10. The Brian Pillman/Steve Austin Shooting Incident
Brian Pillman was a performer ahead of his time. The former defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals broke into the business as a pretty boy high flyer that wowed American audiences with his action-packed ring style. But it wasnt until he shed the stereotypical wrestling persona and became The Loose Cannon that he really began making waves in the industry. Pillman was credited with being one of the first guys to openly shatter the barrier of kayfabe, notoriously calling Kevin Sullivan bookerman on camera during a match. Hes also famous for the unorthodox way he allegedly negotiated his way out of his WCW contract so he could make his way to the WWE, as well as an attempt to urinate in the middle of an ECW ring. The incident in question was an angle in which a rage-driven Steve Austin broke into Brian Pillmans home to exact revenge on his foe and former tag team partner. Cameras were live at the Pillman house throughout the entire episode of Raw, where he sat with his wife prepared to defend his home. When Stone Cold finally arrived, Brian grabbed a gun and threatened to shoot him, shouting expletives as the show went to black with the sound of a gunshot. The ensuing firestorm that resulted from this sent the network executives into a rage and very nearly got Raw cancelled. This was before the advent of The Attitude Era and such content was pushing the envelope as far as wrestling was concerned. Had it happened a few years later it wouldn't have been much more than a blip on the radar, but at the time it was hugely controversial and nearly cost WWE the airing of their flagship program.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
