Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl

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The Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl was an annual professional wrestling event held between 1996 and 1999 as a tribute to wrestler Eddie Gilbert and featured talent from the National Wrestling Alliance, World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling, as well as local and established independent wrestlers. [1] [2] Each year, the event would feature the Gilbert family receiving a plaque from promoter Dennis Coralluzzo. [3] In 1998, the show came under some criticism when Coralluzzo was alleged to have used the in-ring plaque presentation to publicly attack Paul Heyman, as did the Gilbert family, [4] provoking a verbal altercation between himself and ECW fans in attendance. [3]

Contents

The show was also attended by older veterans who had worked with Gilbert during his career [2] and appeared both during the show and at a special "tribute dinner" and wrestling convention held during the weekend. [5] Mick Foley made an appearance at the first convention [6] and later expressed his regret in not wrestling the first show. [7] Brian Hildebrand was honored at the banquet two years later. [8]

Although the original shows were promoted by Coralluzzo and NWA New Jersey, [6] [9] [10] [11] other promotions have held similar events including IWA Mid-South in 1998 [12] and Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 2002. [13] It has been suggested by some in the industry, such as former wrestlers Bob Blackburn and Buddy Landel, that the shows have been used to financially exploit Gilbert's death. [14] Landel, a regular performer for the NWA shows, initially declined Ian Rotten's offer to appear for IWA Mid South's memorial show for this reason. [4]

Show results

First Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl

February 3, 1996 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (The Armory)

No.Results [15] StipulationsTimes
1 Knuckles Nelson defeated The Inferno KidSingles match
2 Glen Osbourne and Rockin' Rebel defeated Blue Thunder and Harley Lewis via disqualificationTag team match
3 Tommy Gilbert vs. Dory Funk, Jr. ended in a time-limit drawSingles match20:00 [6]
4The Lost Boys (Yar and Wolf) defeated The Greek Connection (Gus the Greek and Jimmy Londos) and Bad Attitude (Seek and Destroy) to become the first NWA United States Tag Team Champions Triangle match
5 Johnny Gunn defeated Tommy Rich by pinfallSingles match [6]
6 Debbie Combs, Kevin Lawler and HW Starr defeated Angel, Twiggy Ramiriez and Rik Ratchet by pinfallMixed six-man match
7 Tommy Cairo (c) defeated Derrick Domino by pinfallSingles match for the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
8 Ace Darling defeated Kid Flash by pinfallSingles match
9 Doug Gilbert defeated Jerry Lawler by pinfallSingles match [6]
10 Dan Severn (c) defeated Al Snow by pinfallSingles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [6]
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Second Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl

April 12, 1997 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (West High School)

No.Results [16] [17] [18] Stipulations
1The Beach Bullies (Ray Odyssey and Inferno Kid) defeated Downward Spiral (Adrian Hall and Twiggy Ramirez) (c)Tag team match for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship
2Mr. Puerto Rico defeated Steve Corino Singles match
3 The Black Scorpion defeated Donnie B. DeviouslySingles match
4 Tommy Gilbert defeated Ian Rotten Singles match
5 King Kong Bundy defeated Don MontoyaSingles match
6 Lance Diamond defeated Reckless Youth (c) and Cheetah MasterTriangle match for the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
7 Marty Jannetty defeated Harley Lewis Singles match
8 Dan Severn (c) vs. Dory Funk, Jr. ended in a double count-outSingles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
9I-Con won a battle royalBattle royal
10 Doug Gilbert defeated Buddy Landell Singles match
11 Flash Funk defeated Ace Darling Singles match
12 Goldust defeated Derrick DominoSingles match
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Third Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl

February 28, 1998 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Radisson Hotel)

No.Results [5] [19] Stipulations
1Overweight Lover defeated Johnny Rotten by pinfallSingles match
2 Ray Odyssey defeated Patch by pinfallSingles match
3 Brittany Brown (with The Fabulous Moolah) defeated Brandi Alexander (with Fred the Elephant Boy) by pinfallSingles match
4The Great Caruso defeated Metal Maniac by pinfallSingles match
5Rik Ratchett defeated Steve Corino Singles match
6 Marlena won an arm wrestling match by forfeit when Sunny did not appearSingles match
7Lance Diamond defeated Twiggy RamirezSingles match
8 Dan Severn (c - NWA) defeated Franz Schumann (c - CWA)Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship vs CWA World Middleweight Championship
9 Ace Darling and Devon Storm (with Jim Cornette) defeated The Misfits (Derrik Domino and Harley Lewis)Tag team match for the vacant NWA United States Tag Team Championship [20]
10 Sid Vicious defeated King Kong Bundy Singles match
11 Doug and Tommy Gilbert defeated Buddy Landell and Dory Funk, Jr. by pinfallTag team match [21]

Fourth Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl

October 2, 1999 in Vineland, New Jersey (Vineland High School)

No.Results [1] [22] StipulationsTimes
1Slayer defeated LizardSingles match
2Biggie Biggs won a battle royalBattle royal
3Rik Ratchet defeated Kevin KnightSingles match
4Twiggy Ramirez defeated Harley Lewis via disqualificationSingles match
5 George Steele defeated Jack Hammer.Singles match [23]
6The Inferno Kid defeated Judas YoungSingles match
7Trooper Mattola defeated The ShysterSingles match6:00 [22] [24]
8 King Kong Bundy defeated Biggie BiggsSingles match
9 Tommy Gilbert and Kronus defeated The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge)Tag team match [23]

See also

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Further reading