There are few wrestlers with the technical ability of a Dean Malenko. He can mat wrestle, chain wrestle, trade submission holds and pin opponents from any position. A former WCW Cruiserweight, United States and Tag Team champion, Malenko was the best at what he did and commentators such as Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and even Bobby Heenan made sure to put him over as such. They treated Malenko and his abilities with respect, even when the bookers were more concerned with what was going on with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage to pay attention to the talented Floridian. That was not the case in World Wrestling Entertainment. As great as the company's track record of taking former WCW guys, pushing them to greater heights than they were ever allowed before and reaping the rewards may have been, WWE majorly misused Malenko upon his debut with the company. At first, they looked poised to focus attention back on the lightheavyweight division, doing so by making Malenko its centerpiece. They gave him the title shortly after his arrival but it suddenly lost all meaning and credibility when Malenko was cast aside, left out of storylines and off television. After doing little of note for most of the year, Malenko became involved in a storyline with the red hot Lita, who the James Bond-like Casanova had developed an infatuation with. Each week he would try to win her affection but she was not having it. At Armageddon in December 2000, he scored one of the biggest wins of his WWE career (which is saying something) when he locked Lita in the Texas Cloverleaf to win a mixed tag team elimination match. Lita would get revenge and pin Malenko after Matt Hardy interfered shortly thereafter. For all of his world class abilities between the ropes, Malenko had the misfortune of being short. At only 5'8", he was even shorter than Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, who had to work hard for years to shed the size differential and become world champion. That he lacked a certain natural charisma did not help matters. Rather than letting him get over as he did in WCW by being a great wrestler, WWE tried to throw a gimmick on him to help him connect with audiences. It did not work and as a result, Malenko's stint with the company remains one of the most disappointing.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
