The brainchild of Vince Russo, WWF ‘Brawl For All’ was a shootfighting tournament held in WWF that lasted from June 29, 1998 to August 24, 1998. The tournament resulted in several legitimate injuries for WWF performers and garnered huge criticism in the wrestling community.
On a recent edition of his “Tuesday with The Taskmaster,” podcast, former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan explained why ‘Brawl For All’ was among the “stupidest ideas” in the history of professional wrestling.
He said, “That thing was one of the stupidest ideas ever. These matches are gonna be real, and the rest of it is bulls**t? I mean… No one looked good…”
Fans at the time were in utter disapproval of the ‘Brawl For All’ tournament and those in attendance greeted the participants with “Boring!” and “We Want Wrestling!” chants.
Bart Gunn ultimately won the tournament. It was later documented on Season 2 of VICE TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring.”
The WWF ‘Brawl For All’ tournament, held from June 29, 1998, to August 24, 1998, was a controversial event in the history of professional wrestling. Conceived by Vince Russo, the tournament aimed to showcase real fights between WWF performers. However, it resulted in numerous legitimate injuries and faced significant criticism from both fans and industry insiders.
Former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan recently labeled ‘Brawl For All’ as one of the “stupidest ideas” in professional wrestling history. He expressed his disapproval, stating that the concept of having real matches while the rest of the show remained scripted was flawed. Sullivan’s sentiment reflects the general consensus among fans and industry professionals at the time.
During the tournament, fans in attendance voiced their dissatisfaction with the concept by chanting “Boring!” and “We Want Wrestling!” This negative reception further highlighted the disconnect between the audience’s expectations of professional wrestling and the reality-based fights presented in ‘Brawl For All.’
Ultimately, Bart Gunn emerged as the winner of the tournament. However, his victory did not salvage the overall perception of ‘Brawl For All.’ The negative impact of the tournament was later explored in Season 2 of VICE TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring,” which shed light on the behind-the-scenes controversies and consequences of the event.
The ‘Brawl For All’ tournament serves as a cautionary tale in professional wrestling history. It demonstrated the potential dangers of straying too far from the scripted nature of the sport and highlighted the importance of understanding and meeting audience expectations. While experimentation can be valuable, it is crucial to consider the potential risks and consequences before implementing new concepts.
In conclusion, the WWF ‘Brawl For All’ tournament was a ill-conceived venture that resulted in legitimate injuries for performers and faced substantial criticism from fans and industry insiders. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between entertainment and realism in professional wrestling.