Dezmino from Talkamania recently sat down with Brian Pillman Jr, ahead of his match with Rich Swann, as MLW sets to invade NYC at the Melrose Ballroom April 4 and 5. Listen in as he discusses preparing for this big event, as well as touching on the Hart Foundation and their WWE Hall Of Fame induction. Brian also talks about training at the Lance Storm Academy, working with Tommy Dreamer, gaming on his downtime and much more!
Below are a few highlights from their conversation. The full interview from @_talkamania can be heard here: https://talkamania.podbean.
Pillman comments on facing off with Rich Swann this weekend in New York City for MLW:
“The biggest thing just getting ready for the weekend, is getting back in tip-top shape. If I am completely honest, I kind of let myself get out of the ultimate shape I was in.
I started off my career in very, very good shape but as you all know, the struggles of the road can be very, very trying and trying to eat right and diet and do all these things, while still bumping on the mat and taking blows to the head and stuff like that, is really hard on your body.
I have had 2 injuries since I started my career, already and you know, I don’t think that’s due to my lack of any safety precautions. I like to think I’m a pretty safe guy out there in the ring but that’s just because of the large amount of workload and the demand for my matches and the demand for me to be booked every single weekend. And you know, you’re going to make mistakes and things are going to happen, but I’m very motivated. Motivated by the Full Gear Challenge that the AEW has proposed. So I decided I am not going to show up to WrestleMania in anything less than my best shape. Especially with two high level opponents. Maxwell Jacob Friedman operating at a very high level and of course Rich Swann, ex-WWE, you’ve seen what he can do. You just go to be in real good shape when you go into the ring with these guys. You got to be in very good condition so you don’t get blown up and embarrassed out there.”
How enjoyable and how much fun is it being a part of this organization, the New Hart Foundation?
“Well you know, we had to do what we had to do. It was an organic union and we united against the evil that we were facing. We all had a common goal in mind and that was to rid the geezers of the business, rid those guys, those old schools guys that keep latching on. You know, they are latching on to young talent, trying to stay in the business. It’s like, how many times do they retire? They always retire because it gets a big pop, then they come back and then they retire again. It gets old and honestly it’s disrespectful to us guys that are trying to make a name for ourselves. You know, there’s only so many spots on a card and when a guy like Kevin Sullivan or Tommy Dreamer takes up a spot on a card, it’s really just a spit in the face to the guys like the New Hart Foundation, who are still trying to get by.”
Pillman comments on the original Hart Foundation getting inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame:
“I think it’s great timing, you know, its good timing because not only are we doing our thing, but also you know, Natalya is doing her thing.
Who knows, maybe TJ comes back to the ring in some wonderful, beautiful fashion. He has been trying to heal himself up for many years now. I think it’s great. You know, everybody is like ‘Your Dad should be in and Owen and everybody else that was in the 97 Hart Foundation’ but in my opinion it doesn’t really matter because we all know what their contributions are. We all know that the Hall Of Fame is more or less symbolic and it’s just a way to honor people even more than they already are. So, it’s not like I don’t realize that my father is remembered for what he’s done, obviously he is. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had such an amazing support system coming into the business, you know what I’m saying? So It doesn’t affect me at all if he’s put in the Hall Of Fame or not and I don’t think he would have cared either, had he been here today.”
(Transcription credit to Talkamania with a h/t to Wrestlezone)
Read More: Rich Swann To Face Brian Pillman Jr., The Bellas Podcast Releases First Episode
