10 Times WWE's Fake World Got Dangerously Real
7. The Brawl For All
What’s often overlooked about the 1998 Brawl For All is that the legitimate shoot fight tournament was comprised of several hardly popular, must-see wrestlers. Contrary to Vince Russo’s self-serving rhetoric, not everybody was over in the Attitude Era.
Moreover, many of these wrestlers held a certain pride. Bradshaw and Bob Holly, in particular, were huge, outspoken proponents of a certain culture. They believed in and have since spoken in reverent tones about hazing and stiffing their peers and opponents in order to uphold the sacred ideal that wrestling, a predetermined genre of entertainment, is a legitimate racket that isn’t for the weak.
And thus, the general consensus surrounding the Brawl For All is that it was just a bunch of boring lumps who probably loved it anyway smashing each other to bits.
It would have scanned as appalling - which it actually was! - were the wrestlers involved in any way liked or critically acclaimed. Because these blokes didn’t know how to adequately defend themselves - they were untrained fighters suddenly thrust into fights - a trail of devastation followed.
The legendary Steve Williams - who tore one of his quadricep muscles in a fight against Bart Gunn - was never the same again.