As i've mentioned in previous reviews, there was a period in my life where I was not watching the WWF/E. I'd like to state precisely when I stopped, but I know it was sometime during the late 80's. Since I didn't start watching again until the lovely Trish Stratus captivated me in 2002, I missed out on at least 12 years of WWF/E - which is a blessing and a curse. A curse, because I was absent for the entire attitude era - I missed the rise of Stone Cold, the Rock and the real DX, amongst other things. However, thanks to Vince and WWE Entertainment, they continue to release DVDs showcasing individual talent to let those of us who weren't there the first time around catch up on what we missed.

Brian Pillman - Loose Cannon is a 2-disc DVD set. The first disc contains a 93 minute long documentary and is rounded out with some testimonials and a few matches, while disc two contains thirteen matches. The documentary is broken up into the following chapters:

• A Troubled Beginning - Demonstrating his ability to overcome adversity at an early age, Brian has over 40 operations to remove polyps on his vocal cords that he was born with. He suffers another loss at the age of two when his father passes away.
  
  
• Football Career - After realizing they weren't handing out scholarships for hockey in Cincinnati, Brian takes up football. Despite his disadvantage thanks to his small size, he has an intensity that helps him set records and win awards.
  
  
• Calgary Stampede Wrestling - This chapter details his time training with Stu Hart.
  
  
• Flyin' Brian - To make up for his initial lack of wrestling skills, Brian decides to use the ropes to his advantage and comes up with some high-flying moves. In fact, many consider him one of the first innovators of the "flying style" of wrestling. Thus, he was given the nickname "Flyin'" Brian. They also mention him teaming with Tom Zenk.
  
  
• Light-Heavyweight Championship - After splitting up with Zenk, Brian becomes the first to win the WCW light-heavyweight championship. The WCW Superbrawl is mentioned, as well as how Brian helped pave the way for smaller wrestlers.
  
  
• Marriage - Footage from his wedding to Melanie is shown.
  
  
• Hollywood Blonds - Before he became "Stone Cold", Steve Austin teamed with Brian and they became the Hollywood Blonds. Since they were a randomly thrown together tag team (like most of the teams in the WWE nowadays), there were no expectations for the duo. However, thanks to the charisma of both men, they went over huge. Unfortunately, their time together was cut short thanks to backstage politicking. Dusty Rhodes states that the "old timers" were responsible for the team breaking up and JR states "anytime an active wrestler is involved in the process of management or creative, it is a recipe for disaster because you can throw objectivity right out the window". It's a shame, really.
  
  
• Four Horsemen - After splitting with Steve, Pillman helped Arn beat Flair during a match at the Fall Brawl in 95. Shortly thereafter, he became one of the Horsemen.
  
  
• Loose Cannon - After going to Bischoff and suggesting that he become a "loose cannon", Eric gave him the green light to run with character. In fact, Brian was so good at it, he even flustered Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. They also briefly talk about his match with "booker" Kevin Sullivan.
  
  
• ECW - Brian's "controversial" time at ECW is discussed, as well the possibility of him whipping out his "johnson" during his first appearance.
  
  
• Car Accident - After an interview at a radio station, he was in a near fatal car crash and thrown 40 feet from his hummer. While he was recovering, he was working with ECW and supposed to go back to WCW, but signed with WWF.
  
  
• WWF - We're shown some of Brian's emotional press conference after he announces his signing with the WWF. His reunion with Steve Austin is also discussed and leads us straight into the...
  
  
• Infamous Gun Incident - A "controversial" segment where Austin goes to Pillman's house and attempts to attack a waiting - and armed - Brian. This is mentioned as the first time the WWE/F aired a "controversial" segment blurring the line between a work and a shoot.
  
  
• Hart Foundation - This chapter goes from showing Brian beating the shit out of Austin to him being a part of the Hart Foundation. Since I wasn't around the first time, I really would've like to have seen how he became a part of the foundation.
  
  
• Announcer - To keep him at Raw, JR arranges for Brian to join him handling announcing duties. Apparently, Brian considered announcing as "settling".
  
  
• Hiding the Pain - This chapter talks about Brian overmedicating himself with prescription pain killers, thanks to back problems and severe ankle problems from his accident, which were exacerbated in the ring by Austin.
  
