WWF Brawl For All

The WWF Brawl For All was a shootfighting tournament held in the World Wrestling Federation that lasted from June 29 1998 to August 24 1998.

Inception

Throughout 1998, the WWF experienced a growth in roster size but due to limited amount of TV time a number of their more genuine "tough guys" were left without much to do. As a result, the idea for a legit tough guy tournament was bandied about as a way to both utilize some of these men and capitalize on the recent interest in Toughman Contests around the country.

It is highly rumored that the idea developed as a way to push "Dr. Death" Steve Williams as a genuine tough guy. Williams was a successful wrestler in the NWA and early 1990s WCW, but might not have been well known to newer WWF fans in the Attitude Era.

Participation in the tournament was strictly voluntary.

Rules

Each match consisted of three one-minute rounds. Whichever wrestler connected with the most punches per round scored 5 points. In addition, a "clean" takedown scored 5 points and a knockdown was worth 10. If a wrestler was knocked out (decided by an eight-count rather than a ten-count), the match ended. The matches were scored by ringside judges including Gorilla Monsoon.

Brawl For All tournament bracket

KO - knockout; TKO - technical knockout; Pts - points; Dec - referee's/judge's decision16TeamBracket

RD1-seed01=RAW
RD1-seed02=6/29
RD1-team01=Steve Blackman
RD1-team02=Marc Mero
RD1-score01=Dec
RD1-score02=

RD1-seed03=RAW
RD1-seed04=6/29
RD1-team03=Mark Canterbury
RD1-team04=Bradshaw
RD1-score03=
RD1-score04=Pts

RD1-seed05=RAW
RD1-seed06=7/6
RD1-team05=Brakkus
RD1-team06=Savio Vega
RD1-score05=
RD1-score06=Pts

RD1-seed07=RAW
RD1-seed08=7/6
RD1-team07=Darren "Droz" Drozdov
RD1-team08=Road Warrior Hawk
RD1-score07=Draw
RD1-score08=Draw

RD1-seed09=RAW
RD1-seed10=7/13
RD1-team09=Bart Gunn
RD1-team10=Bob Holly
RD1-score09=Dec
RD1-score10=

RD1-seed11=RAW
RD1-seed12=7/20
RD1-team11=Quebecer Pierre
RD1-team12=Steve Williams
RD1-score11=
RD1-score12=TKO

RD1-seed13=RAW
RD1-seed14=7/13
RD1-team13=The Godfather
RD1-team14=Dan Severn
RD1-score13=
RD1-score14=Pts

RD1-seed15=RAW
RD1-seed16=7/20
RD1-team15=8-Ball
RD1-team16=Scorpio
RD1-score15=
RD1-score16=Pts

RD2-seed01=RAW
RD2-seed02=8/10
RD2-team01=Marc Mero
RD2-team02=Bradshaw
RD2-score01=
RD2-score02=Pts

RD2-seed03=RAW
RD2-seed04=8/10
RD2-team03=Savio Vega
RD2-team04=Darren "Droz" Drozdov
RD2-score03=
RD2-score04=Pts

RD2-seed05=RAW
RD2-seed06=7/27
RD2-team05=Bart Gunn
RD2-team06=Steve Williams
RD2-score05=KO
RD2-score06=

RD2-seed07=RAW
RD2-seed08=8/3
RD2-team07=The Godfather
RD2-team08=Scorpio
RD2-score07=Pts
RD2-score08=

RD3-seed01=RAW
RD3-seed02=8/17
RD3-team01=Bradshaw
RD3-team02=Darren "Droz" Drozdov
RD3-score01=Pts
RD3-score02=

RD3-seed03=RAW
RD3-seed04=8/17
RD3-team03=Bart Gunn
RD3-team04=The Godfather
RD3-score03=KO
RD3-score04=

RD4-seed01=RAW
RD4-seed02=8/24
RD4-team01=Bradshaw
RD4-team02=Bart Gunn
RD4-score01=
RD4-score02=TKO

Reception and criticism

* WWF audiences grew impatient with the relatively complicated rules, lack of explosive kayfabe-style finishes and generally slower action (in the first week, crowds chanted, "We want wrestling").
* Adding to the problem was that the announcers had to skirt around the attraction of this tournament -- that it was actual unscripted pseudo-MMA bouts, not 'booked' wrestling.
* The tournament also resulted in a number of legitimate injuries -- Steve Blackman and Road Warrior Hawk were unable to work in usual WWF capacities for a while after. Savio Vega aggravated an old arm injury and would never work for WWF again.
* UFC veteran Dan "The Beast" Severn withdrew after being frustrated by the round structure, the judging (his takedowns were repeatedly ruled 'not clean') and having to wear boxing gloves.

Legacy

WWF management's favorite, "Doctor Death" Steve Williams, got knocked out in the third round of his match with Bart Gunn, which lessened the tough-guy mystique being built for his character, effectively ending his push.

A follow-up to the tournament had the winner Bart Gunn matched against pro boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch at WrestleMania XV. In the bout, Gunn was knocked out in approximately 30 seconds and soon after was out of the WWF. Though Gunn's legitimate knockout of Williams did not bring him success in the WWF, he was seen with great mystique in Japan where Williams is highly regarded. He tours the independent circuit and Japan under the name Mike Barton.

Bart Gunn defeated Bradshaw by TKO on the 8/24/98 edition of Raw is War to successfully win the tournament and $75,000. Bradshaw received $25,000. During this bout, Shawn Michaels provided guest commentary alongside Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross. Jim Ross claimed the prize money equaled to a $50,000 dollar-swing.

External links

* [http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwftny.htm Wrestling Information Archive tournament results]