In the annals of professional wrestling, few events blend the spectacle of sports entertainment with the stark reality of combat quite like WrestleMania XV`s infamous boxing match. This was not a pre-scripted dance, but a brutal, unadorned clash between two vastly different worlds, leaving one competitor`s career in tatters and cementing the legend of another.
The Controversial Road to WrestleMania
The stage for this extraordinary confrontation was set not in a boxing ring, but within the hallowed halls of the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). Bart Gunn, known to fans as Michael Polchlopek, had just emerged victorious from the controversial “Brawl For All” tournament in 1998. This tournament, designed with “shootfighting” rules—meaning real strikes and takedowns—was a radical departure from professional wrestling`s choreographed nature. Gunn, against all expectations, delivered legitimate knockouts, including a surprising victory over the formidable `Dr Death` Steve Williams. His unexpected dominance, while a triumph of raw grit, also made him a problematic figure for the WWF, disrupting carefully laid plans.
Gunn`s reward for navigating this gauntlet was a prime spot at WrestleMania XV. However, the nature of this particular match was far from traditional wrestling. He was slated to face Eric Esch, a 32-year-old from Alabama better known to boxing fans by his formidable moniker: Butterbean.
A Mismatch of Disciplines and Destiny
Butterbean was hardly an unknown entity. With an impressive professional boxing record of 41-1-1 (32 KOs) at the time, this 5ft 11in, 300-plus-pound brawler was a household name in boxing circles, earning the title `The King of the Four-Rounders` for his devastating power. He had even graced a WWF card once before, albeit in a scripted match, proving his crossover appeal. Now, he was called upon to deliver a very real lesson.
The WWF`s attempt to prepare Gunn for this legitimate boxing encounter proved, predictably, to be a rather optimistic endeavor. Gunn was sent to a boxing gym for five weeks. A wrestler, whose career revolved around a distinct set of physical storytelling, was suddenly asked to rewire decades of muscle memory. “Everything I’ve done for 20-25 years that worked for me is wrong,” Gunn recalled, describing his predicament as entering the fight as a “green fighter” with merely a month of crash-course training. The irony was palpable: a tournament designed to showcase “real fighting” had now put a wrestler in a truly unwinnable situation.
Butterbean, on the other hand, arrived with the confidence of a seasoned professional. He had headlined major boxing cards and was accustomed to large crowds. He understood the pressure, but it was a pressure he thrived under, unlike what he perceived Gunn might face stepping into his world. Butterbean wasn`t just fighting a wrestler; he was delivering a statement on behalf of an entire combat sport.
The Fateful 35 Seconds
On March 28, 1999, in front of 20,000 fans at Philadelphia`s First Union Center and nearly a million more watching on pay-per-view, the bell rang. The outcome, at least for Butterbean, was never in doubt. He didn`t need referee Vinny Pazienza`s instructions; he had a job to do. From the opening seconds, it was clear that the five weeks of training had done little to bridge the chasm between a professional wrestler and a professional boxer.
Two thunderous right hands from Butterbean sent Gunn to the canvas. Though he bravely rose at the count of eight, signaling his desire to continue, the fight was already effectively over. Another devastating right hand landed with clinical precision, knocking Gunn out cold. He fell, hitting his head on the ropes in a frightening scene that served as a stark reminder of the brutality of real boxing. The entire ordeal lasted a mere 35 seconds.
“It was a bad knockout, it really was,” Butterbean later reflected. “I`ve knocked out a couple like that.”
Divergent Paths and a Surprising Redemption
The abrupt knockout effectively ended Bart Gunn`s tenure with the WWF. While he continued to wrestle elsewhere and even ventured into mixed martial arts, his mainstream spotlight had dimmed considerably after that night. He had proved his toughness in “Brawl For All,” but the boxing ring at WrestleMania was a bridge too far.
For Butterbean, the event was a mere blip in a thriving boxing career. While there were discussions about him continuing with the WWF, the financial incentives simply couldn`t compete with what he was earning in the boxing world. He was too busy dominating opponents, boxing 13 times in 1999 alone, going 12-0-1 with nine knockouts, even headlining a pay-per-view against Mike Tyson`s former opponent, Peter McNeeley.
Esch continued to box for another 12 years, also dabbling in independent pro wrestling and MMA, and even famously splattering Johnny Knoxville in a department store for `Jackass: The Movie`. His was a colorful, unconventional career he could truly be proud of.
However, retirement brought its own challenges. Butterbean`s weight ballooned to over 500 lbs, leading to serious health concerns. In an ironic twist, it was an association with professional wrestling that provided a lifeline. Former wrestler Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) introduced him to his DDP Yoga system. This unexpected intervention led to a remarkable transformation, with Esch shedding significant weight and regaining his health.
The Unstoppable Spirit: A Comeback Dream
Today, at 58 years old and weighing a much healthier 285 lbs, Eric “Butterbean” Esch is feeling good enough to contemplate a comeback. His target? None other than YouTube sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul. “He wanted to run his mouth about me, talk bad about me, so why can’t he back it up?” Butterbean states, ever the showman. While he also muses about a dream fight with Mike Tyson, he acknowledges the long odds.
Regardless of whether these dream fights materialize, Butterbean`s journey from a devastating knockout artist to a reclaimed health warrior, now brimming with renewed confidence and power, is a testament to the human spirit. “Right now is my prime,” he asserts, with a conviction that belies his age. “Seriously, I’m hitting harder, I’m stronger, I’m faster. I’m so much better now than I was. It’s never too late. If you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything.”
The 35 seconds at WrestleMania XV may have sealed Bart Gunn`s fate in the WWF, but for Butterbean, it was just another day in the office, a fleeting moment in a career that continues to surprise and inspire, proving that even after the final bell, some fighters never truly stop swinging.
