https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng2Nw5wfq18 WWE is often quick to sidestep any blame for the death of any wrestler that has ever competed for them. With Brian Pillman, they were far too quick, and far too exploitative to try and prove his death had nothing to do with his career as a wrestler. They went about it the worst way possible. On Sunday, October 6, 1997 Brian's wife Melanie received word that her husband had died in a Minneapolis motel room. The next night, she was invited to appear on Raw and talk to Vince McMahon, and millions of people about the tremendous pain and shock she was going through. Twenty four hours is nowhere near enough time for a mother to process the death of her husband, and figure out where here life goes next. But there were ratings to be had and blame to be shifted, so she was interviewed live on air. It was painfully uncomftorable to watch. McMahon actually had the gall to ask her "Have you had a chance to think about what you will do as a single parent to support five children?" This coming from a multi-millionaire who had just employed her husband the day before. Try not to feel horrible for her as she tells Vince that "Little Brian doesn't understand why daddy's not coming home." Why was this necessary for Vince to do this just one day after Brian's death? Why did not even one of his infamous yes men try to talk him out of it? Was no one in the WWF sane at the time? You can look at all the charity work Vince has done, and all the money he has donated, but it's hard to forgive or forget this cruel, tasteless moment in his company's history.
As Rust Cohle from True Detective said "Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you're good at."
Sadly, I can't solve a murder like Rust...or change a tire, or even tie a tie. But I do know all the lyrics to Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme song and can easily name every Natural Born Thriller from the dying days of WCW. I was once ranked 21st in the United States in Tetris...on the Playstation 3 version...for about a week.
Follow along @AndrewSoucek and check out my podcast at wrestlingwithfriends.com