Melanie Diane Lawrence popularly known as Melanie Pillman is known as the wife of late American professional wrestler, Brian William Pillman. Brian was also a professional football player but died as a wrestler. Prior to his death, he was popularly known for appearing in Stampede Wrestling and a couple of Championship wrestling games.
Brian, unfortunately, died on the 5th of October 1997 in his hotel room in Minnesota. He died at the age of 35 and left behind his wife and 6 kids. His death came as a shock to many as he had just bagged a great deal at the time. Unfortunately, he didn’t enjoy it.
Melanie, born on the 23rd of September 1965, was largely unknown to the public until the demise of her husband. She came into the limelight barely 24 hours after the death of her husband through an interview. Over the years, this action has faced a lot of criticism considering the type of information she divulged.
Here Are Some Details About Melanie Pillman You Did Not Know
1. She Used To Work As A Clerk
Melanie, as of 2003 was working as an accounts receivable clerk for a Kentucky trucking company. It is said that the company is owned by her father-in-law and she used to make about $10.50 hourly on the job.
2. Melanie And Brian Were On The Verge Of Divorcing
Prior to Brian Pillman’s death, he and his wife were on the brink of a crazy divorce. Pillman had already been demoted to living in the basement of the house he shared with his wife.
Melanie stated that the divorce was a bid to help the wrestler regain his senses as he was doing things that were wrong. However, this divorce never happened as Brian died before it could be finalized.
He died of heart disease, a condition that also killed his father when he was three.
3. She Has Two Step-kids
The wife of the former wrestler had two kids with him. She bore him a son named Brian Zachary and a daughter, Skylar. She was said to have been two weeks pregnant for Skylar at the time of her husband’s death.
However, she was stepmother to Brian Pillman’s two other kids from two other relationships. Brian fathered daughters identified as Brittany and Danielle before his marriage to Melanie.
4. Her Son Brian Jr. Follows In His Dad’s Footstep
Brian Zachary who prefers to be known by his ring name ‘Brian Pillman Jr.’ decided to tow the path of his father. He is also a professional wrestler like his dad and is presently signed to All Elite Wrestling.
Similarly, he played football in high school and even graduated from the university. After his studies, he decided to go into wrestling just like his father.
5. Melanie Pillman And Brian Pillman Jr. Have A Strained Relationship
Brian Jr. has a strained relationship with his mother. He claimed that his mother was never there for her kids. In his words, she was an ‘absentee mother’. To further buttress this point, he said his mother did not know about him leaving home at the age of 13.
Melanie only called her son about a month after he had absconded from home to ask where he was. It was at that time that Brian informed her that he had been away for a month. She clearly did not notice his absence until that day.
It seems like this strain in their relationship lasted for a lot of years as Brian stated that so many things his mother did upon his dad’s passing were shocking and uncalled for.
6. There Are Accusations That Her Last Child Wasn’t Fathered By Brian
A short while after Brian Pillman’s passing, Melanie remarried another man. As a result of this, her daughter Skylar whom she was about 2 weeks pregnant with, was suspected to be the child of the new husband.
Brittany, Brian Pillman’s daughter had accused Melanie of being pregnant for the other man while still with her dad. Given that Skylar even bears the last name ‘King’ instead of Pillman, it seems the accusations are true.
7. She Is A Grandmother
Melanie Pillman is not only a mother and stepmother, she is also a grandmother. Her daughter Brittany gave birth to a son named Asher Evans Williams. However, Melanie’s grandkids may be more like her son, Brian indicated something towards that. Brian made a post on his social media about the birth of a niece.
8. Ex Mrs. Pillman Has Been Romantically Linked To At Least Three Men
Brian Jr.’s mother has been with other men apart from the father of her wrestler son. Prior to her marriage with Brian Sr., Melanie was previously in a relationship. The relationship saw her mothering two kids for an unknown man. Her kids with the man are known as Alexis Michelle Reed and Jesse Morgan. Alexis however died in 2009 after a terrible road accident.
After the death of Brian Pillman, she re-married and even has a daughter for her most recent husband. This daughter is Skylar King who judging by her last name is fathered by a Mr. King.
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9. She Squandered Her Husband’s Royalties
Mother to Brian Pillman’s kids and Skylar King has been called out by Brittany and Brian. The children of the late wrestler have accused their mother of squandering the royalties she got on herself and her new husband.
Brittany stated that the kids weren’t cared for if not for the intervention of their dad’s sister. Linda Pillman, Brian’s sister was the one who fed and clothed Brittany and her siblings.
However, Melanie got a huge amount of royalties from her husband after his death. She was given the balance of her husband’s contract which was about $50,000. She also received $65,000 as proceeds from his memorial show. In addition to these, she was given a $12,000 down payment for a residential house.
All these monies were squandered by Melanie leaving her kids out. Her kids stated that she used the money on drugs and her new husband’s truck.
10. Melanie Pillman’s Last Public Appearance Was On ‘Raw’
The last public appearance made by the wife of the last WWF wrestler was on an episode of the show ‘Raw’. On this show, she gave details of her late husband’s life and activities which many frowned at.
The interview was hosted by Vince McMahon who invited her over a night after the passing of Brian Pillman.
