Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl
Encyclopedia
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
. Each year, the event would feature the Gilbert family receiving a plaque
from promoter Dennis Coraluzzo. In 1998, the show came under some criticism when Coraluzzo was alleged to have used the in-ring plaque presentation to publicly attack Paul Heyman
, as did the Gilbert family, provoking a verbal altercation between himself and ECW fans in attendance.
The show was also attended by older veterans who had worked with Gilbert during his career and appeared both during the show and at a special "tribute dinner" and wrestling convention held during the weekend. Mick Foley
made an appearance at the first convention and later expressed his regret in not wrestling the first show. Brian Hildebrand
was honored at the banquet two years later.
Although the original shows were promoted by Coraluzzo and NWA New Jersey, other promotions have held similar events including IWA Mid-South in 1998 and Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 2002. 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. Landell, 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.
(The Armory)
(West High School)
(Radisson Hotel)
(Vineland High School)
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
event held between 1996 and 1999 as a tribute to wrestler Eddie Gilbert and featured talent from the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, as well as local and established independent wrestlers
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
. Each year, the event would feature the Gilbert family receiving a plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
from promoter Dennis Coraluzzo. In 1998, the show came under some criticism when Coraluzzo was alleged to have used the in-ring plaque presentation to publicly attack Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
, as did the Gilbert family, provoking a verbal altercation between himself and ECW fans in attendance.
The show was also attended by older veterans who had worked with Gilbert during his career and appeared both during the show and at a special "tribute dinner" and wrestling convention held during the weekend. Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
made an appearance at the first convention and later expressed his regret in not wrestling the first show. Brian Hildebrand
Brian Hildebrand
Brian Curtis Hildebrand was a professional wrestling manager, wrestler and referee who sometimes went by the name of Mark Curtis...
was honored at the banquet two years later.
Although the original shows were promoted by Coraluzzo and NWA New Jersey, other promotions have held similar events including IWA Mid-South in 1998 and Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 2002. It has been suggested by some in the industry, such as former wrestlers Bob Blackburn and Buddy Landel
Buddy Landel
William Ansor is a professional wrestler better knownas "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel.-Career:Buddy Landel started his career in 1979 as a young talented athlete in ICW. He left high school even though he had received letters of intent to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee...
, that the shows have been used to financially exploit Gilbert's death. Landell, a regular performer for the NWA shows, initially declined Ian Rotten
Ian Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
's offer to appear for IWA Mid South's memorial show for this reason.
First Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl
February 3, 1996 in Cherry Hill, New JerseyCherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
(The Armory)
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knuckles Nelson Knuckles Nelson Knuckles Nelson is a retired American professional wrestler, promoter and trainer who wrestled throughout the North American independent circuit during the 1990s and 2000s. He competed in several regional promotions such as the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance and the... defeated The Inferno Kid |
Singles match | n/a |
| 2 | Glen Osbourne Glen Osbourne Glen Osbourne is an American professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Eastern Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, where he was the youngest holder of the ECW World Television Championship... & Rockin' Rebel Rockin' Rebel Chuck Williams is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He is best known for his appearances on the U.S... defeated Blue Thunder & Harley Lewis Harley Lewis Harley Lewis is an American professional wrestler and shoot fighter who competes for independent promorions in both the United States and Canada. He has had successful stints in International World Class Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, Phoenix Championship Wrestling and... via disqualification |
Tag team match | n/a |
| 3 | Tommy Gilbert and Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional... wrestled to a time-limit draw. |
Singles match | 20:00 |
| 4 | The 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 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (New Jersey version) The New Jersey version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the American-based promotion National Wrestling Alliance 's Jersey subsidiary. The title was only contestable by tag teams in tag team matches... |
Triangle match | n/a |
| 5 | Johnny Gunn pinned Tommy Rich Tommy Rich Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 6 | Debbie Combs, Kevin Lawler & HW Starr defeated Angel, Twiggy Ramiriez & Rik Ratchet when Combs pinned Ratchet | Mixed six-man match | n/a |
