User Reviews

I actually think this is not bad because it's hard to find an intro to this event with actual videos of the fights. Youtubers are not allowed to use footage from the events so those videos feel lacking. This documentary goes over the basics and shows what happened in this pro wrestling event that had real fights. The owner of the biggest wrestling organization had hired a total outsider and a giant fool to write his events. So everything was a giant foolish disgusting mess as the guy clearly didn't care about wrestling. And he created this event with real fights that ended up injuring some of their big stars forcing them into early retirement.

The event is notorious today. While it was a dud and an economic disaster it did end up becoming a big story that made pro wrestling more popular over time.

I do already know about the event so my surprise seeing this was not huge. But it was fun to watch a second time.

Vince Russo was a wrestling journalist became a WWE booker and executive.

I have not come across many people who are fans of his. I recall him when he was the main writer and booker at WCW. He was terrible and started their decline.

At WWE he started the Brawl for All contest in 1998. He got the ok from Vince McMahon but many people felt that it led to long term injuries for several of the participants.

Jim Cornette is very vocal in this documentary about his opposition to the contest and his hatred of Russo.

Russo as head writer wanted to bring mayhem to wrestling akin to The Jerry Springer Show. One of them was to bring hardcore wrestling and merge this with boxing.

A tournament devised for lower ranked wrestlers or those over the hill. Inspired by some bragging by wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield. Russo hoped that someone would be able to take him down in such a brawl.

Bart Gunn who was unfancied was the eventual winner. Afterwards WWE did not know what to do with him and then arranged a match for him to fight a real boxer named Butterbean. Gunn was quickly knocked out.

Given that WWE heralded wrestling in the 1990s as sports entertainment. It was strange for them to go down the boxing route. It is a different skill set and it seems little regard was given to the long term brain damage.

Even Russo winces when he sees footage of people getting their heads shaken after a punch. However I reckon this was just an act for the television cameras. He just comes across as insincere. I'm with Cornette on this one.