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♪
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[Narrator] Previously, on
Dark Side of the Ring...
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Sure, you can watch
the Hollywood Blonds,
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and we could've been a great
tag team if we'd been
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left together, but if you can
watch Flyin' Brian in his
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total element being
the Loose Cannon,
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you're seeing one
of the true really, really
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bright minds in the business
of professional wrestling.
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What the... are you doing?
Easy!
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He was on track to becoming the
biggest star in wrestling
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by convincing people that
he was the only one
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that wouldn't do
what he was told.
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I have been fired...
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by Eric Bischoff!
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Brian and I talked about it.
"I can't give you what you want.
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Raise the value in your stock
so that when you come back,
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it'll give me the
ability to pay you more
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'cause you've
raised your own value."
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Brian Pillman masterminded a
cutting edge character
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the wrestling world
had never seen.
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Playing the system
at its own game,
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he single-handedly turned
the industry on its head
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in order to manipulate
his way to the top.
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If he played one side
against the other
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in the middle of the
burgeoning wrestling war,
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then he would come
out much better,
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six figures per year better.
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But did he want it for himself?
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He didn't care about himself.
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He cared about
those little kids.
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Lost inside his
manic performance art,
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Brian's real life
spirals out of control.
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He's depended on to provide
for several different
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mothers and families, and I
think that does weigh on a man.
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A tragic turn of events
would not only alter
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the course of Brian's
career indefinitely,
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but also the lives of
those closest to him.
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I really believe that if it was
not for the Humvee wreck,
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that everything would
have turned out differently.
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♪
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Melanie called me, and
she called to tell me that
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Brian had an accident
and it was bad.
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♪ (sirens,
helicopter chuff) ♪
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And he was airlifted to
the university hospital.
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And, was in the
emergency room so,
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again, I was the lucky
one to go to the hospital.
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And I thought, oh,
Jesus, here we go again.
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When I got to the hospital,
I walked right by the room.
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And then Linda's like,
that's his room, Melanie.
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I'm like, "That's
not my husband."
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She's like, "I know, it doesn't
look like him, does it?"
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♪
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'Cause his hair was
red with all the blood,
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and they had him
in a neck brace.
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I mean, his head was swelled
up like a beach ball.
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And I thought, oh, my god...
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It was really bad.
His eyes were red, like,
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I didn't see any colour
than red, like blood.
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His eyes were just, ugh.
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[Linda] He had six different
doctors for his face.
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There's one that
just does the forehead,
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the lower mandible,
the upper mandible,
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the nose, the eye sockets.
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Everything in his
face was shattered.
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They had to put plates
in his face and
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they peeled his scalp back...
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to make the incision,
and peeled his face down
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to put the plates in.
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Word travels quickly that
Brian has been in a terrible
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car accident, and there's
talk of him losing a foot.
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His ankle was shattered.
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In fact, the nurse told
me that it was just like
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hanging off the table.
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She had to pick it up to
put it back on the table.
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♪
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And then the doctor said,
you know, that they would
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have to just fuse it into a
walking position,
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that he wouldn't probably
be able to run.
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Or, or even wrestle again.
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♪
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I show up, and he
goes, (muffled)...
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I said, "Don't talk, Brian.
It's alright.
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Hey, I'm with you,
I'm with you."
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I'm thinking, holy ...,
I don't know...
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And then he's got
a titanium mask,
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and he's got things
holding his legs together.
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I remember him crying in
the hospital, just saying,
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he said, "I really messed up.
I really messed up."
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'Cause he thought, you know,
his career was over.
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And I said, "Just be grateful
you were by yourself,
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there was no kids
in the car. It'll be fine."
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But he, he was crying,
saying, "I really messed up."
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♪
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Oh, he fell asleep at the wheel.
He had been up and...
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he went and picked up
some of his medication,
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and I guess it hit him too
soon before he got back to
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the house and you know,
he just drove into a...
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into a tree trunk off the side
and it threw the Humvee,
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totaled the Humvee.
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No, just those...
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muscle relaxers.
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Maybe a few pain pills.
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Well, we are turning the
microphone over to you, sir.
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We don't need any police
reports or doctor reports.
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Can you tell us, in your
own words, what happened?
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[voice of Brian Pillman]
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[Interviewer]
Oh, my lord.
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♪
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When he came home
from the hospital,
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I do remember him
being in the living room,
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and I had a gift and I
wanted to give it to him.
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And, I was just
terrified 'cause I'm like,
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that's not my dad.
I don't know who that is.
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You know, as a child and
seeing my father like that,
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I think it just kind of
freaked me out a little bit.
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♪
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I do have some small
memories there of just
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seeing those bolts and how
they're just screwed into
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his leg and I'm thinking,
what's going on here, you know?
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And then, it's like...
Then they look like
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they're greased up,
but it's like, not grease,
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but it's like blood
and like, just the...
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It's all hardened and it's just,
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oh, it was just a
wild sight to see, you know,
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just some, some rusty bolts
sticking out of your dad's leg.
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♪
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Yeah, I just, I really
remember him just being like
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so exhausted...
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and rundown.
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I was just too young
to really understand, like,
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what was really
going on with him,
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and like, how ragged
his life had become.
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♪
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The Loose Cannon thing had
gone so far at this point
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that a lot of the guys were
convinced there was no wreck
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and it was Brian working again,
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and they're just trying to
figure out what the angle is.
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How does he expect to get
more money out of this,
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or more attention out of this?
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Or, you know, was it really
a wreck or maybe he just
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ran his car off the road and,
and wrecked it to get,
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you know, publicity.
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He had created so much,
not only mystery,
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but confusion about himself
that even the guys that were
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his friends weren't exactly
sure how to take him.
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Perhaps he would have
done that for attention.
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And Kim, who would not work me,
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Kim is just like,
"No, no, no. It's, it's real."
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And I told people, I go,
"It's real," and you know,
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I think most people didn't
believe me either.
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He was, you know, there's
the Andy Kaufman thing
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in him, faking an auto accident,
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perhaps he would have
done that for attention.
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There was even at one point
a rumor that some of the
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wrestlers put out that he
was having plastic surgery
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to look just like Shawn Michaels
so he could go into
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the World Wrestling
Federation and be the evil
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Shawn Michaels and
fight him for the title.
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Guys believed that...
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'cause they
thought Brian was nuts.
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While the wrestling rumor
mill is speculating
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the authenticity of
the accident,
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media outlets also
question Brian's intentions.
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Brian, now, you're not
having plastic surgery and,
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you know, gonna go into the
WWF as Shawn Michaels' twin
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or something?
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I don't know what goes
on in America online.
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[voice of Brian Pillman]
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[Interviewer] Oh, it's
preposterous, but...
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[David] I can look back,
and Brian was pretty
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honest with me most of the time.
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But the one where I know
that he wasn't was
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right after the accident.
And Brian, you know, said like,
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"Oh, yeah, the doctors
told me, you know, like,
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it's gonna take a while,
but I will be 100%.
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The doctors have told me."
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And I know that the doctors
told him the exact opposite.
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The wreck happened
during the negotiations.
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He kept it pretty quiet
how badly he was hurt.
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And, if the real story of
that wreck had come out
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at that point, I don't think
he would have got a contract
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from either company.
He could never again do,
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physically, what he had
been able to do before,
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and he didn't want
anybody to know that.
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The object was to
play Vince for money,
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and he did.
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Only he was...
near dead when he did.
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Vince signed him, and he
signed him for more money.
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♪
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Vince McMahon offers Brian
a guaranteed 3-year contract,
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and although Eric Bischoff
offers him more money,
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his deal is subject to be
renegotiated
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every three months.
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Brian knew, at that point,
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because of the
extent of the injury,
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that if he had an out
clause in a contract that
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00:10:02,227 --> 00:10:06,207
at some point fairly early
it was gonna get exercised.
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The events that have
taken place in my life,
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just in the past 8 weeks have...
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00:10:11,736 --> 00:10:14,882
really changed my...
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the future of my life and...
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00:10:18,034 --> 00:10:20,971
from going from a point not
knowing if I was gonna
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live or not, to standing here...
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00:10:25,250 --> 00:10:28,646
signing a contract with the
World Wrestling Federation,
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00:10:28,670 --> 00:10:30,731
it's a dream come true.
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00:10:30,755 --> 00:10:32,441
(applause)
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00:10:32,465 --> 00:10:34,735
What changed about Brian
coming in to our company
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00:10:34,759 --> 00:10:37,780
at that time, well, he's not
gonna be able to wrestle
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to any degree, or even
comparably to what he was.
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♪
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Although Brian is still
in rehabilitation
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00:10:46,437 --> 00:10:47,623
for his injuries,
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00:10:47,647 --> 00:10:52,294
he officially joins the
WWF in 1996 with the
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00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:56,090
Loose Cannon persona
already in full force.
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00:10:56,114 --> 00:10:58,342
There's Brian Pillman.
What's he doing here?
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00:10:58,366 --> 00:11:01,303
Brian Pillman,
recently signing with
217
00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:04,807
the World Wrestling
Federation...
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00:11:04,831 --> 00:11:06,684
I just remember
him coming in and,
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00:11:06,708 --> 00:11:08,310
I was like, okay,
let's see what he can do.
