| Ken Shamrock |
| Ken Shamrock
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Weight: 205 lb (93 kg) Real name: Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick Hometown: Sacramento, California (born in Macon, Georgia) Pro debut: 1990 Finishing move: Ankle Lock Submission, Side Belly to Belly Suplex Favorite quote: "I'm in the zone!" Other aliases: Wayne Shamrock, "Mr. Wrestling" Vince Torelli, "The World’s Most Dangerous Man" Career highlights: SAPW Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE World Tag Team Champion (w/Big Boss Man) Trained by: Nelson Royal, Bob Sawyer, Buzz Sawyer In 1988, Shamrock trained as a professional wrestler under Bob Sawyer, Buzz Sawyer and Nelson Royal. He debuted in 1990 in the Charlotte, North Carolina-based South Atlantic Pro Wrestling promotion under the ring name Wayne Shamrock. He later changed his ring name to Vince Torelli and turned heel, adopting the nickname "Mr. Wrestling". In 1990, Shamrock travelled to Japan, where he competed in the Universal Wrestling Federation and its successor promotion, Fujiwara Gumi. His first taste of mixed martial arts came following the exodus of his mentors Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki from Fujiwara's promotion to found one of the formative Japanese mixed martial arts associations, Pancrase. Later, he returned to America to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Shamrock would split time betwen the two organizations until 1996, whereupon he returned to professional wrestling, signing a three year, $3 million USD contract with the World Wrestling Federation. He made his WWF debut on the February 24, 1997 episode of Monday Night Raw. On March 23, 1997, Shamrock, identified as Ken Shamrock and billed as "The World's Most Dangerous Man", refereed a submission match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. Shamrock returned to the ring following WrestleMania, squashing Vernon White (one of his Lion's Den students) in his debut WWF match. He went on to feud with Vader, Bret Hart, and the Hart Foundation throughout 1997, culminating in a bout between Shamrock and The British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1997 which Shamrock lost after refusing to relinquish a chokehold. Shamrock went on to challenge Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship at D-Generation X in December, defeating Michaels by disqualification after Triple H and Chyna interfered in the match. Throughout early 1998, Shamrock feuded with WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia. He lost to Maivia via disqualification at the 1998 Royal Rumble, and a victory over Maivia at WrestleMania XIV was reversed after Shamrock continued to apply his ankle lock after Maivia had submitted. In June 1998, Shamrock won the 1998 King of the Ring tournament, defeating Jeff Jarrett in the semi-finals and Maivia in the final. Following the King of the Ring, Shamrock feuded with Owen Hart, with Hart defeating Shamrock in a "Hart Family Dungeon match" and Shamrock defeating Hart in a "Lion's Den match". In September, he formed a short-lived stable with Mankind and The Rock. Shamrock turned heel in October 1998, and won the vacant Intercontinental Championship on October 12, defeating X-Pac in the finals of an eight man tournament. In November, Shamrock consolidated his heel status by joining Mr. McMahon's Corporation. On December 14, Shamrock and fellow Corporation member Big Boss Man defeated the New Age Outlaws for the WWF World Tag Team Championship, making Shamrock a dual champion. The duo held the titles until January 25, 1999, when they lost to Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart. In January 1999, Shamrock began feuding with Billy Gunn, Goldust, and Val Venis, all of whom had made overtures to his storyline sister, Ryan. He lost the Intercontinental Championship to Venis on February 14 when Gunn, the guest referee, delivered a fast count. Shamrock took part in a four way bout for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 15, but the reigning champion, Road Dogg, was able to retain his title by pinning Goldust while Shamrock and Venis brawled outside the ring. In mid-1999, the Corporation began feuding with The Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness, with The Undertaker's minions repeatedly ambushing Shamrock and kidnapping Ryan. After breaking away from the Corporation, thus turning face once more, Shamrock went on to lose to The Undertaker at Backlash. In May, Shamrock, Big Show, Mankind and Test formed The Union, a stable of wrestlers in opposition to the Corporate Ministry. The Union dissolved after defeating the Corporate Ministry at Over the Edge in May. Shamrock briefly feuded with Jeff Jarrett before beginning a rivalry with martial artist Steve Blackman that saw he and Blackman fight one another in a series of unorthodox matches. The feud ended at SummerSlam 1999, where Shamrock defeated Blackman in a "Lion's Den match". He went on to feud with the newly debuted Chris Jericho until departing the WWF in late 1999 in order to resume his mixed martial arts career. His departure was attributed to an injury inflicted by Jericho's bodyguard, Mr. Hughes. Shamrock returned to professional wrestling in March 2002, refereeing a Ring of Honor match between American Dragon and Low Ki. In May 2002, he signed a one year contract with the newly formed Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. On the inaugural TNA pay-per-view on June 19, Shamrock won the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a Gauntlet for the Gold match. After feuding with Malice for several weeks, Shamrock left TNA shortly after losing the title to Ron Killings on August 7. He briefly returned to TNA in June 2004 as an ally of Jeff Jarrett before leaving the company and the industry once more. |
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