 title changes so far|author-link=Dave Meltzer|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806083406/https://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/9783/|archive-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Mysterio RAW 800.jpg|left|thumb|Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Jericho for his second [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Interconintental Championship]]; he also retained his right to wear his mask.]]
Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio's match for the Intercontinental Championship followed; the contest was kept at a fast pace, leading to Jericho going to the floor of the arena surrounding the ring to have his opponent deliver a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Seated senton|seated senton]]. As the move also damaged Mysterio, Jericho gained control, whipping the challenger into the barricade before returning the action to the ring; Mysterio regained his momentum to take down Jericho with an [[Moonsault#Split-legged moonsault|Arabian press]]. The match continued with both men countering each other's signature maneuvers in attempts to score a pin. Mysterio gained the upper hand by [[dropkick]]ing the champion onto the bottom rope in an attempt to execute the [[Professional wrestling attacks#Tiger feint kick|619]]; once connected, Jericho quickly applied his submission hold, the [[Boston crab#Elevated Boston crab|Walls of Jericho]]; Mysterio struggled out of the position, leading to an exchange of surprise pin attempts. The match came to an end when Jericho attempted to remove his opponent's mask, only to see another one in its place, leading to Mysterio taking advantage of the confusion by executing 619 again before performing a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard|springboard]] [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving splash|splash]] to pin his opponent, winning the title and retaining his mask.<ref name="Caldwell">{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_33162.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE The Bash PPV Report 6/28: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Triple H, Punk vs. Hardy|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=[[Wade Keller|Pro Wrestling Torch]]|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009}}</ref>

Third on the card was the [[No Disqualification match]] between [[Dolph Ziggler]] and [[The Great Khali]]. The match quickly went to the arena floor with both men trying to gain control of a steel chair to use as a weapon. [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] made his return in this match by assaulting Khali with the chair before Ziggler made a pin to win the match.<ref name="Radican">{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_33166.shtml|title=Raducan's WWE The Bash PPV Blog 6/28: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Hunter PPV|last=Radican|first=Sean|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009}}</ref>

The next match was between [[The Colóns (2002–2010)|The Colóns]] ([[Carly Colón|Carlito]] and [[Primo (wrestler)|Primo]]) and [[The Legacy (professional wrestling)|The Legacy]] ([[Cody Rhodes]] and [[Ted DiBiase, Jr.|Ted DiBiase]]) for the [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]]. As the match was about to proceed, after being pressured by [[Vince McMahon]] to improve the quality of ''SmackDown'', Theodore Long announced another team would be inserted into the match, making it a [[triple threat match]]; the team would be Chris Jericho and [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]]. The match centered around The Colóns and The Legacy isolating themselves for the most part before Edge managed to tag himself into the match as Carlito went to pin Rhodes after the [[Backbreaker#Double knee backbreaker|Backstabber]], but due to Edge tagging in, the match continued for Edge to deliver a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Spear|spear]] to Carlito, pinning him to win the titles.<ref name="Keller">{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/font_color_770000_KELLER_S_TAKE_font_11/article_33165.shtml|title=Keller's WWE Bash PPV Report 6/28: Ongoing coverage including results, star ratings, analysis, quotebook|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009}}</ref>

[[Melina Perez|Melina]] next defended the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWE Women's Championship]] against [[Michelle McCool]]. The match focused around McCool attacking her opponent's leg with her [[Manager (professional wrestling)|associate]], [[Alicia Fox]], inhibiting Melina. As the champion went to attempt a [[Professional wrestling holds#Body scissors|body scissors]], McCool delivered a [[Facebuster#Belly-to-back inverted mat slam|Faith Breaker]] for the pinfall victory, winning the title.<ref name="WON"/>

