Shane Douglas - Thoughts On A Possible Return?

[Jaystrong322]

It seems Shane gets a mixed reaction from wrestling fans...some love him and some hate him. I have always been a big fan of "The Franchise" so, I wanted your thoughts on him and why.

With Johnny Ace in the spotlight of WWE storylines and Punk's Dynamic Dudes tribute video on the Slammy's episode, would you want to see him return for a short run? Sure, it's highly unlikely since Shane had what he described as the worst 6 months of his career in WWE in the early 90's and I doubt the WWE has any interest in bringing him in so this is hypothetical and just for fun.

 

[#hamler]

No reason for it.

Maybe a short Cameo appearance or something that small but that's about as far as it should go. Will anyone that's not a hardcore fan actually remember him enough to give him any sort of reaction? It's highly doubtful and not necessary. Would I like to see it, sure? Nostalgia is a bitch. But it's not a return that I need to see.

 

[closet_fan]

not unless he got back into major shape. last time i saw him, he looked terrible.

 

[Oldschoolersrule]

I like and kinda miss Shane Douglas... I would like to see him return to an on screen role actually, with either company... He has good ring skills, and good promo skills.

I liked what they did when he went back to TNA and tried to become a mentor/manager to the Naturals. I think they could of used that story line longer and better but (par for the course) they didnt.

However, if the WWE were to bring him back, the only thing I could see them doing is using him as a tool like they did the last time they brought Marty Jannette back during HBK's fued with Angle a while back....

 

[Headman]

If he were to return as an announcer I'd be all for it. Maybe even a manager. But I don't think there would be much interest from anyone other than his die hard fans to see any kind of in-ring return... I take that back. If he were to come back as Dean Douglas for a random comedy segment I would support that too.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Uh.. No? What the hell could he possibly have to offer? He was only marginally popular at his peak, which was like 12 years ago. His last year in TNA was... lets call it forgettable at best.

I understand getting some older guys for nostalgia runs here and there, but I can't imagine that anyone at WWE is even considering Shane Douglas.

 

[Headman]

Uh.. No? What the hell could he possibly have to offer? He was only marginally popular at his peak, which was like 12 years ago. His last year in TNA was... lets call it forgettable at best.

I understand getting some older guys for nostalgia runs here and there, but I can't imagine that anyone at WWE is even considering Shane Douglas.

You're telling me you wouldn't want to see a Dean Douglas vs Matt Striker Are you smarter than a 5th grader segment with a RAW guest Jeff Foxworthy?

 

[Mustang Sally]

If you like blonde, well-built wrestlers who fight hard and have little to offer in the way of personality, you've already got Dolph Ziggler.........and he's far younger than Shane.

As Mick Foley said in his book, Douglas has a penchant for burning his bridges behind him for no good reason. Why give him a chance to do it again? I don't see any other wrestling organization pounding down his door to bring him in.

 

[xavyer]

Well, it will definitly be a waste of time, this guy was nothing more than a mediocre wrestler, that's why he end up only in indy promotions, but in the big organizations no one cared about him, he had a decent run in ECW but that's about it, to be honest, i would much rather see the brooklin brawler or doink the clown that shane douglas, at least the other two were actually entertaining, Shane Douglas is one of those guys that is allways desperate for atention, but no one cares about this guy.........

 

[justinept]

As one poster said, if it happened then it should just be a one-off appearance to further the Punk/Laurinaitis feud. He shouldn't have a major role. He shouldn't be taken seriously. It shouldn't last long.

Another poster referenced Foley's book in regard to Douglass. Based on his strong dislike of the powers that be in the WWE, does anyone even know if Douglass would be willing to go to the WWE for a short stint?

 

[Uncle Phatso]

How many people would even remember Shane Douglas? I'm sure we would get a good chuckle out of Punk grilling Douglas, but really it would take most every day fans a google search to even remember him.

So why bring him back for a one off, when he would really get no reaction at all. Let alone cause the raitings to drop even more? The last thing I remember Shane doing on tv was working with the Naturals in Tna. That's it.

 

[BigDaddyKewl]

I think its unlikely that Shane Doulgas returning but I could see him fitting in the current story line. He could maybe do a run in if they have John Laurinaitis vs CM Punk. Or they could have him as one of his buisiness associates. Maybe as a on air role but I would keep him out of the ring.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I can honestly say that I couldn't care less about Shane Douglas or any possible return to the WWE. Unfortunately for Douglas, the thing that's defined his career for the past 15 years or so has been his consistent pissing and moaning about WCW, WWE, Ric Flair and anyone else that he sees as having held him back.

Shane Douglas was a big deal in the original ECW. That's not all that difficult to believe since the vast majority of the original ECW roster was comprised of out of shape, talentless hacks that could throw a decent wrestling match together unless it involved chair shots and being put through tables. Douglas is a complete mark for himself and he's let it get in the way of him potentially having a great and memorable career.

