David Arquette David James Arquette ( September 8 , 1971 ) is an American actor , film director , producer , screenwriter , fashion designer , and former professional wrestler . A member of the Arquette acting family , he first became known during the late 1990s after starring in several Hollywood films , including the " Scream " trilogy . In addition to his acting career Arquette took a brief foray into professional wrestling in early 2000 , competing for World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) . During his tenure , Arquette would become a one - time WCW World Heavyweight Champion ; an angle which has been cited by prominent professional wrestling commentators as being pivotal to the degradation of the title and the demise of WCW . Wrestling career . In 2000 , after filming the World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) produced movie " Ready to Rumble " , Arquette was brought into WCW storylines . He made his first appearance on the April 12 episode of " Thunder " , first sitting in the crowd then leaping into the ring to take part in a worked confrontation with Eric Bischoff and his New Blood stable . Afterwards he was placed into an alliance with Chris Kanyon and the reigning WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page , and with their help defeated Bischoff in a singles match in the April 24 episode of " WCW Monday Nitro " . On the following " Thunder " ( April 26 ) , Arquette teamed with Page in a match against Bischoff and Jeff Jarrett with the stipulation that whichever man got the pin would take the championship . Arquette pinned Bischoff again in the match ' s finish , receiving the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in the process . During his time as champion , Arquette was mostly used as comic relief . He only appeared on two shows as champion , the May 1 " Nitro " and May 7 Slamboree pay - per - view . During the former , a vignette was shown , filmed on the set of Arquette ' s film " 3000 Miles to Graceland " , which also featured his wife , Courteney Cox , and their co - star , Kurt Russell . In the vignette , Courtney informs Russell that Arquette is the WCW Champion , causing Russell to laugh and walk off and Arquette to chase after him with a steel chair . In another portion of the show he ' s seen backstage wetting himself in fear and attempting to " give back " the belt . He did , however , successfully defend the belt against Tank Abbott with help from Diamond Dallas Page . He held the championship until the May 7 Slamboree pay - per - view . During the show he was booked to defend the championship against Jarrett and Page in a Triple Cage — the same match featured in the climax of " Ready to Rumble " — and ended up turning on Page in the end , giving the victory to Jarrett . He made another appearance after Slamboree , cutting a promo on the May 8 " Nitro " explaining that his entire friendship with Page and title run was a " swerve , " prompting Page to run to the ring and deliver a Diamond Cutter to him . Arquette made one final appearance with WCW at the New Blood Rising pay - per - view on August 13 , when he interfered in a match between Buff Bagwell and Kanyon . In 2002 , Arquette made one more appearance on a professional wrestling show , popping up in the crowd of the February 8 , 2002 episode of the World Wrestling Federation ' s " SmackDown ! " holding up a sign reading " Former WCW World Champ . " After World Wrestling Entertainment purchased WCW , Arquette ' s championship run was listed as the top reason for the " failure " of " Nitro " in a " WWE Magazine " list . Arquette was vehemently against becoming the WCW World Champion , believing that fans ( like himself ) would detest a non - wrestler winning the title . Vince Russo , who was the head booker for WCW at the time , insisted that Arquette becoming the world champion would be good for the company and for publicity . Arquette reluctantly agreed to the angle . All the money he made during his WCW tenure was donated to the families of Owen Hart ( who died in a tragic accident ) , Brian Pillman ( who suddenly died due to complications from an undiagnosed heart condition ) , Brian Hildebrand ( who died from stomach and bowel cancer ) , Bobby Duncum , Jr . ( who died from an accidental overdose of painkillers ) and Darren Drozdov ( who became a quadriplegic after an in - ring accident ) .