BRIAN PILLMAN - FAQ

I have read about "shoots" in wrestling. I'm not exactly sure what qualifies as a "shoot" or not. In the late 1990's, I remember reading about Brian Pillman coming into an independent promotion and "shooting" on WCW. Was this a real shoot, and if so, what was said and why was it said?
A shoot is someone breaking a script and saying what's on his mind. It doesn't necessarily have to be on TV, it can be in regular interviews where a certain wrestler would comment on a wrestler or promoter. There is also a "worked-shoot." A "worked-shoot" is when the shoot is scripted by the creative team. Now, about the Pillman shoot. In the mid 90's, Brian Pillman got a "Loose Cannon" gimmick, where he does and says what he wants. Kevin Sullivan, who was booking for WCW at that time wanted to give Pillman a push and challenged him to a "I respect you" match. The match stipulation is pretty simple. They would fight until someone can't take it anymore and says "I respect you." Just like an "I quit match." They wrestled, and within two minutes in the match, Pillman takes the microphone and says "I respect you bookerman" and walked out of the match. Since Sullivan was a Booker for WCW, people thought it was a legit shoot, but it was just a plan that Sullivan and Pillman decided to go with. Pillman, Sullivan and Bischoff worked out a deal where they fired Pillman so he can continue his "Loose Cannon" gimmick in ECW. Pillman then goes to ECW and publicly shoots on WCW and Eric Bischoff, which fooled a lot of people. He stayed in ECW for a short while before heading to the WWF.

Was Brian Pillman's Death Announced At Bad Blood 1997?
A few minutes before the actual PPV started, they played a taped segment for the fans tuning in on PPV, where Vince McMahon informed them that Brian Pillman had passed away in his hotel room earlier in the afternoon.