5 Forgotten Debuts Of WCW Superstars

5. Dean Malenko - Clash Of The Champions XIX (June 16th, 1992)

Dean Malenko’s stint as Cruiserweight kingpin in WCW was without doubt a career highlight for “The Shooter”; however, it wasn’t the stone-faced technician’s first foray into Turner territory. Tagging with brother, Joe Malenko, in the first round of the NWA World Tag Team Title tournament, Dean made his first appearance for WCW in 1992 at Clash of the Champions XIX.

That night, the siblings would face off against the main event pairing of Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat in the opening contest of show. Billed as representing Europe (based on father Boris Malenko’s kayfabe upbringing), Dean Malenko appeared noticeably different to how he would in his prime; sporting full leg tights and kickpads and looking more like Lance Storm than "The Man of a Thousand Holds".

Despite a strong showing by the newcomers, this would be a one and done for the Malenkos as a tag team in WCW. They would instead travel the world as a team - including a brief stint tagging in ECW where they would notably face off against Sabu and The Tazmaniac in late ‘94 - before Joe would take a step back from in-ring competition in ‘96.

Dean wouldn’t appear in WCW again until August of 1995, squaring off against long-time ECW rival and close friend, Eddie Guerrero, on WCW Saturday Night. Meanwhile, Joe would return to WCW just once more in a segment with Chris Jericho during the great Jericho/Malenko feud of 1998.