===Main event matches===
[[File:Mike Mizanin.JPG|thumb|right|upright|The Miz faced John Cena in the first official match between the two.]]
The first of three matches billed as the main event was the World Heavyweight Championship match between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy. The match was wrestled at a fast pace as the two exchanged a series of holds and kicks. As Punk was about to deliver a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Go 2 Sleep|Go To Sleep]], Hardy countered into a [[Cutter (professional wrestling)#Twist of Fate|Twist of Fate]], and executed the [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#High-angle senton bomb|Swanton Bomb]]; Hardy then covered his opponent and got the pin. Though it appeared initially that he won the title, the referee soon discovered Punk's foot was under the bottom rope, causing the match to continue. As the competitors continued to fight, Punk performed a [[roundhouse kick]] on the referee, causing him to get [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualified]], thus retaining the title. Following the match, a frustrated Hardy assaulted the champion, leading to the two being pulled apart by the referee and other officials.<ref name="Keller"/>

John Cena faced The Miz next. Cena executed an [[Professional wrestling throws#Fireman's carry takeover|Attitude Adjustment]] on The Miz and forced The Miz to submit to the [[Professional wrestling holds#STF|STF]] to win the match.

The main event was the [[Three Stages of Hell match]] for the WWE Championship between Randy Orton and Triple H. In the first match, a singles match, Triple H was disqualified after hitting Orton with a chair, giving Orton the first victory. The next fall was the falls count anywhere match, which Triple H won after attacking Orton with the chair and a [[Facebuster#Double underhook facebuster|Pedigree]] outside the ring. The final match was the stretcher match. Triple H tried to end the match early by wheeling the champion over the yellow line on the stage that signified the end of the match only to have Orton slide off, leading to a brawl between the two on the stage. Orton performed a [[DDT (professional wrestling)|DDT]] off the stretcher onto the entrance ramp on Triple H. The fight went back up to the stage with Triple H delivering a Pedigree, followed by loading the stretcher with Orton until Orton's two protégés, [[Cody Rhodes]] and [[Ted DiBiase Jr.|Ted DiBiase]], interfered, preventing Triple H from winning by distracting him to have Orton attack him, put him on the stretcher, and wheel him across the finishing line to win the match.<ref name="Caldwell"/> After the match, when Orton was celebrating his victory, Triple H attacked Orton with his signature sledgehammer.

==Reception==
[[File:Orton 4th WWE Title.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Randy Orton]] before his match]]
The show was rated as merely average by wrestling journalists. [[Canadian Online Explorer]] had analyst, Brian Elliott, review the show; he would comment that the show "failed to live up to expectations, largely due to bad booking." This criticism was built around what he had felt to be the inability of the company's [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Book|creative writers]] to showcase effective segments and matches.<ref name="Elliott">{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2009/06/29/mysterio-jericho-save-the-bash-from-wash-out/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629143632/https://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2009/06/29/9968166.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=Mysterio & Jericho save The Bash from wash-out|date=June 29, 2009|last=Elliott|first=Brian|access-date=June 30, 2009|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> [[Dave Meltzer]], editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, wrote a real-time commentary during the event; he was disappointed by a few moments in the show, but still saw the wrestling as a positive, particularly the main event, but said it was "nothing compared to their match (Triple H and Orton had) on Monday and this was the one you were paying for."<ref name="WON"/>

A seemingly-universal praise for the event from critics came in their commentary of the WWE Intercontinental Championship match between Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho. Elliott dubbed this the "Match of the Night", giving it a rating of 8/10.<ref name="Elliott"/> James Caldwell, an editor for the Pro Wrestling Torch, commended the effort of both men for the overall quality of their rivalry over the past few months leading up to this encounter, saying that the two had "great chemistry".<ref name="Caldwell"/> Meltzer called it "one of the better WWE matches this year."<ref name="WON"/>

The most noteworthy criticism of the show came from John Cena's match with The Miz. [[Wade Keller]], editor of the Pro Wrestling Torch, who wrote a report of the show, said the encounter "was pretty much the worst finish possible" as it did not help elevate the status of The Miz as a viable competitor. Despite the favorable reviews of the Three Stages of Hell match, Keller referred to it as "stale" due to how many times prior to the show these two wrestled.<ref name="Keller"/>

