Tag: dean malenko

Dean Malenko’s daughter part of recent WWE tryouts

Posted on by Josh Nason

Less than a month after making her debut in Pro Wrestling NOAH, Marie Malenko took part in her first-ever WWE tryout.

Malenko was one of the many indie wrestlers to take part in this week’s tryouts at the Performance Center in Orlando, first reported by Fightful on Friday.

Malenko is the daughter of Dean Malenko, who won multiple championships in ECW, WCW, and WWE. She is also the granddaughter of Boris Malenko, making her a third-generation wrestler, and the niece of Joe Malenko. Dean is currently in a backstage role with AEW.

Former Ring of Honor star Erick Stevens posted recently that he had trained with Malenko and feels that with more experience, “she could become one of the best technical wrestlers in the country.”

Other wrestlers that were reported as attending the tryouts were Miranda Alize, Notorious Mimi, Zoe Sager, Promise Braxton, Ricky South, Valentina Rossi, Fallyn Grey, Nikki Blackheart, The Tuckman, Scott Green, and others.

Dean Malenko’s daughter debuts in Pro Wrestling NOAH

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

The Malenko family tree has sprouted another branch: Marie Malenko debuted earlier Monday with Pro Wrestling NOAH. 

Malenko is the daughter of Dean Malenko, who won multiple championships in ECW, WCW, and WWE. She is also the granddaughter of Boris Malenko, making her a third-generation wrestler, and the niece of Joe Malenko. 

Marie Malenko made her debut at NOAH’s Monday Magic Rising Sun Season #3 event at Shinjuku FACE arena in Tokyo, Japan. She teamed with Sofia Sivan (a two-year pro out of Orlando) to face Dream Girl Ellie & ZONES and Alivia Rose & Great Sakuya in a three-way tag team match. Rose & Sakuya won the match, which went about nine and a half minutes. 

After the match, reigning GHC Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani named Sakuya as her next challenger. 

Malenko and Sivan cut a brief promo backstage after their match, with Malenko asking how her first match in Japan went. Sivan said she held her own, they gave as good as they got, and next time it would be “game on.” 

Former Ring of Honor star Erick Stevens posted that he had trained with Malenko, and with more experience, “she could become one of the best technical wrestlers in the country.”

Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Izzy James, a 15-year pro out of Houston, Texas, in the main event of the show. 

Jim Ross says Dean Malenko underwent successful brain surgery

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AEW senior producer/coach Dean Malenko has undergone successful brain surgery, says Jim Ross. 

Speaking on this week’s Grilling JR podcast, Ross said that he saw Malenko at Wednesday’s Dynamite and Rampage taping in Oklahoma City and revealed that Malenko had surgery to treat symptoms of his Parkinson’s disease. 

Ross said: 

I saw Dean Malenko. Malenko’s had some health issues. I saw him there. And he had brain surgery and it stops his shakes form the Parkinson’s and it has, he’s had the surgery. He’s such a sweetheart of a guy.

Malenko has been with AEW since 2019 in a producer’s role after holding a similar job with WWE from 2001 to 2019 following the conclusion of his in-ring career.

Ross continued to discuss Malenko’s role in AEW and how he helps talent construct their matches within the framework of what their segments call for: 

He one of those unsung guys that’s such an MVP at AEW because of his guidance, his coaching. He encourages the talents to bring with them to him what they want to do… and then he helps them, he contributes. It’s teaching. All that is is coaching. And he’s really, really good at it. 

Ross also discussed his return to the commentary desk on Dynamite in calling the main event of Wednesday’s show on this week’s Grilling JR. 

The full episode is available here.

WOL: AEW Double or Nothing weekend, Dean Malenko, your calls

Posted on by Mike Sempervive

Wrestling Observer Live is back to ease you into the weekend, where All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing takes the spotlight. 

On this solo show, I take a look at the card, who could come out victorious, and who could come out with a brighter star than when the night started. Also, can B/R Live keep up? What will AEW’s effect have on both sides of the wrestling water?

Plus, I take your phone calls, read your tweets, show appreciation for Kevin Kelly, conflate some good men’s names, and more. It’s a fun show as always, so check it out~!

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Dean Malenko signs with AEW as senior producer/coach

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After departing WWE last month, Dean Malenko has officially joined AEW in a behind-the-scenes role.

AEW issued a press release today announcing that Malenko has signed a multi-year deal with the promotion as a senior producer/coach. Malenko is starting in the role immediately.

“It’s not often you get an opportunity late in your career to be a part of building something from the ground floor,” Malenko said. “The freedom to be able to contribute uninhibited will only lend itself to foster creativity and produce an outstanding product. I’m excited about what the future holds for AEW, and I can’t wait to be a part of the journey.”

“Dean Malenko has been a massive force behind some of today’s biggest wrestling stars,” Cody Rhodes said. “He’s never stopped being a major talent who was part of the ECW revolution as well as a fixture in the cruiserweight movement on Nitro. He’s kept an open mind to our world from Lucha Libre to Japanese pro-wrestling. He’s the perfect fit for our sports-centric mentality, and his experience will be invaluable for our team. Welcome Coach!”

Malenko was a longtime producer for WWE before quitting his job with them last month. He started working behind the scenes in WWE after his retirement from in-ring competition in 2001.

The day after it was revealed that he had quit WWE, Malenko was announced for Starrcast II in Las Vegas.

Dean Malenko to appear at Starrcast II

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The day after it was revealed that he quit WWE, Dean Malenko was confirmed for Starrcast II.

Starrcast announced today that Malenko will be appearing at their convention next month: “This Superstarr is known as The Man of a 1000 holds!! He’s held championships all over the world… #Starrcast II is proud to welcome DEAN MALENKO to Las Vegas, Memorial Day Weekend! Appearing Friday 1-4pm at Caesars Palace Meet & Greets on sale now.”

Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday night that Malenko had quit WWE. Their report was confirmed by our Dave Meltzer.

Malenko worked as a producer for WWE, joining the company in a behind-the-scenes role after retiring from in-ring competition in 2001.

Arn Anderson, fellow Four Horsemen member and former WWE producer, will also be appearing at Starrcast. Anderson was fired from WWE in February.

Starrcast is taking place in Las Vegas from May 23-26, with AEW Double or Nothing being held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25.

Dean Malenko quits job as WWE producer

Posted on by F4W Staff

By Joseph Currier and Josh Nason

Longtime WWE producer Dean Malenko has quit the company.

Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday night that Malenko has quit WWE. Their report has been confirmed by our Dave Meltzer.

The 58-year-old Malenko (real name Dean Simon) is part of a famed wrestling family that includes his father, Boris, and brother, Joe. He held many secondary and Tag Team titles in his 20+ year career during runs in the WWF, WCW, and ECW.

Malenko began working behind the scenes with WWE after his retirement from in-ring competition in 2001.

Former WWE producer Arn Anderson also departed the company this year, with him reportedly being fired in February due to Alicia Fox wrestling while intoxicated at a house show.

Abyss, Sonjay Dutt, Shawn Daivari, and Shane “Hurricane” Helms are among those who have been hired by WWE in behind-the-scenes positions recently. Bruce Prichard and Jeff Jarrett have also joined the creative team.