Editing Dean Malenko (section)

==Professional wrestling career==
=== Early career (1979–1994)===
Malenko was born into a wrestling family, and his father [[Boris Malenko]] was a prominent wrestling figure. He started out as a referee in the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] area and even worked briefly as a referee for the [[WWE|WWF]] in the mid-1980s. He has wrestled all over the world and has spent much time wrestling in Mexico and Japan. He wrestled with his brother [[Joe Malenko]] from 1988 to 1992, forming a [[tag team]] working in Puerto Rico, Japan, and Australia until his brother retired. On January 24, 1992, Malenko defeated "The Superstar" for the Suncoast Pro Wrestling (SPW) Southern title in [[Palmetto, Florida]]. Malenko defeated [[Jimmy Del Ray|Jimmy Backlund]] for the ICWA Light Heavyweight title on March 12, 1992, in Tampa. Then, Malenko teamed with his brother losing to [[Ricky Steamboat]] and [[Nikita Koloff]] at [[Clash of the Champions XIX]].

===Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1995)===
{{See also|The Triple Threat}}
On August 27, 1994, Malenko debuted in [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|Eastern Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) as a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] participating in [[NWA World Title Tournament|a professional wrestling tournament]] for the vacant [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. He defeated [[Osamu Nishimura]] in the quarterfinals before he ended up losing to the eventual winner [[Shane Douglas]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1994c.html#082794|title=NWA World Title Tournament results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=May 25, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko beat Osamu Nishimura vis submission. Shane Douglas pinned Dean Malenko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/tournaments.html#nwa|title=NWA World Title Tournament 1994|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref> Malenko became known as "The [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|Shooter]]" and was given a [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]] similar to an [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] fighter (due to his resemblance to [[Royce Gracie]]). On November 4, 1994, he defeated [[2 Cold Scorpio]] to win his first [[ECW World Television Championship|ECW Television Championship]].<ref name="ecwtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/|title=ECW Television Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|access-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1994d.html#110494|title=ECW results – November 4, 1994|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=May 25, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko pinned Too Cold Scorpio to win the ECW TV Title}}</ref>

In the beginning of 1995, Malenko formed a [[Professional wrestling stable|faction]] called the [[The Triple Threat|Triple Threat]] with [[Chris Benoit]] and [[Shane Douglas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/triple-threat.html|title=Triple Threat Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> On February 25, 1995, at [[Return of the Funker]], Benoit and Malenko defeated [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] and [[Tazz|Tazmaniac]] for the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship|ECW Tag Team Championship]], making Malenko a double champion.<ref name="ecwtag">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/|title=ECW Tag Team Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|access-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995a.html#022595|title=Return of the Funker results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko beat The Tazmaniac & Sabu (10:28) to win the ECW Tag Title when Benoit pinned Sabu}}</ref> A month later at [[ECW Extreme Warfare|Extreme Warfare]], Malenko [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Drop|dropped]] the Television title to [[2 Cold Scorpio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995a.html#031895|title=ECW results – March 18, 1995|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Too Cold Scorpio pinned Dean Malenko (13:34) to win the ECW TV Title}}</ref> On April 8 at [[ECW Three Way Dance|Three Way Dance]], he and Benoit lost the tag titles to [[The Public Enemy (professional wrestling)|The Public Enemy]] ([[Johnny Grunge]] and [[Rocco Rock]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995b.html#040895|title=Three Way Dance results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=The Public Enemy beat Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko and The Tazmaniac & Rick Steiner (19:56) in a "three-way dance" to win the ECW Tag Title}}</ref>

In the summer of 1995, Malenko [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with TV Champion [[Eddie Guerrero]], culminating in a match on July 21 where Malenko defeated Guerrero to win his second ECW Television Championship.<ref name="ecwtv"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995c.html#072195|title=ECW results – July 21, 1995|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko pinned Eddie Guerrero to win the ECW TV Title}}</ref> Only a week later, Malenko dropped the title back to Guerrero.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995c.html#072895|title=ECW results – July 28, 1995|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Eddie Guerrero pinned Dean Malenko to win the ECW TV Title}}</ref> The two continued to battle over the Television Title and fought a series of matches that led to them being offered a WCW contract.<ref name="acceleratorbio"/> His last ECW match was a [[two out of three falls match]] against Guerrero, which took place on August 26. The match ended in a draw as the last fall had both men's shoulders on the mat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995c.html#082695|title=ECW results – August 26, 1995|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko drew Eddie Guerrero in three falls}}</ref> This would be both men's last match in ECW and they both gave—and received—an emotional farewell to the fans.<ref name="acceleratorbio"/>