==Aftermath==
On the episode of ''Raw'' following The Bash, it was announced that the general manager position for the Raw brand would be eradicated and replaced with a new weekly special guest host role. Batista was then announced as the first person to be special guest host. In his position, Batista announced the WWE Championship would be defended at the July event, Night of Champions; the competitor who would face Orton would be determined by the winner of the tournament that commenced that night. The semi-finals saw Triple H defeat [[Montel Vontavious Porter]] (MVP) and John Cena defeat The Miz to advance to the finals of the tournament to be held on the July 6 episode of ''Raw''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06292009/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710182210/https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06292009/|archive-date=July 10, 2009|title=The Animal's Kingdom|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 30, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2009}}</ref>

Following his match, on the July 2 episode of ''Superstars'', CM Punk revealed he suffered a [[Kayfabe|storyline]] eye injury at The Bash; after a match with Edge that caused him to forfeit due to extra damage inflicted in the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwesuperstars/results/|title=Eye give up|last=Vermillion|first=James|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=July 2, 2009|access-date=July 2, 2009}}</ref> Punk claimed the reason he struck the referee was because he was unable to see who his target was. Hardy continued after Punk, leading to the announcement the two would meet at Night of Champions for the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/07032009/|title=An eye for an eye|last=Burdick|first=Michael|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=July 3, 2009|access-date=July 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715070121/https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/07032009/|archive-date=July 15, 2009}}</ref>

