My past couple of columns have been comparing booking decisions over titles and pay-per-views here in 2007 against those of 1997. While I have enjoyed writing about those things, coming into this week's column I wasn't quite sure what angle I would discuss. Of course, it's amazing where you'll be when a good idea hits. While fixing myself a sandwich this afternoon my mind began to wonder about different topics I could discuss today. Then it hit me. With all of the controversy this month regarding the WWE's wellness policy, and the impending Congressional hearings on drug and steroid abuse in wrestling, why not write about one of the first major victims of this lifestyle? Brian Pillman.
Pillman was edgy, and controversial, and way ahead of his time. He had pulled off one of the truly great worked-shoot angles in wrestling history in early 1996 by playing such an unpredictable character that no one knew where the line between real life and a wrestling angle began or ended. Pillman was even able to "work the boss" Eric Bischoff into granting him a very real release from his WCW contract. Bischoff's reward for this was watching Pillman go to ECW and eventually to the WWE(F).
Unfortunately, in between his stint in Philadelphia and his move to Stamford, tragedy occurred. Pillman was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident. He rolled his Hummer several times, and was ejected from the vehicle. Pillman suffered a shattered ankle and required multiple surgeries to repair it. He was able to make a return to the ring, but his style was greatly toned down because of his ankle. In addition to this, Pillman, no stranger to drug abuse already, became dependant on pain killers to help ease the agony caused by wrestling on a fused ankle.
Pillman had been a medical and athletic marvel from birth. He had developed polyps on his throat, which would obstruct his breathing. Later in his life Pillman would continue to defy the odds by excelling in both high school and college football, despite being below average size for his position. Brian's football career would culminate with a roster spot on his hometown Cincinnati Bengals team. Pillman would be awarded the courage award for his performance during the season.
With all that Pillman had overcome in his life to be able to pursue his athletic goals, the thought of an ankle injury leading to his demise was unfathomable. Sadly, it was, as Pillman would be found dead in his hotel room in his Minnesota hotel room. His abuse of prescription painkillers were not the cause of his death, but they certainly could not have helped in preventing it. The autopsy revealed that Pillman had died of a previously undiagnosed heart condition, arteriosclerotic heart disease.
Had a wellness policy been in place in 1997, it may have helped to prevent the loss of such a truly gifted and often underappreciated performer. Of course, with so many potholes existing in the current wellness policy, there is no telling if management would have simply overlooked Pillman's usage of painkillers, since they may have been prescribed by a doctor.
I particularly recall the night that Brian Pillman died when Vince McMahon appeared on screen to announce Pillman's passing prior to the Badd Blood pay-per-view from St. Louis. Knowing what an unpredictable character Pillman was, and knowing Vince's knack for creating storylines devoid of morality, I initially assumed that it was all an angle and that Brian would make a surprise appearance later that evening.
It was disgusting to think that it could all be an angle, but it was even more difficult to believe that such an amazing performer was gone. I was too young to know the tragedies of Gino Hernandez, or the Von Erichs, or Bruiser Brody. For me, Brian Pillman was the first great wrestler that I had grown up watching that had died. It brought home a sense of reality, that in the past ten years has been driven home far too often.
It is important for us to remember the Brian Pillmans, and the Louie Spicollis, and Art Barrs of the wrestling world, because they were the first ones to fall in this ever-growing list of professional wrestlers from that era who have died.
Professional Wrestling is at a cross-roads right now, and it's not over ratings, or who should be champion, or which company will sign the top free agent. The question professional wrestling has to ask itself is, "are we willing to make a fundamental change now, for the health of the performers, and the sake of all those millions of fans who watch us and idolize us? Or do we want to continue down this path and continue to watch great performers, young wrestlers who haven't even scratched the surface yet, and veterens of the past all die before their time?"
Rest in Peace Brian Pillman. As we approach the ten year anniversary of your death, you are still remembered by so many fans for what you were, and what you might have been.
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