===World Championship Wrestling (1995–2000)===
====Cruiserweight Champion; United States Heavyweight Champion (1995–1998)====
In September 1995, Malenko and Benoit joined [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), where he continued to be a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villain]]. Malenko came to be known in WCW as "The Iceman" Dean Malenko because of his cold, calculating demeanor and was also given the nickname of "The Man of 1,000 Holds".<ref name="acceleratorbio"/> On May 2, 1996, Malenko defeated [[Shinjiro Otani]] for the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].<ref name="cruiser">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/|title=WWE Cruiserweight Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|access-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref> He held the title for two months, making successful defenses against the likes of [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#96|title=Slamboree 1996: Lord of the Ring results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Dean Malenko pinned Brad Armstrong (8:29)}}</ref> [[Rey Mysterio Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#96|title=The Great American Bash 1996 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Dean Malenko pinned Rey Mysterio, Jr. (17:50)}}</ref> and [[Disco Inferno (wrestler)|Disco Inferno]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#96|title=Bash at the Beach 1996 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Dean Malenko pinned Dean Malenko (12:04)}}</ref> before losing the title to Mysterio on the July, 8 edition of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Nitro]]''.<ref name=WCW9501Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995–2001 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2015 | isbn=978-1499656343}}</ref> He defeated Mysterio Jr. for his second WCW Cruiserweight Championship at [[Halloween Havoc 1996]].<ref name="cruiser"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/havoc.html#96|title=Halloween Havoc 1996 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko pinned Rey Misterio, Jr. (18:32) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title}}</ref>

After a successful title defense against [[Psicosis|Psychosis]] at [[World War 3 (1996)|World War 3]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/ww3.html#96|title=World War 3 1996 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Dean Malenko pinned Psicosis (14:33)}}</ref> Malenko lost the Cruiserweight title to [[Último Dragón|Ultimate Dragon]] (Último Dragón) at [[Starrcade (1996)|Starrcade 1996]] where Dragón's [[J-Crown|J-Crown Championship]] was also on the line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#96|title=Starrcade 1996 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=J Crown Champ Ultimate Dragon pinned Dean Malenko (18:30) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title}}</ref> Malenko defeated Dragón on the January 22, 1997 ''[[Clash of the Champions XXXIV]]'' to win his third WCW Cruiserweight Championship.<ref name="cruiser"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXXIV|title=Clash of the Champions XXXIV results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Dean Malenko beat Ultimate Dragon (15:07) via submission to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128103446/http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXXIV|archive-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref> He would hold the belt for nearly a month before losing it to [[Sean Waltman|Syxx]] at [[SuperBrawl VII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#VII|title=SuperBrawl VII results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Syxx pinned Dean Malenko (11:57) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title}}</ref> Malenko lost the match after [[Eddie Guerrero]] inadvertently caused Malenko to be hit with Guerrero's [[United States Championship (WWE)|United States Title belt]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/superbrawl.htm |title=SuperBrawl |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref>

Malenko then entered a feud with Guerrero, angry over the fact that he had caused him to lose his Cruiserweight belt and began to attempt to win the United States title from him. The match between the two took place at ''[[Uncensored 1997|Uncensored]]'' the next month and interference from Syxx played a role again. The Cruiserweight Champion again tried to take Guerrero's title, but in the process dropped the camcorder he carried to the ring with him. After Guerrero took the belt back, Malenko hit him in the back of the head with the camcorder and knocked the champion out, enabling him to pin Guerrero and win his first United States Championship.<ref name=WCW9501Book/> He retained the belt at ''[[Slamboree 1997|Slamboree]]''  on May 18, 1997, by defeating [[Jeff Jarrett]], but lost the title to him on the June 9, 1997, episode of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Nitro]]''. At [[World War 3 (1997)|World War 3]], Malenko participated in a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)#World War 3|60-man, three-ring battle royal]] won by [[The Giant (wrestler)|The Giant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/ww3.html#97|title=World War 3 1997 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=Scott Hall won a "three ring battle royal" (29:48)}}</ref> At [[Starrcade (1997)|Starrcade 1997]], he challenged Guerrero for the Cruiserweight Title but ended up losing the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#97|title=Starrcade 1997 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 1, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Eddie Guerrero pinned Dean Malenko (14:57)}}</ref> 

