Ken Shamrock

Ken Shamrock actually started his career as a wrestler in the late 1980's in the Carolinas. Shamrock was trained by Nelson Royal and the late Buzz Sawyer at Royal's ACW wrestling school, and started to wrestle for ACW.

When ACW folded in 1988, Shamrock started to work for South Atlantic Pro Wrestling under the guise of Wayne Shamrock, he was managed by "Number One" Paul Jones. Shamrock won his first TV match in a few seconds with a belly-to-belly suplex.

In September 1990 Shamrock earned a spot with the second incarnation of Japan's UWF shoot fighting group. The group was on the verge of a breakup, but Shamrock made a lasting impression on UWF stars Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki.

When Shamrock returned to the states, he went back to SAPW, but this time as a heel and with a new name: "Mr. Wrestling" Vince Torelli.

Shamrock's highlight as Vince Torelli in the wrestling industry was in February 1991, when he defeated Chris Chavis (Tatanka) in a tournament final to capture the South Atlantic Pro Wrestling Title, but even then the reality of his US pro wrestling was that he was treading water.

Shoot fighting

When Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki moved on to Pro Wrestling Fujiwara-Gumi, Shamrock was also offered a spot. In this promotion, which emphasized on suplexes, mat work, and submissions provided Shamrock with a priceless training ground in which his skills improved.

When Funaki and Suzuki moved on again for the formation of Pancrase in September 1993, Shamrock was just behind them, ready to equal and surpass their superstar status. And that was exactly what he did, by defeating Funaki in the main event of Pancrase's inaugural show on September 21.

Ken Shamrock continued his victory streak in Pancrase by defeating Yoshiki Takahashi and Yusuke Fuke, before Shamrock also started competing for Ultimate Fighting Championships. At the inaugural UFC show, November 1993, Ken defeated Pat Smith, before he fell to Royce Gracie in the semifinal. The defeat to Gracie affected Shamrock, even though he won some matches in Pancrase he started losing matches to Minoru Suzuki and to Frank "The Animal" Lobman in a kickboxing match.

Shamrock returned to UFC at UFC III, but had to withdrew from the tournament because of an injury. In Pancrase it was time to crown the first King of Pancrase in a two day tournament, December 16-17, 1994.

The first man to step in Ken's way was Alex Cook, who was defeated in only 1,31 minutes. Maurice Smith was the next victim, but Ken also squashed him. In the semifinals waited Masa Funaki, Ken's old friend and mentor, Ken defeated Funaki, who had defeated Ken some months before the tournament. In a hard 30 minutes final, Shamrock came out on top, when he defeated Manabu Yamada by Judge's decision (3-0), and thereby became the first King of Pancrase.

Shamrock successfully defended his King of Pancrase Title against Leon Dijk and Bas Rutten, but lost to the Title to Minoru Suzuki, May 13, 1995. At UFC V Shamrock fought his nemesis Royce Gracie in a great match to a draw, the match lasted 36,06 minutes, and I think that every one would love to see these to superstars step into the octagon once more.

At UFC VI Shamrock went up against Dan Severn for the right to be called the first ever Superfight Champion. In only 3,49 minutes Shamrock defeated Severn with a Guillotine Choke to be the first Superfight Champion. With this important victory it was like Shamrock concentrated more on UFC than Pancrase, even though he continued to fight for Pancrase it was like he lost the spirit there.

Shamrock defended the Superfight Title against Oleg Taktarov and Kimo, but fell to Dan Severn at UFC IX by a split judges decision (2-1). The defeat to Severn was a low blow to Shamrock, who started to look around for other opportunities. Shamrock's last appearance for Pancrase was June 25, 1996, where Masa Funaki won by default, because Shamrock was injured. Ken's last appearance for UFC was December 7, 1996, Ultimate Ultimate, Shamrock defeated Brian Johnston.

During his shoot fighting career, Shamrock had the time to open his own school called the Lion's Den, where you could learn self-defense. I believe that his brother Frank and some of the students took over, when Shamrock signed with the WWF.

WWF

February 24, 1997, Shamrock made his first appearance for the WWF, by sitting at theat Monday Night Raw. Earlier that day he had signed a three year contract, worth in excess of $1 million per annum. This was a low blow to New Japan Pro Wrestling, had made the error of publicly announcing a match featuring Shamrock, a deal which was not finalized.

Shamrock had a few interview segments before he was assigned to be the referee at WrestleMania for the "I Quit" match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin. A job which he handled quite good.

Billy Gunn thought that he could handle the Rock at a Raw is War program, but he soon found out, that he wasn't up to the task, in a matter of seconds Shamrock put Billy in the wakigatame and an ankle lock. This showed us how great a submission wrestler Shamrock is.

Shamrock's first match was at Raw is War, where he squashed Vernon White (one of his students from the Lion's Den) in a UFC style match. This brought out Vader, who also have experience with shoot fighting, and this immediately started a feud between them.

At In Your House 15 Shamrock and Vader clashed in No Holds Barred match, where Shamrock came out on top defeating Vader with the ankle-lock submission. The match showed that Shamrock had some difficulties adapting to the world of wrestling, since he broke Vader's nose in four places, and Vader couldn't walk for several days, because of the beating they took. Because of the injuries that Vader sustained during the match, it was said that some of the other wrestlers wouldn't work with "the world's most dangerous man."

