Biography

Profile by Bridget Petrella (old bio from shanedouglas.com)
Updated by Mike Petkovich (from franchisefansite.com)
Modified by Travis Smith
**Additional sources come from Travis's personal wrestling video library, tnawrestling.com, and wikipedia.com

Real Name: Troy Martin
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 240 lbs
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Born: November 21, 1964
Professional Debut: 1982
Trained By: Dominic DeNucci
Theme Music: "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple
Finishing Moves: The Franchiser, The Pittsburgh Plunge, and the Belly to Belly Suplex
Former Managers: Paul Heyman, Sherri Martel, Francine, Torrie Wilson, Lizzy Borden, James Mitchell, and Traci Brooks

In a uncompromising sport where conflicts rage uncontrollably... and combat isn’t just professed, it’s encouraged, Shane Douglas is indeed a defiant warrior. His intensity is absolutely unparalleled and his dedication is incomparable by most standards. Perhaps the most poignant example of Douglas’ unwavering devotion to wrestling came in 1998 when he vehemently insisted on participating in a nationally televised pay-per-view main event known as ECW WrestlePalooza, with a broken jaw and a fractured palette. Unable to disappoint his many fans, in agonizing pain, Douglas’ actually completed the entire match, simply because it had been advertised weeks in advance. The audience was more than just a bit astonished by his unbridled fervor to say the least. He’s definitively been referred to as a "Judiciously Intellectual Extremist", with a penchant for controversy and self-imposed challenges. Douglas is an by far an undisputed technician in the ring. His moves are pure precision. Shane Douglas, for the uninitiated, is a brash and ferocious veteran who literally personifies the word endurance in wrestling as well as in life.

One of six children, Douglas immediately filled in for his father, both financially and emotionally, actively supporting the rest of his family, when his parents divorced. Almost effortlessly, he learned to be both self-sufficient and resilient. His avid interest in sports continued throughout high school, particularly in wrestling and weight lifting, which ultimately led to a very lucrative career. Upon graduating high school, Douglas started wrestling professionally in 1982 in various regional promotions, as a way to pay for his college education. Subsequently he graduated from Bethany College in 1986 while working for the Universal Wrestling Federation. With a BA in History and Political Science and several academic honors (graduated Cum Laude), Douglas decided to continue his studies, eventually earning his MA in Education. At the time, he had also been accepted into the prestigious Saba Medical School, but differed to continue wrestling. In 1991, Douglas again left the WWF to take care of his father, who was now alone and dying. It was a decision that further illustrated Douglas’ unyielding commitment to his family. In 1993, while wrestling with the WCW, Douglas began teaching emotional support classes to high school students, grades 9 through 12. He continued his teaching career while wrestling simultaneously, opting to expand his syllabus to include World Economics and U.S. History. After the untimely death of his sister in 1997, his mother fell into a severe depression. Again, Douglas was there to pick up the pieces. His depth and courage in the face of adversity were more than exceptional.

Shane Douglas made his first unprecedented national appearance in the squared circle in the early 1990's. He had signed on with the World Wrestling Federation and became the youngest wrestler to ever win a national title (WWF Television Title) at age 21. But after struggling as a "mid-card" attraction, and dealing with his dying father, Douglas departed for the WCW and instantly captured the WCW Tag Team titles with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. The duo defeated Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham on December 18th, 1992. They eventually lost the tag team title belts to Steve Austin (who was "Stunning Steve Austin" at the time) and the late Brian Pillman, a duo affectionately called, "the Hollywood Blondes". Douglas again became rather disillusioned with the underlying objectives of the WCW and left to pursue the Extreme Hardcore style wrestling of the ECW. Douglas shocked the entire wrestling world when, in a rather audacious move, after winning the NWA Heavyweight Title belt in 1994.(in front of a sell-out crowd no less) He threw the belt itself down on the mat stating that he "No longer wanted to be the champion to a 'dead' promotion." This was typical Shane Douglas, no holds barred, candid, and sincere. "I've been in the squared circle with some of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the sport. It taught me about persistence and inner strength. Wrestling allows you to be openly antagonistic, but it also inspires a resourceful instinct. I wasn’t about to concede to mediocrity."

