It took years, but 5’9”, 216-pound Dean Malenko finally achieved recognition as the best mat technician in the world. The son of noted rulebreaker Boris Malenko, Dean toiled in the background as Hulkamania reigned supreme in the 1980s. Fans were enthralled more by personality and style and flash and glitter by than substance.

Then the pendulum swung back, and skilled athletes like Malenko, the “Man of 1,000 Holds,” drew more attention. Malenko won the WCW Cruiserweight title in 1996, giving his technical approach to the sport more prominence and recognition. Malenko’s success helped scientific wrestling to become more popular with fans and other wrestlers.

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