Triple Threat
Encyclopedia
The Triple Threat was a professional wrestling
heel
stable that existed in Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW) from 1995 to 1998. It was Shane Douglas
's answer to Ric Flair
's Four Horsemen
. Douglas legitimately disliked Flair since he felt that Flair had held him back during his first run in World Championship Wrestling
, when Flair was one of the bookers in WCW at the time.
, Chris Benoit
and Dean Malenko
in ECW. At one point they dominated ECW, as Douglas was ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and Benoit and Malenko were ECW Tag Team Champions. Malenko also became a two-time ECW Television Champion. The group developed a hand signal - the three outer fingers raised with palms facing outward.
During the summer of 1995, Douglas left for the WWF, thus disbanding the Triple Threat. However, for a brief time 2 Cold Scorpio
was added as a member of the Triple Threat (at least one episode of ECW TV had Scorpio, Benoit, and Malenko cutting a promo together stating they were the Triple Threat).
Nevertheless, when Benoit and Malenko left for WCW
, the Triple Threat ceased to exist until Douglas returned to ECW. During their time in World Championship Wrestling, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko were both members of the prominent Four Horsemen
stable and often teamed together.
and "Bulldozer" Brian Lee
, and Francine
as their manager. Douglas held the ECW Television Championship, but sought to regain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. In early 1997 a masked man, who displayed the mannerisms of Rick Rude, began stalking Francine. At ECW's first pay-per-view event, ECW Barely Legal
, the man was revealed to be Brian Lee, who was kicked out of the Triple Threat for betraying Douglas.
Bam Bam Bigelow joined the group shortly after. Douglas lost the TV title to Taz
, but won the ECW World Heavyweight title at Hardcore Heaven '97. Rick Rude aligned with the Triple Threat to help Douglas became the greatest world champion in ECW by having Rude select Douglas's opponent, however it became a ruse when Rude select Triple Threat member, Bam Bam Bigelow as Douglas's next opponent. Bigelow then challenged Douglas for the title and won, but forfeited his membership in the group in the process. Lance Storm took his place. It was short-lived, however, as Storm and Candido did not get along and Storm was kicked out. Eventually, Bigelow returned and replaced Storm.
Taz began a protracted feud with the entire stable, as he wanted a shot at Douglas' World title but was repeatedly denied, being forced to wrestle matches against the other members of the Triple Threat. His frustration led to his creation of the Fuck The World Heavyweight Championship in defiance.
Another angle had Candido and Storm winning the ECW Tag Team Championship together, and were forced to defend it despite their hatred for one another. During their reluctant title defenses, each man tried to one-up the other, and showed more concern for retaining the gold than for their partner's well-being.
For a brief time in 1998, once again every member of the group had ECW gold, with Douglas holding the World Heavyweight Championship, Bigelow holding the TV Championship, and Candido holding one half of the Tag Championship
with ex-member Lance Storm. The group disbanded completely after Bigelow left for WCW, and Candido and Douglas went their separate ways after Douglas lost the ECW Title to Taz at ECW Guilty as Charged 1999.
, Sabu and Taz teamed up to form the "New Triple Threat". They wrestled Douglas, Candido and Bigelow at November to Remember on November 1, 1998 and were able to defeat them. The New Triple Threat then disbanded due to inner dissension.
to form the group The Revolution
.
show just one year before Candido's death in 2005.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
stable that existed in Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW) from 1995 to 1998. It was Shane Douglas
Shane Douglas
Troy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
's answer to Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
's Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
. Douglas legitimately disliked Flair since he felt that Flair had held him back during his first run in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, when Flair was one of the bookers in WCW at the time.
First incarnation
The original Triple Threat consisted of Shane DouglasShane Douglas
Troy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
, Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
and Dean Malenko
Dean Malenko
Dean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
in ECW. At one point they dominated ECW, as Douglas was ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and Benoit and Malenko were ECW Tag Team Champions. Malenko also became a two-time ECW Television Champion. The group developed a hand signal - the three outer fingers raised with palms facing outward.
During the summer of 1995, Douglas left for the WWF, thus disbanding the Triple Threat. However, for a brief time 2 Cold Scorpio
2 Cold Scorpio
Charles Scaggs is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name 2 Cold Scorpio . Scaggs has competed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment and Pro Wrestling Noah...
was added as a member of the Triple Threat (at least one episode of ECW TV had Scorpio, Benoit, and Malenko cutting a promo together stating they were the Triple Threat).
