7. Pillman 'Shoots' On Austin
The WWE was not exactly known for edgy angles in 1996. A year before D-Generation Xs sophomoric antics and two years before the promotion really got attitude, WWE in 1996 had more to do with the New Generation of WWE athletes performing in long matches. Wrestlers like Shawn Michaels, Mankind, Bret Hart and Vader carried the promotion in feuds based on competition. 1996 did, however, feature one very realistic angle that was cutting-edge for the time. On the November 4th edition of Raw, the companys hottest star Stone Cold Steve Austin promised to pay his former Hollywood Blond tag team partner Loose Cannon Brian Pillman a house call. Austin invaded the injured Pillmans home by beating up a couple of Pillmans friends, while Pillmans wife Melanie shrieked in terror. Pillman was waiting for Austin in the living room, however, and he was holding a gun. Pillman fired a shot while screaming several obscenities (including an F bomb) and the feed cut out. Fans were left to wonder whether Pillman had actually shot and maimed Austin and the programme returned to outside the Pillman house intermittently for updates on the situation. Eventually it was revealed that the shot had narrowly missed Austin but did enough to scare off The Texas Rattlesnake. While the angle may have captured the imagination of more mature fans, it was not suitable for family viewing and lead to Vince receiving a warning from the USA Network and the WWE being inundated with phone calls from angry parents. Like many angles involving Pillman from this period it was memorable and caused controversy but, ultimately, led to nothing.
Lewis Howse
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Student of film. Former professional wrestler. Supporter of Newcastle United. Don't cry for me, I'm already dead...
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