Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

36. 1987: Brian Pillman

Essa Rios Lita
VICE

A super athletic stud with a firebrand charisma even in the blue chipper role, Pillman evolved into one of the most influential and compelling wrestlers ever. He raised the in-ring standard, pioneered the parody heat skit of which the industry remains beloved, and blurred the line between kayfabe and reality with his demented, fiercely believable character work.

Were it not for a career-altering ankle injury and profoundly damaging substance issue, he may well have become the biggest star in the wrestling industry; the former exacerbated the latter, and this bleak cocktail took the man's life in October 1997, a decade after he first enchanted the hardcore taste-makers.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!