Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Professional 3 on TheJonHarder.com! I know it’s been quite a distance between my first and second P3 pieces since the return to the site, but it’s for good reason: I’ve been scheming and coming up with new concepts to this column. In due time, they will come to fruition. But right now, it’s all about what is common for me: my love of certain obscure championship belts.
As you’ve seen in particular Professional 3s, I’ve discussed my love for championships. The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team championships, the European championship, even Lance Storm’s Triple Crown are a few examples of my infatuation with them. However, there is one belt I haven’t graced your presence with yet within the realm of this column: the WWF Light Heavyweight championship.
In December of 1997, the WWF Light Heavyweight championship, after a several week tournament through November, Taka Michinoku became the first ever champion at the Degeneration X In-Your-House pay-per-view. After four years of the championship being active, the Light Heavyweight championship was retired in November 2001, in favor for the WCW (then WWE) Cruiserweight championship. In this writer’s opinion, the championship had never gotten the respect it truly deserved. There were frequent spells of inactivity with the title, including losing all credibility with the Gillberg run in 1999 (although Gillberg was absolutely incredible). However, there was one last glimmer of hope for the championship. After Essa Rios won the championship in February 2000 on an episode of Heat, one month later, a certain “Ice Man” won the championship on Raw. A Radical, if you will. That man: Dean Malenko.
As you’ve seen in particular Professional 3s, I’ve discussed my love for championships. The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team championships, the European championship, even Lance Storm’s Triple Crown are a few examples of my infatuation with them. However, there is one belt I haven’t graced your presence with yet within the realm of this column: the WWF Light Heavyweight championship.
In December of 1997, the WWF Light Heavyweight championship, after a several week tournament through November, Taka Michinoku became the first ever champion at the Degeneration X In-Your-House pay-per-view. After four years of the championship being active, the Light Heavyweight championship was retired in November 2001, in favor for the WCW (then WWE) Cruiserweight championship. In this writer’s opinion, the championship had never gotten the respect it truly deserved. There were frequent spells of inactivity with the title, including losing all credibility with the Gillberg run in 1999 (although Gillberg was absolutely incredible). However, there was one last glimmer of hope for the championship. After Essa Rios won the championship in February 2000 on an episode of Heat, one month later, a certain “Ice Man” won the championship on Raw. A Radical, if you will. That man: Dean Malenko.
Dean Malenko comes from a rich wrestling background. His father, Boris “the Great” Malenko, trained a plethora of talent in Florida, as well as becoming a phenomenal in-ring athlete. For a time in Japan, Dean and his brother Joe were a top notch, shoot style tag team, facing off with the likes of the British Bulldogs in All Japan and against top-notch competition in ECW. However, it wasn’t until Malenko went to WCW in 1995 where he really began to shine. A multiple-time Cruiserweight, United States, and Tag Team champion, Malenko showed the world that he was quite possibly the best wrestler in the world. Hell, in 1997, he was even voted as #1 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated “PWI 500”.
On January 31, 2000, Malenko, alongside Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, and Perry Saturn, joined the World Wrestling Federation after a release from WCW. All 4 “Radicalz” immediately made an impact on the company, quickly inserting themselves deep into the WWF roster. All 4 men made themselves an immediate fixture into the title picture. Yet somehow, the first champion was not Benoit, Guerrero, or Saturn. Dean Malenko became the first Radical to win a championship, as he ended Essa Rios’s 1 month reign as Light Heavyweight champion on the March 13, 2000 edition of Monday Night Raw. Over the next year, save for a 10 day reign by Scotty 2 Hotty in April 2000, Malenko DOMINATED the Light Heavyweight division.
Dean Malenko rededicated the art of technical wrestling to the WWF during this time period. Vastly underrated with his lack of recognition for what he brought to the table as champion, Malenko took on all Light Heavyweights and dominated them with ease. During the Attitude Era, Malenko quietly had the most productive and underappreciated championship reign. Despite the majority of his matches taking place on Jakked and Sunday Night Heat as champion, Malenko was incredibly successful.
