Bio file: Shane "the Franchise" Douglas - Interview

Wrestling Digest, April, 2003 by Scoop Malinowski

Born: June 2, 1958, in Pittsburgh

Signature move: THE PITTSBURGH PLUNGE

Height: 6'2" Weight: 252

Childhood heroes: "Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Dominic Denucci, and Bruno Sammartino. Also, my mom, Louise, and dad, George. I know it sounds kind of corny. My dad had a legacy. He was a war hero in World War II--silver star, three bronze stars. He was in the third division under General Patton's army. After my parents divorced, my mom raised six kids by herself without any assistance or welfare. Sometimes we'd eat pancakes five or six days in a row. With six kids, the syrup runs out quick. So would the jelly. And the only thing left to put on the pancakes would be ketchup."

Hobbies: "Obviously, I'm big into physical fitness and weightlifting. All sports. I'm an avid reader--histories, biographies, and especially science fiction, because I like the forward thinking of it. And believe it or not, I like cooking too."

Favorite meal: "I'm a pasta eater. Homemade sauce. Spaghetti or rigatoni and meatballs. A great filet mignon. Those two meals I can live off for the rest of my life."

Favorite cereal: Crispix

Favorite ice cream flavor: Butter pecan

Childhood dreams: "I always planned on being a doctor. After I earned my masters [in Biological Sciences], I was accepted in med school in 1995. But at that time, wrestling put an offer on the table that made it impossible for me to walk away from it."

First Job: "Being paid a penny a pin at the local bowling alley back in 1972. This was before they had automatic pin setters."

Favorite vacation spot: "My wife and I went to Grenada five years ago. It was beautiful."

Favorite movies: "`Excalibur,' a movie from the early '80s. I must have seen it 60 times."

Musical tastes: "Heavy metal, Led Zeppelin, KISS, ELO, Journey. I like classical, too--Wagner, Vivaldi. I really think it helps keep you focused. It's really relaxing music."

First car: 1986 white Ford Escort GT

Funny wrestling memory: "I was wrestling tag-team with Michael Hayes of The Freebirds in Memphis for the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986. Hayes had Black Bart's arm, so he came over and tagged me. I climbed up to the top rope. As I jumped off, my kneepad caught a hook on the top turnbuckle. I was hanging upside down on the turnbuckle. It looked like I was moored to the turnbuckle."

Greatest wrestling moment: "Winning the ECW heavyweight title against Sabu in Philadelphia. What broke my heart was my dad didn't get to see me win the title. He was a huge wrestling fan. He did get to see me and Picky Steamboat win the WCW tag-team title over Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes in '92. When I called him to tell him, he was crying on the phone. Even though this sport is predetermined, the fact is that the company puts their trust and resources into your skills. They're saying that your skills in the company are second to none; you're the best we have. It's a pretty big accolade."

Most painful moment: "I would say in 1997 at the November to Remember pay-per-view event in Pittsburgh. Bam Bam Bigelow hit me in the right arm with a crutch while I was lying prone on the canvas. He broke my elbow. It necessitated four surgeries. I was out for like six months."