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00:11:08,334 --> 00:11:13,023
Here in the land of,
you know, WWF.
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00:11:13,047 --> 00:11:16,610
They'll let you go out
there and push the envelope,
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00:11:16,634 --> 00:11:18,696
but you know, how strong is he?
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00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:19,947
Can he do it?
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00:11:19,971 --> 00:11:22,908
And, I would have, if I
was gonna bet on Brian,
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00:11:22,932 --> 00:11:25,369
like, oh, yeah, if he
could just get healed up,
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00:11:25,393 --> 00:11:26,787
he's gonna go right to the top.
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00:11:26,811 --> 00:11:30,082
I'm gonna rape,
pillage, and plunder
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00:11:30,106 --> 00:11:32,585
this entire federation!
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00:11:32,609 --> 00:11:39,300
♪
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00:11:39,324 --> 00:11:43,721
When Brian came home,
he still had an IV.
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00:11:43,745 --> 00:11:46,432
And, he'd unhook
himself from the IV,
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00:11:46,456 --> 00:11:48,475
go do the show, and then
come back and
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00:11:48,499 --> 00:11:50,853
hook himself back up again.
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00:11:50,877 --> 00:11:53,564
He had to do that
because of work.
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00:11:53,588 --> 00:11:56,150
So then, it wasn't
fun for him anymore.
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00:11:56,174 --> 00:11:59,570
You know, I don't think
he enjoyed it anymore.
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You know, that was
what I consider
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00:12:01,471 --> 00:12:03,348
the beginning of the end.
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00:12:09,228 --> 00:12:11,790
[Narrator] As Brian Pillman
continues to struggle with
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00:12:11,814 --> 00:12:14,960
his crippling injuries, an
upcoming surgery keeps him
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00:12:14,984 --> 00:12:17,379
out of any in-ring action.
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00:12:17,403 --> 00:12:21,425
To disguise this from fans,
the WWF devises a
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00:12:21,449 --> 00:12:25,721
shocking story line involving
his old tag team partner.
244
00:12:25,745 --> 00:12:28,140
I needed to do something
to get some heat.
245
00:12:28,164 --> 00:12:31,185
We were in Cincinnati,
in his hometown so,
246
00:12:31,209 --> 00:12:33,771
it's always great to attack
somebody in their hometown,
247
00:12:33,795 --> 00:12:36,523
especially him being in
a compromised position.
248
00:12:36,547 --> 00:12:38,192
[Jim] Steve and Brian
were still friends,
249
00:12:38,216 --> 00:12:40,152
and they still wanted to
see each other succeed.
250
00:12:40,176 --> 00:12:41,987
Steve was still on his way up.
251
00:12:42,011 --> 00:12:44,531
So, we decided to put them
together because
252
00:12:44,555 --> 00:12:45,616
we thought that...
253
00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,409
They would enjoy it,
and at the same time,
254
00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:49,119
the people would
enjoy it as well.
255
00:12:49,143 --> 00:12:51,038
- And wait a minute!
- Wow!
256
00:12:51,062 --> 00:12:52,289
What a cheap shot!
257
00:12:52,313 --> 00:12:56,251
I laid into him and started
kicking the hell out of him.
258
00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:58,921
I broke that cane on his ankle,
259
00:12:58,945 --> 00:13:01,465
that brass duck he had
flew into the crowd.
260
00:13:01,489 --> 00:13:03,342
- Oh!
- Oh, my god!
261
00:13:03,366 --> 00:13:06,178
I stomped a mud hole in
his ass and walked...
262
00:13:06,202 --> 00:13:10,766
That was a stiff beating I gave
him because it had to be.
263
00:13:10,790 --> 00:13:13,769
My character was a vicious,
cold-blooded guy
264
00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:16,105
who was ruthless
and remorseless.
265
00:13:16,129 --> 00:13:19,942
So, had I not given him the
beating that I gave him...
266
00:13:19,966 --> 00:13:21,527
who would have cared?
267
00:13:21,551 --> 00:13:24,530
They cared about Brian
because I hurt his ass.
268
00:13:24,554 --> 00:13:27,282
He may have re-broken
Pillman's ankle here!
269
00:13:27,306 --> 00:13:29,827
He gets Brian Pillman down
and he puts a metal folding
270
00:13:29,851 --> 00:13:33,414
chair around the bad ankle,
and then stomps
271
00:13:33,438 --> 00:13:34,873
the seat of the chair.
272
00:13:34,897 --> 00:13:37,251
Oh, my god!
273
00:13:37,275 --> 00:13:39,044
And Brian screams.
274
00:13:39,068 --> 00:13:41,422
"Oh, my god,
he's reinjured the ankle!"
275
00:13:41,446 --> 00:13:43,007
There's a way you can do that.
276
00:13:43,031 --> 00:13:45,968
I won't give away any secrets.
277
00:13:45,992 --> 00:13:47,886
But that was an excuse
for Brian to have
278
00:13:47,910 --> 00:13:50,597
continued problems with
the ankle, publicly,
279
00:13:50,621 --> 00:13:53,058
on television.
It became, in the industry,
280
00:13:53,082 --> 00:13:56,770
known as Pillman-izing
a body part.
281
00:13:56,794 --> 00:13:58,939
Brian took that ass
whooping like a damn man.
282
00:13:58,963 --> 00:14:04,361
He knew what I had to do and
he sold it like a million bucks.
283
00:14:04,385 --> 00:14:08,157
In the midst of a TV
ratings war with WCW,
284
00:14:08,181 --> 00:14:11,785
Vince strives to produce
edgier content to further
285
00:14:11,809 --> 00:14:15,247
capitalize on the feud
between Pillman and Austin.
286
00:14:15,271 --> 00:14:19,793
Somehow, they decided -
and I was not...
287
00:14:19,817 --> 00:14:22,588
consulted on this - but
they decided that it would be
288
00:14:22,612 --> 00:14:26,884
a wonderful thing if
they did a remote
289
00:14:26,908 --> 00:14:29,553
from Brian Pillman's house
in Cincinnati...
290
00:14:29,577 --> 00:14:30,804
[Commentator]
We are live.
291
00:14:30,828 --> 00:14:33,766
Austin is outside of
Brian Pillman's home!
292
00:14:33,790 --> 00:14:37,227
Steve Austin came to
find him and stage a
293
00:14:37,251 --> 00:14:39,897
home invasion on
Monday Night Raw.
294
00:14:39,921 --> 00:14:42,232
Austin, trying to
get into the house...
295
00:14:42,256 --> 00:14:43,716
of Brian Pillman.
296
00:14:47,887 --> 00:14:49,531
I always want to do something
that feels real and gritty,
297
00:14:49,555 --> 00:14:51,700
especially something that's
gonna have the,
298
00:14:51,724 --> 00:14:52,910
you know, the...
299
00:14:52,934 --> 00:14:55,454
the volume turned up,
the testosterone,
300
00:14:55,478 --> 00:14:56,872
the adrenaline turned up.
301
00:14:56,896 --> 00:15:00,000
I mean, hell, man,
if you're just casually...
302
00:15:00,024 --> 00:15:02,044
If you're not a wrestling fan
and you're kind of just
303
00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:03,670
flipping channels and,
all of a sudden,
304
00:15:03,694 --> 00:15:07,174
you watch this
10 seconds of this scene,
305
00:15:07,198 --> 00:15:08,926
you're not gonna
change the channel.
306
00:15:08,950 --> 00:15:11,386
Steve is a dead man walking!
307
00:15:11,410 --> 00:15:15,891
Because when Austin 3:16
meets Pillman...
308
00:15:15,915 --> 00:15:18,102
- Oh, my god. Oh, my god.
- 9-millimeter Glock!
309
00:15:18,126 --> 00:15:22,397
I'm gonna blast his
sorry ass straight to hell!
310
00:15:22,421 --> 00:15:24,274
All of a sudden, man,
I start bashing in
311
00:15:24,298 --> 00:15:26,735
that window with that
aluminum baseball bat.
312
00:15:26,759 --> 00:15:28,070
- (screams)
- What the hell is that?
313
00:15:28,094 --> 00:15:30,739
(screaming)
314
00:15:30,763 --> 00:15:33,784
And there's Melanie in
there just shrieking...
315
00:15:33,808 --> 00:15:34,993
It's Austin!
316
00:15:35,017 --> 00:15:36,370
I remember, Vince was like...
317
00:15:36,394 --> 00:15:38,247
"Alright, we're gonna have
Stone Cold and
318
00:15:38,271 --> 00:15:40,457
y'all just wing it from there."
319
00:15:40,481 --> 00:15:42,334
Don't go in there!
Don't go in there!
320
00:15:42,358 --> 00:15:43,961
(screaming)
321
00:15:43,985 --> 00:15:45,963
♪
322
00:15:45,987 --> 00:15:47,464
Nothing like that had ever
been done before in wrestling.
323
00:15:47,488 --> 00:15:48,841
It was kind of groundbreaking,
324
00:15:48,865 --> 00:15:50,968
whether it was in a
good way or a bad way.
325
00:15:50,992 --> 00:15:54,012
People weren't ready for it.