  
• Goldust / Marlena - After the previous revelations, the documentary jarringly jumps Brian's final storyline with Goldust and his ex, Marlena. When he's forced to wear a dress due to losing a match the night before, the rematch states that if he loses, he'll leave the WWF forever. Howver, if he wins, he gets to have Marlena as his "personal assistant" for 30 days. He wins and that gives birth to "Brian Pillman's XXX Files", which was another blurring of reality and fantasy, since Terri was his ex. Unfortunately, there was never an ending since Brian passed.
  
  

In addition to the documentary, the remainder of the disc is rounded out with some "controversial" moments, a couple of matches and some recollections from friends, co-workers and colleagues:

• Road Warrior Animal: Rental Car
  
  
• Stone Cold: First Meeting
  
  
• Stone Cold: How To Remember Brian
  
  
• Eric Bischoff: Pillman Living the Character
  
  
• Jim Ross: NAPTE Convention Center In Las Vegas
  
  
• Jim Ross: Pillman Asks J.R. For A Meeting
  
  
• Bill Cunningham: Tribute Show For Brian
  
  
• Mick Foley: First Match Against Brian
  
  
• Calgary Stampede Wrestling 3/26/88 [Bad Company Interview]
  
  
• Pillman's XXX Files
  
  
• WWE Raw 11/4/96 [the Gun Incident]
  
  
• Calgary Stampede Wrestling - International Tag Team Championship [Bad Company vs. Midnight Cowboys] 4/23/88
  
  
• WCW Halloween Havoc - U.S. Heavyweight Championship [Brian Pillman vs. Lex Lugar] 10/28/89
  
  
• NWA - U.S. Tag Team Championship Tournament [Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk vs. Fabulous Freebirds] 2/12/90
  
  
• WCW Saturday Night 6/5/93 [Flare For the Old]
  
  
• WCW 1995 [Flyin' Brian: Up Close]
  
  
  

Disc two contains the following matches:

• WCW WrestleWar [Brian Pillman, Sting & the Steiners vs. the Four Horsemen] 2/24/91
  
  
• WCW Halloween Havoc [Brian Pillman vs. Richard Morton] 10/27/91
  
  
• WCW Clash Of the Champions XV "Loser Leaves Town" Match [Brian Pillman & El Gigante vs. Barry Windham & Arn Anderson] 6/12/91
  
  
• WCW Saturday Night [Brian Pillman & Barry Windham vs. Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk] 12/26/92
  
  
• WCW Slamboree [Hollywood Blondes vs. Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas] 05/23/93
  
  
• WCW SuperBrawl 2 "Thundercage" Match [Brian Pillman, Sting & Dustin Rhodes vs. Paul Orndorff, Steve Austin & Rick Rude] 2/20/94
  
  
• WCW Nitro [Brian Pillman vs. Justin "Thunder" Liger] 9/4/95
  
  
• WCW Nitro [Brian Pillman vs. Dean Malenko] 1/22/96
  
  
• WCW Clash Of the Champions XXXII [Brian Pillman vs. Eddie Guerrero] 1/23/96
  
  
• WWE Raw [Brian Pillman vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin] 6/16/97
  
  
• WWE In Your House: Canadian Stampede [Hart Foundation vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & LOD] 7/6/97
  
  
• WWE Ground Zero [Brian Pillman vs. Goldust w/ Marlena] 9/7/97
  
  
• WCW SuperBrawl II - World Light-Heavyweight Championship [Brian Pillman vs. Justin "Thunder" Liger] 2/22/92

Video: Brian Pillman - Loose Cannon's picture was colorful and vibrant. Since the majority of the footage found on both discs were pretty recent, there were few, if any, compression issues. It's presented in the WWE's standard full frame 1.33:1 ratio.

Audio: As usual, the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound was crystal clear and enveloped my living room while I was watching it.

Conclusion: After watching this disc, i'm sorry that I missed Brian's time in the WWF. While I realize there was a lot more footage which could've been included, I felt that Loose Cannon gives viewers a very good glimpse into the life of Brian Pillman. Highly Recommended.