20 Most Underrated WWE Stars Of The Past 20 Years
1. Shane Douglas
The face of the newly renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1994, it’s difficult to overestimate the effect that Shane Douglas’ turn on the NWA had. It was the last stroke of the axe to the once all-encompassing organisation, following up on the death of the territories and WCW’s abandonment of the NWA branding the previous year.
As a performer, Douglas was never better than when he wrestled for ECW. Working with the protection and encouragement of Paul Heyman, Douglas’ strengths were accentuated, as he left behind the office politics that had soured his time elsewhere.
An extraordinary promo and a highly entertaining performer, Douglas was a veteran of a dozen years, still only thirty years old when Eastern became Extreme. In a forest of bizarre characters, hardcore nuts and oddball losers, he stood out as a traditional wrestler, a traditional villain, a traditional main eventer. Along with Terry Funk, ‘the Franchise’ helped anchor a promotion that, at times, struggled for credibility.
Why is an ECW main event legend listed in an article on underrated WWE wrestlers? Because Shane Douglas was an underrated WWE wrestler - or rather, WWF wrestler. Aside from his short run in 1990/1991, he returned to New York in 1995 for his ill-fated run as the mid-level heel Dean Douglas.
Saddled with the usual cringeworthy pre-Attitude Era gimmick as a college dean, complete with chalkboard and paddle, Douglas ran headfirst into the Kliq and their toxic bullsh*t while he was there. He returned to ECW a short while afterwards, where he once again set the ring on fire with his performances, both as a wrestler and as an interview.
Saddled with injuries a little while afterwards that scaled down what he was capable of bell to bell, there’s a case to be made that Shane Douglas was one of the most memorable and entertaining professional wrestlers in the world in 1996. Had the WWF realised what they had when they had him… well, this was a man who could have helped shepherd in the Attitude Era along with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.