Ian Dean (3 July 1970 – 13 August 2018) was an English professional wrestler, best known as Doc Dean.[1] He worked for All Star Wrestling, often teaming with Robbie Brookside as The Liverpool Lads. In 1997, he participated on New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, defeating Jushin Thunder Liger. He also worked televised matches for World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s.
| Ian Dean | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 3 July 1970 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 13 August 2018 (aged 48) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Doc Dean |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 11.6 st (162 lb; 74 kg) |
| Debut | 1984 |
| Retired | 1998 |
Professional wrestling career
editDean made his debut at the age of 14 in 1984 for All Star Wrestling (ASW). He worked for the promotion throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[2] He teamed with Robbie Brookside to form The Liverpool Lads, a successful tag team in Britain.[2][1] Together, they held the ASW British Tag Team Championship twice.[2] They team disbanded after Dean turned on partner Brookside, setting up a feud between the two.[2] They were the subject of a BBC2 video diary that captured matches, backstage footage, and details about life on the road.[2] On occasions, Dean teamed up with the third member of The Liverpool Lads, Frankie Sloan.[2] The three toured Africa, Asia, and Europe.[2] As a singles wrestler, Dean also held the ASW British Welterweight Championship twice.[2]
In 1997, Dean attended the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, during which he defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Chavo Guerrero Jr.[2] He met Chris Jericho in Japan, who later recounted their time together in his autobiography A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.[3] Later that year, he signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and appeared on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Main Event as enhancement talent.[2][4] Dean worked for WCW until July 1998, when he decided to retire from wrestling due to injuries.[2]
Personal life
editDean set up his own plumbing business in Florida shortly after retiring.[2][1] He later had to quit his job due to neck and back injuries.[1]
He had three children.[2] His had his son Adam with female wrestler Klondyke Kate.[2][1]
On 13 August 2018, Dean died from a heart attack at his home in Orlando, Florida; he was 48 years old.[2][1] After his death, Klondyke Kate opened a fundraising page to raise money to send Dean's body across the Atlantic to be buried in his hometown of Liverpool.[2][1]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- ASW British Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Robbie Brookside
- ASW British Welterweight Championship (2 times)
- EWU European Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Robbie Brookside
- Other Championships
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Docking, Neil (22 August 2018). "Family of wrestling great Ian 'Doc' Dean need funding to fly his body home to Liverpool". Echo. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Docking, Neil (15 August 2018). "Ian 'Doc' Dean dead: British wrestling legend passes away at 48". Mirror. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Jericho, Chris (2007). A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 0446408905.
- ^ Boon, Alan (15 November 2015). "5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT WWE'S ROBBIE BROOKSIDE". f4wonline. Retrieved 14 June 2019.