The Dark Side of the Ring episode on Brian Pillman offers a human element few episodes have been able to match.
Here are some thoughts on what stood out from this fascinating two-part documentary:
– The narrative on the Loose Cannon gimmick was especially interesting. It truly became a situation where many didn’t know what was real and what was fake. That was retold in the negotiations with Eric Bischoff and Vince McMahon, but it was particularly glaring in Jim Cornette discussing the rumors Pillman had plastic surgery to look like Shawn Michaels. The character Pillman had crafted was so believable, even if in some sense, it mirrored some of Pillman’s larger issues.
– Speaking of the negotiations with WCW and WWE, Kim Wood was undoubtedly the star. You could tell he found enjoyment in he and Pillman scheming against both Bischoff and McMahon. Looking back at it, it’s hard not to chuckle at how they approached it. Of course, that wasn’t the only portion Wood contributed to. His personality and storytelling made him an important figure in the Pillman story.
– Melanie Pillman was a central figure in the story, and the toll it has taken on her is glaring. There is certainly still a lot of animosity towards her from members of Pillman’s family. She admittedly played a role in some of the darker moments in Pillman’s life, so the tension is understandable. But her part in the documentary alone added a visual reality of her journey since Pillman’s tragic passing.
– Staying on the Melanie front, had this been an A&E Biography, you weren’t getting footage of Vince McMahon grilling her on RAW after Pillman’s death. It’s one of the most disgusting segments in RAW history, and how anyone thought it was a good idea is beyond me. Pressing a grieving widow on live television about her husband’s drug issues is downright despicable.
– Jim Ross was also featured throughout the documentary. He isn’t gonna bullshit anyone about anything, so his retelling stories of Pillman’s career and the emotional impact it on him when Pillman failed a drug test was impactful.
– Ross and Dave Meltzer sharing their memories of Pillman’s funeral was also tough to watch. Meltzer’s story of watching the kids running up and saying goodbye was something else.
– The one figure you come out of the documentary rooting for the most is Brian Pillman Jr., whose experiences have ranged from thinking his father’s death was a work, to being abused by his stepfather, to having nobody to throw a baseball or football with him as a kid. His commentary on what he’s gone through will stick with anyone that hears it. Linda Pillman and others have helped him along the way, and how he’s turned out the way he has is truly incredible.
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