Why would WWE want to bring him back? There'd be no positives that I can see. He's still the same bitter never-was that believes he should be the biggest star in wrestling, only now he's an extremely out of shape & paunchy middle age man that the vast majority of the WWE audience probably wouldn't know or care to know.

 

[Kliq4Life]

Shane Douglas in the WWE? Lol that will never happen and why won't it happen you ask? Well for one he is beyond over rated he sucked in the ring and on the mic, second HHH would laugh at this and tell Shane to go back to work at Target. Shane blames "The Kliq" for him being held back, when he should blame himself for not being any good at wrestling.

 

[Jaystrong322]

Shane Douglas in the WWE? Lol that will never happen and why won't it happen you ask? Well for one he is beyond over rated he sucked in the ring and on the mic, second HHH would laugh at this and tell Shane to go back to work at Target. Shane blames "The Kliq" for him being held back, when he should blame himself for not being any good at wrestling.

Shane was actually a solid wrestler and cuts a great promo. He wasn't the only one that said the Kliq held him down, there are many guys that said the same thing. (Bam Bam Bigelow, Bret Hart, Jim Cornette, Vader, Chris Candido)

 

[asiatic7]

Anyone else feels HHH's "Game" persona was lifted off of Shane Douglass? Anyway, Shane would be a good manager. He talks well, he could have thrived in the "Attitude Era", but not today. I'm not interested in watching him wrestle now. He would be irrelevant to today's audience. Bring him back as an antagonist with a stable of heels. I don't think he gets along with anybody in WWE anyway.

 

[Davi323]

Under no circumstances would I ever want Shane Douglas back in the WWE. He is a mediocre talent who thinks he is much, much better than he actually is. He is like Jeff Jarrett without the used up ex-stripper wife that he got as sloppy seconds from another wrestler. No thanks.

 

[TheLegendWWEJ]

I remember him he was like Intercontinental for like 2 minutes before Razor Ramon wiped the floor with him and took it away! Yeah, he should definitely stay gone from the WWE!

 

[thebarber]

In actually made this same thread over 8 weeks ago. Douglas has only one real way to ever appear on WWE programming EVER AGAIN, as a one night, one segment cameo when Punk is sending up Laurinatis and he brings back guys from his past, like former tag partner Douglas, his brother Animal, hell even a couple of ex-WWE guys Laurinatis fired over the phone. Shane Douglas failed everywhere he went, except ECW where anything went. He was a good worker, not great. He is blown out of shape and looks awdful tv wise these days. Douglas though would not ever accept, even a cameo. He refused to be involved in any of the ECW One Night Stand shows, he even ran opposition shows in 2006 in the same town on the same night as RVD vs CENA 2006. Douglas has pretty much been a big mouth who complained about being held back all of his career, hell or wrestlers get held back early on. In 1991 Douglas looked the part BUT HE LEFT WWE ON HIS VOLITION, when his father got ill. He showed his loyalty to ECW bu signing with WWE in 1995 then again signing with WCW in 1999. I dont blame a guy for trying to make more money and further his career, but Shane Douglas is the same guy who sooked and whinged when others left for the bigger paydays. The business is much better off without Shane Douglas on WWE programming.

 

[CraigThe13th]

Problme with getting Shane Douglas back is he didn't really do much in the WWF. He had a short stint in 1991 and then a slightly longer cup of coffee in 1995. He wrestled a hell of a lot more for ECW and WCW. Even old school WWF fans have little connection with him.

I'd only like to see him back if he comes out to his 1st theme with the cow bell!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqh4lUPBdhQ

 

[Jaystrong322]

In actually made this same thread over 8 weeks ago. Douglas has only one real way to ever appear on WWE programming EVER AGAIN, as a one night, one segment cameo when Punk is sending up Laurinatis and he brings back guys from his past, like former tag partner Douglas, his brother Animal, hell even a couple of ex-WWE guys Laurinatis fired over the phone. Shane Douglas failed everywhere he went, except ECW where anything went. He was a good worker, not great. He is blown out of shape and looks awdful tv wise these days. Douglas though would not ever accept, even a cameo. He refused to be involved in any of the ECW One Night Stand shows, he even ran opposition shows in 2006 in the same town on the same night as RVD vs CENA 2006. Douglas has pretty much been a big mouth who complained about being held back all of his career, hell or wrestlers get held back early on. In 1991 Douglas looked the part BUT HE LEFT WWE ON HIS VOLITION, when his father got ill. He showed his loyalty to ECW bu signing with WWE in 1995 then again signing with WCW in 1999. I dont blame a guy for trying to make more money and further his career, but Shane Douglas is the same guy who sooked and whinged when others left for the bigger paydays. The business is much better off without Shane Douglas on WWE programming.

