Dean Malenko is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) during the 1990s. Born into a wrestling family, Malenko is the son of the late Boris Malenko, a well-known wrestler in his own right.
Malenko began his wrestling career in Florida in 1979, working his way up the ranks and eventually making a name for himself in Japan. He teamed with his brother Joe for many years, and also worked as a referee, including on a 1986 episode of WWF Saturday Night's Main Event.
In the 1990s, Malenko joined ECW, where he became a heel and held the ECW World Television Title on multiple occasions. He was part of the "Holy Trinity" with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, and the three men had numerous matches for various promotions.
In 1995, Malenko, Benoit, and Shane Douglas formed the Triple Threat, and later that year, they left ECW for WCW. Malenko became a key player in the Cruiserweight Division, earning the nickname "The Man of a 1000 Holds" and "The Iceman" for his stoic nature.
During his time in WCW, Malenko held the WCW United States Heavyweight Title and the WCW World Cruiserweight Title, and was a member of the Four Horsemen, a legendary wrestling stable. He also formed a group called the Radicals with Benoit, Perry Saturn, and Eddie Guerrero, which eventually became part of the WWE.
Malenko's final feud was with the Hardy Boyz and Lita, and he eventually retired from wrestling in 2001. Since then, he has worked as a road agent for WWE, helping to develop and book the company's talent.