Some where along the line Bret Hart offered to train with the Rock to make his ring work better, which Shamrock accepted. Shamrock then started feuding with the Hart Foundation, who defeated the team of Austin, Shamrock, Goldust, and LOD at Canadian Stampede. But the match showed that his skills were improving.

In July Dan Severn did some commentating for Raw is War, and I think many expected Shamrock and Severn to clash in the WWF, which hasn't happened, because the WWF haven't signed Severn. Personally I would rather have them to clash in the octagon, where they could settle the score.

The feud with the Hart Foundation continued, when Shamrock set his sight on then European Champion, the British Bulldog. The two clashed for the first time at Raw is War in an arm-wrestling contest. Shamrock had almost beaten the Bulldog, when Bulldog head butted Shamrock and hit him with some wicked chair shots and threw dog food in Shamrock's face.

The two clashed again at Summer Slam 1997 in a match, where the Bulldog, if he lost had to eat dog food. During the match Bulldog threw some dog food in Shamrock's face, big mistake, Shamrock went absolutely nuts, bashing the Bulldog with the can, and thereby earning himself the disqualification. Shamrock then put the Bulldog in a choke-sleeper, causing the Bulldog to turn a gorgeous shade of purple. When the officials persuaded Ken to release his grip, Shamrock took out his rage on Pat Patterson and referees by belly-to-belly suplexing them. Because of his actions the fans responded by giving Shamrock a booming standing ovation and thereby giving him the stamp of approval.

During the match with the British Bulldog, Shamrock started to cough up blood. This also happened during a match in Intercontinental Title tournament against Faarooq, September 9, Shamrock defeated Faarooq to advance, but had to give up his spot, because of he had suffered a bruised and infected lung.

When Shamrock returned, he had a great match with then World Champion Bret Hart, but because of outside interference, Shamrock couldn't walk away with the gold. At Survivor Series, Shamrock again put up one of his best performances against the NOD, eliminating both D. Lo Brown and Rocky Maivia to become the sole survivor for his team.

Shamrock's great performance at Survivor Series put him up against World Champion Shawn Michaels at Degeneration X. This was a great match, which Shamrock won, but it was via disqualification, because HHH and Chyna attacked Shamrock on several occasions.

Shamrock was scheduled to compete at the next UFC PPV, December 21, but his opponent, Takada backed out of the deal. At Royal Rumble 1998 Shamrock had to go up against Rocky Maivia for the Intercontinental Title, who challenged Shamrock to a match to find out who is the toughest. During the feud with Rocky Maivia and the NOD, Shamrock has been the victim of NOD turn by Mark Henry, who turned on Shamrock during a tag team match against the NOD.

At the Royal Rumble, Shamrock snapped again attacking the referee, when the referee disqualified him for using brass knuckles, who Maivia had slipped into his trunks. Shamrock and the NOD have feuded ever since, Shamrock brought out Ahmed Johnson and the DOA to help him against the NOD, and at In Your House 20, they defeated the NOD, when Shamrock put the Ankle Lock Toe hold on Maivia to get the win.

Shamrock will clash with Maivia at WrestleMania 14, where the problems inside the NOD could give Shamrock the title. At Raw is War from March 17th Shamrock was challenged by Rocky Maivia again, Maivia stated that Shamrock couldn't last 2 minutes with any member of the NOD. But Shamrock defeated D-Lo Brown before the 2 minute mark and was then attacked by Maivia, who with two vicious chair shots sent Shamrock to the hospital.

When Shamrock and Maivia clashed at WrestleMania 14, Shamrock started like a tornado and soon he got Maivia in the Ankle Lock Toe hold and Maivia tapped out. Shamrock was declared the new Intercontinental Champion, but he was still mad at Maivia so he put him in the Ankle Lock Toe hold again and he doesn't let go until half a dozen officials pull him off, he went berzerk and slammed most of the officials, he then went after Maivia, who was carted away on a stretcher and attacked him again, the referee reversed the decision. I like Shamrock's attitude, too bad it cost him the title.

The ongoing war with Maivia and the NOD continues, Shamrock have aligned himself with the former leader of the NOD, Faarooq and Steve Blackman. Shamrock also had a stare-down with Dan Severn at Raw is War, April 13th, I can't wait until the two get it on, hopefully in the Octagon. Shamrock have injured his leg, how long it will put him out of action I don't know, but it will set him back.

Despite his injury, Shamrock worked at Unforgiven and the following Raw is War. Ken teamed with Owen Hart at Raw, but Owen turned on Ken and dropped on his angle twice and put him the Sharpshooter. After the officials talked Owen into releasing the hold he jumped on Ken and bit him in the ear, when the officials pulled Owen from Shamrock, Owen's face was smeared with blood. This incident will in the story line explain Shamrock's absence until he is ready to return.

Ken returned at Raw is War, June 2nd, when he attacked Owen Hart, when the Nation tried to save Owen, Dan Severn came to the ring and helped Shamrock clear the ring, they then faced off and finally, until Severn left. Hunter Hearst Helmsley came back in the ring and got beaten up by Shamrock.

Shamrock banged up his ankle again, June 3rd at a Raw is War taping, after he had defeated Kama in King of the Ring qualifying match the Nation attacked, which tore up the injury, again Dan Severn came to the rescue, Shamrock later came to the rescue of Severn, when he got punked by Owen Hart and D-Lo Brown. Obviously the WWF want to play this like a matter of respect.