Filthy Animals
Encyclopedia
The Filthy Animals was a professional wrestling
faction in World Championship Wrestling
from 1999 until 2001.
and Ed Ferrara were hired by WCW. The plan for the stable was to be WCW's version of the World Wrestling Federation
's D-Generation X
. Instead of being strictly villains (heels) or heroes (faces), they were in between (tweeners). They pulled pranks and hijinks on both villains and fan favorites alike. They would steal wallets and mock older wrestlers. They broke into Ric Flair
's locker room and stole one of his famous entrance robes, which they took turns wearing and imitating Flair's signature strut and "Wooo!". The group is also notable as Rey Mysterio's time in the group was one of the few periods in which he wrestled without a mask.
with another stable known as the Dead Pool. They later mainly feud with The Revolution
, which was composed of Chris Benoit
, Dean Malenko
, Shane Douglas
and Perry Saturn.
Eddie Guerrero
invented some of his more memorable shtick while with the Filthy Animals, including his famous fake chair knock out (he would knock his opponent out with a chair while the ref was distracted, then drape the chair on their unconscious body, and pretend to be knocked out himself, usually with the ref turning around just in time to see his opponent waking up wondering why they were holding a chair and getting disqualified. Eddie would, from time to time, open one eye to peek or wink to the crowd and gesture them to "shhhh!").
The group had also released an album featuring all of their WCW themes, rapped by themselves.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
faction in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
from 1999 until 2001.
Concept
The Filthy Animals was a group conceived after Vince RussoVince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Ed Ferrara were hired by WCW. The plan for the stable was to be WCW's version of the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's D-Generation X
D-Generation X
D-Generation X was a professional wrestling stable in WWE . The group originated in the midst of the WWF's "Attitude Era" from 1997 to 2000...
. Instead of being strictly villains (heels) or heroes (faces), they were in between (tweeners). They pulled pranks and hijinks on both villains and fan favorites alike. They would steal wallets and mock older wrestlers. They broke into Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
's locker room and stole one of his famous entrance robes, which they took turns wearing and imitating Flair's signature strut and "Wooo!". The group is also notable as Rey Mysterio's time in the group was one of the few periods in which he wrestled without a mask.
History
The stable was created during a major feudFeud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with another stable known as the Dead Pool. They later mainly feud with The Revolution
Revolution (professional wrestling)
The Revolution was a professional wrestling heel stable in World Championship Wrestling led by Shane Douglas.-History:The Revolution was formed by Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Shane Douglas, and Perry Saturn on July 29, 1999...
, which was composed of Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
, Dean Malenko
Dean Malenko
Dean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
, Shane Douglas
Shane Douglas
Troy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
and Perry Saturn.
Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
invented some of his more memorable shtick while with the Filthy Animals, including his famous fake chair knock out (he would knock his opponent out with a chair while the ref was distracted, then drape the chair on their unconscious body, and pretend to be knocked out himself, usually with the ref turning around just in time to see his opponent waking up wondering why they were holding a chair and getting disqualified. Eddie would, from time to time, open one eye to peek or wink to the crowd and gesture them to "shhhh!").
The group had also released an album featuring all of their WCW themes, rapped by themselves.
Incarnations
- First incarnation (FacesFace (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
):- Active: 1999
- Members: KonnanKonnanCarlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Billy Kidman, Eddie GuerreroEddie GuerreroEduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
, and Torrie WilsonTorrie WilsonTorrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
(valetManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
)
- Second incarnation (HeelsHeel (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
):- Active: 2000
- Members: KonnanKonnanCarlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Juventud GuerreraJuventud GuerreraEduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
, Disqo, Billy Kidman, and Tygress (valetManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
)
- Third incarnation (Faces):
- Active: 2001
- Members: KonnanKonnanCarlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Billy Kidman, and Tygress (valet)
Championships and accomplishments
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Television ChampionshipWCW World Television ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
(1 time) – Konnan - WCW Cruiserweight ChampionshipWWE Cruiserweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
(4 times) – Mysterio (2), Kidman (1), Disqo (1) - WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipWCW Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
(1 time) – Mysterio and Kidman - WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipWCW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
(4 times) – Mysterio and Kidman (1), Mysterio and Konnan (1), Mysterio and Juventud Guerrera (1), Konnan and Kidman (1)
- WCW World Television Championship