He certainly didn't fail everywhere he went, in fact the only placed he "failed" was his short run in WWF. He was 1986 NWA Rookie of the year and went on to have a good run as a tag team with Steamboat holding the tag titles twice in WCW. He had a great run in ECW and was one of the guys that carried the company. He returned to WCW and had a run as US champ and as a Tag Champ with Buff Bagwell before the company was bought. As far as him leaving places, he left for WWF in 1995 for the same reason everyone..he wanted to make better money and wanted more exposure. He left ECW again in 1999 because Heyman owed him over $140,000 and he knew he would never see it. I think a return for a one night or even a few week stint would be great. I wouldn't want him wrestling but maybe return as a heel Manager or something and play off of the history with Johnny Ace. If they debuted him on TV in Philly or Pittsburgh he would certainly get over.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Talentless hacks?? Let me list some names for you that all had ECW runs.

Dean Malenko
Terry Funk
Mick Foley
Chris Candido
Eddie Guerrero
Chris Benoit
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Bam Bam Bigelow
Rob Van Dam
Sabu
Steve Austin


These are just a few of many, ECW originals and I along with most people on this forum would hardly consider them talentless hacks.

Actually, Sabu definitely fits the term of an overrated hack. Outside of a hardcore match setting, the guy brought nothing to the table. Also, if you're going to try to refute my claim, don't go through the list of former ECW guys and handpick the minority that were worth a damn and make it seem as though they represented the talent level of the entire roster.

Sabu
Tommy Dreamer
All the Dudley clan with the excepiton of Bubba Ray & D-Von
Full Blooded Italians
The Sandman
New Jack
Johnny Grunge
Rocco Rock
Jason the Terrible
Mike Awesome
Balls Mahoney
Rhino
Amish Roadkill
Axl Rotten
Ian Rotten

The list goes on and on. I never said that there was nobody that came out of ECW or had runs in ECW that had no talent, I said that the majority of the roster fit that bill.

 

[justtxyank]

Actually, Sabu definitely fits the term of an overrated hack. Outside of a hardcore match setting, the guy brought nothing to the table. Also, if you're going to try to refute my claim, don't go through the list of former ECW guys and handpick the minority that were worth a damn and make it seem as though they represented the talent level of the entire roster.

Sabu
Tommy Dreamer
All the Dudley clan with the excepiton of Bubba Ray & D-Von
Full Blooded Italians
The Sandman
New Jack
Johnny Grunge
Rocco Rock
Jason the Terrible
Mike Awesome
Balls Mahoney
Rhino
Amish Roadkill
Axl Rotten
Ian Rotten

The list goes on and on. I never said that there was nobody that came out of ECW or had runs in ECW that had no talent, I said that the majority of the roster fit that bill.

I take exception to your including Mike Awesome, Rhino and the FBI on that list. With the exception of JT Smith, everyone who ever wrestled as a member of the FBI was talented and got over somewhere else as well when given the opportunity. Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke both talented, Tracy Smothers talented, Tommy Rich talented (he was a manager.) Rhino and Awesome were both good workers as well.

In general though I agree with your point. ECW was like a college that couldn't recruit the big boys. Always filled with the 1 star recruits physically and work rate wise, but Heyman was a good enough coach that he knew how to get them over.

Shane Douglas was better than mediocre though. He easily could have had a good run in the big two during his prime. He was great at getting heat.

 

[Jaystrong322]

Well Jackoff Hammer your being a WWF mark all the way. Your list of bumby wrestlers is as long as his list of quality wrestlers except i can take a few off ur list and he forgot a few on his.

Rhino had some skills, enough to hold his on in the WWF. Nunzio was a good crusierweight.. Rude was in ECW. hALL, The steiners, Snuka could not had been too far past his prime in 1992 when he became their first champion. Chris Jericho was there, Super Crazy has skills, Masato Tanaka too.. Mike Awesome showed his stuff but you had to be in the orient to view it, doesnt matter, it happened, it existed, he proved himself.. your free to research him..



Douglas is too far past his prime, he made no impact in the WWF and hes too far past the Attitude Era to make use of his ECW star power and hes too far removed from the collapse of WCW to make due of his late stage WCW progress. His last hope of winning a recognized world title was in WCW and he some how couldn't do that even though Steiner and Psycho Sid and bitter Benoit did.. He choose not to come with the Radicalz too.. its just too late and these fans are too young and dumb. no no fucking no OP..

Yes, I did leave off a few names from the list. ECW was filled with talent through the 90's up until the end was imminent before they closed up shop. Sure they had guys who couldn't work but so did the WWF and WCW at the time. I wouldn't want Shane to wrestle unless it was a one off. Shane is great at drawing heat and one of the best promo cutters in the history of pro wrestling. I would want to see him in a minor on air role, something with Johnny Ace but you are probably right, it's probably too late as the WWE audience of today wouldn't know who he is unless you brought him back for a TV taping in Philly, NYC or Pittsburgh.

 

[Defekt]

Most of the audience wouldn't even know who Shane Douglas is. His biggest success was in ECW, and the WWE has rewritten the history of that promotion as to barely include him.

Out of those who did recognize him, only a small percentage would actually be interested in seeing him again.

Would have been fine for him to show up a few years ago for ONS. But involving Shane Douglas in a major RAW storyline in 2012 is a waste of time.