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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 15:03:01 GMT -5
Everyone says Brian Pillman was ahead of his time, with both of his "Flyin" and "Loose Cannon" gimmicks, which is what brought him most of his fanfare..
Do you think that if Pillman came in "during" his time (I guess I said that right), he would be as big of a deal as he was?? Or would he be lost in the crowd?
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Post by bigvanshefer on Feb 4, 2009 15:06:40 GMT -5
Honestly, no. But at the same time, the Loose Cannon was needed in 98-99, but it did come in at the right time. I'd say he would've still been the same, and had the same legacy.
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Post by Jimmy on Feb 4, 2009 17:40:23 GMT -5
the loose cannon gimmick was the right place and time for wrestling, but not for pillman. what i mean is that he did it perfectly, but he just couldn't back it up in the ring anymore due to his ankle surgery. maybe over time he could have redefined himself as a brawler but nearly all his matches in the WWF were nothing special, sadly.
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Post by Chicago on Feb 5, 2009 1:19:27 GMT -5
I think if Pillman had been around for the Attitude era (if that's what you're asking) to see and be a part of it blossoming, he would have had some success, but nothing comparable to Steve Austin or The Rock.
Pillman and Goldust had been feuding for several months before his untimely death in October '97, and the plans for the storyline involving Marlena would lead to her turning on Goldust and siding with Pillman in the end. I believe this feud would have ended in Pillman's favor, now with Marlena at his side and a follow-up mid-card angle or two to round out the year. He probably would have been involved in the Royal Rumble as one of the many wrestlers gunning (no pun intended) for Austin in the Rumble match, but I think, inevitably, Pillman's battered body would have led to an early retirement from the WWF by the end of the decade (if he wasn't to be fired or released by then).
I'm sure he could have contributed to the WWF still, despite his injuries, in a commentator's role during the late '90s-early 2000s (maybe color commentary on SmackDown! in '99?). Ross always said he was a natural and working with him on Shotgun Saturday Night showcased Pillman's talent on the mic. His career was in his hands, really, even if he couldn't bring it in the ring as he had during the early-to-mid 90s. The WWF adopting a brawling, hardcore style would have definitely suited Pillman at the time, but I think Austin, The Rock, DX, etc would have overshadowed Pillman's character and he would have been relegated to the mid-card for the rest of his career (with maybe one shot at the main event to put Austin over).
Unfortunately, however, I believe Pillman's demons would have caught up with him eventually and his death would have been one of the many wrestling tragedies we've now become accustomed to if he wasn't able to clean up his act. I could see him being a casualty at some time or another in this decade if he were to become too dependent on drugs, which is sad to say but is often true.
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Post by carly1988 on Feb 5, 2009 2:09:00 GMT -5
Pillman around 1995-1996 (if healthy) could have been a top heel/possible World Champion in WCW. Of course with Hogan, Flair and Savage in that company it wasnt going to happen but Pillman had "it" to be the top dog
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Post by DTP. on Feb 5, 2009 12:05:33 GMT -5
Wasn't Pillman scheduled to face Mankind at Badd Blood the night he died? Shame.
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Post by Jimmy on Feb 5, 2009 12:12:38 GMT -5
Wasn't Pillman scheduled to face Mankind at Badd Blood the night he died? Shame. Well technically he was supposed to face Dude Love And that was a good analysis, chicago.I've watched some of those Shotgun's from 1997 and Pillman really was a natural as a commentator, I'd compare him to Matt Striker. Something worth thinking about though is had he not died he still would have been a part of the Hart Foundation, which all course led to everyone but Owen fleeing to WCW after the screwjob. Would Pillman have stayed in the WWF? I would imagine so, but he really was living the Loose Cannon gimmick so it's hard to say what he would have done.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2009 15:50:40 GMT -5
interesting point there.......would Pillman have stayed or went?
hard to picure him staying..........equaly tough to picture him having went back to WCW
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Post by Chicago on Feb 8, 2009 16:16:39 GMT -5
I think if Pillman had left, he would have come right back to the WWF in '99 with or shortly before Davey Boy returned.
His best shot at success in the WWF would have been in 1998, though, so I don't know if he would have stayed and been given a main event feud with Austin or he would have left to go with the rest.
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Post by TGTD 2.0 on Feb 8, 2009 22:21:23 GMT -5
I remember Austin saying in an interview after Pillman's death that Vince really liked him and had big plans for him. He originally was to be booked as the man who would defeat Stone Cold for the IC title then be a top contender for Austin's WWF Championship over the summer of 1998. The angle would revolve not only around their past but also by Pillman stating he had beaten Austin for a title in the past and now will defeat him for another. Sadly that never came to be.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2009 5:59:40 GMT -5
I remember Austin saying in an interview after Pillman's death that Vince really liked him and had big plans for him. He originally was to be booked as the man who would defeat Stone Cold for the IC title then be a top contender for Austin's WWF Championship over the summer of 1998. The angle would revolve not only around their past but also by Pillman stating he had beaten Austin for a title in the past and now will defeat him for another. Sadly that never came to be. cheers for that man-didnt know that tidbit.that would have been good actually-very good.
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