On October 5, 1997, the wrestling world misplaced considered one of its most colourful figures ever in Brian Pillman, who handed away on the age of 35. Almost twenty seven years later, Pillman’s demise stays arduous for a lot of to swallow, together with AEW announcer Jim Ross, who had labored with Pillman for years each in WCW and WWE.
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On the newest episode of “Grillin JR,” Ross and co-host Conrad Thompson mentioned Pillman’s sudden passing, with Ross agreeing with Thompson’s sentiment that Pillman’s demise stays probably the most tragic deaths in wrestling historical past.
“Yeah, oh hell yeah,” Ross stated. After all. I used to be near Brian. I had signed Brian. I had been an ally of Brian because the early days of Flyin’ Brian, the excessive flyer in WCW. So yeah, it was heartbreaking. It was heartbreaking. I like Brian. I take into consideration Brian virtually daily.”
On the time of Pillman’s demise, Ross was working each as WWE’s lead announcer and because the promotion’s head of expertise relations, a place he’d maintain till 2005. Ross has not been shy about discussing how he threw himself into the place throughout that point, and the difficulties that got here with it. In keeping with Ross, these difficulties grew to become extra pronounced within the speedy aftermath of Pillman’s demise.
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“It is so much to throw in your shoulders, since you’ve acquired…not solely do you have acquired that subject, however that subject spawns different points,” Ross stated. “[You’ve got] expertise asking questions. ‘What actually occurred JR? Come on, you may inform me.’ That sort of factor. You simply could not get away from that stuff. Simply could not get away from it.”
In the event you use any quotes from this text, please credit score “Grilling JR” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription
