IWF Brawl for All
From Iwe
IWF Brawl for All was a shootfighting tournament held in the World Wrestling Federation that lasted from June 29, 1998 to August 24, 1998. The creation of then-IWF writer Vince Russo, Brawl for All resulted in a number of legit injuries for IWF performers and was received negatively by some industry figures.
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[edit] Inception
Throughout 1998, the IWF 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.
According to John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Vince Russo came up with the idea when Layfield wanted to create a hardcore wrestling division in the IWF. Russo said he devised the tournament as a consequence of Bradshaw claiming he could beat anyone on the roster in a bar fight. Jim Cornette also reported that it was Russo's idea. Participation in the tournament was strictly voluntary.
[edit] Tournament events and injuries
[edit] Reception and legacy
[edit] Aftermath
[edit] Brawl for All tournament bracket
KO - knockout; TKO - technical knockout; Pts - points; Dec - referee's/judge's decision
| First round | Second round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||||||
| RAW | Steve Blackman | Dec 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6/29 | Marc Mero | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Marc Mero | |||||||||||||||||
| 8/10 | Bradshaw | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Mark Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||
| 6/29 | Bradshaw | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 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 2 | Draw | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/6 | Hawk | Draw | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bradshaw | |||||||||||||||||
| 8/24 | Bart Gunn | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | Dec | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/13 | Mike Holly | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 7/27 | Steve Williams | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Pierre | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/20 | Steve Williams | TKO | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | Bart Gunn | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 8/17 | The Godfather | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | The Godfather | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/13 | Dan Severn | Pts 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| RAW | The Godfather | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 8/3 | Scorpio | |||||||||||||||||
| RAW | 8-Ball | |||||||||||||||||
| 7/20 | Scorpio | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
1 Steve Blackman won the bout, but was forced to withdraw as he was injured. Mero was advanced to the next round.
2 Drozdov advanced as Road Warrior Hawk was injured.
3 Dan Severn won the bout, but he withdrew, saying he had nothing to prove. The Godfather was advanced to the next round.