They weren't ready for it.
326
00:15:54,036 --> 00:15:55,597
The reaction was
pretty negative to it.
327
00:15:55,621 --> 00:15:57,474
I mean, it was
pretty darn negative.
328
00:15:57,498 --> 00:15:59,059
I didn't like it.
I didn't like the idea of like,
329
00:15:59,083 --> 00:16:00,519
you know, using a gun and...
330
00:16:00,543 --> 00:16:02,771
it seemed going really extreme,
331
00:16:02,795 --> 00:16:04,565
but that's the
direction wrestling went.
332
00:16:04,589 --> 00:16:06,942
Oh, my god!
He's back!
333
00:16:06,966 --> 00:16:08,026
That's Brian, you know.
334
00:16:08,050 --> 00:16:09,987
And I don't know
whose idea it was,
335
00:16:10,011 --> 00:16:11,655
and how much input
he had on the idea.
336
00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:12,698
He never really told me that,
337
00:16:12,722 --> 00:16:15,367
but he was
absolutely really into it.
338
00:16:15,391 --> 00:16:17,369
And they had to apologize
for it the next week because
339
00:16:17,393 --> 00:16:19,246
the gun thing, you know,
Vince had to actually go
340
00:16:19,270 --> 00:16:21,248
on television and apologize
for that angle 'cause
341
00:16:21,272 --> 00:16:23,000
it got so much negativity.
342
00:16:23,024 --> 00:16:25,335
And, on behalf of the
World Wrestling Federation,
343
00:16:25,359 --> 00:16:26,670
for those of you
who were offended,
344
00:16:26,694 --> 00:16:29,673
those viewers,
we humbly apologize...
345
00:16:29,697 --> 00:16:33,051
for the incident that took place
last Monday night on Raw.
346
00:16:33,075 --> 00:16:34,261
And, I think that's
the only angle
347
00:16:34,285 --> 00:16:36,138
Vince ever apologized for.
348
00:16:36,162 --> 00:16:37,973
...join us here
at ringside...
349
00:16:37,997 --> 00:16:40,225
While still recovering
from the car wreck,
350
00:16:40,249 --> 00:16:42,394
Pillman is temporarily sidelined
351
00:16:42,418 --> 00:16:44,229
as a broadcast announcer.
352
00:16:44,253 --> 00:16:46,565
Yeah, I'm gonna cut through
all your duplicitous rhetoric
353
00:16:46,589 --> 00:16:50,194
and cut right to the chase,
tell it like it is,
354
00:16:50,218 --> 00:16:52,487
and hey, if the
censors don't like it,
355
00:16:52,511 --> 00:16:54,990
you're gonna get fired, not me.
356
00:16:55,014 --> 00:16:56,366
I'm Brian Pillman.
357
00:16:56,390 --> 00:16:59,411
I'll just go somewhere else
and beat people up.
358
00:16:59,435 --> 00:17:01,955
He looked at being an
announcer as a come down.
359
00:17:01,979 --> 00:17:04,208
It was less than,
it's not being a man.
360
00:17:04,232 --> 00:17:07,794
When I said, "Look, you
can make a great living.
361
00:17:07,818 --> 00:17:09,671
You know, you can take
care of your health."
362
00:17:09,695 --> 00:17:11,506
He didn't want to hear it.
363
00:17:11,530 --> 00:17:13,967
Only thing he wanted to hear
was me to encourage him that
364
00:17:13,991 --> 00:17:16,720
you could come back
and be what you were,
365
00:17:16,744 --> 00:17:18,722
or really, really close to it.
366
00:17:18,746 --> 00:17:22,935
And I, I never told him that
because I would've been lying.
367
00:17:22,959 --> 00:17:25,646
You know, the competitor in
him wanted just to get
368
00:17:25,670 --> 00:17:26,855
back in the ring and work.
369
00:17:26,879 --> 00:17:29,233
He's working matches,
but he was in a lot of pain.
370
00:17:29,257 --> 00:17:30,651
The former Cincinnati Bengal
has had
371
00:17:30,675 --> 00:17:33,278
two major surgeries on his leg.
372
00:17:33,302 --> 00:17:36,114
Even though he was able to
sometimes have decent matches,
373
00:17:36,138 --> 00:17:37,658
just 'cause he was
smart enough to know how and
374
00:17:37,682 --> 00:17:39,451
he would fall on his face,
do things that were
375
00:17:39,475 --> 00:17:40,744
dangerous in a different way,
376
00:17:40,768 --> 00:17:42,329
but not hurt the body
parts that were hurt,
377
00:17:42,353 --> 00:17:43,997
it was really sad to watch.
378
00:17:44,021 --> 00:17:45,916
You know,
he wasn't the same at all.
379
00:17:45,940 --> 00:17:48,168
Brian needed to stay
medicated more often than
380
00:17:48,192 --> 00:17:50,712
he should because of
the pain he was in...
381
00:17:50,736 --> 00:17:53,048
because he was doing things that
382
00:17:53,072 --> 00:17:54,758
he shouldn't have been doing.
383
00:17:54,782 --> 00:17:58,262
Oh, no! He missed...
Oh, his ankle!
384
00:17:58,286 --> 00:17:59,680
He made it through
because he'd say,
385
00:17:59,704 --> 00:18:03,308
"Oh, I'm okay.
I'm good. I'm fine."
386
00:18:03,332 --> 00:18:04,768
He wasn't fine.
387
00:18:04,792 --> 00:18:06,937
Consistently performing
well beyond
388
00:18:06,961 --> 00:18:08,522
what his body can handle,
389
00:18:08,546 --> 00:18:11,191
Brian's dependency
on painkillers and
390
00:18:11,215 --> 00:18:13,944
the pressure to
provide for his family
391
00:18:13,968 --> 00:18:16,697
is pushing him to the
point of no return.
392
00:18:16,721 --> 00:18:19,515
♪
393
00:18:23,144 --> 00:18:25,122
While rushing through recovery,
394
00:18:25,146 --> 00:18:28,625
Brian Pillman hampers any
progress on his injuries
395
00:18:28,649 --> 00:18:31,253
by choosing to still
perform in the ring,
396
00:18:31,277 --> 00:18:34,923
which results in his pain
becoming all consuming.
397
00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:38,427
The only thing Brian ever
told me was that if he had
398
00:18:38,451 --> 00:18:41,430
an ache or a pain,
he took a pill.
399
00:18:41,454 --> 00:18:43,056
And he said if it
didn't go away,
400
00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:44,266
he took another one.
401
00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:46,852
And he took a pill
until it went away.
402
00:18:46,876 --> 00:18:49,563
♪
403
00:18:49,587 --> 00:18:54,276
He was sick, physically sick
with infection in his ankle
404
00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:56,695
because he was
going to shows and
405
00:18:56,719 --> 00:18:59,323
not recouping it properly.
406
00:18:59,347 --> 00:19:01,241
♪
407
00:19:01,265 --> 00:19:04,244
I would talk to guys in WWF,
and they would tell me
408
00:19:04,268 --> 00:19:06,371
how he couldn't get
through the airport,
409
00:19:06,395 --> 00:19:07,331
you know what I mean?
410
00:19:07,355 --> 00:19:08,249
He couldn't walk
through the airport,
411
00:19:08,273 --> 00:19:10,667
and he was out there taking
bumps in the wrestling ring?
412
00:19:10,691 --> 00:19:14,338
It's like, he cannot
walk through the airport.
413
00:19:14,362 --> 00:19:17,591
I'd see him kind of walk
around with his suitcase,
414
00:19:17,615 --> 00:19:19,426
and he wasn't moving so well.
415
00:19:19,450 --> 00:19:20,927
But Brian is one of those guys,
416
00:19:20,951 --> 00:19:23,430
like a man's man,
you just figure...
417
00:19:23,454 --> 00:19:25,265
Whatever it is, Brian's got it.
418
00:19:25,289 --> 00:19:29,061
He's Brian Pillman.
419
00:19:29,085 --> 00:19:32,022
You know, and I could have seen
the writing on the wall,
420
00:19:32,046 --> 00:19:34,274
but because of the
regard that I held him in,
421
00:19:34,298 --> 00:19:36,610
thought he was
gonna be just fine.
422
00:19:36,634 --> 00:19:39,321
When you have wrestlers
that are missing shows,
423
00:19:39,345 --> 00:19:42,574
who are obviously unable to
perform when they get there,
424
00:19:42,598 --> 00:19:44,576
then you know
you've got problems.
425
00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,412
It wasn't that obvious
with Brian and,
426
00:19:47,436 --> 00:19:50,457
how were you able to tell
where the Loose Cannon ended
427
00:19:50,481 --> 00:19:52,274
and the real person began?
428
00:19:54,902 --> 00:19:56,296
We had some problems.
We, we were having
429
00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,382
problems 'cause
he kept wrecking rental cars.
430
00:19:58,406 --> 00:20:01,676
He was definitely, like,
nodding out at the wheel.
431
00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:03,553
He was definitely having issues.
432
00:20:03,577 --> 00:20:05,597
He, he acted as though
he wasn't gonna
433
00:20:05,621 --> 00:20:06,723
be around much longer.
