On August 27, 1994, Shane Douglas defeated Tazz, Dean Malenko, and 2 Cold Scorpio to win a tournament to become the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion. It seemed like a lofty honor, but Douglas threw down the vaunted title in the center of the ring.

“I am not the man who accepts a torch to be handed down to me from an organization that died seven years ago,” he exclaimed. “Shane Douglas is a man who ignites the new flame of professional wrestling.”

That day, NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling ceased to exist. Extreme Championship Wrestling was born, and Shane Douglas was recognized as the first ECW World Champion.