Nevertheless, when Benoit and Malenko left for WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, the Triple Threat ceased to exist until Douglas returned to ECW. During their time in World Championship Wrestling, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko were both members of the prominent Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
stable and often teamed together.
Second incarnation
In late 1996, approximately a year after his return to ECW, Douglas reformed the stable with Chris CandidoChris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
and "Bulldozer" Brian Lee
Brian Lee
Brian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
, and Francine
Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
as their manager. Douglas held the ECW Television Championship, but sought to regain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. In early 1997 a masked man, who displayed the mannerisms of Rick Rude, began stalking Francine. At ECW's first pay-per-view event, ECW Barely Legal
ECW Barely Legal
Barely Legal was the first professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling . It took place on April 13, 1997 from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Production:...
, the man was revealed to be Brian Lee, who was kicked out of the Triple Threat for betraying Douglas.
Bam Bam Bigelow joined the group shortly after. Douglas lost the TV title to Taz
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
, but won the ECW World Heavyweight title at Hardcore Heaven '97. Rick Rude aligned with the Triple Threat to help Douglas became the greatest world champion in ECW by having Rude select Douglas's opponent, however it became a ruse when Rude select Triple Threat member, Bam Bam Bigelow as Douglas's next opponent. Bigelow then challenged Douglas for the title and won, but forfeited his membership in the group in the process. Lance Storm took his place. It was short-lived, however, as Storm and Candido did not get along and Storm was kicked out. Eventually, Bigelow returned and replaced Storm.
Taz began a protracted feud with the entire stable, as he wanted a shot at Douglas' World title but was repeatedly denied, being forced to wrestle matches against the other members of the Triple Threat. His frustration led to his creation of the Fuck The World Heavyweight Championship in defiance.
Another angle had Candido and Storm winning the ECW Tag Team Championship together, and were forced to defend it despite their hatred for one another. During their reluctant title defenses, each man tried to one-up the other, and showed more concern for retaining the gold than for their partner's well-being.
For a brief time in 1998, once again every member of the group had ECW gold, with Douglas holding the World Heavyweight Championship, Bigelow holding the TV Championship, and Candido holding one half of the Tag Championship
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
with ex-member Lance Storm. The group disbanded completely after Bigelow left for WCW, and Candido and Douglas went their separate ways after Douglas lost the ECW Title to Taz at ECW Guilty as Charged 1999.
The New Triple Threat (ECW)
In late 1998, Rob Van DamRob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, Sabu and Taz teamed up to form the "New Triple Threat". They wrestled Douglas, Candido and Bigelow at November to Remember on November 1, 1998 and were able to defeat them. The New Triple Threat then disbanded due to inner dissension.
The Revolution (WCW)
In 1999, the three original members again teamed up, joing forces with Perry Saturn and AsyaChristie Wolf
-Debut:In March 1999, Wolf began appearing as a head nurse to tend to Ric Flair when he was, in storyline, put into a mental instituition. She would then appear in several vignettes with him before becoming his valet upon his return to WCW...
to form the group The Revolution
Revolution (professional wrestling)
The Revolution was a professional wrestling heel stable in World Championship Wrestling led by Shane Douglas.-History:The Revolution was formed by Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Shane Douglas, and Perry Saturn on July 29, 1999...
.
Douglas, Candido and Bigelow in WCW
In 2000, Douglas, Candido and Bigelow were briefly reunited in a group together in WCW. Despite not using the name Triple Threat, they imitated the mannerisms of the group. The group was disbanded shortly after, when Candido left WCW.Triple Threat Reunited in XPW
In 2002 the Triple Threat Reunited in Xtreme Pro Wrestling only it was constructed of Douglas, Lizzie Borden, and Supreme and went by the name The Irish guys and gals. The three dominated the single's division in XPW with Douglas holding the XPW World Heavyweight Championship and Supreme holding the XPW King Of The Deathmatch Championship. Douglas would feud with Candido in XPW until XPW folded in 2003.Douglas, Candido and Bigelow in Jersey All Pro Wrestling
In 2004 Douglas, Candido, and Bigelow reunited at an Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
show just one year before Candido's death in 2005.
