New Showbiz

You are here:
NWA The Great American Bash '89: The Glory Days

NWA The Great American Bash '89: The Glory Days

1989

PG-13

Director

Jim Herd

Runtime

164 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The Great American Bash (1989) was the fifth annual The Great American Bash professional wrestling event produced by WCW under the NWA banner and the second to be produced as a PPV event. It took place on July 23, 1989 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The main event was a standard wrestling match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Ric Flair defended the title against Terry Funk. Featured matches on the undercard were Road Warriors, Midnight Express and Steve Williams versus Fabulous Freebirds and Samoan Swat Teamin a WarGames match, Lex Luger versus Ricky Steamboat for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, Sting versus The Great Muta for the NWA World Television Championship, Steiner Brothers versus Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan) in a Texas Tornado match, Jim Cornette versus Paul E. Dangerously in a Tuxedo match, The Skyscrapers versus Dynamic Dudes and a Two-Ring King of the Hill Battle Royal.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

1.6/10

Minimal

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The broadcast focuses entirely on heteronormative athletic competition. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing queer themes present in the production.

Gender Representation

Minimal

The production reinforces traditional masculine hierarchies through male-dominated championship structures. Female agency is notably absent, as the narrative centers on male physicality and strength.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The roster includes diverse performers like the Samoan Swat Team. However, representation often relies on ethnic caricatures typical of 1980s sports entertainment tropes.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The event celebrates Western ideals of competition and clear-cut moral binaries. It prioritizes the spectacle of regulated competition over any deconstruction of social institutions.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The content features no characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The focus remains strictly on able-bodied athletic performance and physical prowess.

Strengths

  • The roster includes a diverse array of performers, such as the Samoan Swat Team, providing some ethnic representation.
  • The broadcast successfully showcases a variety of different athletic archetypes within the wrestling landscape.

Areas for Improvement

  • The production lacks female agency, as the storylines are driven exclusively by male physicality and leadership.
  • Representation often relies on 1980s-era ethnic caricatures rather than nuanced character development.
  • There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or narratives addressing queer identities.
  • The content fails to include any representation of individuals with disabilities or neurodivergence.

AI Analysis

NWA The Great American Bash 1989 is a traditionalist sporting event that prioritizes athletic archetypes over social complexity. The broadcast functions as a showcase for physical dominance, adhering to the rigid social norms of late-1980s sports entertainment. While the roster avoids total homogeneity by including ethnic groups like the Samoan Swat Team, the representation lacks nuance. The performers often fit into established cultural caricatures rather than providing intersectional depth. The production is heavily skewed toward traditional masculinity. By centering all storylines on male combat and championship hierarchies, it excludes female perspectives and fails to engage with any diverse identities or social commentary.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.