Douglas wrestled in the ECW for a few more years and won numerous titles before heading back to the WWF in 1995. He captured the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight title after an injured Shawn Michaels (he suffered a concussion earlier) forfeited the title to Douglas. A record-breaking 15 minutes later, he lost the title to Razor Ramon. Douglas again decided leave the WWF after suffering a broken back in the ring during a highly confrontational match with Razor Ramon. He returned to the ECW in 1996. Douglas became the first wrestling superstar to ever capture the ECW Heavyweight title four times when he defeated former WWF Superstar Bam Bam Bigelow on November 30th, 1997 in his home town of Pittsburgh, PA. For Douglas, this was more than just a defining personal moment, it was a bittersweet victory, the culmination of his phenomenal efforts as a paramount wrestler. "My only disappointment was that my father, (a former WWII hero) who had passed away a few years before, wasn’t there to see it." Shane went on to lose the ECW title to Taz and left the promotion when monetary issues came between him and Paul Heyman.

Shane then made his move to World Championship Wrestling in late 1999. He came in to lead the Revolution. This was a group consisting of the late Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn. They were supposed to usher in the youth movement in WCW. Again the glass ceiling that kept so many wrestlers down hit the Revolution. Vince Russo was fired and Kevin Sullivan took control. The Revolution and Eddie Guerrero stood up for Vince Russo and soon they were all out of work. Benoit, Malenko, Saturn, and Guerrero left to the World Wrestling Federation leaving Shane out of a job. Shane made a brief appearance in XPW in 2000, but that was short lived because Russo and Bischoff were back in power and wanted The Franchise. On his first show back, Shane got to have one of his goals fulfilled. He attacked Ric Flair leading to a short feud. Douglas won the WCW Tag Team titles with Buff Bagwell. They lost the titles but Shane was headed to the top of the mid-card. Some of Shane's segments on WCW television were some of the highest rated segments WCW would receive toward the end of their existence. Shane won the WCW United States Title from Hugh Morrus. He lost the title to Rick Steiner because of injury. Before WCW was sold to the WWF there were many rumors running through WCW that Shane would be given a chance as world champion, too bad we weren't able to see what could have been the rebirth of WCW.

After sitting at home during the WWF/E buyout of WCW, Shane took an offer to begin wrestling and booking for XPW and had become their Heavyweight Champion, hoping to make XPW the next force in professional wrestling. Shortly after the collapse of XPW, Shane took up an offer to work with a fledgling NWA: TNA. He soon felt career rejuvenation while working there. Douglas joined TNA in 2003 and remained there as wrestler, interviewer, manager, and talent scout until his release in 2007. No matter where he goes he still manages to captivate an audience with his mic skills and his wrestling ability.

Every organization has what is known as a "Franchise" player. One man who profoundly stands a cut above the rest. A passionate athlete who has accomplished something beyond his own far-reaching expectations. A person whose mere presence shapes and structures the organization itself. Shane Douglas is one such individual. He has proved his athletic prowess in the ring on countless occasions. As the epitome of wrestling’s renown "bad boys", Douglas may not always hear his name chanted openly in arenas throughout the country, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his enduring success. There’s a contagious enthusiasm that radiates from Shane Douglas. It’s obvious the moment he steps into the room. He’s clever, insightful, bold and endearing. A walking breathing "contrast in terms", Douglas brings an obvious "edge" to the wrestling genre. Perhaps Douglas himself explains it best, "Many athletes define themselves by the expectations of others. I define myself by my own measure of personal accomplishment."

Shane Douglas is an earnest outdoors man and has literally spanned the globe, in search of high adventure. When he’s not applying a full body suplex Douglas is an avid reader. Having read and collected thousands of books, including several classic works of literature such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. He also enjoys yoga, listening to cool blues guitarists like Buddy Guy and BB King, hiking, mountain-biking, weight-lifting and boxing. He and and his wife share their Pittsburgh home with their children and an entourage of pets.

Shane was last known to have entered the management system for Target and working as a manager. Latest updates from various sites have confirmed that Troy has gone back into the teaching field as an 8th Grade History Teacher and Tutor in his hometown. Shane still does wrestling related appearances in the forms of conventions and wrestling seminars.

*According to Wikipedia, Shane stepped back into the ring in 2008 for the WWE to take on Vladimir Kosloff in a dark match under the name of Troy Douglas. Although there was no contract given, this detail has neither been confirmed nor denied.

March 13th, 2009 Shane Douglas returned to the ring in New Jersey to wrestle ECW Alumni Little Guido. Douglas defeated Little Guido and has been signed to do a six man tag team match on June 5th. Douglas will team with Guido and Danny Doring to take on Danny Inferno, Don Montoya and Dave Greco. Shane recently made a return to TNA Wrestling to work a short program with Christopher Daniels leading to Slammiversary 7 and had a match on iMPACT against AJ Styles. Shane is also an assistant trainer for Detroit's Prime Time Wrestling Academy.