Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.

Just hours before his AEW debut on Dark this evening, Brian Pillman Jr. clarified his status with MLW in a new interview.

Speaking with WrestleTalk's Louis Dangoor, Pillman said he began to seek out work with other television promotions after MLW put things on hold due to the pandemic.

"Major League Wrestling was a wonderful opportunity. It provided me with TV experience with the styles of matches that I was having and the opponents were incredible. I had some of my best matches there, without a doubt," he explained. "I really wanted to continue my career with MLW because things were getting really hot. We were getting pushed. As you all know, in wrestling, when things have a good momentum behind it ... it's really not about the money and stuff. It's really about getting to express your art at the highest level and to work with the highest level guys, and that's what I was doing. So I was very happy there."

"I think that just what happened with the COVID-19 pandemic is they got a little apprehensive about running shows and, meanwhile, you got Impact, and you got AEW, and you have WWE that are running shows with no fans. So it was just hard for me to sit still and to wait for them to bring me an opportunity, so I just went out and chased the opportunities that were available to me. And, per my contract, I was allowed to work for AEW. So it was kind of a no-brainer to start to chase an opportunity at AEW."

MLW Chief Operating Officer Jared St. Laurent released a statement to WrestleZone's Bill Pritchard saying Pillman is still technically with the promotion.

"Brian is not released and is fully aware of our schedule, which includes events October 3rd and December 5th pending the state of the pandemic. We put the health of our talent/staff and their family and our fans before bookings, which is why we are not running at the moment. We've been in contact with Brian to relay this. If he elects to perform elsewhere under the terms of his deal, he certainly has our full blessing to do so," the statement reads.

In the interview with WrestleTalk, Pillman claims to have not been informed yet of his status with MLW at the moment but says he truly wishes them the best in all their future endeavors.

Watch the whole conversation below.