Brian Pillman Jr. gets new last name in WWE NXT

Brian Pillman Jr. will have a new name when he makes his WWE NXT debut.

During Tuesday night’s NXT episode, a video aired where Pillman spoke about his upcoming arrival. Pillman revealed that he won’t be using his father’s last name in NXT. He’ll instead be going by the last name King.

Pillman said it seems like everyone has fond memories of his father, but he doesn’t. He was only four years old when his father died. Pillman tried other careers besides wrestling, but he’s never been able to escape the industry. Pillman said he wants to inflict pain on the business that has brought him so much grief.

Pillman said the real father figure in his life, the man who raised him, had the last name King. Now Pillman is going to use that last name too.

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.

WWE filed a trademark for the name “Lexis King” earlier this month.

Pillman vignettes have been airing on NXT for the past two weeks, but this is his first time speaking in them. Pillman joined the WWE Performance Center this August. He departed AEW in July when his contract with the promotion was not renewed.