Brian Pillman

Brian William Pillman^[2] (May 22, 1962 – October 5, 1997) was an American professional wrestler and football player. He is known for competing in World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation in the 1990s.

Brian Pillman
Born	Brian William Pillman (1962-05-22)May 22, 1962 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died	October 5, 1997(1997-10-05) (aged 35) Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Spouse	Melanie Pillman ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	6, including Lexis King
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Brian Pillman Flyin' Brian Yellow Dog Loose Cannon
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight	227 lb (103 kg)
Billed from	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. "The kennel club" (as The Yellow Dog) Hollywood (as California Brian)
Trained by	Stu Hart[1]
Debut	1986
Football career
No. 41, 58
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:	Norwood (Norwood, Ohio)
College:	Miami (OH)
Undrafted:	1984
Career history
Cincinnati Bengals (1984) Buffalo Bills (1985)* Calgary Stampeders (1986)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Division I All-American (1983) Division I All-American Second Team (1982) MAC Defensive Player of the Year (1983)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

He was well known as "The Loose Cannon",^[3] which was a gimmick that would see him do worked shoots that would gain him infamy for his unpredictable character.

Before becoming a professional wrestler, Pillman played football in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders.

Pillman was found dead by police in his Bloomington, Minnesota hotel room on October 5, 1997 from a previously undetected heart condition called arteriosclerotic heart disease.^[4][5] That same night, Pillman was supposed to face Dude Love on the WWF pay-per-view Badd Blood: In Your House.

His son Brian Pillman Jr. now wrestles for WWE (formerly the WWF), on their NXT brand under the ring name Lexis King.^[6] He has also worked for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Major League Wrestling (MLW).^[7]

Championships

• Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (one time) (with Tom Zenk)
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (one time) (with "Stunning" Steve Austin)
  • WCW Light Heavyweight Championship (two times)^[8][9]
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (one time) (with "Stunning" Steve Austin)^[10]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • He was ranked #84 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" by PWI in 2003.^[11]
• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (two times) (with Bruce Hart)
  • Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • 5 Star Match (1991) with Sting, Rick Steiner, and Scott Steiner vs. Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, Barry Windham, and Sid Vicious (February 24, WarGames match, WrestleWar)
  • Feud of the Year (1997) with Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Davey Boy Smith vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
  • Most Underrated (1994)
  • Rookie of the Year (1987)
  • Tag Team of the Year (1993) with Steve Austin as The Hollywood Blonds