Vince McMahon let wrestlers fight for real at ‘Brawl for All’ – but it was known as ‘the dumbest f****** idea in WWE history’
By Joe Coleman
When the UFC first started in 1993, even the most ardent fan would have struggled to predict how successful the organisation would grow to become.
Sold for just over $4billion in 2016, President Dana White has orchestrated lucrative deals with ESPN and Reebok to put the company in a commanding position.
But the potential power of MMA was evident long before the likes of Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva or Jon Jones ever entered the octagon - as it evidenced by the infamous 'Brawl for All'.
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The 'Brawl for All' was perhaps Vince McMahon's worst ideaCredit: Getty Images - Getty
As the WWE entered the 'Attitude Era' towards the end of the Millennium, CEO Vince McMahon decided to try and cash in on the untapped potential in combat sports.
With fans flocking to the side of cages on a regular basis across the country, McMahon tried to eliminate the threat of the UFC in 1998 by putting on his own MMA-style tournament.
A 16-man tournament was organised with non-scripted fights after John Bradshaw Layfield was allegedly heard backstage insisting he could every man in the locker room if it were real fighting.
Former WWF official Vince Russo overheard this and, coupled with the desire to quash the emerging UFC, 'Brawl for All' was born.
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The emergence of genuine tough guys like UFC legend Chuck Liddell threatened WWECredit: Getty Images - Getty
Starting in June, it was a legitimate prize-fighting elimination tournament to determine who was the toughest man on the roster.
The names were drawn at random and stars would fight each other for three one-minute rounds with boxing gloves.
As with MMA, takedowns and knockdowns scored you points, with a knockout ending the bout. However, kicks and submissions were not allowed.
The company had several legitimate fighters on their books - including former UFC stars Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn - who felt they could earn far more than the paltry $75,000 on offer to the winner of the tournament.
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Dan Severn was the 19995 Ultimate Fighting ChampionCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Top-earning stars like The Rock, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker saw little to no reward in taking such a huge gamble in their careers and respectfully declined to enter.
It left the organisation with a string of second-tier superstars ready and willing to smack the living hell out of their colleagues and friends.
The fans who paid hard-earned cash to watch professional wrestling were left infuriated at the sight of permatanned bodybuilders swinging wildly at one other for a minute before inevitably gassing out.
Chants of 'We want wrestling!' and 'Boring!' rang out during the opening dour summer months.
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The rules for 'Brawl for All' were simple, yet savageCredit: WWE
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A feud with superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin was the prize intended for Dr Death
Although completely non-scripted, the company made no secret they wanted to see Steve Williams (aka Dr Death) emerge from the tournament victorious to take on Steve Austin.
Bart Gunn (real name Mike Polchlopek) was scheduled to fight 'Dr Death', with many expecting a walk over for Williams before he began his feud with Stone Cold as the 'Brawl for All' winner.
However, those operating backstage did not know of Polchlopek's fighting background. When he was mocked for asking if he would get in trouble for knocking out Dr Death, the red mist descended.
[youtube //www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfExYwXODR4]
Given the standard of competition, Polchlopek's experience in tough man competitions essentially made him Mike Tyson.
The pair fought and it was brought to a crushing end in the second round as Bart Gunn shocked the world with a clubbing left.
Williams suffered a dislocated jaw, torn hamstring and dislocated knee, but he was not the only casualty from the tournament.
'The Godfather', 'Road Warrior Hawk' and 'Steve Blackman' also suffered debilitating injuries early on in the tournament, while Savio Vega never wrestled again after damaging his neck.
[youtube //www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9JOEYxwwbk]
Gunn met JBL in the final, broadcast live on Monday Night Raw, smashing the future WWE champion into a state of unconsciousness in just 40 seconds.
"Take a look at a guy who has just made a name for himself in this business!" cried Shawn Michaels on commentary.
It seemed natural the WWE would push Gunn for a starring role in the organisation given his victory. The only reason he had entered was the chance to cement his status as a starring name on the main card.
But it seemed as though colour commentator and manager Jim Cornette had other ideas and pressured matchmaker Russo into effectively ending Gunn's pro wrestling career in the same way the 'Brawl for All' winner had ended Dr Death's reign.
[youtube //www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9fmrvYXgtY]
Gunn was scheduled to fight Eric 'Butterbean' Esch at WrestleMania 15, the 300lbs professional boxer who had amassed more than 50 victories.
Butterbean took just seconds to send Gunn crashing to the canvas twice to leave his reputation in tatters.
During an episode of '', Gunn even suggested he thought the boxing match with Butterbean was punishment for knocking out Dr Death.
Sean Waltman, who was in the WWE as X-Pac, told Wrestling Inc the tournament was a travesty from the get go and conned fans.
WWE legend Christian why he can't return to wrestling and why he wasn't involved in Edge's feud with Randy Orton
"It was the dumbest f--king idea in WWE history," he said. "These guys are fighting for real, and everything else you're watching is bull s***.
"That's basically what they were telling everyone watching. That, the injuries, and having guys fighting each other that are supposed to be working with each other is just the dumbest f****** thing I can ever remember in my years in wrestling.
"Real f****** easy for guys that have never fought, let alone been real pro wrestlers to think that s--t up while they're sitting around playing Dungeons & Dragons in a writing meeting to come up with that dumbass f****** bull s***."
Safe to say you will not see a repeat any time soon from Mr. McMahon.