434
00:20:06,747 --> 00:20:09,434
He used to say things like,
"If anything happens to me,
435
00:20:09,458 --> 00:20:11,186
make sure you move
back to Atlanta.
436
00:20:11,210 --> 00:20:13,063
And don't stay up here if you're
not comfortable here."
437
00:20:13,087 --> 00:20:15,107
And, "Make sure you
find somebody
438
00:20:15,131 --> 00:20:16,441
so the kids have a father."
439
00:20:16,465 --> 00:20:18,610
I'm like, "Why would you even
say something like that?"
440
00:20:18,634 --> 00:20:22,447
And then, the next day,
he wrecked a rental car.
441
00:20:22,471 --> 00:20:25,492
I had become a bit
estranged from him
442
00:20:25,516 --> 00:20:28,078
because he was ...ed up.
443
00:20:28,102 --> 00:20:32,082
And, at one time, he came to my
house and he had a big welt.
444
00:20:32,106 --> 00:20:34,251
You could see the hole...
445
00:20:34,275 --> 00:20:35,919
it was like a, you know,
the syringe,
446
00:20:35,943 --> 00:20:39,131
it was a horse needle
syringe that went in there.
447
00:20:39,155 --> 00:20:41,091
And it was growth
hormone or something.
448
00:20:41,115 --> 00:20:42,300
But he was ...ed up.
449
00:20:42,324 --> 00:20:44,344
He was like, (groans),
he kept repeating himself.
450
00:20:44,368 --> 00:20:47,848
And I said, "This is it, Brian.
I'll give you to ten.
451
00:20:47,872 --> 00:20:49,224
Get the...
out of my house.
452
00:20:49,248 --> 00:20:50,725
My kids are upstairs sleeping.
453
00:20:50,749 --> 00:20:52,561
Don't ever come
here in this state."
454
00:20:52,585 --> 00:20:53,895
"Oh, yeah, but I gotta do...
455
00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:56,356
I gotta... ah..."
(mumbling)
456
00:20:56,380 --> 00:20:57,816
I said, "No, I can't.
I'm sorry.
457
00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,653
You're a friend, but get the
away from me right now,"
458
00:21:01,677 --> 00:21:04,197
and he did.
459
00:21:04,221 --> 00:21:05,615
Some of his friends
had come to me,
460
00:21:05,639 --> 00:21:07,409
when I was in charge
of talent relations...
461
00:21:07,433 --> 00:21:10,537
And say, that this is
becoming a bigger issue,
462
00:21:10,561 --> 00:21:13,540
and I needed to intervene.
463
00:21:13,564 --> 00:21:16,293
And it was gonna be tough
because he was not gonna
464
00:21:16,317 --> 00:21:19,796
appreciate that intervention.
465
00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:21,798
I called the agent,
lead agent, and I said,
466
00:21:21,822 --> 00:21:23,341
"You know, I'm gonna
have a drug tester
467
00:21:23,365 --> 00:21:26,261
there tonight to
test Pillman."
468
00:21:26,285 --> 00:21:29,973
And I said,
"Make sure it gets done."
469
00:21:29,997 --> 00:21:32,893
He felt like I had,
I had betrayed him.
470
00:21:32,917 --> 00:21:34,769
That's what he told me.
"I can't believe you,
471
00:21:34,793 --> 00:21:38,857
you, of all people,
would betray me.
472
00:21:38,881 --> 00:21:44,196
And that you, you always,
you always had my back.
473
00:21:44,220 --> 00:21:48,700
You were always there
for me, and now this."
474
00:21:48,724 --> 00:21:51,578
I said, "Brian, I'm trying
to save your life.
475
00:21:51,602 --> 00:21:54,456
That's all I'm
trying to do."
476
00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,709
And Brian was calling me up,
"I hate Jim Ross.
477
00:21:57,733 --> 00:21:59,669
Why is he singling me out?
Do you know how many guys
478
00:21:59,693 --> 00:22:01,463
in this company
are doing drugs?"
479
00:22:01,487 --> 00:22:03,715
And he goes, "They're not
gonna find anything on me,
480
00:22:03,739 --> 00:22:05,592
nothing but my
prescription pain pills.
481
00:22:05,616 --> 00:22:07,928
They're not gonna find
any illegal drugs in me."
482
00:22:07,952 --> 00:22:10,138
And in fact, you know,
the only thing that they
483
00:22:10,162 --> 00:22:12,015
found in him was his
prescription pain drugs and
484
00:22:12,039 --> 00:22:15,519
steroids which, you know,
in extent, you know,
485
00:22:15,543 --> 00:22:17,187
I don't know that that
really counts for
486
00:22:17,211 --> 00:22:20,023
what they were looking for.
487
00:22:20,047 --> 00:22:23,693
I had to lead Brian out of
the path that he was on,
488
00:22:23,717 --> 00:22:26,571
to no avail.
I failed.
489
00:22:26,595 --> 00:22:31,284
I needed to convince him
that he is so talented that
490
00:22:31,308 --> 00:22:35,956
he was going to be a star in
other areas of pro wrestling.
491
00:22:35,980 --> 00:22:38,416
I failed.
492
00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,794
In October of 1997...
493
00:22:40,818 --> 00:22:43,505
At the Kiel Centre
in St. Louis, Missouri,
494
00:22:43,529 --> 00:22:46,716
Brian is scheduled
to compete at WWF's
495
00:22:46,740 --> 00:22:49,386
Pay Per View event Badd Blood.
496
00:22:49,410 --> 00:22:51,555
In those days, the call time
for talent at the
497
00:22:51,579 --> 00:22:53,223
Pay Per Views was one o'clock.
498
00:22:53,247 --> 00:22:54,933
And, sometimes
guys would be late,
499
00:22:54,957 --> 00:22:57,435
oversleep, miss their flight...
500
00:22:57,459 --> 00:23:01,731
traffic, whatever.
But, by 5 o'clock,
501
00:23:01,755 --> 00:23:04,276
everybody was accounted
for accept for Brian.
502
00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:08,029
And that was egregiously late
to be for a Pay Per View.
503
00:23:08,053 --> 00:23:11,074
So, Bruce Prichard asked me,
I'm in talent relations,
504
00:23:11,098 --> 00:23:13,827
he said, "Call, try to
find where he, you know,
505
00:23:13,851 --> 00:23:14,995
where he might be.
506
00:23:15,019 --> 00:23:17,205
Call the hotel where he stayed
last night in Minneapolis,
507
00:23:17,229 --> 00:23:19,916
see what time
he checked out."
508
00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:22,752
I get on the phone and,
boom, a guy answers.
509
00:23:22,776 --> 00:23:25,338
I said, "I'm with the
World Wrestling Federation.
510
00:23:25,362 --> 00:23:26,965
We're looking for
one of our wrestlers.
511
00:23:26,989 --> 00:23:28,842
He stayed there last night,
Brian Pillman.
512
00:23:28,866 --> 00:23:31,344
Can you tell me what
time he checked out?"
513
00:23:31,368 --> 00:23:34,264
And the guy said,
"Hold on a second,"
514
00:23:34,288 --> 00:23:35,390
and he put me on hold.
515
00:23:35,414 --> 00:23:37,642
Okay, I guess he's
checking his records.
516
00:23:37,666 --> 00:23:39,019
And he answered,
he says, "Sir?"
517
00:23:39,043 --> 00:23:44,774
I said, "Yeah?"
He said, "Mr. Pillman's dead."
518
00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:50,030
And, the first flash that I had,
"What is Brian doing now?"
519
00:23:50,054 --> 00:23:52,824
I said, "Is this a rib?"
520
00:23:52,848 --> 00:23:54,159
(sighs)
521
00:23:54,183 --> 00:23:57,871
And the guy said, "No,
the police are here now."
522
00:23:57,895 --> 00:23:59,998
I said, "Okay."
523
00:24:00,022 --> 00:24:01,791
So, I told one of the
production assistants,
524
00:24:01,815 --> 00:24:04,669
I said, "Go get Bruce."
525
00:24:04,693 --> 00:24:06,630
And he said, "Oh, Bruce
is busy. He's doing..."
526
00:24:06,654 --> 00:24:09,758
I said, "Brian is dead.
Go get Bruce."
527
00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:11,593
And Bruce came in
and got on the phone,
528
00:24:11,617 --> 00:24:13,637
and I just kind of
walked off because I,
529
00:24:13,661 --> 00:24:15,972
I did not want to hear that...
530
00:24:15,996 --> 00:24:18,058
news... right now,
23 years later,
531
00:24:18,082 --> 00:24:19,726
I don't want to hear that news.
532
00:24:19,750 --> 00:24:22,294
♪
533
00:24:25,839 --> 00:24:28,652
[Narrator]
On October 5, 1997,
534
00:24:28,676 --> 00:24:30,779
Brian Pillman was found dead
535
00:24:30,803 --> 00:24:33,448
in his hotel room in
Bloomington, Minnesota.
536
00:24:33,472 --> 00:24:36,368
He was 35 years old.
537
00:24:36,392 --> 00:24:39,412
It's hard for me to
still think about it today,
538
00:24:39,436 --> 00:24:42,540
and think of that heart,
of that athlete,
539
00:24:42,564 --> 00:24:46,378
of that performer...
stopping.
540
00:24:46,402 --> 00:24:49,631
Just doesn't seem believable.
541
00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:51,424
It almost didn't register
with me because I'm like,
542
00:24:51,448 --> 00:24:56,012
"Enh, Brian ain't dead."
'Cause he couldn't die.
543
00:24:56,036 --> 00:24:58,556
If you knew Brian,
this force field of energy
544
00:24:58,580 --> 00:25:02,060
that he was, I thought
could never be stopped.
545
00:25:02,084 --> 00:25:04,813
I honestly thought that.
546
00:25:04,837 --> 00:25:08,983
State police showed up
on the door and...
547
00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:11,027
and said that he had to
tell me that my husband
548
00:25:11,051 --> 00:25:13,571
was found deceased.
549
00:25:13,595 --> 00:25:15,824
(sighs)
550
00:25:15,848 --> 00:25:20,120
♪
551
00:25:20,144 --> 00:25:22,539
As a kid already in
the show business world,
552
00:25:22,563 --> 00:25:23,873
I was thinking,
like, is this a work,
553
00:25:23,897 --> 00:25:24,874
like, is he really dead?
554
00:25:24,898 --> 00:25:26,501
Like, no, he's
surely coming back.
555
00:25:26,525 --> 00:25:27,877
Like, I didn't even
know what to think.
556
00:25:27,901 --> 00:25:31,131
I didn't even... I didn't
even cry when my dad died.
557
00:25:31,155 --> 00:25:34,300
And, I just remember, like,
my family were all sitting
558
00:25:34,324 --> 00:25:37,178
on the bed, like, hugging
each other and crying,
559
00:25:37,202 --> 00:25:38,763
and everybody's crying.
And I'm looking around,
560
00:25:38,787 --> 00:25:40,390
I'm like, where's the
camera crew, you know?
561
00:25:40,414 --> 00:25:41,933
They've gotta be around
here somewhere, you know.
562
00:25:41,957 --> 00:25:44,185
I was like, alright, you know,
I'll play the spot here.
563
00:25:44,209 --> 00:25:46,062
You know, we'll all just
hug and pretend we're sad,
564
00:25:46,086 --> 00:25:48,398
but then like, reality set in.
565
00:25:48,422 --> 00:25:50,525
I'm like, oh, shit, he's
really not coming home.
566
00:25:50,549 --> 00:25:52,485
Like, holy crap.
567
00:25:52,509 --> 00:25:54,154
As a kid, that's just
kind of what I thought.
568
00:25:54,178 --> 00:25:56,531
I figured, you know what,
he went to work that day
569
00:25:56,555 --> 00:25:59,743
and he decided to stay there.
570
00:25:59,767 --> 00:26:02,162
The next night on
Monday Night Raw,
571
00:26:02,186 --> 00:26:05,665
the news of Brian's
death is broadcast live.
572
00:26:05,689 --> 00:26:07,959
Yesterday afternoon,
573
00:26:07,983 --> 00:26:12,130
Brian Pillman was found dead...
574
00:26:12,154 --> 00:26:16,092
in a hotel room in
Bloomington, Minnesota.
575
00:26:16,116 --> 00:26:19,137
(bell chimes)
576
00:26:19,161 --> 00:26:21,973
I remember when we
tolled the bell ten times,
577
00:26:21,997 --> 00:26:24,100
that was when I got emotional.
578
00:26:24,124 --> 00:26:28,897
I remember, very emotional,
and that's when I was like...
579
00:26:28,921 --> 00:26:31,232
He's gone, he's gone.
580
00:26:31,256 --> 00:26:34,152
And then I remember talking
to, I think Jim Ross.
581
00:26:34,176 --> 00:26:35,987
I said, "Hand the
phone to Owen,"
582
00:26:36,011 --> 00:26:37,197
and then Owen says,
"I don't know.
583
00:26:37,221 --> 00:26:38,990
I don't know what happened."
584
00:26:39,014 --> 00:26:41,284
Then, Vince got on
the phone and he says,
585
00:26:41,308 --> 00:26:43,161
"Do you want to, you know,
talk on camera?"
586
00:26:43,185 --> 00:26:45,079
And then I just thought,
well, you know what,
587
00:26:45,103 --> 00:26:48,082
with, with Brian,
the show must go on.
588
00:26:48,106 --> 00:26:49,459
Joining us now,
ladies and gentlemen,
589
00:26:49,483 --> 00:26:51,544
in suburban Cincinnati,
590
00:26:51,568 --> 00:26:53,421
the wife of Brian Pillman,
Melanie Pillman.
591
00:26:53,445 --> 00:26:56,090
Melanie, thank you so
much for joining us tonight.
592
00:26:56,114 --> 00:27:00,011
I did say to Vince, "Please,
don't ask me about
593
00:27:00,035 --> 00:27:02,305
drugs or anything like that
because I do not
594
00:27:02,329 --> 00:27:04,599
exactly know
why he died yet."
595
00:27:04,623 --> 00:27:07,352
Brian, because of his injuries,
596
00:27:07,376 --> 00:27:11,564
has had to take a great
deal of prescribed medicine.
597
00:27:11,588 --> 00:27:14,984
\{\an1}And the first thing he does is
start talking about pain pills,
598
00:27:15,008 --> 00:27:16,861
and then I'm like,
that's Vince, alright.
599
00:27:16,885 --> 00:27:19,113
I made like a really funny
face and I remember that's
600
00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:21,449
the only clear part of that
interview I can remember
601
00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:24,452
thinking, wish this mother... er
was standing here
602
00:27:24,476 --> 00:27:26,913
so I could smack him.
(laughs)
603
00:27:26,937 --> 00:27:29,999
'Cause he swore, he swore
he wouldn't say anything like,
604
00:27:30,023 --> 00:27:32,544
leading down
that direction until the
605
00:27:32,568 --> 00:27:34,295
death certificate came out.
606
00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:37,382
I think all athletes,
to a degree...
607
00:27:37,406 --> 00:27:40,218
experience a reliance
on pain medicine,
608
00:27:40,242 --> 00:27:42,345
and you know, I knew it was just
609
00:27:42,369 --> 00:27:44,848
a matter of time before...
610
00:27:44,872 --> 00:27:48,726
it happened to someone,
and unfortunately,
611
00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:50,395
it was my husband.
612
00:27:50,419 --> 00:27:54,607
And, I just want
everyone to know that...
613
00:27:54,631 --> 00:27:58,027
I hope it's a wakeup call to
some of you because
614
00:27:58,051 --> 00:28:01,739
it could be your husband next
or it could be you and,
615
00:28:01,763 --> 00:28:04,742
you know, you don't want
to leave behind
616
00:28:04,766 --> 00:28:08,204
a bunch of orphans,
like my husband did.
617
00:28:08,228 --> 00:28:13,585
I absolutely despised the
grieving widow interview.
618
00:28:13,609 --> 00:28:16,004
I, I didn't like it on
a wrestling program.
619
00:28:16,028 --> 00:28:17,589
I was uncomfortable with it.
620
00:28:17,613 --> 00:28:20,133
I didn't know why she
had to go out there and...
621
00:28:20,157 --> 00:28:22,594
and have to answer
these questions that were
622
00:28:22,618 --> 00:28:27,473
obviously meant to elicit
tears and etcetera
623
00:28:27,497 --> 00:28:31,311
for "television", for
"good television".
624
00:28:31,335 --> 00:28:33,688
I thought he should have sent
her a cheque for $100,000
625
00:28:33,712 --> 00:28:36,649
and kept her ass off TV,
is what I thought.
626
00:28:36,673 --> 00:28:37,984
[Vince McMahon] Have you
had any opportunity
627
00:28:38,008 --> 00:28:40,194
to think about what you,
628
00:28:40,218 --> 00:28:41,571
now as a single parent,
629
00:28:41,595 --> 00:28:45,783
will do to support your
five children?
630
00:28:45,807 --> 00:28:47,785
Vince, I don't even...
631
00:28:47,809 --> 00:28:49,704
really know what
day it is, you know.
632
00:28:49,728 --> 00:28:52,081
So, I don't...
633
00:28:52,105 --> 00:28:53,333
know what I'm gonna do.
634
00:28:53,357 --> 00:28:54,375
Yeah, and everybody's like,
635
00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:56,419
"Oh, that was so horrible
what you did to her!"
636
00:28:56,443 --> 00:28:58,880
I barely remember it.
And it really...
637
00:28:58,904 --> 00:29:01,341
I didn't really...
638
00:29:01,365 --> 00:29:02,717
think about not doing it.
639
00:29:02,741 --> 00:29:06,471
But, nobody
pressured me into it.
640
00:29:06,495 --> 00:29:08,348
[Jim] I hated it.
641
00:29:08,372 --> 00:29:10,475
I didn't want to relive,
and relive,
642
00:29:10,499 --> 00:29:15,396
and regurgitate, and
regurgitate this matter.
643
00:29:15,420 --> 00:29:17,440
To pop a rating.
644
00:29:17,464 --> 00:29:19,901
And to me, that's what
it was all about.