| 7 | Tommy Cairo Tommy Cairo Thomas "Tommy" Cairo is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his 1994 feud with The Sandman in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey-based Force One Pro Wrestling promotion and school.-Career:Cairo was a bodybuilder before... pinned Derrick Domino to retain the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship NWA North American Heavyweight Championship The NWA North American Heavyweight Championship is the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was created in 1994 after World Championship Wrestling withdrew from the NWA. There were other versions of this title before this one was created... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 8 | Ace Darling pinned Kid Flash Kid Flash Kid Flash is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero The Flash. The first incarnation of the character, Wally West, debuted in The Flash #110... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 9 | Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert.... pinned Jerry "The King" Lawler Jerry Lawler Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 10 | Dan Severn Dan Severn Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the... pinned Al Snow Al Snow Allen Ray Sarven is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment and currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent.-Early career:Sarven... to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship NWA World Heavyweight Championship The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and... |
Singles match | n/a |
Second Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl
April 12, 1997 in Cherry Hill, New JerseyCherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
(West High School)
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Beach Bullies (Ray Odyssey Ray Odyssey Ray Samalonis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Surfer" Ray Odyssey, who competes primarily in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions... & Inferno Kid) defeated Downward Spiral (Adrian Hall & Twiggy Ramirez) to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship NWA United States Tag Team Championship (New Jersey version) The New Jersey version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the American-based promotion National Wrestling Alliance 's Jersey subsidiary. The title was only contestable by tag teams in tag team matches... |
Tag team match | n/a |
| 2 | Mr. Puerto Rico defeated Steve Corino Steve Corino Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 3 | The Black Scorpion defeated Donnie B. Deviously | Singles match | n/a |
| 4 | Tommy Gilbert defeated Ian Rotten Ian Rotten John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 5 | King Kong Bundy King Kong Bundy Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:... defeated Don Montoya |
Singles match | n/a |
| 6 | Lance Diamond Lance Diamond Lance Diamond is an American lounge singer and radio personality based in Buffalo, New York. He can be heard on Saturday nights at the Elmwood Lounge, located in Buffalo on Elmwood Avenue. Mr. Diamond has performed at , on Sunday evenings during the Summer also on Elmwood.Diamond, together with... defeated Reckless Youth Reckless Youth Thomas Carter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Reckless Youth. He has competed in numerous North American independent promotions including the East Coast Wrestling Association, Combat Zone Wrestling and Chikara, where he was one of the original founders alongside... and Cheetah Master to win the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship NWA North American Heavyweight Championship The NWA North American Heavyweight Championship is the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was created in 1994 after World Championship Wrestling withdrew from the NWA. There were other versions of this title before this one was created... |
Triangle match | n/a |
| 7 | Marty Jannetty Marty Jannetty Frederick Marty Jannetty is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time... defeated Harley Lewis Harley Lewis Harley Lewis is an American professional wrestler and shoot fighter who competes for independent promorions in both the United States and Canada. He has had successful stints in International World Class Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, Phoenix Championship Wrestling and... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 8 | NWA World Champ Dan Severn Dan Severn Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the... and Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional... wrestled to a double count-out |
Singles match | n/a |
| 9 | I-Con won a battle royal | Battle royal | n/a |
| 10 | Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert.... defeated Buddy Landell |
Singles match | n/a |
| 11 | Flash Funk defeated Ace Darling | Singles match | n/a |
| 12 | Goldust defeated Derrick Domino | Singles match | n/a |
Third Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl
February 28, 1998 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
(Radisson Hotel)
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overweight Lover pinned Johnny Rotten | Singles match | n/a |
| 2 | Ray Odyssey Ray Odyssey Ray Samalonis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Surfer" Ray Odyssey, who competes primarily in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions... pinned Patch |
Singles match | n/a |
| 3 | Brittany Brown Brittany Brown Brittany Brown is a female professional wrestler, former promoter and current trainer. She competed in the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association, The Fabulous Moolah's Ladies International Wrestling Association, as well as in Killer Kowalski's International Wrestling Federation, National... (with The Fabulous Moolah The Fabulous Moolah Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy... ) pinned Brandi Alexander (with Fred the Elephant Boy The Wack Pack The Wack Pack is the name given to a wide assortment of personalities heard throughout the history of The Howard Stern Show. As a parody of the Rat Pack or Brat Pack, they are a considerable part of what the radio show became notable for... ) |
Singles match | n/a |
