Dean Malenko

Real Name: Dean Simon

Alias: "The Shooter," "The Iceman," "Man of a Thousand Holds"

Most Notable Titles: WCW US Champion, WCW Cruiserweight Champ, ECW TV Champ, ECW Tag Team Champ,

Famous Feuds: Eddy Gurrero, Sabu/Taz, Public Enemy, Chris Jericho, Rey Misterio Jr.,

Greatest Match:Eddy Gurrero, best 2 out of 3 falls, 1995

History: Dean Malenko is a second generation wrestler. His father, Boris Malenko, was a legend before him, and Dean had big shoes to fill when he made his pro debut in 1979. After wrestling around his native Florida, Dean made his way overseas and to Mexico. Being a fabulous technician, Dean was considered one of the top technical wrestlers in the world. During the 1980's, Dean never really came to prominence due to his weight, around 220, and his lack of a gimmick. His weight and lack of gimmick though, made him ideal for Japanese wrestling. After becoming a name in Japan, Dean decided to go to Philedelphia and wrestle for ECW and try to build a name in the states. Being named "The Shooter "(a shooter was what they used to call a great ring technician during the early days of wrestling) Dean started teaming with fellow North American exile "Pegasus Kid" Chris Benoit. The duo's matches became parts of folklore as the two pulled of incredible moves, and shocked crowds with their athleticism, skill and intensity. Along with Chris Benoit, Dean once double clotheslined Rocco Rock of Public Enemy over a guardrail at an estimated 15 miles per hour. After the duo lost the ECW Tag titles, Dean started feuding with Eddie Gurrero, who had just recently came to ECW after his tag partner Art Barr died in his sleep while the duo was wrestling in Mexico. The two had what many call the greatest feud of the decade, having match after spectacular match. After trading the TV title back in forth, the two wrestled one last match in ECW in a 2 out of 3 falls contest. The battle went back and forth with each man getting one fall a piece, but both men pinned each other during the last move. The feud was considered a draw, and the fans showed both men their appreciation by giving them a standing ovation after the match had ended. Dean went on to WCW in late 1995, and teamed for a short while with Chris Benoit, but when Benoit went to join the Four Horsemen, Dean started competing in singles. Dean won the Cruiserweight title, becoming the only second ever champion, and carried the belt for a while, defending against Eddie Gurrero, Rey Misterio Jr., and the Ultimo Dragon. In the summer of 1996, Dean lost his belt finally to Rey Misterio, and the two feuded for a while, with Dean finally regaining the belt. Dean then shortly after lost the title to Ultimo Dragon, but regained it again. Dean, after getting involved in a feud with Syxx (Sean Waltman) of the NWO, lost the title to the Wolfpac member when help from Eddie Gurrero accidentaly backfired. Dean then concentrated on going after Gurrero, and took Gurrero's US title. Gurrero then sat out several months with a torn pectoral muscle, and came back to cost Dean the US title on a Nitro against Jeff Jarrett in a terrific match in the summer. Dean still kept trying to get to Arn, and ended up getting into a feud with Curt Hennig and the NWO. After Hennig tried to gullotine Dean with the cage door, Arn made the save, and began the return of the Horsemen, with Dean as the newest member, along with Steve McMichael, Chris Benoit, and Ric Flair. After beating Barry Windham, and winning the right for Ric Flair to face Eric Bischoff at Starrcade, Malenko began teaming with Chris Benoit, and the duo was runner up in the tag tourney, and a month later won the tag belts against Curt Hennig and Barry Windham. They lost the belts later to Rey Misterio Jr. and Kidman, due to interference from Raven and Saturn. Malenko and Benoit then turned against Flair and Anderson, and became a member ofa new group with Shane Douglas called the Revolution. Things were ok for a while, but Douglas started turning heel, and took member Perry Saturn with him. Malenko has been having matches with the likes of blitzkrieg and Misterio on television as of late, and they have all been over 3 and a half stars easily. Malenko then turned on Benoit, and rejoined the Revolution, and started a feud with the Filthy Animals. They also started an anti-American angle, and this took up most of Dean's time until he walked out of WCW, due to Kevin Sullivan replacing Vince Russo.