Hollywood actor, and former WWE producer, Freddie Prinze Jr has named Brawl For All as “stupid” and the “single worst moment in professional wrestling”.
Brawl For All took place on WWE Raw from June 29th to August 24th 1998, pitting Attitude Era Superstars against each other in legitimate fights.
On the latest episode of Wrestling with Freddie, the I Know What You Did Last Summer star discussed in detail why he felt the tournament was a bad idea and how it risked damaging WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin.
“It is the single worst moment in professional wrestling. The idea is completely asinine, that on the same show where you have choreographed fights, you’re going to have a real one just to show that the bigger stars aren’t as tough as the lesser stars, which is stupid.”
Freddie Prinze Jr Questions Logic Of Brawl For All
Prinze Jr would go on to discuss how having a tough man style contest without Steve Austin competing, could have led to viewers questioning Austin’s position and character.
“I’m gonna make The Godfather look tougher than Stone Cold Steve Austin. Why would you do that if Stone Cold Steve Austin is supposed to be the toughest son of a b***h in the business? But he didn’t have the guts to join the Brawl for All? ‘Cause he’s not a real man? This idea was horrible; I hated every minute of it.”
Not only did the tournament bring criticism from fans, but led to injuries for The Godfather, Steve Blackman, Road Warrior Hawk, Savio Vega and Brakkus.
Created based on claims by John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield to Vince Russo and creative, that he could beat anyone in a fight, the idea was built as an opportunity to find a suitable opponent to face Steve Austin.
Bart Gunn went through Bob Holly, ‘Dr Death’ Steve Williams, The Godfather and Bradshaw to win, but plans changed and instead of gaining a shot at Austin, Gunn was instead given a boxing match with Butterbean at Wrestlemania XV.
Prinze Jr is currently working on plans to create his own LA based promotion, leaning on his film experience and passion for professional wrestling.
H/t to 411Mania