| 4 | The Great Caruso pinned Metal Maniac Metal Maniac Jeff Miller, known by his ringname Metal Maniac is an American professional wrestler who has competed in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions throughout the 1990s including Century Wrestling Alliance, East Coast Professional Wrestling, World Xtreme Wrestling and the National... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 5 | Rik Ratchett defeated Steve Corino Steve Corino Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 6 | Marlena Terri Runnels Terri Lynne Boatright Runnels is a former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling manager, television host and occasional wrestler.... was declared the winner of an arm wrestling Arm wrestling Arm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand... match by forfeit when Sunny Tammy Lynn Sytch Tamara "Tammy" Lynn Sytch is an American professional wrestling manager, personality,and occasional wrestler. She achieved her greatest success under the ring name Sunny within the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, and is widely considered as one of the first Divas... did not appear for the match |
Singles match | n/a |
| 7 | Lance Diamond defeated Twiggy Ramirez. | Singles match | n/a |
| 8 | Dan Severn Dan Severn Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the... defeated CWA World Heavyweight Champion CWA World Heavyweight Championship The CWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the German professional wrestling promotion the Catch Wrestling Association.... Franz Schumann Franz Schumann Franz Schumann is a retired Austrian professional wrestler, who was well known for his stint in Catch Wrestling Association.-Life and career:Born on December 27, 1960 in Linz, Austria, Franz Schumann had been a natural wrestler, as he had won several national championships in Austria... by submission to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship NWA World Heavyweight Championship The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and... |
Champion vs. Champion match | n/a |
| 9 | Ace Darling & Devon Storm Devon Storm Christopher "Chris" Ford is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Crowbar, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion, a one time World Tag Team Champion with David Flair and a one time Cruiserweight Champion, which he... (with Jim Cornette Jim Cornette James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling... ) defeated The Misfits (Derrik Domino & Harley Lewis Harley Lewis Harley Lewis is an American professional wrestler and shoot fighter who competes for independent promorions in both the United States and Canada. He has had successful stints in International World Class Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, Phoenix Championship Wrestling and... ) to win the vacant NWA United States Tag Team Championship NWA United States Tag Team Championship (New Jersey version) The New Jersey version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the American-based promotion National Wrestling Alliance 's Jersey subsidiary. The title was only contestable by tag teams in tag team matches... |
Tag team match | n/a |
| 10 | Sid Vicious Sid Eudy Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation... defeated King Kong Bundy King Kong Bundy Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 11 | Doug Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert.... & Tommy Gilbert defeated Buddy Landell & Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Funk, Jr. Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional... when Tommy Gilbert pinned Funk |
Tag team match | n/a |
Fourth Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl
October 2, 1999 in Vineland, New JerseyVineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
(Vineland High School)
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slayer defeated Lizard. | Singles match | n/a |
| 2 | Biggie Biggs won a battle royal | Battle royal | n/a |
| 3 | Rik Ratchet defeated Kevin Knight | Singles match | n/a |
| 4 | Twiggy Ramirez defeated Harley Lewis Harley Lewis Harley Lewis is an American professional wrestler and shoot fighter who competes for independent promorions in both the United States and Canada. He has had successful stints in International World Class Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, Phoenix Championship Wrestling and... via disqualification |
Singles match | n/a |
| 5 | George "The Animal" Steele George Steele William James Myers , better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele is a former American professional wrestler and actor... defeated Jack Hammer. |
Singles match | n/a |
| 6 | The Inferno Kid defeated Judas Young | Singles match | n/a |
| 7 | Trooper Mattola defeated Schyster. | Singles match | 6:00 |
| 8 | King Kong Bundy King Kong Bundy Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:... defeated Biggie Biggs. |
Singles match | n/a |
| 9 | Tommy Gilbert & Kronus John Kronus George B. Caiazzo was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, John Kronus and later "Kronus". Caiazzo worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling, the United States Wrestling Association and Xtreme Pro Wrestling... defeated The Public Enemy The Public Enemy (professional wrestling) The Public Enemy was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge. The duo competed in many promotions, including Extreme Championship Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , National Wrestling Alliance , and the World Wrestling Federation... (Rocco Rock Rocco Rock Theodore James Petty was an American professional wrestler better known as "Flyboy" Rocco Rock, one half of The Public Enemy.-Career:... & Johnny Grunge Johnny Grunge Michael "Mike" Durham was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Johnny Grunge... ) |
Singles match | n/a |
Further reading
- Lister, John. Slamthology: Collected Wrestling Writings 1991-2004. Adlibbed Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-4116-5329-0