WCW Nitro Debut Wrestlers: Where Are They Now?

Flyin’ Brian Pillman defeated the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger on Nitro’s first broadcast, and he’s generally considered one of his era’s biggest “what if?” wrestlers. Pillman was years ahead of his time, and a fantastic high-flying wrestler who could match anyone in the ring. Whether working as one half of the Hollywood Blondes, part of the Hart Foundation, or as the Loose Cannon in his later years, Pillman was one of the best in the business, but his story ended in tragedy.

He left WCW at the end of 1995, and found his way to WWE via ECW in 1996. Pillman was involved in a nasty car accident just two months prior to signing with Vince McMahon’s company, and his injuries severely hindered his in-ring ability. Pillman was a shadow of his former self in the ring, and while he remained on WWE television throughout his run, the broken ankle sustained in the accident effectively wrecked his career.

Pillman passed away in October 1997. Alarm bells started ringing when he didn’t show up for a scheduled match with Mankind at Badd Blood: In Your House. Jim Cornette called Pillman’s hotel to find out where he was, and the staff informed him that Brian had been found dead earlier that day. An autopsy attributed his death to a heart attack caused by a previously undetected heart condition - he was just 35 years old.