In mid-1998, Malenko engaged in a [[Heat (professional wrestling)|heated]] [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with [[Chris Jericho]]. To better Malenko's claims, Jericho boasted that he was "The Man of 1,004 Holds" and the two had a final showdown at [[Uncensored 1998]] for the Cruiserweight title. After a long match, Jericho forced Malenko to submit in an angled [[Boston crab|Liontamer]]. After the match, the otherwise collected Malenko was left in an unusual fit of frustration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/uncensor.html#98|title=Uncensored 1998 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 2, 2008|quote=WCW Cruiserweight Champ Chris Jericho beat Dean Malenko (14:42) via submission}}</ref> [[Gene Okerlund]] then confronted Malenko post-match, aggressively citing his many losses in the past several months and asking where he would go from this point. Dejected and worn down, Malenko replied simply, "Home," and would not be seen on WCW TV for two months.<ref name="acceleratorbio"/> In the ensuing two months, Jericho proceeded to mercilessly taunt Malenko, including insulting Malenko's father and attacking Malenko's brother. At [[Slamboree 1998]], Jericho held a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] for a shot at his Cruiserweight Championship. Malenko entered the battle royal dressed as [[Lucha libre#Masks|masked]] wrestler [[Halloween (wrestler)|Ciclope]] and won the match, after [[Juventud Guerrera]] shook his hand, and eliminated himself. He then unmasked, revealing himself to the crowd following his win. Malenko went on to defeat Jericho for his fourth and final WCW Cruiserweight Championship, thus becoming the first-ever wrestler to win the Cruiserweight title four times.<ref name="slamboree98">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#98|title=Slamboree 1998 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 2, 2008|quote=Ciclope (Dean Malenko) won a "cruiserweight battle royal" (8:27). Dean Malenko beat Chris Jericho (7:02) via submission to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title}}</ref><ref name="malenkocruiser4">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/30445413212111221411121|title=Dean Malenko's fourth Cruiserweight Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=June 2, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709031839/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/30445413212111221411121|archive-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> Malenko was stripped of the title, however, as he did not earn the title shot as himself.<ref name="malenkocruiser4"/> At [[The Great American Bash 1998]], Malenko and Jericho faced each other in a match for the vacant Cruiserweight title. Malenko lost by [[Disqualification (professional wrestling)|disqualification]], making Jericho the champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#98|title=The Great American Bash 1998 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008|quote=Chris Jericho beat Dean Malenko (13:52) via DQ to win the vacant WCW Cruiserweight Title}}</ref> At [[Bash at the Beach 1998]], Malenko interfered in Jericho's title defense against [[Rey Mysterio Jr.]] allowing Mysterio to pin Jericho for the title.<ref name="beach98">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#98|title=Bash at the Beach 1998 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008|quote=Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Chris Jericho (6:00) to apparently win the WCW Cruiserweight Title. However, the title was returned to Jericho due to interference by Dean Malenko}}</ref> The title was returned to Jericho, however, because of interference by Malenko.<ref name="beach98"/> Malenko was fired in storyline, but returned at [[Road Wild 1998]] as the [[special guest referee]] during Jericho's defense against [[Juventud Guerrera]].<ref name="roadwild98">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/roadwild.html#98|title=Road Wild 1998 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008|quote=Juventud Guerrera pinned Chris Jericho (16:24) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title. Dean Malenko was the guest referee}}</ref> Juventud won the match and the title.<ref name="roadwild98"/>

