10 Greatest Paul Heyman Creations

With a successful run as a white-meat babyface in WCW and a Tag Team Title run with Ricky Steamboat no less, Shane Douglas was a proven commodity in 1994. Add to that a short spell in WWF and Mr Douglas had quite the resume by the time he entered Eastern Championship Wrestling.

Wrestling companies had long been built around the one featured talent, whether it was a standout performer or popular personality, from Verne Gagne in the AWA to Bruno Sammartino in the WWWF. In '94, WCW had Hogan as their poster boy, WWF had Bret Hart as the face of the company and, in Douglas, ECW now had its 'Franchise'.

The decision to have Douglas turn his back on the NWA and infamously throw down the NWA Title belt made him an overnight sensation. As first ECW Champion of the "Extreme" era, Douglas was placed at the forefront of the so-called "hardcore revolution" and instantly became part of wrestling history.

Douglas went on to become a four time ECW Champion and the longest reigning champion in company history. His achievements in the company solidified his standing as 'The Franchise' and Douglas' time under Heyman was arguably the pinnacle of his career.