Shane Douglas

Shane Douglas (born Troy Martin on November 21, 1964 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a professional wrestler who competed in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Dean Douglas. He also performed in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling with the nickname "The Franchise."

Contents

1 Profile 2 Career 3 Titles and Accomplishments 4 Job Titles 5 External Links

Profile

• Height: 6'0" (182.9 cm)
• Weight: 240lbs (108.9kg)
• Birthday: November 21, 1964
• Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Trained By: Dominic DeNucci
• Professional Debut: 1982
• Previous Identities: Terry Orndorff, Troy Orndorff, Dean Douglas, The Franchise
• Previous Manager(s): Paul Heyman, Sherri Martel, Francine, Torrie Wilson, Lizzy Borden, Jim Mitchell, Kimona Wana-Laya, Angel, Jim Cornette, Traci Brooks, Jade Chung
• Quotes: Manic Laughter
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): Belly to Belly Suplex, Pittsburgh Plunge / Final Exam, The Franchiser, Chain Shot

Career

Shane Douglas was trained by Dominic DeNucci in Freedom, Pennsylvania alongside notables such as Mick Foley and Brian Hildebrand in the mid-1980s, though he had been wrestling professionally to earn money since 1982. In 1986 he began wrestling for the Universal Wrestling Federation. He was a face then and did not rise above mid-card status.

He formed a team with Johnny Ace in WCW called the Dynamic Dudes, a gimmick which required him to wear pink trunks and carry a skateboard, which he did not know how to use. Jim Cornette, who was managing Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane (the Midnight Express), decided to manage the duo to help them develop. Eaton and Lane did not approve so they forced a match between the two teams with Cornette remaining neutral at ringside. He ended up turning on Douglas and Ace and they feuded for a couple of months.

Douglas soon left the company to wrestle on the independents. He also spent a good amount of time in the WWE where he had some modest success and defeated some good wrestlers. He returned to WCW in 1992 and teamed with Ricky Steamboat to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship. They had a long feud with The Hollywood Blondes, Steve Austin and Brian Pillman, and lost the belts to them on March 11, 1993. Douglas soon left WCW for Eastern Championship Wrestling, later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Douglas helped to change that when he won the tournament to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion on August 27, 1994. He threw down the belt and declared the ECW Title the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, and the only real World Title. Eastern Championship Wrestling then changed its name to Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Douglas started to express his true feelings in his interviews and was encouraged to do so by ECW boss, Paul Heyman. This helped ECW become an alternative to WCW and the WWF. He feuded with Sandman and Sabu for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.

In 1995, he went to the WWF as Dean Douglas. He filmed several vignettes with a chalkboard teaching the wrestlers. He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship on October 22, 1995 by forfeit when Shawn Michaels said he couldn't wrestle Douglas. They then had Razor Ramon defeat him for it later that night. Douglas had been having problems with Michaels and Hall, who were members of the Clique, and he took this personally and quit the company.

He was soon back in ECW where he formed the Triple Threat with Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. After they both left for WCW, he added the late Chris Candido and Bam Bam Bigelow. He won the ECW Title two more times during this run and was rehired by WCW in 2000.

He had an onscreen feud with Ric Flair, who was often his target during his ECW interviews. He was part of The New Blood group run by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff who feuded with the older established stars, The Millionaire's Club. He won the Tag Team Championships with Buff Bagwell, the Hardcore title and the United States Championship during this run. He had a good run with Torrie Wilson as his valet too.

When Vince McMahon bought WCW, he did not buy Douglas' contract and Douglas did not want him to. He went on the independent circuit winning several titles and wrestled for some time as a heel in Total Nonstop Action, forming The New Franchise with Michael Shane and Tracy Brooks. After the stable split, he became an onscreen commentator and interviewer. In addition, he works backstage as a road agent and as the head of talent relations. Douglas also continues to wrestle on the independent circuit, and in 2005 he promoted Hardcore Homecoming, an ECW Reunion Show.

Douglas was known as a great heel who would incorporate his true feelings about pro wrestling into his interviews or promos. He is considered one of the greatest ECW World Champions ever.

Titles and Accomplishments

World Wrestling Entertainment

• 1-Time WWF Intercontinental Champion

World Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WCW Hardcore Champion
• 2-Time WCW World Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Steamboat, then with Buff Bagwell)

Extreme Championship Wrestling

• 4-Time ECW World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time ECW World Tag Team Champion (with Tommy Dreamer)
• 2-Time ECW World Television Champion

National Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Steamboat)
• 1-Time NWA East Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time NWA Continental Tag Team Champion (with Lord Humongus) (Alabama version)

United States Wrestling League

• 1-Time USWL Unified Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Xpress

• 1-Time PWX Heavyweight Champion

North American Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NAWA Heavyweight Champion

International Wrestling Association

• 1-Time IWA Heavyweight Champion (Ohio version)

Xtreme Pro Wrestling

• 1-Time XPW Heavyweight Champion

Major League Wrestling

• 1-Time MLW Heavyweight Champion (first-ever)

Border City Wrestling

• 1-Time BCW Heavyweight Champion

Universal Wrestling Federation

• 1-Time UWF Television Champion

New Era Wrestling

• 2-Time NEW Northeast Heavyweight Champion

USA Professional Wrestling

• 1-Time USA Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• (PWI) ranked him # 118 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years". PWI also ranked him # 82 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Ricky Steamboat.

Job Titles

• TNA Interviewer
• TNA Road Agent

External Links

• Official website (http://www.franchisefansite.com/)
• Shane Douglas FAQ (http://www.wrestleview.com/info/faq/douglas.shtml)

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