10 Best Wrestlers Who Were Never WWE Champion

9. Brian Pillman

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WWE.com

Of all the faces (and heels) that had substantial coverage on WWE television in 1997, Brian Pillman was one of the few that would have fit in just fine during the drastically different following year.

'The Loose Cannon' was years ahead of his time in 1996. Two, to be exact. Pillman had the incomparable attitude to believe in himself at the expense of others - and common sense - but knew the ideology was so bizarre that he'd have to be cast as unhinged just to get it over.

Spotting the move away from the kayfabe era later exploited by both WCW and WWE, Flyin' Brian's 1995 metamorphosis into the man that strode out of a WCW deal via the ECW Arena into a fat WWE contract was one of the most remarkable career turnarounds in industry history.

Deft to a fault, Pillman lived the gimmick as he played it, and rode his luck and timing throughout until both ran out on him. Horrific injuries sustained in a car accident didn't diffuse the WWE deal, but destroyed the career he was meant to have. His personality was such that he remained over the the last year of his life despite the obvious pain he felt every time he wrestled. But it wouldn't have mattered had he made it beyond 1998. The company was only just coming round to his way of working when he tragically passed on.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett