In 1998, WWE’s Brawl for All tournament stirred up a lot of criticism for being one of the organization’s most ill-advised moves. This shoot-fight event showcased the real fighting capabilities of wrestlers at a time when the traditional wrestling facade, known as kayfabe, was still carefully maintained.
During a recent episode of his podcast “Kliq This,” Kevin Nash shared his perspective on the infamous tournament. In response to a fan’s suggestion about resurrecting the competition, Nash wryly quipped, “Yeah, that didn’t ruin Bart’s life.” Bart Gunn, the victor of the contest, went on to face Butterbean in a boxing match and faced a swift defeat, significantly damaging the reputation he had built.
Nash expressed doubts about the wisdom of featuring genuine unscripted fights within a scripted entertainment program. He also recognized the detrimental effects the tournament had on the career of “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, emphasizing that it brought no advantages and ultimately deprived participants of their chances.
Speculation has circulated that WWE orchestrated the tournament to elevate “Dr. Death,” but in 2023, Jim Ross, who was rumored to have been involved in the decision, refuted these allegations and labeled the tournament as a catastrophic misstep in retrospect.
Credit: “Kliq This” | Source: Wrestling Inc.
