Could Brian Pillman have been a World Champion?

[JLAJRC]

I find that alot of people feel that if Owen Hart hadn't died, he would have had at least one reign as a World Champion. But no one ever mentions it in regards to Pillman. So do any of you feel he could have also have been a World Champion at some point if he hadn't died? Or was he just a talented midcarder?

[The Verdict]

simply yes

[MolotovMocktail]

I certainly think so. He would have fit like a glove into the Attitude Era, and had an extensive history with Austin. I have a feeling Wrestlemania 15 could have been Austin/Pillman instead of Austin/Rock.

[MAGGLE]

Apr 29, 2009 15:37:35 GMT -5 MolotovMocktail said:

I certainly think so. He would have fit like a glove into the Attitude Era, and had an extensive history with Austin. I have a feeling Wrestlemania 15 could have been Austin/Pillman instead of Austin/Rock.

100% agree.


I always thought it should have been Pillman vs Austin at Mania 15.

[Hiroshi Hase]

I say no.

With his injuries, he wasn't capable of being a main eventer and his matches honestly weren't all that great in WWF.

Makes a great mouth-piece for someone but not a chance of him being the top guy.

[Slingshot Suplay]

If he wasn't injured, yes.

[Crappler El 0 M]

No. You'd have to change more than him not dying. You would have to change the accident. If you could change both of those things, then he could have been champion. I don't think the people saying "yes" understand just how messed up his foot was.

[Johnny D]

Maybe, I guess we'll never know either way.

[Push R Truth]

He could have been , though not bloody likely.

[glorydays]

I think he would have feuded with Austin at some point, but no, he would not have been champion. Injury was too severe and who the hell knows what he would have done after Montreal (go back to WCW?).

[neilfrazier]

The Rock had HHH
Orton has Batista (lesser extent)
Edge and Cena
Pillman and Austin


Pillman and Austin in my eyes were always on equal footing, but Pillman seemed like he was slightly more of a star than Austin. These two would have played off each other, with Pillman being the insane heel that would do anything to destroy Austin. Pillman would have had a character with Edge's "insane" gimmick, Mick Foley's hardcore style, and the technical and aerial abilities of a Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels.

Pillman may have been injured and not as great as he once was, but neither was Austin. They were amazing earlier in their careers, but I was never all that impressed with Austin in the ring in the WWE. But, the intense promos, feuds, and brawls they could have had would have offset it, until they both retired of injuries by 2002 at the latest.

He would have had HHHs spot before HHH even had it. Had Pillman lived, I don't see HHH becoming a star until the InVasion angle in 2001, and maybe even 2002. As for Owen, I never saw him in the Main Event. However, I said the same for JBL. Could Owen have had JBLs spot if he decided to wrestle? Owen was going to quit the WWE anyway had he lived.

[Tea & Crumpets]

As others have said, need to change 2 bits in history, the accident as well as his death.

Pillman never really had a memorable singles match in WWE. Sure there was the flag match but he was in there as part of a 5-man team, so could work around/mask his limitations.

Had Pillman never had the accident and never died I think he'd have been a multi-time champion, possibly he would have had HHH's role and Hunter may never have really ascended to main event status. But just changing his death wouldn't have made him a champion. He'd have probably been mostly a commentator or manager/authority figure, maybe working the odd rare, short match as his foot and ankle allowed, think Foley from 2002 onwards, only from 1998.

[Mac]

Apr 29, 2009 16:04:12 GMT -5 Johnny D said:

Maybe, I guess we'll never know either way.

You win for the most non-commital answer possible

[Loki]

No.

Not Owen, not Pillman.

They both were sidekicks in the Hart Foundation, and not even the #1 sidekicks either.

Had they lived, they would have ended wrestling around the IC/Tag/Hardcore titles, not higher.

[Kevin Hamilton]

The thread title itself, COULD he have been, sure. The poll question, WOULD he have, I doubt it.

[Bravo Echo November]

If he did not have his injury then yes. But that injury was what set him on the dark path.

[Dynamite Kid]

No. He was too small. No-one would buy it, and his reign would be second only to Mysterio's in pointlessness.

[JLAJRC]

Apr 29, 2009 17:43:39 GMT -5 Dynamite Kid said:

No. He was too small. No-one would buy it, and his reign would be second only to Mysterio's in pointlessness.

He wasn't that much smaller than either Austin or Rock.

[Hiroshi Hase]

Apr 29, 2009 17:54:09 GMT -5 JLAJRC said:

Apr 29, 2009 17:43:39 GMT -5 Dynamite Kid said:

No. He was too small. No-one would buy it, and his reign would be second only to Mysterio's in pointlessness.

He wasn't that much smaller than either Austin or Rock.

Maybe, but the injury he got before entering WWF limited him greatly and this guy wasn't going to be in any 20-minute main event singles matches by himself, let alone winning the WWF title.

He was a talented midcarder.

[wwerules60]

Anyone could be world champion, the only person that can truly say yes or no is Vince Mcmahon himself.