645
00:29:19,925 --> 00:29:21,927
♪
646
00:29:30,185 --> 00:29:33,831
Um... heart disease.
647
00:29:33,855 --> 00:29:37,693
And see, my father died of a
massive heart attack at 55.
648
00:29:43,907 --> 00:29:46,719
We got there early before people
came in 'cause it was
649
00:29:46,743 --> 00:29:48,763
supposed to be
family and friends.
650
00:29:48,787 --> 00:29:51,891
And when we walked in, there
was a camera crew there.
651
00:29:51,915 --> 00:29:53,434
And I walked up
to 'em and I said,
652
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:54,727
"Who are you?"
653
00:29:54,751 --> 00:29:56,980
And I said, "You're not
supposed to be here."
654
00:29:57,004 --> 00:29:59,399
They said, "Well, Melanie
said we can," and I said,
655
00:29:59,423 --> 00:30:02,443
"Well, I'm Brian's sister and
I'm telling you, no, you can't."
656
00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:03,719
And they left.
657
00:30:06,513 --> 00:30:07,806
Um...
658
00:30:09,224 --> 00:30:10,368
No.
659
00:30:10,392 --> 00:30:15,039
Just Vince and
Jim Ross were there.
660
00:30:15,063 --> 00:30:18,042
[Jim] They had an open
casket, and I knew then,
661
00:30:18,066 --> 00:30:20,044
this is gonna be really tough.
662
00:30:20,068 --> 00:30:22,630
There's the last time I saw him.
663
00:30:22,654 --> 00:30:24,966
That's the last
time I've seen Brian,
664
00:30:24,990 --> 00:30:27,135
lying in a casket.
665
00:30:27,159 --> 00:30:29,429
And that was just gut wrenching.
666
00:30:29,453 --> 00:30:31,723
Absolutely gut wrenching.
667
00:30:31,747 --> 00:30:35,643
I just stared, and I had
memories flooding back,
668
00:30:35,667 --> 00:30:37,228
when I was
looking at the corpse.
669
00:30:37,252 --> 00:30:38,813
I'm thinking, this shouldn't
be a part of
670
00:30:38,837 --> 00:30:40,690
my pro wrestling career.
671
00:30:40,714 --> 00:30:45,653
\{\an1}This should not be a part of my
journey in this crazy business.
672
00:30:45,677 --> 00:30:49,574
And, we shouldn't be burying
a guy that's this young.
673
00:30:49,598 --> 00:30:53,036
You know, that's got a
young family around him.
674
00:30:53,060 --> 00:30:55,955
At the very end,
everyone's gone except for,
675
00:30:55,979 --> 00:30:58,583
you know, couple family members.
676
00:30:58,607 --> 00:31:01,002
And, the little girls, they're
kind of running around and
677
00:31:01,026 --> 00:31:02,462
they're not, like,
crying or anything.
678
00:31:02,486 --> 00:31:03,880
They were just
little kids and they go,
679
00:31:03,904 --> 00:31:06,340
"We gotta say goodbye to
daddy," and they all run to
680
00:31:06,364 --> 00:31:08,843
the casket, "Goodbye, daddy.
Goodbye, daddy."
681
00:31:08,867 --> 00:31:11,387
It was like... (sighs)
682
00:31:11,411 --> 00:31:12,638
(children laughing)
683
00:31:12,662 --> 00:31:15,349
And, I think for me, I was
just in complete shock.
684
00:31:15,373 --> 00:31:17,393
I just, you know, I couldn't...
685
00:31:17,417 --> 00:31:19,020
I couldn't put it all together.
686
00:31:19,044 --> 00:31:20,813
I just couldn't
believe it 'cause it's like,
687
00:31:20,837 --> 00:31:23,274
I lost my mom and
now my dad, you know.
688
00:31:23,298 --> 00:31:26,343
And I was just, I was
just a lost little girl.
689
00:31:31,515 --> 00:31:33,201
Going through the motions
and pretending
690
00:31:33,225 --> 00:31:36,996
I was still alive
and I had a soul.
691
00:31:37,020 --> 00:31:41,292
I just felt like I just
didn't know what to do.
692
00:31:41,316 --> 00:31:43,819
Right now, like,
it's the same day almost.
693
00:31:46,571 --> 00:31:48,674
I mean, I can bring
myself back to
694
00:31:48,698 --> 00:31:52,512
that same pain in my heart.
695
00:31:52,536 --> 00:31:54,680
If I let go too long, which
I'm just gonna stop now,
696
00:31:54,704 --> 00:31:58,351
if that's okay, for a second.
697
00:31:58,375 --> 00:32:01,354
(sighs)
698
00:32:01,378 --> 00:32:03,648
He had such an impact,
such an influence on so many
699
00:32:03,672 --> 00:32:06,192
people's lives, it had
to have hurt
700
00:32:06,216 --> 00:32:07,902
everybody to see him go.
701
00:32:07,926 --> 00:32:09,904
It had to have hurt
everybody to lose him.
702
00:32:09,928 --> 00:32:12,198
But, the person that
hurt the most was,
703
00:32:12,222 --> 00:32:15,326
was Melanie, was my mother.
She dealt with losing...
704
00:32:15,350 --> 00:32:18,955
what was ultimately
the love of her life.
705
00:32:18,979 --> 00:32:21,332
After Brian is laid to rest,
706
00:32:21,356 --> 00:32:25,002
his children are jolted into
their new reality.
707
00:32:25,026 --> 00:32:28,589
I never really had a problem
with Melanie until
708
00:32:28,613 --> 00:32:31,342
my father passed
and then, you know,
709
00:32:31,366 --> 00:32:34,095
like her true character
revealed itself.
710
00:32:34,119 --> 00:32:37,765
♪
711
00:32:37,789 --> 00:32:39,308
I spiraled out of control.
712
00:32:39,332 --> 00:32:41,561
I wasn't the best
mother in the world.
713
00:32:41,585 --> 00:32:44,230
I always loved my kids.
714
00:32:44,254 --> 00:32:47,525
[Dani] Up until this day,
Melanie receives royalties
715
00:32:47,549 --> 00:32:51,737
from my father's legacy,
which I have seen...
716
00:32:51,761 --> 00:32:53,364
zero cents.
717
00:32:53,388 --> 00:32:55,658
Oh, yeah, they said
I was a gold digger, too,
718
00:32:55,682 --> 00:33:00,705
and I spent all the money
I ever got on crazy stuff.
719
00:33:00,729 --> 00:33:04,542
Some of it was spent on
crazy stuff, but not...
720
00:33:04,566 --> 00:33:07,295
not the way they said it.
721
00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:09,839
We stayed at my dad's house
for a while and then things
722
00:33:09,863 --> 00:33:11,757
got really bad and we moved.
723
00:33:11,781 --> 00:33:14,677
And, you know, running water
would be turned off
724
00:33:14,701 --> 00:33:17,138
all the time,
electric would be turned off.
725
00:33:17,162 --> 00:33:19,724
It's crazy how you go
from having a silver platter
726
00:33:19,748 --> 00:33:22,393
growing up to not even
knowing when your next meal
727
00:33:22,417 --> 00:33:24,395
is going to be.
728
00:33:24,419 --> 00:33:26,689
[Brian Jr.]
It took a downward spiral.
729
00:33:26,713 --> 00:33:28,441
I mean, there's no
other way to put it.
730
00:33:28,465 --> 00:33:32,361
It got worse, and worse,
and worse, and worse.
731
00:33:32,385 --> 00:33:34,864
[Melanie] Depressed a lot,
sleeping a lot,
732
00:33:34,888 --> 00:33:36,741
drinking too much.
733
00:33:36,765 --> 00:33:39,243
Brian found me on...
Passed out one time,
734
00:33:39,267 --> 00:33:41,954
and I almost died of
alcohol poisoning.
735
00:33:41,978 --> 00:33:44,540
He was like 12, and
found me on the floor
736
00:33:44,564 --> 00:33:47,335
with a bottle of
vodka by my head.
737
00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:50,171
No kid should have to
see something like that.
738
00:33:50,195 --> 00:33:52,506
Craziness.
739
00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:55,134
When my mother remarried and
my stepfather came into the
740
00:33:55,158 --> 00:33:58,721
picture, there was a lot of
drug abuse on the side of them,
741
00:33:58,745 --> 00:34:01,432
and there was a lot of neglect.
742
00:34:01,456 --> 00:34:03,935
My stepfather was very
physically abusive
743
00:34:03,959 --> 00:34:05,645
with my sister and myself.
744
00:34:05,669 --> 00:34:07,438
I would be grounded to my room,
745
00:34:07,462 --> 00:34:09,732
"Oh, you're grounded for the
next 6 months," you know,
746
00:34:09,756 --> 00:34:12,151
"I better not see
you out of your room."
747
00:34:12,175 --> 00:34:15,780
He had dogs more or less
trained to abuse me as well.
748
00:34:15,804 --> 00:34:18,157
And if I was grounded, like,
these dogs would
749
00:34:18,181 --> 00:34:20,243
make sure I was kept in my room.
