Brian Zachary Pillman, better known by his ring as Brian Pillman Jr., is a professional wrestler from the United States who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.

His tenure in Major League Wrestling is also well-known. Pillman is the son of professional wrestler Brian Pillman, making him a second-generation wrestler.

 

Pillman was a football player for Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Kentucky. He graduated in 2011 and went on to college to improve his education. Pillman studied Information Systems at Northern Kentucky University.

Brian Pillman Jr
Brian Pillman Jr

Brian Pillman Jr. Career

Pillman declared in February 2017 that he would be following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a professional wrestler. Lance Storm, of the Storm Wrestling Academy in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was his coach.

 

Pillman made his professional wrestling debut on December 18, 2017, using the ring moniker “Alex King,” a tribute to his sisters Alexis Reed and Skylar King.

On January 28, 2018, Pillman made his professional debut for Combat Zone Wrestling against Mike Del for the CZW Medal of Valor Championship at Dojo Wars 162. Pillman was defeated by submission in the match.

Pillman would compete in one more CZW match, this time as part of a tag team against Anthony Bennet and Jimmy Lloyd at Super Show V on January 26.

Pillman competed in a battle royal at All Elite Wrestling’s debut pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing, in May 2019. Pillman debuted in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in July 2020, after MLW was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He wrestled on both their main program Dynamite and their web show Dark.

Pillman’s contract with MLW was not terminated, but he was permitted to work for AEW as well. On the July 7th episode of Dark, he made his comeback to the ring in a loss to Shawn Spears.

Pillman was primarily employed as an enhancement talent after that, losing against the likes of Brian Cage and Eddie Kingston.

Brian Pillman Jr. Private Life

Following his father’s death when Pillman was four years old, Pillman had a troubled connection with his mother Melanie, who struggled with drug addiction.

It had been steadily developing since Pillman began her wrestling career, with regular appearances on Pillman’s live Twitch streams. Melanie was discovered dead on June 1, 2022, after an apparent drug overdose, according to Pillman.