Brawl For All cost WWE 5-10 million dollars.......

[tigermaskxxxvii]

I'm watching Cornette's YouShoot interview he discusses The New Midnight Express and mentions their match against each other in The Brawl For All as part of the team's downfall. This leads to a tangent about Brawl For All in general and Cornette blamed it (and by extension his favorite punching bag, Vince Russo) for costing WWE "5-10 million dollars in one night". Now Brawl For All was a disaster. It caused guys to get injured, depushed, made for awkward and boring television and culminated with Bart Gunn vs Butterbean at WrestleMania XV. But I still can't think of how it could've cost the WWE that much money in a single night other than just shoot interview hyperbole.

[Error]

Was the tourney all done live or filmed in chunks? I cannot remember RAW's schedule at the time. If they filmed multiple matches a night and you had two high paid guys go down (say Dr. Death and someone else) in one night, their salary along with what they were expecting to make off of those guys would all be lost money. I know they had plans to put Dr. Death against Austin in a major feud so the night he went down they would have lost out on everything they expected to make off him and what I think was a huge salary they were paying him.

[Diamond Cutter Out of Nowhere!]

I could see a lot of those points, minus the $5-$10 million price tag. You've got guys who aren't boxers in the ring boxing with each other. The potential for injury or embarrassment was huge, I mean just look at Bart Gunn vs. Bradshaw. I couldn't find anything about it online, but just watching the brief fight, it was a mess. Bradshaw went down incredibly hard, and in a way that's hard to fake if you aren't actually out of it. Take into account that Bradshaw's whole gimmick was that he was a bad-ass, and his getting knocked out could have cost him huge in the company.

As we saw, in that case it didn't, but like I said the potential was there. So, while I'm sure Cornette is exaggerating on the price tag, I could totally see his other points as valid. The fact that I had forgotten all about Brawl For All until you posted this should speak volumes to how entertaining it was.

[molson5]

It was a bad idea, but I'm still glad they tried it - the WWE is so risk averse now, I do miss the days when they were on their heels, throwing all kinds of wacky crap against the wall hoping something would stick.

And I still assume they didn't put anyone in that tournament that they didn't consider expendable. Ya, the theory was they were hoping Steve Williams would win, but I don't know, that seems a silly assumption considering Williams' age and lack of competitive athletic background aside from college wrestling 20 years earlier. I'm sure they would have been OK with Williams dominating the tournament, but it's not like him getting knocked out was some big loss.

[Jimmy]

Sounds to me like Cornette is talking about the hypothetical money Steve Williams vs. Steve Austin could have made.

[joebob27]

Jan 25, 2013 21:13:52 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

Sounds to me like Cornette is talking about the hypothetical money Steve Williams vs. Steve Austin could have made.

Which is to say, $0, because it would have gone over like a fart in church.

I always laughed at that during his shoot. His points about the stupidity of the program are spot on, but his expectations out of that main event program were delusional at best.

I don't think the WWF Attitude Era audience could give two about Dr. Death. And it wasn't like he was going to bump the company's gravy train, who had broken his neck earlier, to get over.

[mrjl]

well, let's see.

There's Williams contract.

There's Butterbean, because the winner of Brawl for all was not going to face him originally.

There's the cost of surgeries for the guys who were hurt.

[thegame415]

Jan 25, 2013 21:54:08 GMT -5 joebob27 said:

Jan 25, 2013 21:13:52 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

Sounds to me like Cornette is talking about the hypothetical money Steve Williams vs. Steve Austin could have made.

Which is to say, $0, because it would have gone over like a fart in church.

I always laughed at that during his shoot. His points about the stupidity of the program are spot on, but his expectations out of that main event program were delusional at best.

I don't think the WWF Attitude Era audience could give two about Dr. Death. And it wasn't like he was going to bump the company's gravy train, who had broken his neck earlier, to get over.

I totally agree. I think the fans would've much rather seen a "tough guy" Ken Shamrock vs Austin. I think D.r Death would've been better in the WWF in the early-mid '90s.

Also, to the second poster, Raw was live on a bi-weekly basis.

[Deleted]

I think no one has ever marked more in wrestling history with Steve Williams vs what he actually drew.

I liked him and all but holy shit. It's ALWAYS people overestimating him being this huge star. Not just Jim Ross.

[joebob27]

Jan 25, 2013 21:59:26 GMT -5 mrjl said:

well, let's see.

There's Williams contract.

There's Butterbean, because the winner of Brawl for all was not going to face him originally.

There's the cost of surgeries for the guys who were hurt.

That's not what he meant at all, he's talking about a Dr. Death/Austin program for the WWF Championship.

Cornette is a weird dude, he did a "guest booker" on the Invasion
and wanted to center a part of it around Terry Funk and the Undertaker.... in 2001. Uh, no.

You know how people criticize Vince and the WWE for booking for themselves instead of the audience? Yeah, well Cornette does quite a bit of that too.

[Digital Witness]

Jan 25, 2013 22:11:15 GMT -5 @bootytime said:

I think no one has ever marked more in wrestling history with Steve Williams vs what he actually drew.

I liked him and all but holy s***. It's ALWAYS people overestimating him being this huge star. Not just Jim Ross.

Dr. Death made a bunch of money in Japan and I'm pretty sure (correct me if I'm wrong) participated in a few of those super hyped 5 star All Japan matches in the 90s with guys like Kobashi and Misawa. On the gaijin totem pole, I'm pretty sure he was second only to Stan Hansen.

The guy had some cred coming into WWF at the time and I understand why they'd want to put him in a major program. I'm not sure that Stone Cold was the guy to put him in a program with due to Steve Williams' style, and likeliness to drop Austin on his head worse than Owen Hart did, although Steve Williams vs also real life Steve Williams in a major feud does sound funny to me.

