10 Shocking WWE Angles That Crossed The Line
2. Pillman 9mm
With Brian Pillman laid up following legitimate ankle surgery just days prior, the decision was made to have Steve Austin continue the feud with his former Hollywood Blonds partner while Pillman was out injured. As a result, the "Pillman's Got a Gun" angle was born.
Filmed on location at Brian's real-life home in Walton, Kentucky, Kevin Kelly served as the field reporter for the piece. Kelly - along with McMahon on headset - began questioning Pillman of his mindset, knowing Austin was in the area. Pillman responded with the immortal line "When Austin 3:16 meets Pillman 9mm Glock..." and history was made from the moment he cocked the pistol.
When 'Stone Cold' did eventually appear, he viciously dispatched those waiting outside Brian's home - revolutionary content for the time. Austin eventually made it into the house where Pillman pointed the loaded gun squarely at Austin. The WWF immediately "lost the feed", leaving the viewer watching with bated breath for an eventual outcome.
The angle was a stark contrast to the typical content WWF were producing in '96 and almost saw Raw thrown off the USA Network. While reality-based storylines were still in their infancy at the time, this segment would have still stood out as notorious, even at the height of the Attitude Era.