This edition of the Professional 3 will highlight Dean Malenko’s top 3 championship defenses on WWF television as Light Heavyweight champion. You will also notice the two different incarnations of the Light Heavyweight championship belt, with the red and black versions on full display. Without further hesitation…
On January 31, 2000, Malenko, alongside Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, and Perry Saturn, joined the World Wrestling Federation after a release from WCW. All 4 “Radicalz” immediately made an impact on the company, quickly inserting themselves deep into the WWF roster. All 4 men made themselves an immediate fixture into the title picture. Yet somehow, the first champion was not Benoit, Guerrero, or Saturn. Dean Malenko became the first Radical to win a championship, as he ended Essa Rios’s 1 month reign as Light Heavyweight champion on the March 13, 2000 edition of Monday Night Raw. Over the next year, save for a 10 day reign by Scotty 2 Hotty in April 2000, Malenko DOMINATED the Light Heavyweight division.
Dean Malenko rededicated the art of technical wrestling to the WWF during this time period. Vastly underrated with his lack of recognition for what he brought to the table as champion, Malenko took on all Light Heavyweights and dominated them with ease. During the Attitude Era, Malenko quietly had the most productive and underappreciated championship reign. Despite the majority of his matches taking place on Jakked and Sunday Night Heat as champion, Malenko was incredibly successful.
This edition of the Professional 3 will highlight Dean Malenko’s top 3 championship defenses on WWF television as Light Heavyweight champion. You will also notice the two different incarnations of the Light Heavyweight championship belt, with the red and black versions on full display. Without further hesitation…
THE PROFESSIONAL 3: Top 3 Dean Malenko WWF Light Heavyweight Championship Defenses in the Year 2000
1) VERSUS LITA (Raw, December 4, 2000)
At the end of the year 2000, Dean Malenko started to become quite the ladies man. After the Godfather handed over two of his Hoes to him before a match in the summer, “Double Ho Seven” became the order of the day for Malenko. Incredibly flawless in the ring, Malenko slowly started to show his suave, seductive nature outside of it. When the Radicalz reunited in the fall of 2000, “Double Ho Seven” finally got his eyes on a true blue WWF Diva, and her name was Lita.
Associated with the Hardy Boyz, Lita found herself between a budding rivalry between the Radicalz and the Hardys. Malenko swooped in and made his intentions known for the tattooed redhead. After being rebuked for his unwanted advances, Malenko needed to showcase his affections for her a different way: in the ring. Dean Malenko offered Lita a shot at the Light Heavyweight championship. If Lita won, she would become the first female to hold the Light Heavyweight gold. If she lost, however, she would have no choice but to go on a date with “Double Ho Seven”. On this Raw, Malenko won, successfully defended his championship, and got what he wanted: a date with Lita. What happened on that date will not be discussed though. (Malenko got beat up by the Hardy Boyz.)
At the end of the year 2000, Dean Malenko started to become quite the ladies man. After the Godfather handed over two of his Hoes to him before a match in the summer, “Double Ho Seven” became the order of the day for Malenko. Incredibly flawless in the ring, Malenko slowly started to show his suave, seductive nature outside of it. When the Radicalz reunited in the fall of 2000, “Double Ho Seven” finally got his eyes on a true blue WWF Diva, and her name was Lita.
Associated with the Hardy Boyz, Lita found herself between a budding rivalry between the Radicalz and the Hardys. Malenko swooped in and made his intentions known for the tattooed redhead. After being rebuked for his unwanted advances, Malenko needed to showcase his affections for her a different way: in the ring. Dean Malenko offered Lita a shot at the Light Heavyweight championship. If Lita won, she would become the first female to hold the Light Heavyweight gold. If she lost, however, she would have no choice but to go on a date with “Double Ho Seven”. On this Raw, Malenko won, successfully defended his championship, and got what he wanted: a date with Lita. What happened on that date will not be discussed though. (Malenko got beat up by the Hardy Boyz.)
2) VERSUS TAKA MICHINOKU (SmackDown, April 6, 2000)
To many, this contest might not be that much. It was a simple Light Heavyweight championship match on an episode of SmackDown. However, to a wrestling nerd like myself, it was a battle of the past and present when it came to the WWF Light Heavyweight championship history. On this occasion, Dean Malenko went one-on-one with Taka Michinoku, the first ever Light Heavyweight champion. During the Attitude Era (prior to Malenko), Taka was the man that put the division on the map. The peak of Taka’s greatness was defending the championship at WrestleMania 14 against Aguila in a successful defense. Taka was the standard bearer for anyone holding the Light Heavyweight championship, and Dean Malenko would need to go through Taka to prove that fact.