Honestly, I'd have liked it if Gordy came along for the ride and we were able to get the Miracle Violence Connection in WWF.

[Jimmy]

Jan 25, 2013 21:54:08 GMT -5 joebob27 said:

Jan 25, 2013 21:13:52 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

Sounds to me like Cornette is talking about the hypothetical money Steve Williams vs. Steve Austin could have made.

Which is to say, $0, because it would have gone over like a fart in church.

I always laughed at that during his shoot. His points about the stupidity of the program are spot on, but his expectations out of that main event program were delusional at best.

I don't think the WWF Attitude Era audience could give two about Dr. Death. And it wasn't like he was going to bump the company's gravy train, who had broken his neck earlier, to get over.

Well, now you are the one guilty of hyperbole. You could have stuck any heel out there to face Austin in 1998 and it would have done solid business. Dr. Death would have been a completely new face to WWF fans and could probably have done alright for himself if given a chance in the main event scene.

[joebob27]

Jan 25, 2013 22:27:26 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

Jan 25, 2013 21:54:08 GMT -5 joebob27 said:

Which is to say, $0, because it would have gone over like a fart in church.

I always laughed at that during his shoot. His points about the stupidity of the program are spot on, but his expectations out of that main event program were delusional at best.

I don't think the WWF Attitude Era audience could give two about Dr. Death. And it wasn't like he was going to bump the company's gravy train, who had broken his neck earlier, to get over.

Well, now you are the one guilty of hyperbole. You could have stuck any heel out there to face Austin in 1998 and it would have done solid business. Dr. Death would have been a completely new face to WWF fans and could probably have done alright for himself if given a chance in the main event scene.

If you can throw anyone out there, then how did they lose any money on the program? You're kinda proving my point for me, that Cornette way, way overvalued Williams.

Who was going to cut his promos for him? He'd get circles run around him. Who was he going to work stiff with? Sure as hell wasn't going to be Austin...

Anyways, the thing lost in this was that they were doing the Austin/Taker program at the time, and then put the belt on the Rock afterwards to build Austin's chase for the next WM.

Dr. Death, or the Rock? Which do you think would do better with that program?

I'm not saying he was a bad hand to have around, it's just Cornette has to be nuts thinking he'd be doing that much business over what business would be done without him.

[Jimmy]

Jan 25, 2013 22:33:19 GMT -5 joebob27 said:

Jan 25, 2013 22:27:26 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

Well, now you are the one guilty of hyperbole. You could have stuck any heel out there to face Austin in 1998 and it would have done solid business. Dr. Death would have been a completely new face to WWF fans and could probably have done alright for himself if given a chance in the main event scene.

If you can throw anyone out there, then how did they lose any money on the program? You're kinda proving my point for me, that Cornette way, way overvalued Williams.

Who was going to cut his promos for him? He'd get circles run around him. Who was he going to work stiff with? Sure as hell wasn't going to be Austin...

Anyways, the thing lost in this was that they were doing the Austin/Taker program at the time, and then put the belt on the Rock afterwards to build Austin's chase for the next WM.

Dr. Death, or the Rock? Which do you think would do better with that program?

I'm not saying he was a bad hand to have around, it's just Cornette has to be nuts thinking he'd be doing that much business over what business would be done without him.

Well obviously things turned out very well for the WWF, but leading up to and after Survivor Series Austin could have used a more credible opponent than the Big Bossman and a fresher opponent then The Undertaker (for what seemed liked the 100th time that year) leading up to his regaining of the title at WrestleMania 15.

[Madagascar Fred]

screw Dr. Death (RIP), Corny & JR were just huge fanboys of him

dude was a total bore, zero charisma, unnecessarily stiff, out-of-shape, filled with all kinds of roids & painkillers, and wasn't that good anymore in 98 anyway!

thank god he didn't get a program with SCSA (I think this was more of a JR & Corny wet dream tbh, don't think Vince would've pushed such a "dinosaur", see Bulldog's failed comeback in late 99)

[Supercheese]

You also have to remember Cornette exaggerates everything to make himself sound like a genius. It probably cost them money. But that extent? No chance.

[Citizen Snips]

I went to a taping in State College 2 nights after KotR 1998. Had two Brawl for All matches, Droz vs Hawk and another I can't remember.

Just sucked the life right out of the crowd.

[Ryback on a Pole!]

I won't say it was a bad idea, it was an interesting idea to be honest. It just seemed to be badly executed, I can't remember much of it but wasn't there some stupid rule about no kicks? They also dropped the ball by not doing anything with Bart Gunn afterwards which made it pointless. Gunn wasn't the most talented wrestler in the world and he had the charisma of a lump of wood, but they could have maybe stuck him in a hard-ass tag team with Dr Death or something?

If it happened today I'm pretty certain there would be a lot of interest in seeing who would win and stuff. My money would be on Swagger or Barrett (Assuming Lesnar wouldn't enter).

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2013 21:06:33 GMT -5 molson5 said:

It was a bad idea, but I'm still glad they tried it - the WWE is so risk averse now, I do miss the days when they were on their heels, throwing all kinds of wacky crap against the wall hoping something would stick.

And I still assume they didn't put anyone in that tournament that they didn't consider expendable. Ya, the theory was they were hoping Steve Williams would win, but I don't know, that seems a silly assumption considering Williams' age and lack of competitive athletic background aside from college wrestling 20 years earlier. I'm sure they would have been OK with Williams dominating the tournament, but it's not like him getting knocked out was some big loss.

I seem to remember Dan Severn won a match, then pulled out, saying it just wasn't worth the time & agony.

That alone should have raised a red flag.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Jan 26, 2013 3:59:33 GMT -5 Madagascar Fred said:

screw Dr. Death (RIP)

LOL'd I did.