The Bash was the only event in The Great American Bash chronology to be titled as The Bash, and it was also the final to be held on PPV. In 2010, the event was replaced on PPV by [[WWE Fatal 4-Way|Fatal 4-Way]], then in April 2011, the promotion ceased going by its full name of World Wrestling Entertainment, with "WWE" becoming an [[orphaned initialism]].<ref>{{cite press release|last1=Sacco|first1=Justine|last2=Weitz|first2=Michael|date=April 7, 2011|title=The New WWE|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2011/04-07-2011|location=[[Connecticut]]|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410204745/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2011/2011_04_07.html|archive-date=April 10, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The event, which reverted to being called The Great American Bash, returned in [[The Great American Bash (2012)|July 2012]] as a special episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]''.<ref name="SuperSmackDownLIVE-GAB">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2012-07-03/five-point-preview-7-3-12|title=WWE.com: SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash Five-Point Preview – July 03, 2012|date=July 2, 2012|last=Burdick|first=Michael|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=July 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704230902/https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2012-07-03/five-point-preview-7-3-12|archive-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> It was again revived in 2020 for the [[Farm team|developmental brand]] [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] brand and has since been held as an annual event for NXT.<ref>{{cite web|title=Great American Bash returning for next two weeks of NXT|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/nxt/great-american-bash-returning-next-two-weeks-nxt-314086/|date=June 24, 2020|access-date=June 25, 2020|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626113719/https://www.f4wonline.com/nxt-news/great-american-bash-returning-next-two-weeks-nxt-314086|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Results==
{{Pro wrestling results table
|times = <ref name="DB">{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/wwe/the-bash-09-5067.html|title=WWE The Bash 2009|work=Pro Wrestling Database|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|access-date=July 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/|title=Egos & tradition prevail; Orton retains|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref>
|note1  = dark
|match1 = [[R-Truth]] defeated [[Shelton Benjamin]] by [[pinfall]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2009/06/28/the-bash-disappointing-live-despite-heat/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126091952/https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/06/28/9965236.html|url-status=live|archive-date=January 26, 2016|title=The Bash disappointing live despite heat|date=June 28, 2009|last=Bishop|first=Matt|access-date=June 30, 2009|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
|stip1  = [[Singles match (professional wrestling)|Singles match]]
|time1  = 9:18
|match2 = [[Tommy Dreamer]] (c) defeated [[Christian Cage|Christian]], [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]], [[Jack Swagger]], and [[Mark Henry]]<ref name=ECWtitle>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10547868/results/|title=Results: Surviving the Scramble|last=Murphy|first=Ryan|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|stip2  = [[Championship Scramble]] for the [[ECW Championship]]
|time2  = 14:46
|match3 = [[Rey Mysterio]] defeated [[Chris Jericho]] (c) by [[pinfall]]
|stip3  = [[Title vs. Mask match]] for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]]<ref name=MaskVsTitle>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10568704/results/|title=Results: The face of a champion|last=Burdick|first=Michael|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|time3  = 15:42
|match4 = [[Dolph Ziggler]] defeated [[The Great Khali]] by [[pinfall]]<ref name="No Count-Out, No Disqualification">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10635070/results/|title=Results: A Giant upset|last=Adkins|first=Greg|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|stip4  = [[No Disqualification match]]
|time4  = 4:59
|match5 = [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] and Chris Jericho defeated [[The Colóns (2002–2010)|The Colóns]] ([[Carly Colón|Carlito]] and [[Primo (wrestler)|Primo]]) (c) and [[The Legacy (professional wrestling)|The Legacy]] ([[Cody Rhodes]] and [[Ted DiBiase Jr.|Ted DiBiase]]) by [[pinfall]]<ref name=TagTeam>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10535742/results/|title=Results: Uninvited guests|last=Adkins|first=Greg|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|stip5  = [[Triple threat match]] for the [[Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]]{{efn|The name "[[Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]]" refers to both the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] and [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Championship]] being held and defended together, although both titles remain independently active.}}
|time5  = 9:37
|match6 = [[Michelle McCool]] (with [[Alicia Fox]]) defeated [[Melina Perez|Melina]] (c) by [[pinfall]]
|stip6  = [[Singles match (professional wrestling)|Singles match]] for the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWE Women's Championship]]<ref name=WomensTitle>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10568730/results/|title=Results: Michelle McCool makes Divas history|last=Medalis|first=Kara A.|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|time6  = 6:34
|match7 = [[Jeff Hardy]] defeated [[CM Punk]] (c) by [[Disqualification (professional wrestling)|disqualification]]
|stip7  = [[Singles match (professional wrestling)|Singles match]] for the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<ref name=WHC>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10535420/results/|title=Results: Punk crushes Hardy's dreams ... again|last=Passero|first=Mitch|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|time7  = 15:01
|match8 = [[John Cena]] defeated [[The Miz]] by [[Submission (professional wrestling)|submission]]
|stip8  = [[Singles match (professional wrestling)|Singles match]]<ref name=CenaMiz>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10590620/results/|title=Results: Has Miz Cena 'nuff?|last=Vermillion|first=James|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
|time8  = 5:39
|match9 = [[Randy Orton]] (c) defeated [[Triple H]] 2-1   
|stip9  = [[Three Stages of Hell match]] for the [[WWE Championship]]<ref name=WWE>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10536556/results/|title=Results: Viper's pit|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>
{{small|<br>*Stage 1: Singles match (won by Randy Orton)<br>*Stage 2: Falls Count Anywhere Match (won by Triple H)<br>*Stage 3: Stretcher match (won by Randy Orton)}}
|time9  = 21:23
}}

;ECW Championship Scramble Interim Champions

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!'''Number'''
!'''Wrestler'''
!'''Entered'''
!'''Pinned'''
!'''Method'''
|-
|1
|Jack Swagger
|2
|Finlay
|[[Pin (professional wrestling)#Roll-up|roll-up]]
|-
|2
|Finlay
|3
|Jack Swagger
|[[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Over-the-shoulder back-to-belly piledriver|Celtic Cross]] 
|-
|3
|Mark Henry
|5
|Tommy Dreamer
|[[Powerslam#Falling powerslam|World's Strongest Slam]]
|-
|4
|Jack Swagger
|2
|Mark Henry
|[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Corner slingshot splash|Swagger Bomb]] 
|-
|{{sort|5|'''Winner'''}}
|Tommy Dreamer
|4
|Christian
|[[DDT (professional wrestling)|DDT]]
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/ The official Bash website]

{{2009 WWE pay-per-view events}}
{{WWEPPV|The Great American Bash}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bash, The}}
[[Category:The Great American Bash|2009]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling shows in Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:2009 in California]]
[[Category:2009 WWE pay-per-view events]]
[[Category:June 2009 in the United States]]
[[Category:2000s in Sacramento, California]]