First_Annual_Eddie_Gilbert_Memorial_Brawl
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]
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]