This was a great little wrestling match to say the least. If nothing else, the Light Heavyweight championship became the title where smaller, yet more technical wrestlers, would have the chance to thrive on TV. Michinoku attempted to fly, but in the end, “the Iceman” shut down Taka and continued on his incredible reign as Light Heavyweight champion.
To many, this contest might not be that much. It was a simple Light Heavyweight championship match on an episode of SmackDown. However, to a wrestling nerd like myself, it was a battle of the past and present when it came to the WWF Light Heavyweight championship history. On this occasion, Dean Malenko went one-on-one with Taka Michinoku, the first ever Light Heavyweight champion. During the Attitude Era (prior to Malenko), Taka was the man that put the division on the map. The peak of Taka’s greatness was defending the championship at WrestleMania 14 against Aguila in a successful defense. Taka was the standard bearer for anyone holding the Light Heavyweight championship, and Dean Malenko would need to go through Taka to prove that fact.
This was a great little wrestling match to say the least. If nothing else, the Light Heavyweight championship became the title where smaller, yet more technical wrestlers, would have the chance to thrive on TV. Michinoku attempted to fly, but in the end, “the Iceman” shut down Taka and continued on his incredible reign as Light Heavyweight champion.
3) VERSUS SCOTTY 2 HOTTY (Backlash, April 2000)
In my opinion, the greatest Light Heavyweight Championship match in the history of the WWF. Here’s the back story for this one: Grand Master Sexay was taken out by the Big Show for knee surgery a day after WrestleMania 2000. Therefore, with Too Cool on the shelf for a little while, Scotty 2 Hotty went on a little singles run. In an upset, Scotty shocked everyone, including Mr. Malenko, and won the Light Heavyweight championship on an April episode of Monday Night Raw. 10 Days later on SmackDown, April 27 to be exact, Malenko regained the gold. Now, three days later, the rubber match took place.
To say this match was a sleeper is an understatement. Scotty and Malenko went at it for 15 minutes at full tilt, pulling out all the stops. At the very end, Malenko caught Scotty with a wicked top-rope DDT and retained his championship. With all the story driven stuff going on during the Attitude Era, Malenko and Scotty showed that wrestling could be appreciated. I personally feel that this rivalry could have lasted awhile and showcased pure wrestling. It was phenomenal.
Dean Malenko might never get his due in this day-and-age as one of the greats during the Monday Night Wars, but here in this column, he certainly will. His Light Heavyweight championship reign during the Attitude Era remains one of my favorite things. You know why? Quite simply, because it was under the radar. You call him “the Iceman”, Double Ho Seven, or a member of the Radicalz; me, I call him the Greatest Light Heavyweight Champion of All Time. Simple, just like the man.
Jon Harder
jon@thejonharder.com
In my opinion, the greatest Light Heavyweight Championship match in the history of the WWF. Here’s the back story for this one: Grand Master Sexay was taken out by the Big Show for knee surgery a day after WrestleMania 2000. Therefore, with Too Cool on the shelf for a little while, Scotty 2 Hotty went on a little singles run. In an upset, Scotty shocked everyone, including Mr. Malenko, and won the Light Heavyweight championship on an April episode of Monday Night Raw. 10 Days later on SmackDown, April 27 to be exact, Malenko regained the gold. Now, three days later, the rubber match took place.
To say this match was a sleeper is an understatement. Scotty and Malenko went at it for 15 minutes at full tilt, pulling out all the stops. At the very end, Malenko caught Scotty with a wicked top-rope DDT and retained his championship. With all the story driven stuff going on during the Attitude Era, Malenko and Scotty showed that wrestling could be appreciated. I personally feel that this rivalry could have lasted awhile and showcased pure wrestling. It was phenomenal.
Dean Malenko might never get his due in this day-and-age as one of the greats during the Monday Night Wars, but here in this column, he certainly will. His Light Heavyweight championship reign during the Attitude Era remains one of my favorite things. You know why? Quite simply, because it was under the radar. You call him “the Iceman”, Double Ho Seven, or a member of the Radicalz; me, I call him the Greatest Light Heavyweight Champion of All Time. Simple, just like the man.
Jon Harder
jon@thejonharder.com
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