The Franchise Shane Douglas was a member of the Triple Threat.
Shane Douglas was called by Eddie Gilbert, the then producer of ECW in 1993 about joining the new promotion. Shane Douglas declined, but after being hampered for a while, he gave in and joined ECW in 1993. At this time, he won the NWA (National Wrestling Aliance) World Heavyweight title - the only title that really matters in the world. Shane brought the belt to ECW and declared that he was converting it's status. To begin with, he was known as "The Fantastic Shane Douglas", but when Paul Heyman took over, he came up with the idea of a character called the Franchise.

The ECW World Heavyweight title was born, and Shane held it for a long while, until defeated by the Sandman. Shane Douglas was approached by the WWF and Vince McMahon promised him a fortune if he left ECW and came to the WWF - leaving ECW without it's main star. Shane accepted, but Vincent's promises were empty. Shane worked hard on a new character, but found out that he was being paid a petit amount - not even enough to pay his mortgage, and so he returned to ECW, where he could at least get paid a decent amount and not get treated like crap. In 1996, Shane won the ECW TV Title for the second time and the love of Francine was secured for the foreseeable future, until Shane ran up against Taz, who swiftly took it from him in the summer. That September at Hardcore Heaven 97, Shane Douglas beat both Sabu and Shane Douglas to become the 2 time World Heavyweight champion, only to have it taken from him months later by his friend, Bam Bam Bigalo. November to Remember 97 and Shane beat Bam Bam to get the title for the third and final time. He managed to keep the title untill Guilty as Charged 99, some 14 months later.

Nova on the Franchise, as told to Julabard
- "A great talker, and a standup guy... I thought he made a great champ, and he had a true presence when he entered a room. I liked Shane a lot..."

During this period, he even defended the title with a fractured arm. It was During 98 that Bam Bam beat Taz for the TV Title, which Taz had won from Shane. This left Taz feeling left out without a belt and caused him to create the FTW belt for himself. Coming to the ring with his own creation and calling himself a champion drove the Franchise Crazy and this is what led to their title match, where Taz became the official ECW champion. It was a matter of months until Shane left ECW after being injured by Justin Credible.

Shane went to WCW where he was rightly treated like a star, unlike the way that the WWF had treated him. Shane went on to team with old ECW legends Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko (real name Simon Malenko) to form the Revolution, and then went onto being a member of the New Blood in mid 2000. In February 2001, Shane won the WCW US Heavyweight title, pushing him up the ladder toward the main eventers.

Catch Shane Douglas every week on NWA : TNA!

Photo gallery
1Wrestling.com's interview with Shane Douglas, December '98
Seriah Azkath's interview with Shane Douglas, July '98

Franchy Fact : Shane's real name is Troy Martin!

Franchy Fact : Shane learned a lot about the business from Terry Funk!

Franchy Fact : Shane didn't leave ECW in bad terms or good terms ; he just left ; it was a business decision.

Franchy Fact : Shane finds it hard to talk in his 'Franchise voice' whilst not in the ring. He has to be in the correct frame of mind.

Franchy Fact : Shane Douglas, like Spike Dudley, is a qualified and experienced teacher!


PPV History

Barely Legal 97
Shane Douglas VS Pitbull#2

Hardcore Heaven 97
Shane Douglas VS Terry Funk VS Sabu

November to Remember 97
Shane Douglas VS Bam Bam Bigalo

Living Dangerously 98
Shane Douglas and Chris Candido VS Lance Storm and Al Snow

WrestlePalooza 98
Shane Douglas VS Al Snow

Heatwave 98
Shane Douglas is the color commentator!

November to Remember 98
Shane douglas, Chris Candido and Bam Bam Bigalo VS Sabu, Taz and Rob Van Dam

Guilty As Charged 99
Shane Douglas VS Taz

Living Dangerously 99
Shane Douglas and Tommy Dreamer VS Lance Storm and Justin Credible

Hardcore Heaven 99
Shane Douglas VS Justin Credible was billed, but Shane was injured and in it's place was ...
Sid Vicious VS Justin Credible