20th Anniversary of the Untimely Death of Brian Pillman

Twenty years ago today we lost “The Loose Cannon” Flyin’ Brian Pillman. Brian Pillman was a record setting college football player. As a defensive end he set the record for the most ‘tackles for a loss’ while playing for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Brian Pillman was a Two-Time Second Team All-American. Although, Pillman went undrafted by the NFL he ended up signing with Cincinnati Bengals in 1984, where Pillman won the Ed Block Courage Award for his team. Pillman went to the Canadian Football league in 1986.

After the season he ended his football career and began training in professional wrestling under the legendary Stu Hart. He wrestled in Hart’s Calgary based promotion: Stampede Wrestling. He was a two-time International Tag Team Champion in the team of Bad Company with Stu Hart’s son, Bruce. Brian Pillman is a member of the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Pillman would soon go to WCW in 1993 and team up with “Stunning” Steve Austin to form the Hollywood Blondes. They would win the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships. Pillman had success as a singles star too. Brian Pillman was a two-time WCW Light Heavyweight champion, winning the tournament to become the inaugural champion.

The first professional wrestling match that I ever saw live was Pillman vs Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger at the first Nitro live. My dad had a business trip in Minnesota and took me along for the week so he wouldn't miss my birthday. He did not watch wrestling, but was looking something for us to do, so he took me to the Mall of America for the first Nitro. I met Hulk Hogan, but I do not remember that. I only remember two things; Brian Pillman vs Jushin Liger and Sting. I fell in love with wrestling watching the first match and I have been hooked since!

Brian Pillman would have a short lived run in ECW where he would find his “Loose Cannon” persona. Brian Pillman would unfortunately find himself in a coma after he crashed his H1 Hummer into a tree in Kentucky. He would also shatter his ankle, forcing Pillman to adapt a more grounded style.

After Pillman entered the WWE he began teaming and then feuding with Steve Austin. Their feud gave us the notoriously infamous “gun incident.”  Pillman would soon align himself with The Hart Foundation. After the Austin feud was over Pillman began to feud with Goldust over Melina. This short lived feud gave us the "Brian Pillman's XXX-Files." This Angle would continue until his untimely death.

Pillman was scheduled to face Mick Foley’s Dude Love persona at the Bad Blood: In Your House PPV. The show was about to begin at seven PM and Jim Cornette was instructed to find Pillman. He called the hotel and the receptionist told him that they found Pillman dead in his hotel room by the maid around one PM that day. The autopsy revealed that Pillman died of a heart attack caused by an undetected heart condition, arteriosclerotic heart disease. This disease had caused the death of Brian Pillman’s father.

Vince McMahon would make a bazaar decision and hold an interview with Brian Pillman’s wife the very next night on RAW. It was especially shocking because of the gimmick that Brian Pillman was in while he died. It is one of the very few angles in the history of professional that I find too tasteless. This interview should never have been done. In February, Pillman's son, Brian Zachary, announced that he had decided to follow in his father's footsteps to become a professional wrestler. He wants to follow for his father's high flying style and keep his legacy alive. He should be traveling to any time to begin his training.

Brian Pillman was always before his time. He was a high-flier before it was popular. He was flying around the ring before Eric Bischoff’s esteemed cruiserweight division existed. He was edgy and controversial before the Attitude Era began. If his timing had lined up better than he could have been a major star. By the time Brian Pillman got to the WWE for the world to see he had already severely damaged his ankle. It’s a shame that we never actually got to see how great Brian Pillman actually was.

I feel like it’s only a matter of time before the Hart Foundation is inducted into the Hall of Fame as a faction. Hopefully then we may see Brian Pillman take his place in the Hall of Fame.