Stenner, Rendell, Cascavita-Gomez form Clapham Junction Triple Threat
In 2011, the perfect storm of pure unadulterated awesomeness combined from North & South London, to form the most recent incarnation of the triple threat on what is now considered neutral turf. They are known to religiously travel independent of one another, as if more than one are in any one room at the same moment, the world will explode due to maximum levels of awesomeness.Deaths
Three members of the triple threat died in a three year span from 2005-2007. First on April 28, 2005 Chris Candido would die of a blood clot from foot surgery. Then on January 19, 2007 Bam Bam Bigelow would die of heart disease and an overdose of cocaine and Benzodiazetine. On June 25, 2007 Chris Benoit killed himself after strangling his youngest son Daniel and his wife Nancy.In wrestling
- Wrestlers
- Shane DouglasShane DouglasTroy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
(ECW, XPW) (leader) - Chris BenoitChris BenoitChristopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
(ECW) - Dean MalenkoDean MalenkoDean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
(ECW) - 2 Cold Scorpio2 Cold ScorpioCharles Scaggs is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name 2 Cold Scorpio . Scaggs has competed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment and Pro Wrestling Noah...
(One-night only) (ECW) - Brian LeeBrian LeeBrian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
(ECW) - Bam Bam Bigelow (ECW)
- Chris CandidoChris CandidoChristopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
(ECW, XPW) - Lance StormLance StormLance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
(ECW) - SupremeSupremeSupreme may mean or refer to:* Supreme , a comic book superhero* Supreme , a term used in cookery* Supreme, Louisiana, a census-designated place in the United States* Supreme , a hip-hop producer* Supreme Records, a record label...
(XPW)
- Shane Douglas
- Managers
- FrancineFrancine FournierFrancine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
(ECW, Indies) - Tammy Lynn SytchTammy Lynn SytchTamara "Tammy" Lynn Sytch is an American professional wrestling manager, personality,and occasional wrestler. She achieved her greatest success under the ring name Sunny within the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, and is widely considered as one of the first Divas...
(ECW, XPW) - Lizzie Borden (XPW)
- Francine
- Entrance musicMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- Perfect StrangersPerfect Strangers (Deep Purple song)"Perfect Strangers" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It is the title track of their 1984 album Perfect Strangers.The words tell of the sorrow of remaining "perfect strangers" after the end of a relationship. It is one of the few Deep Purple songs not to feature a guitar or organ...
by Deep PurpleDeep PurpleDeep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
- Perfect Strangers
Championships and accomplishments
- Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW Tag Team ChampionshipECW Tag Team ChampionshipThe Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
(2 times) – Benoit and Malenko, and Candido and Storm - ECW Television ChampionshipECW World Television ChampionshipThe ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
(3 times) – Malenko, Bigelow and Douglas - ECW World Heavyweight Championship (4 times) – Douglas (3) and Bigelow
- Xtreme Pro WrestlingXtreme Pro WrestlingXtreme Pro Wrestling is an independent professional wrestling promotion formerly owned by Extreme Associates CEO and director Rob Zicari, who appeared on shows under the name Rob Black. Zicari appeared on-camera as owner alongside his wife Lizzy Borden. The promotion focuses on hardcore wrestling,...
- XPW World Heavyweight ChampionshipXPW World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe XPW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the Xtreme Pro Wrestling promotion.XPW's first World Champion was crowned in a Battle Royal match that saw Damien Steele and John Kronus as the last two remaining wrestlers compete in a single fall...
(2 timesXPW World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe XPW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the Xtreme Pro Wrestling promotion.XPW's first World Champion was crowned in a Battle Royal match that saw Damien Steele and John Kronus as the last two remaining wrestlers compete in a single fall...
) – Douglas and Candido - XPW King of the Deathmatch ChampionshipXPW King of the Deathmatch ChampionshipThe XPW King of the Deathmatch Championship was one of Xtreme Pro Wrestling's championships. Originally, the championship existed as a trophy that was at stake in the first-ever Baptized in Blood event, which featured a Japanese-style 8-Man King of the Deathmatch tournament.The XPW King of the...
(4 timesXPW King of the Deathmatch ChampionshipThe XPW King of the Deathmatch Championship was one of Xtreme Pro Wrestling's championships. Originally, the championship existed as a trophy that was at stake in the first-ever Baptized in Blood event, which featured a Japanese-style 8-Man King of the Deathmatch tournament.The XPW King of the...
) – Supreme
See also
- Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
- Jersey TriadJersey TriadThe Jersey Triad was a triumvirate stable in World Championship Wrestling . The team consisted of Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Kanyon and Bam Bam Bigelow that began during May, 1999...
- The New Blood
- Revolution (professional wrestling)Revolution (professional wrestling)The Revolution was a professional wrestling heel stable in World Championship Wrestling led by Shane Douglas.-History:The Revolution was formed by Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Shane Douglas, and Perry Saturn on July 29, 1999...