Brian Pillman Jr. On Living Up To Expectations Set By His Father
Being the son of one of the most legendary wrestlers and characters in wrestling history is no easy task.
Brian Pillman Jr. knows the path blazed by his father. Whether it was his athleticism in the ring or loose cannon persona out of it, Brian Pillman was a unique character that can never be replicated. And his son isn’t looking to be his father, he’s just trying to live up to his own expectations.
Speaking to Kari Williams of SLAM, Pillman discussed the expectations fans have with him given who is father is.
“Because we have the internet and because we have the ability to download and to learn quickly, we are expected to do so already,” Pillman said. “And when you tack on the demands that I face coming right out of training, people were trying to book me before I ever bumped. [They have] high hopes that they’re going to have these crazy highlights… I’m like, ‘Hey man, I’m here to wrestle first. I’m here to have a good match, so don’t be thinking you’re gonna be getting in all this sh– on me because I’ve got a reputation to protect as well.'”
To learn how to wrestle, Pillman Jr wanted to set himself up to succeed by going to the best wrestling school. He enrolled in Lance Storm’s Wrestling Academy, which Pillman Jr called “the best school there is.” The senior Pillman also trained in Calgary under the guidance of Stu Hart and Stampede Wrestling.
Despite being named after his father, Pillman Jr never got the chance to be close to him. Pillman died unexpectedly in Oct 1997 at the age of 35. Pillman Jr was just three at the time. Not yet forming that bond with his father allowed him to differentiate himself in wrestling.
“I think a good way to separate us is that I’ve never really met the man,” said Pillman. “There are not a lot of behaviors I can adopt from him. It’s gotta be purely genetic at this point. I try not to study his stuff. Sometimes I bring out my dad’s old stuff if I know the crowd will appreciate it or respect it.”
Pillman Jr recently competed at MLW’s Fury Road event on Oct. 4, teaming with Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. against Rich Swann, ACH & Marko Stunt.