====The Four Horsemen; The Revolution (1998–2000)====
{{Main|Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|l1=The Four Horsemen|Revolution (professional wrestling)|l2=Revolution}}
In September 1998, Malenko became a part of the [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)#Final incarnation (1998–1999)|final incarnation]] of [[Ric Flair]]'s [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#F|faction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/four-horsemen.html|title=Four Horsemen Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> They feuded with the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]] (nWo), particularly [[Eric Bischoff]]. Malenko and Benoit also battled [[The West Texas Rednecks]] ([[Curt Hennig]] and [[Barry Windham]]) during this period. At [[SuperBrawl IX]], they lost to the Rednecks in the finals of a [[tag team]] tournament for the vacant World Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#IX|title=SuperBrawl IX results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008|quote=Barry Windham & Curt Hennig beat Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (1:52) to win the vacant WCW Tag Title when Windham pinned Malenko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/tagtitle.html#worldtag99|title=WCW Tag Team Title Tournament 1999|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> At [[Uncensored 1999]], however, they defeated the Rednecks in a [[lumberjack match]] to win the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name="wcwtag">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html|title=W.C.W. World Tag Team Title|work=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|access-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/uncensor.html#99|title=Uncensored 1999 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 3, 2008|quote=Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko beat Curt Hennig & Barry Windham (16:58) to win the WCW Tag Title when Benoit pinned Windham}}</ref> Two weeks later, they lost the titles to [[Rey Mysterio Jr.]] and [[Billy Kidman]].<ref name=WCW9501Book/>

After the Horsemen were finally disbanded in May 1999 due to Flair's abuse of power, Malenko joined up with [[Shane Douglas]]' faction, [[Revolution (professional wrestling)|The Revolution]], which was formed in July 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/revolution.html|title=Revolution Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> They feuded with [[David Flair]], [[Diamond Dallas Page]] and [[Chris Kanyon]]. At [[Bash at the Beach (1999)]], Malenko challenged David for the US title but lost the match. They battled many teams throughout the year including West Texas Rednecks, [[The First Family (professional wrestling)|First Family]], [[The Filthy Animals]] and [[The Varsity Club]]. 

Malenko's last WCW match was a "[[Catch wrestling|catch-as-catch-can]]" match with [[Billy Kidman]] at [[Souled Out (2000)|Souled Out]] in January 2000. Early on, Malenko instinctively left the ring to regroup and was disqualified under the match stipulations because his feet hit the arena floor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/nwoppv.html#00|title=Souled Out 2000 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|access-date=June 4, 2008|quote=Billy Kidman beat Dean Malenko (2:36) in a "catch-as-catch-can" match. Malenko lost by touching the floor}}</ref>

=== World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2000–2019)===
====The Radicalz; Light Heavyweight Champion (2000–2001)====
{{main|The Radicalz}}
After being granted his release from WCW the night after his last WCW match, Malenko signed with the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) and debuted during the [[Attitude Era]] on January 31, 2000, edition of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw Is War]]''. Malenko first appeared in the crowd with the infamous [[The Radicalz|Radicalz]] – himself, [[Eddie Guerrero]], [[Chris Benoit]], and [[Perry Saturn]] – who all made exits from WCW at the same time.<ref name="radicalz">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/radicalz.html|title=Radicalz Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> While not having as much success in the WWF, Malenko was a force in the [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion]]'s [[Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)|light heavyweight division]]. Along with Guerrero, Benoit, and Saturn, he had some measure of success as part of The Radicalz. On the March 13 edition of ''Raw Is War'', Malenko defeated [[Mr. Águila|Essa Rios]] for his first [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship|Light Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name="lightheavyweight"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357188 |title=Dean Malenko's first Light Heavyweight Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=June 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327050752/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357188 |archive-date=March 27, 2008 }}</ref> In April 2000, he [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with [[Scotty 2 Hotty]] who was the new challenger for his Light Heavyweight title. He [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Drop|dropped]] the title to Scotty on the April 17 edition of ''Raw Is War''<ref name="lightheavyweight"/> before he won his second WWF Light Heavyweight Championship from Scotty on the April 27 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357236 |title=Dean Malenko's second Light Heavyweight Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=June 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724204341/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357236 |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }}</ref> At [[Backlash (2000)|Backlash 2000]], Malenko successfully defended the title against Scotty, thus ending the feud between the two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2000/results|title=Backlash 2000 official results|publisher=WWE|access-date=December 27, 2012|quote=Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko def. Scotty 2 Hotty}}</ref>

