10 great wrestlers who have passed on and their legacies

#8 Brian Pillman

"Flying" Brian Pillman in WCW

Brian Pillman and hardship were no strangers. Suffering from non-cancerous polyps forming on his throat, he underwent over thirty operations as a child. Sickly, and with a weakened voice, he was a frequent target for bullies.

Pillman became interested in boxing and fitness as a way to defend himself from torment. Discovering an affinity for sports, Pillman took up American football and even played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals. His early ring gear represented the Bengals colours.

Cut from the Buffalo Bills, Pillman gave up on football and turned to wrestling. He was a rookie standout in Canada and teamed with members of the legendary Hart family.

His career truly took off when he joined Ted Turner's WCW in 1989. His athleticism and technical prowess earned him instant praise from fans and management alike. Pillman has the honour of being in the opening match of WCW Nitro, where he defeated Jushin Thunder Liger.

After outing Kevin Sullivan as a booker live on a WCW PPV, Pillman would move on to WWE, where he feuded with Goldust and Steve Austin. He also holds the dubious distinction of being the only pro wrestler to brandish a firearm on television.

Legacy

Brian Pillman's clashes with Jushin Thunder Liger and Steve Austin are still spoken of today. His 24-year-old son, Brian Pillman Jr, has said that he intends to embark upon his own wrestling career. We look forward to seeing how he fares in the future while raising a glass to his father.

Sadly, Pillman's many surgeries and drug use caught up with him and he passed away in 1997. We remember him with this classic confrontation with Steve Austin.