750
00:34:20,267 --> 00:34:22,161
Like, they would bark at me,
and they would bite me,
751
00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:23,246
and the would physically, like,
752
00:34:23,270 --> 00:34:25,915
keep me in my room because
of how I was verbally and
753
00:34:25,939 --> 00:34:27,667
physically abused by
my stepdad, like,
754
00:34:27,691 --> 00:34:30,419
these dogs would
adopt that mentality of,
755
00:34:30,443 --> 00:34:32,713
of like attacking me.
756
00:34:32,737 --> 00:34:39,720
♪
757
00:34:39,744 --> 00:34:41,722
And then I was just,
I was just so abused
758
00:34:41,746 --> 00:34:44,392
that my social...
Developing, socially,
759
00:34:44,416 --> 00:34:50,606
was very hard for me.
And, and that's how...
760
00:34:50,630 --> 00:34:52,650
you know, like...
761
00:34:52,674 --> 00:34:55,278
nobody took me out to
throw a baseball with me,
762
00:34:55,302 --> 00:34:59,407
you know, like...
(sighs)
763
00:34:59,431 --> 00:35:01,325
Nobody took me out
to throw a football,
764
00:35:01,349 --> 00:35:03,661
you know, so...
I went to school.
765
00:35:03,685 --> 00:35:05,371
I didn't know how
to play sports, you know.
766
00:35:05,395 --> 00:35:08,666
(laughs) I wasn't
very athletic, you know.
767
00:35:08,690 --> 00:35:10,293
So, I couldn't catch a football,
768
00:35:10,317 --> 00:35:12,295
couldn't throw a baseball.
769
00:35:12,319 --> 00:35:14,338
But, I was big into games,
770
00:35:14,362 --> 00:35:17,174
into video games
and stuff, and...
771
00:35:17,198 --> 00:35:19,260
I had a GameCube.
772
00:35:19,284 --> 00:35:20,761
Eventually,
he caught on to that.
773
00:35:20,785 --> 00:35:22,346
My stepdad would
catch on to that shit.
774
00:35:22,370 --> 00:35:24,598
He'd unplug it, you know,
he'd throw it against the wall.
775
00:35:24,622 --> 00:35:28,561
♪
776
00:35:28,585 --> 00:35:30,896
It's like everything I ever
latched on to or loved
777
00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,775
was taken away, you know, so...
778
00:35:34,799 --> 00:35:38,446
it was hard, it was a hard time.
779
00:35:38,470 --> 00:35:41,574
While Brian Jr. and Brittany
grow up with Melanie,
780
00:35:41,598 --> 00:35:43,701
Danielle lives with her mother.
781
00:35:43,725 --> 00:35:48,956
As the siblings drift apart,
their Aunt Linda takes action.
782
00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:51,917
At least once or twice a month,
783
00:35:51,941 --> 00:35:53,836
I would get them together.
784
00:35:53,860 --> 00:35:56,422
And so, they didn't lose
contact with each other.
785
00:35:56,446 --> 00:35:59,216
(indistinct conversation)
786
00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:01,093
[Brittany] She is
literally everything.
787
00:36:01,117 --> 00:36:05,139
She's, I swear, I think
that she is a true angel.
788
00:36:05,163 --> 00:36:07,558
I don't have a mom, but
she's the closest thing
789
00:36:07,582 --> 00:36:11,020
I have to as a mom.
I can call her at any time.
790
00:36:11,044 --> 00:36:13,064
I mean, she took me in,
you know.
791
00:36:13,088 --> 00:36:16,233
She bought this house so we
could have a home and a family.
792
00:36:16,257 --> 00:36:18,861
(sniffles) And, I just,
793
00:36:18,885 --> 00:36:20,363
I don't know what I
would do without her.
794
00:36:20,387 --> 00:36:22,365
I really don't.
795
00:36:22,389 --> 00:36:26,535
♪
796
00:36:26,559 --> 00:36:27,953
They'd all come to my house...
797
00:36:27,977 --> 00:36:30,164
[Brian Pillman Jr. shouts]
798
00:36:30,188 --> 00:36:33,542
There's a spider
in the bathtub upstairs.
799
00:36:33,566 --> 00:36:35,711
I don't kill anything, you know.
800
00:36:35,735 --> 00:36:39,465
I always take 'em
outside when I find 'em.
801
00:36:39,489 --> 00:36:43,094
Brian has a deadly
fear of spiders.
802
00:36:43,118 --> 00:36:45,471
(laughs)
803
00:36:45,495 --> 00:36:47,306
And there's one,
I saw it this morning,
804
00:36:47,330 --> 00:36:48,933
I thought, oh,
I'll get that later.
805
00:36:48,957 --> 00:36:51,668
I didn't think he'd go
up into that bathroom.
806
00:36:55,130 --> 00:36:56,190
[Melanie]
I love Linda to death.
807
00:36:56,214 --> 00:37:00,027
And, she's helped
the kids a lot. And...
808
00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:02,154
I just want, I just
want 'em to forgive me.
809
00:37:02,178 --> 00:37:06,784
But, do I know if they will
or not, I don't know.
810
00:37:06,808 --> 00:37:09,703
Brian Pillman lives on in
the hearts and minds
811
00:37:09,727 --> 00:37:10,955
of his family.
812
00:37:10,979 --> 00:37:13,666
But his legacy would return
to the ring in a way
813
00:37:13,690 --> 00:37:15,459
no one would anticipate.
814
00:37:15,483 --> 00:37:17,777
♪
815
00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:25,511
Brian Pillman's legacy in
wrestling lives on in that
816
00:37:25,535 --> 00:37:27,930
he created a character that
people still remember to
817
00:37:27,954 --> 00:37:31,142
this day because it was
in large part himself.
818
00:37:31,166 --> 00:37:32,893
(cheering)
819
00:37:32,917 --> 00:37:35,104
He was a guy that
overcame a lot of odds,
820
00:37:35,128 --> 00:37:39,024
and totally kicked ass in an
industry of guys that
821
00:37:39,048 --> 00:37:41,735
were much, you know,
larger than him.
822
00:37:41,759 --> 00:37:44,572
I would have loved to see
what the next 10 years would
823
00:37:44,596 --> 00:37:46,449
have played out for him
had he never had
824
00:37:46,473 --> 00:37:48,242
that damn car wreck.
825
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:50,453
♪
826
00:37:50,477 --> 00:37:53,914
He knew the hand
that he was dealt
827
00:37:53,938 --> 00:37:56,792
after the accident.
828
00:37:56,816 --> 00:37:59,378
There wasn't a damn
thing he could do about it,
829
00:37:59,402 --> 00:38:01,589
which killed him.
830
00:38:01,613 --> 00:38:06,802
Figuratively, and I
think eventually, literally.
831
00:38:06,826 --> 00:38:10,931
Brian's death started a
domino effect that
832
00:38:10,955 --> 00:38:13,934
forced people to recognize
the steroid issue,
833
00:38:13,958 --> 00:38:18,105
but put extra focus
on the real cause
834
00:38:18,129 --> 00:38:22,776
of people dying too young,
which is pills.
835
00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:26,363
The only hurdle he couldn't
get across was the last one
836
00:38:26,387 --> 00:38:30,618
and, it was his own body
that had betrayed him.
837
00:38:30,642 --> 00:38:32,620
♪
838
00:38:32,644 --> 00:38:35,039
The biggest legacy though,
unfortunately,
839
00:38:35,063 --> 00:38:38,667
is what would have been,
where he would have gone,
840
00:38:38,691 --> 00:38:40,586
what heights he
would have achieved,
841
00:38:40,610 --> 00:38:43,964
how much bigger and
better he would have gotten.
842
00:38:43,988 --> 00:38:45,049
He saw the end goal.
843
00:38:45,073 --> 00:38:47,009
Like, he was so close
to like really just like
844
00:38:47,033 --> 00:38:48,552
completely making it, you know.
845
00:38:48,576 --> 00:38:49,929
Like, in wrestling.
846
00:38:49,953 --> 00:38:53,390
Would he have been along
with The Rock and Steve Austin
847
00:38:53,414 --> 00:38:54,892
and a few other guys,
the biggest star
848
00:38:54,916 --> 00:38:56,477
in wrestling, 5 years later?
849
00:38:56,501 --> 00:38:58,979
Probably. One of 'em.
850
00:38:59,003 --> 00:39:02,423
♪
851
00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:08,930
♪
852
00:39:12,517 --> 00:39:15,996
Just rebuilding my
relationship with my kids.
853
00:39:16,020 --> 00:39:18,916
Having my, you know,
kids not be mad at me...
854
00:39:18,940 --> 00:39:21,293
by the time I die.
We'll see if that happens.
855
00:39:21,317 --> 00:39:23,170
(laughs)
856
00:39:23,194 --> 00:39:26,340
\{\an1}♪
857
00:39:26,364 --> 00:39:27,883
You know, my dad's not here so,
858
00:39:27,907 --> 00:39:29,677
if I got one parent
left that I can go,
859
00:39:29,701 --> 00:39:31,095
oh, well, you know,
that's my mom,
860
00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:33,639
that's just the way she is,
you know, like, sure,
861
00:39:33,663 --> 00:39:35,849
I could live the
rest of my life hating her,
862
00:39:35,873 --> 00:39:38,978
but where does that get me?