Later that year, with Benoit having drifted away from the group, Malenko engaged in a feud with Guerrero and Saturn which stemmed from Guerrero's on-screen relationship with [[Chyna]] and a number of losses suffered when working as a tag team with Saturn.<ref name="radicalz"/> The feud led to a [[Triple Threat match|triple threat match]] at [[Judgment Day 2000]] where Guerrero retained the [[WWE European Championship|WWF European Championship]] against both Malenko and Saturn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/2000/results|title=Judgment Day 2000 official results|publisher=WWE|access-date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> After a brief absence from [[television|TV]], Malenko returned to reform The Radicalz with Guerrero, Benoit, and Saturn.<ref name="radicalz"/> Around this time, Malenko briefly became known as "Double Ho Seven", a [[parody]] of the fictional character, [[James Bond]]. The [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]] was born out of a match with [[Charles Wright (wrestler)|The Godfather]], who offered one of his female escorts to Malenko instead of wrestling him. Malenko gladly accepted his opponent's offer. As Double Ho Seven, Malenko competed for the affections of [[Amy Dumas|Lita]] and feuded with her [[tag team]] the [[Hardy Boyz]]. He even offered Lita a title match for his Light Heavyweight Championship, but under the condition that if she lost she would be obliged to go on a date with him.<ref name="RAW - Malenko vs Lita">{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|date=December 4, 2000|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw00.htm| title=WWF Raw (1993 – Present) 2000|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=December 20, 2015}}</ref> Lita accepted and almost caught Malenko by a few nearfalls throughout the match, but in the end lost the match by submitting to his signature Cloverleaf.<ref name="RAW - Malenko vs Lita"/>

Malenko's feud with the [[Hardy Boyz]] and [[Amy Dumas|Lita]] continued in early 2001, culminating with Lita [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pinning]] him (with some assistance from [[Matt Hardy]]) in a match on the February 19, 2001, edition of ''Raw Is War''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|date=February 19, 2001|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw01.htm| title=WWF Raw (1993 – Present) 2001|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=December 20, 2015}}</ref> He also briefly feuded with [[Jacqueline Moore|Jacqueline]] and [[Ivory (wrestler)|Ivory]], who were disgusted by his lecherous ways. A title feud with [[Crash Holly]] would begin after Crash interfered in a two-on-one [[intergender wrestling|intergender]] [[handicap match]] between Malenko, and both Jacqueline and Ivory, costing him the match.<ref name="lightheavyweight"/> After both Guerrero and Benoit drifted away from the Radicalz, Malenko teamed with Saturn for a few weeks before quietly disappearing off television as the [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]/[[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]] [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|Invasion]] storyline began in summer 2001.<ref name="res2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/01.htm|title=WWF Show Results 2001|access-date=July 9, 2015}}</ref>

====Retirement (2001–2019)====
Malenko's third-last wrestling match took place at the [[Brian Pillman Memorial Show#4th Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show|4th Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show]] in August 2001, where he teamed with longtime friend [[Perry Saturn]] and defeated [[Raven (wrestler)|Raven]] and [[Justin Credible]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/pillman.html#4th |title=4th Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show results |work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments |access-date=June 4, 2008 |quote=Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko beat Justin Credible & Raven when Malenko forced Credible to submit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828063255/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/pillman.html |archive-date=August 28, 2008 }}</ref> That December, he defeated his student, [[Chad Collyer]], by disqualification in the WWF farm promotion, the [[Heartland Wrestling Association]], in what was Malenko's final match.<ref name=WDmatch>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=90&bild=1&details=11|title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database|website=www.wrestlingdata.com}}</ref> Malenko appeared in the ring along with other WWE alumni during [[WWE Raw Homecoming]] on October 3, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051003.html|title=RAW results – October 3, 2005|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

His close friend [[Eddie Guerrero]] died on November 13, 2005, and Malenko made a special appearance on the November 14 edition of ''Raw'' alongside Chris Benoit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051114.html|title=RAW results – November 14, 2005|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> The following Friday on ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'', Malenko once again appeared after a match between [[Chris Benoit]] and [[Triple H]], and the three embraced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051118.html|title=SmackDown! results – November 18, 2005|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> After the [[Royal Rumble (2006)|2006 Royal Rumble]], he was seen congratulating [[Rey Mysterio]] on his Rumble victory. At [[Vengeance: Night of Champions]] in June 2007, he appeared in a backstage segment watching [[Chavo Guerrero Jr.]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/vengeance07.html|title=Vengeance: Night of Champions results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> The next night on the [[Chris Benoit]] memorial episode of Monday Night Raw, he talked about the life of Chris Benoit. He was very sad since two of his close friends, Eddie and Benoit, both died, but said he was happy that they were together again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070625.html|title=RAW results – June 25, 2007|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

