Dean Malenko

Photo by Dr Mike Lano (wrealano@aol.com)

###

Irvington, New Jersey, United States

**Dean Simon** (born August 4, 1960) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name **Dean Malenko**. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Malenko was known by the nicknames "The Man of 1,000 Holds", "The Iceman" and "The Icon of Sleaze".

Four-time world champion Daniel Bryan said that his "number one guy, growing up, was Dean Malenko".

## Personal life

Simon is Jewish. He and his wife have three children. Their eldest, Lorrisa, was born December 25, 1997.
Simon had a heart attack in the latter half of 2010, but was back at work by Survivor Series on November 21. In November 2013, he was taken to a hospital and later sent home from a WWE European tour after suffering chest pains.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Malenko Leglock* (High angle leg slicer) – WCW
	+ Texas Cloverleaf, sometimes preceded by a double underhook powerbomb
* **Signature moves**
	+ Backbreaker, sometimes transitioned into a submission
	+ Boston crab, sometimes while applying to a single leg
	+ Brainbuster
	+ Catapult
	+ Cross armbar
	+ Double leg takedown
	+ Dropkick, sometimes from the second rope
	+ Drop toe-hold
	+ Figure four leglock
	+ Fireman's carry gutbuster, sometimes from the second rope
	+ Neckscissors
	+ Kneebar
	+ Leg lariat
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- Belly to back, sometimes from the top rope
		- Cradle
		- Double underhook
		- German
		- Northern Lights
		- Snap
		- Super
	+ Powerbomb
	+ Sitout double underhook powerbomb
	+ Sleeper hold
	+ Spinning heel kick
	+ Spinning toe hold
	+ STF
	+ Surfboard
	+ Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker
* **Managers**
	+ Jason
	+ Asya
	+ Debra
	+ Arn Anderson
	+ Terri
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Iceman"
	+ "The Man of 1,000 Holds"
	+ "The Shooter"
	+ "Double Ho Seven"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
		- "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and The News
	+ **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
		- "White Noise" by Marc Bonilla

### Wrestlers trained

* Allan Funk
* Bob Cook
* Bobby Blaze
* Brock Lesnar
* Bruiser Bradley
* Chad Collyer
* Chris Champion
* Christy Hemme
* David Adcock
* Geza Kalman Jr.
* Haystacks Calhoun Jr.
* Jamie Noble
* Jeremy Lopez
* Kane
* Ken Shamrock
* Kendo Kashin
* Kurt Beyer
* Marc Mero
* Mark Mercedes
* Mike Marcello
* Mike Shane
* Molly Holly
* Nick Dinsmore
* Paul Diamond
* Prince Iaukea
* Rey Ayala
* Sean Waltman
* Shelton Benjamin
* Tarus
* Thundercrackk
* Todd Shane
* Tony Mamaluke

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Dramatic Dream Team**
	+ Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
* **Extreme Championship Wrestling**
	+ ECW World Television Championship (2 times)
	+ ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Benoit
* **International Championship Wrestling Association**
	+ ICWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**1** in the PWI 500 in 1997
	+ PWI ranked him #**161** in the PWI Years in 2003
* **Suncoast Pro Wrestling**
	+ SPW Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* **World Championship Wrestling**
	+ WCW Cruiserweight Championship (4 times)
	+ WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
	+ WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Benoit
* **World Wrestling Federation**
	+ WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
* **Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards**
	+ Feud of the Year (1995) vs. Eddie Guerrero
	+ Best Technical Wrestler (1996, 1997)
* **Other Accomplishments**
	+ Hardcore Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)

## References

1. ↑ Varsallone, Jim 1999-01-24. The Past Makes A Bright Present . Miami Herald. Retrieved on 2012-08-26.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Dean Malenko's Profile . Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
3. ↑ Dean Malenko's Bio . *Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster*. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Dean Malenko . *WWE.com*. WWE. Retrieved on 2014-01-27.
5. ↑ Daniel Bryan  (2012-06-18).
6. ↑  (March 26, 2011) *I'm Next: The Strange Journey of America's Most Unlikely Superhero*. Retrieved on March 26, 2011.
7. ↑ Where Are They Now? Dean Malenko, Part Two . WWE.com (2011-04-14). Retrieved on 2011-04-23.
8. ↑ Eddie Guerro vs. Dean Malenko, WCW Starrcade 1997: Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko
9. ↑ Muchnick, Irv 2010-11-22. WWE News: Backstage agent reportedly suffered recent heart attack, update on Connecticut's independent contractor investigation . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2010-11-24.
10. ↑ http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/45163-dean-malenko-sent-home-by-wwe-for-chest-pains
11. ↑ World Championship Wrestling (1995-12-05). "Dean Malenko vs. Mr JL". *WCW Nitro*.
12. ↑ DEAN MALENKO VS MR JL . WWE Network.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 World Championship Wrestling (1999-02-21). "Benoit & Malenko Vs. Hennig & Windham". *WCW SuperBrawl IX*.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 World Championship Wrestling (1999-03-14). "Benoit & Malenko Vs. Hennig & Windham (c); Lumberjack Match". *WCW Uncensored*.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 World Championship Wrestling (1997-05-18). "Jeff Jarrett w/ Debra Vs Dean Malenko(c)". *WCW Slamboree*.
16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 World Championship Wrestling (1996-12-30). "Rey Mysterio, Jr. Vs Dean Malenko". *WCW Monday Nitro*.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 World Championship Wrestling (1996-06-16). "Rey Mysterio, Jr. Vs Dean Malenko(c)". *WCW Great American Bash*.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 World Championship Wrestling (1999-09-13). "Chris Benoit Vs. Dean Malenko". *WCW Nitro*.
19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 19.18 19.19 19.20 19.21 19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 19.26 19.27 19.28 19.29 19.30 19.31 Dean Malenko Entourage .
20. ↑ ECW Television Championship official title history . WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
21. ↑ ECW Tag Team Championship official title history . WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
22. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – 1997 . Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
23. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – PWI Years . Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2008-03-15. Retrieved on 2010-09-06.
24. ↑ WWE Cruiserweight Championship official title history . WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
25. ↑ WWE United States Championship official title history . WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
26. ↑ W.C.W. World Tag Team Title . *The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo*. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
27. ↑ WWF Light Heavyweight Championship official title history . WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.