863
00:39:39,002 --> 00:39:41,522
Ever since I've rekindled
my relationship with her,
864
00:39:41,546 --> 00:39:43,440
I've been happier
in my personal life,
865
00:39:43,464 --> 00:39:45,776
I've been better in my
relationships with women.
866
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,070
I've been more understanding
of people's plights
867
00:39:48,094 --> 00:39:49,363
and people's vices.
868
00:39:49,387 --> 00:39:52,116
I've been just a much
more mature adult in general
869
00:39:52,140 --> 00:39:53,993
since I've buried the
hatchet with my mother,
870
00:39:54,017 --> 00:39:55,494
so to speak.
871
00:39:55,518 --> 00:39:58,622
And in many ways, I'm very
happy that I have a parent
872
00:39:58,646 --> 00:40:01,584
left on this earth to, to speak
to and talk to, you know.
873
00:40:01,608 --> 00:40:04,044
I called Mel a time or
two and then
874
00:40:04,068 --> 00:40:06,714
we just lost contact and...
875
00:40:06,738 --> 00:40:08,632
then I reached out to, you know,
876
00:40:08,656 --> 00:40:10,551
Brian Jr. a
couple years ago,
877
00:40:10,575 --> 00:40:12,928
I had one of Brian's
old weight lifting belts.
878
00:40:12,952 --> 00:40:16,056
Out of nowhere, a sign from
the wrestling gods comes in
879
00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,934
the form of a cellphone call
from Stone Cold Steve Austin
880
00:40:18,958 --> 00:40:23,647
to tell me that he has a
Cardillo weight lifting belt...
881
00:40:23,671 --> 00:40:25,608
that belonged to my father
and that he wants to
882
00:40:25,632 --> 00:40:27,234
mail it to me and give it to me.
883
00:40:27,258 --> 00:40:29,320
And I'm like, you know what,
if that's a sign,
884
00:40:29,344 --> 00:40:30,946
that's a sign.
885
00:40:30,970 --> 00:40:34,742
(cheering)
Brian!
886
00:40:34,766 --> 00:40:39,330
♪
887
00:40:39,354 --> 00:40:40,581
When he first said
he was gonna wrestle,
888
00:40:40,605 --> 00:40:43,334
like, it struck
terror in my heart.
889
00:40:43,358 --> 00:40:45,294
I was like, oh, my god,
he'll have fractured
890
00:40:45,318 --> 00:40:47,588
relationships, his kids
won't get the attention,
891
00:40:47,612 --> 00:40:48,756
he's gonna travel all the time,
892
00:40:48,780 --> 00:40:50,674
he's not gonna be able...
893
00:40:50,698 --> 00:40:55,137
And then, I saw him perform,
and I saw the look on
894
00:40:55,161 --> 00:40:57,890
his face when he knew
that he was creating,
895
00:40:57,914 --> 00:41:00,309
you know, homage to his dad.
896
00:41:00,333 --> 00:41:04,188
♪
897
00:41:04,212 --> 00:41:06,607
And, I realized, this is it.
898
00:41:06,631 --> 00:41:08,942
This is what's
supposed to happen.
899
00:41:08,966 --> 00:41:11,070
He just woke up one day and
he was gonna be a wrestler.
900
00:41:11,094 --> 00:41:14,239
And I, I literally laughed.
I'm like, "You? A wrestler?
901
00:41:14,263 --> 00:41:16,575
All you do is sit in your
room and play video games.
902
00:41:16,599 --> 00:41:18,911
There's no way that
you're gonna be a wrestler."
903
00:41:18,935 --> 00:41:21,914
And it was just crazy, like,
he was determined and
904
00:41:21,938 --> 00:41:25,876
he quit his job, he had just
graduated college and...
905
00:41:25,900 --> 00:41:27,544
he was, he was gonna do it.
906
00:41:27,568 --> 00:41:29,755
And I was very hesitant
at first just because of
907
00:41:29,779 --> 00:41:31,757
everything my dad went
through and I didn't want
908
00:41:31,781 --> 00:41:34,176
my brother to fall into
that same lifestyle,
909
00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:35,177
so I was scared.
910
00:41:35,201 --> 00:41:36,804
[Commentator]
by Pillman, oh-ho-ho!
911
00:41:36,828 --> 00:41:38,639
I think he'd be proud of him.
912
00:41:38,663 --> 00:41:41,016
His son wants to carry
on the Pillman name.
913
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,185
He wants to make his
father proud of him.
914
00:41:43,209 --> 00:41:46,814
He wants to accomplish
something on his own,
915
00:41:46,838 --> 00:41:49,066
but yet pay tribute to his dad.
916
00:41:49,090 --> 00:41:50,943
I think Brian
would be into that.
917
00:41:50,967 --> 00:41:53,570
I just think he might be
worried that, that...
918
00:41:53,594 --> 00:41:55,406
Brian Jr.'s in it
all by himself.
919
00:41:55,430 --> 00:41:56,824
He's got some people
looking out for him,
920
00:41:56,848 --> 00:42:00,077
but I, I think Brian Sr.
Would a whole lot rather
921
00:42:00,101 --> 00:42:02,329
be there to keep an eye on him.
922
00:42:02,353 --> 00:42:04,665
Great kid, looks a
lot like his dad.
923
00:42:04,689 --> 00:42:07,209
And I talk to him
about these things.
924
00:42:07,233 --> 00:42:09,211
There's a lot
of great traits, Brian,
925
00:42:09,235 --> 00:42:12,214
that your dad had,
that I hope to god you,
926
00:42:12,238 --> 00:42:14,758
you can acquire.
927
00:42:14,782 --> 00:42:17,469
And then there are some...
928
00:42:17,493 --> 00:42:19,805
not so much.
929
00:42:19,829 --> 00:42:23,684
You have to learn
where you draw the line.
930
00:42:23,708 --> 00:42:25,728
Use his passion,
use his intellect,
931
00:42:25,752 --> 00:42:30,524
use his athletic ability,
use his love of the game.
932
00:42:30,548 --> 00:42:33,694
But then, don't get too
far off the beaten path.
933
00:42:33,718 --> 00:42:36,113
Don't be a Loose Cannon,
Brian Jr.,
934
00:42:36,137 --> 00:42:37,489
don't be a Loose Cannon.
935
00:42:37,513 --> 00:42:40,617
The Varsity Blondes!
936
00:42:40,641 --> 00:42:42,536
You know, a lot of people,
"Oh, you know,
937
00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:44,288
do you think your dad
would want you to wrestle?"
938
00:42:44,312 --> 00:42:46,457
And it's like, "Well,
he kind of put his stamp
939
00:42:46,481 --> 00:42:48,500
of approval on me to be a
wrestler when he named me
940
00:42:48,524 --> 00:42:49,960
Brian Pillman," you know.
941
00:42:49,984 --> 00:42:52,421
There's really no going
back at this point so...
942
00:42:52,445 --> 00:42:55,466
no, it's just tragic
to know that we never,
943
00:42:55,490 --> 00:42:57,885
we never got to have
that ultimate
944
00:42:57,909 --> 00:43:03,015
father-son relationship.
But, but in a way, it...
945
00:43:03,039 --> 00:43:06,810
it inspires me to, to be
a good father one day,
946
00:43:06,834 --> 00:43:08,145
you know, so...
947
00:43:08,169 --> 00:43:11,690
I think, I think that's
my goal in all of this,
948
00:43:11,714 --> 00:43:13,150
through wrestling
and everything,
949
00:43:13,174 --> 00:43:15,277
is to be a father, so...
950
00:43:15,301 --> 00:43:18,864
♪
951
00:43:18,888 --> 00:43:20,657
You know, that photo is very...
952
00:43:20,681 --> 00:43:23,869
very symbolic to me, you know.
953
00:43:23,893 --> 00:43:26,121
He's kind of holding me up and,
954
00:43:26,145 --> 00:43:29,500
and I always look at
it for inspiration,
955
00:43:29,524 --> 00:43:31,627
you know, so...
956
00:43:31,651 --> 00:43:35,005
I hope that one day I
would have a son like that,
957
00:43:35,029 --> 00:43:38,383
you know, to kind
of hold up as...
958
00:43:38,407 --> 00:43:39,843
as the future, you know.
959
00:43:39,867 --> 00:43:42,095
It's like he's kind of
giving me his blessing there
960
00:43:42,119 --> 00:43:45,849
in that photo so... yeah.
961
00:43:45,873 --> 00:43:48,936
He contributed a whole lot
to the wrestling business.
962
00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:50,562
He pushed the envelope.
963
00:43:50,586 --> 00:43:51,814
The Loose Cannon gimmick
964
00:43:51,838 --> 00:43:54,358
is one of the best
ones ever created.
965
00:43:54,382 --> 00:43:57,069
And, Brian was one of the
best friends that I had
966
00:43:57,093 --> 00:43:58,237
in the business.
967
00:43:58,261 --> 00:44:00,781
And, I hope that he
thought the same about me.
968
00:44:00,805 --> 00:44:02,658
I love Brian.
969
00:44:02,682 --> 00:44:06,853
♪