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WWF Brawl For All
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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.
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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.
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, the match ended. The matches were scored by ringside judges including Gorilla Monsoon.
KO - knockout; TKO - technical knockout; Pts - points; Dec - referee's/judge's decision
| First round | Second round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||||||
| RAW | Steve Blackman | Dec | ||||||||||||||||
| 6/29 | Marc Mero | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Marc Mero | |||||||||||||||||
| 8/10 | Bradshaw | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bradshaw | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 6/29 | Mark Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bradshaw | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 8/17 | Darren "Droz" Drozdov | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Brakkus | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/6 | Savio Vega | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Savio Vega | |||||||||||||||||
| 8/10 | Darren "Droz" Drozdov | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Darren "Droz" Drozdov | Draw | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/6 | Road Warrior Hawk | Draw | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bradshaw | |||||||||||||||||
| 8/24 | Bart Gunn | TKO | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | Dec | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/13 | Bob Holly | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/27 | Steve Williams | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Quebecer Pierre | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/20 | Steve Williams | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 8/17 | The Godfather | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | The Godfather | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/13 | Dan Severn | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | The Godfather | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 8/3 | Scorpio | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | 8-Ball | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/20 | Scorpio | |||||||||||||||||
- 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.
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 now 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 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.
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| History | Black Saturday • Monday Night Wars • Montreal Screwjob • The Invasion • Brand Extension • WWE Video Library |
| Programming | Raw • SmackDown! • ECW • Current programming • Former programming • Pay-per-views |
| Developmental territories | Ohio Valley Wrestling • Florida Championship Wrestling |
| Former and defunct developmental territories | Deep South Wrestling • Heartland Wrestling Association • International Wrestling Association • Memphis Championship Wrestling |
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| Defunct subsidiaries | Coliseum Video • World Bodybuilding Federation • The World • XFL |
| Other wrestling organizations acquired | World Championship Wrestling (history) • Extreme Championship Wrestling |