10 Outrageous WWE Experiments That Failed

1. Brian Pillman Pulls A Gun On Steve Austin

Super Porky WWE.jpg
WWE Network

A feud between former partners Steve Austin and Brian Pillman should have been an in-ring classic. Unfortunately, by 1996 Pillman was a shadow of the performer he had once been. 

Shattering his ankle during a car accident, the previously dynamic, high-flying Brian lost a lot of his speed. 

Nonetheless, he was a hot topic following his release from WCW, and the WWF felt like they had pulled a fast one on their rivals by signing him. A program with Austin felt like a great way to introduce Pillman, but it wound up being one of the most controversial ideas in WWF/WWE history. 

On the November 4, 1996 episode of Monday Night Raw, Austin attempted to invade Pillman's home. WWF cameras were there, under the guise of conducting an interview with Brian. The skits looked much more gritty and real than anything fans had ever seen on WWF programming before.

Things took a turn to the dark side when Pillman pulled a gun out and shots were heard over the backdrop of a blank screen. This would be the first time a firearm had been used in the company, and it was not an experiment Vince McMahon was keen to replicate.

Even before the 'Attitude Era', things were getting rather out of hand.

What other outrageous WWF/WWE experiments can you think of? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section below!

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.