This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Brian Pillman. The former Cincinnati Bengal never quite reached main event status during his wrestling career, but ended up being one of the most influential stars of the past few decades with his work in WCW, ECW, and WWF.
The tales of Pillman’s strangeness and unorthodox approach to the wrestling business are numerous, and have been catalogued in many venues (including in at least one of Chris Jericho’s memoirs). From wanting to be chained naked to a goalpost at the Super Bowl to famously never once breaking character, Pillman’s exploits are legendary.
But up until now, those exploits have never been collected in one place. That will all change this month, with the release of Crazy Like A Fox — The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later. The book is written by Liam O’Rourke, and will detail Pillman’s entire life, focusing on his time in the public eye, from his football career up through his death.
The book features interviews with Pillman’s family and a host of industry insiders, including Dave Meltzer, Raven, Jim Cornette, Les Thatcher, and more.
The official synopsis of the book:
An alpha male with a beta body, looking to thrive in worlds where beta males with alpha bodies are the primary requirement.
He was a complex paradox, a walking contradiction. He lived more in 35 years than most do in a lifetime, the product of an arduous infanthood. His overachievement is awe-inspiring. Tales of his conflicts and conquests became the stuff of legend. His borderline genius and tragic demise made him an icon shrouded in mystique.
He was Brian Pillman, and two decades later the most comprehensive look at one of professional wrestling’s most fascinating stories has been compiled. Discover unheard details of his upbringing, the incredible story behind chasing an NFL roster spot and his introduction to pro wrestling in the crazy Stampede circuit. Revel at his trials and tribulations in WCW and the WWF, walking the fine line between the cusp of superstardom and political turmoil. Reflect in the most detailed, inside breakdown of his Loose Cannon gambit ever produced, the scam that turned him into the talk of the business, before fatally drowning in personal tragedy and addiction.
With exclusive interviews with some of Brian’s closest friends and family, Crazy Like A Fox is a must-read for Pillman fans, and a breathtaking look at the bizarre world of wrestling to boot…
Crazy Like A Fox is scheduled to be available for order on Amazon and other online retailers shortly.
