Brian Pillman Jr. is coming to NXT.
On the October 10th episode of NXT, the latest video hyping the former AEW star’s arrival was aired. In contrast to the first couple of vignettes, Pillman Jr. spoke directly into the camera and addressed his father’s legacy and his hopes for the future.
The second-generation star said that while everyone has fond memories of Brian Pillman, he doesn’t. He went on to explain that he’ll be using the name “King” going forward, a reference to his real-life stepfather.
It had previously been reported that Pillman Jr. would be known as Lexis King. The first name is a reference to his sister who passed away in 2009.
“My father was one of the most infamous superstars in this business. Everywhere I go, people stop to tell me, ‘Man, I loved your dad. Such a trailblazer he was.’ It seems like everybody has such fond memories of my father. Well you know who doesn’t? Me. His own damn son.
I lost him when I was just four years old. I don’t know him. And you’d think being a WWE Superstar would be the last thing that I’d want to be. And you’re right. And trust me, I’ve tried. I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried football, lacrosse. Hell, I even have a college degree. But this industry has been in my blood since birth and I could never escape it. I’ve got no choice but to embrace it. I have no choice but to inflict pain on the very business that has brought me so much grief.
But when they see this face, I don’t want them to think about my dead father. I want them to think about me. I’m nobody’s junior. And from this day forward, I am going to take on the last name of the real man who raised me, the real father figure in my life. And his name was King. And now so is mine.”
Brian Pillman Jr. had his first match in WWE a few days later at an NXT live event in Largo, Florida.
In recent news, Bully Ray has weighed in on the WWE Vs. AEW Tuesday night war.
When Did Brian Pillman Jr. Leave AEW?
Brian Pillman Jr. left AEW after his contract expired in July 2023. The star had joined the company in 2019 but found television time difficult to come by in recent months.
Following his departure from AEW, it was reported that a deal was in place to join WWE, and by August it was claimed he’d put pen to paper. However, there had been no official comment from Pillman or WWE.
Pillman Jr.’s father Brian Pillman famously signed with WWE in 1996 after leaving WCW in highly controversial circumstances. The star was working for the company at the time of his untimely passing on October 5th, 1997.
H/t to F4Wonline