Malenko next appeared on the March 31, 2008, episode of Raw to join [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|The Four Horsemen]] and other WWE superstars in a farewell tribute to Ric Flair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/080331.html|title=RAW results – March 31, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref> He made an appearance on the June 28, 2010, episode of ''Raw'' congratulating [[Ricky Steamboat]] on his DVD release. He and all the others in the ring were attacked by the [[Nexus (professional wrestling)|Nexus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/06/28/14550136.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630142709/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/06/28/14550136.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 30, 2012|title=RAW: Orton is money in the bank|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=November 24, 2010|last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=June 28, 2010|publisher=[[Canoe.ca|Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> Malenko appeared along the rest of the WWE roster after the April 23, 2012, episode of ''Raw'' to celebrate [[John Cena]]'s 35th birthday. In November 2015, Malenko was inducted into [[ECW Arena|2300 Arena]] [[ECW Arena#Hardcore Hall of Fame|Hardcore Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/97593/dean-malenko-headed-to-house-of-hardcore-for-hall-of-fame-induction.html?p=1|title=Dean Malenko Headed to House of Hardcore for Hall of Fame Induction|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref> On the September 11, 2017, episode of ''Raw'', Malenko made a brief backstage appearance alongside [[Jamie Noble]], where the two were seen as possible choices by [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|Raw Tag Team Champions]] [[Seth Rollins]] and [[Dean Ambrose]] as their partners for an eight-man tag-team match, but were quickly dismissed. On the June 5, 2018, episode of ''Smackdown Live'', Malenko appeared during the contract signing between [[A.J. Styles|AJ Styles]] and [[Shinsuke Nakamura]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/06/05/6-5-barnetts-wwe-smackdown-live-tv-review-charlotte-flair-vs-becky-lynch-paige-hosts-a-contract-signing-for-aj-styles-vs-shinsuke-nakamura-at-mitb-naomi-and-jimmy-uso-vs-lana-and-aid/|title=6/5 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch, Paige hosts a contract signing for AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at MITB, Naomi and Jimmy Uso vs. Lana and Aiden English|last=Barnett|first=Jake|date=June 5, 2018|publisher=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>

On April 26, 2019, Malenko and WWE ended their working relationship. This came after Malenko was a road agent for them for the previous 18 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/04/25/wwe-dean-malenko-simon-agent-departs|title=Sources: Dean Malenko quits as WWE backstage agent|first=Justin|last=Barrasso|date=April 25, 2019|website=SI.com}}</ref> [[Pro Wrestling Insider]] would later report that he did not do anything wrong, WWE was just in the process of cycling out some of the older agents, due to the recent signings of multiple new agents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/report-backstage-agent-dean-malenko-leaves-wwe|title=Backstage Agent Dean Malenko Quits WWE|work=Fightful|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019}}</ref>

===All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)===
On May 24, 2019, [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) announced that Malenko had joined them as a [[List of professional wrestling terms#agent|senior producer]], which he makes occasional appearances on TNT since his last match on the December 27, 1999, episode of ''WCW Monday Nitro''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/globally-renowned-producer-coach-dean-malenko-joins-aew|title=Globally Renowned Producer & Coach Dean Malenko Joins AEW|work=[[All Elite Wrestling]]|author=AEW Staff|date=May 24, 2019|access-date=May 25, 2019}}</ref> He made an appearance in [[Philadelphia]] following the October 8, 2021, edition of [[AEW Rampage|''Rampage'']] when [[Tony Khan]] called him out alongside [[Jerry Lynn]], [[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]] and [[Chris Jericho]] to thank them for inspiring him.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-09|title=AEW Shares Video Of Tony Khan Honoring ECW In Philadelphia Along With Taz, Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Jerry Lynn, and CM Punk|url=https://wrestlingheadlines.com/aew-shares-video-of-tony-khan-honoring-ecw-in-philadelphia-along-with-taz-chris-jericho-dean-malenko-jerry-lynn-and-cm-punk/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Wrestling Headlines|language=en-US}}</ref>