Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs
Real Name: Gregory Shane Helms
DOB: 7/12/1974
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Other Names: "The Suicide Bomb", "The Show", "The Serial Thriller", "IBM: Insane Bump Machine", Kid Vicious, Gauge, "The Nice Package", "Sugar" (WCW), Shane Helms (WCW), "Hollywood" Gregory Helms(WWF), Hurricane Helms(WWF), The Hurricane(WWE)
Wrestler Since: 1990
Finishing Maneuver: Eye of the Hurricane/Nightmare on Helm's Street, Shining Wizard, Vertebreaker
Previous PWI 500 Rankings: #355(2010), #193(2009), #44(2008), #44(2007), #153(2006), #75(2005), #58(2004), #21(2003), #26(2002), #31(2001), #144(2000), #234(1999)
Official Website: http://www.shanehelms.com
History: (Last Edited: 5/22/06)
Gregory Shane Helms has controlled many roles. He's played the goofy role, hanging out in 3 Count and dressing up as the Hurricane. He's played the serious role, leading to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. With so much experience behind him as a 15-year veteran of the sport, it's easy to forget that Helms, only in his 30's, still has a great deal left to show us.
Helms, as stated on his official website, got the wrestling bug after seeing an independent show in North Carolina, where, at the age of 13, he was allowed to enter the ring after the event and run the ropes. He soon began working on the ring crew for a local promotion, gaining knowledge of how the wrestling business operated. He also trained at a wrestling school, fitting it in among his regular classes as he attended Junior High and High School. Helms began his wrestling career a few years later in '91, at the ripe old age of 16.
It didn't take Helms long to make an impact, as he soon defeated "Playboy" T.C. Cruise in only his second match to win the SWA Lightweight Championship. The reign didn't last long, but it started Helms on the path of gold early in his career. Helms began a run through various North Carolina organizations, usually coming out with the Lightweight Titles. In August '92, under the name Kid Vicious, Helms pinned the Gemini Kid for the Carolina Championship Wrestling Alliance Lightweight title. He later vacated the belt due to injuries, then returned later on to get the belt for a second time. Helms earned at least seven Lightweight Titles in the first few years of his career, which helped him earn the PWA Wrestler of the Year Award in 1992.
Helms contined to wrestle on the independent scene, under various monikers, including Kid Vicious and Gauge. He also became known as "The Show" Shane Helms, which is when he began to team with "Big Daddy" Mike Maverick. They were first known as Assault & Battery, then changed it to the Serial Thrillaz, becoming one of the most dangerous tag-teams on the independent scene. They became known for the Thrilla Dance, something they did after their matches, which earned them recognition.
After winning the NDW Tag-Team Titles for a time, the duo moved on to the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts (OMEGA). This is where they really became well-known, wrestling with the Hardy Boyz, Shannon Moore, and other future stars. The Serial Thrillaz feuded with Maximum Carnage, the Hardy Boyz, Venom/Surge, and other tag-teams, earning the OMEGA Tag straps twice in their time there in '97-'98. The Serial Thrillaz later went to SCW, where they won the SCW Tag-Team titles from Club Security in February '99. Helms also later added the SCW Heavyweight to his collection, beating Otto Schwanz. But Helms had other things to do, and left SCW a few months later, vacating the Heavyweight belt and giving his tag strap to Maverick, who changed his name to Bo Dupp and gave the other belt to Schwanz, who became Jack Dupp. This was the end of the Serial Thrillaz.
Helms also spent some time in NWA Worldwide, where he joined Shannon Moore, Christian York, & Joey Matthews as the Bad Street Boys, the precursor to 3 Count. Although the group was highly respected, Helms didn't manage to bring in any gold with the stable. Still, his ties with Moore began the formation of another great tag-team. All four members of the Bad Street Boys later tried out for World Championship Wrestling, with Helms & Moore signing contracts in May '99. Neither wrestler debuted for some time, however, as Helms became a key trainer for the "Ready to Rumble" movie (as well as a stunt double for David Arquette), which featured many WCW stars.
In November '99, Helms came out with Evan Karagias (already an established WCW cruiserweight) and Shannon Moore to form 3 Count, the boy band of WCW. They immediately claimed to have a musical hit, coming out before their matches and lip-synching to "Can't Get You Out Of My Heart" while dancing on green circles. Usually, they were interrupted by their opposition. They started out with a great feud with the Jung Dragons (Jaime-sun, Yun Yang, & Kaz Hayashi), flying all over the ring in 6-man tag-team action. The guys also participated in the WCW Cruiserweight Title Tournament, where Helms and Moore were forced to face off in the first round. After a high-flying bout, Moore won out in the end, leaving Helms on the outside of the tourney.
3 Count soon focused their attention on Norman Smiley, who showed his dislike for their music. Their first PPV match was at Superbrawl X, where Smiley, due to his injured ribs, was unmercifully beaten in a handicap match. 3 Count eventually took the win after a series of splashes, followed by a submission hold, making Smiley give up. The 3 Count team then declared that they were hardcore, leading to numerous fights with the Hardcore Champion, "Nasty Boy" Brian Knobbs. At the end of February '00, they managed an upset, taking out the champion and getting the Hardcore Title for themselves. Sharing it as a team, they went into Uncensored '00 to battle Knobbs once again, this time in a Gauntlet match. Helms was the first out, and he was the first one to go, as Knobbs worked through all three members of the team, getting his Hardcore strap back.
In April '00, Eric Bischoff & Vince Russo took control of WCW, forming two groups, the New Blood (younger wrestlers) and the Millionaire's Club (experienced wrestlers). Unfortunately, 3 Count did not figure into the plans, partially because of Shane's broken nose, acquired in a match against the Jung Dragons. It later required surgery, and had Helms wearing a mask to protect it for a few weeks, whenever he wrestled. In late summer '00, the boy band finally returned to television, singing a new song, "Dance With 3 Count". This earned them the favor of Tank Abbott, who loved listening to them sing, and would attack anyone who tried to stop them. Abbott soon became 3 Count's manager/security guard/back-up dancer, sometimes bringing out a green "square" for himself to dance on.
Abbott & 3 Count soon began a running feud with the trio's old adversaries, the Jung Dragons. Their repeated encounters led to a Ladder match at New Blood Rising, with a recording contract & a gold record hanging from the ceiling. There were many hair-raising spots throughout the match, many of them using the metal ladder to add to the impact. At one point, Helms send the ladder bouncing off the top rope right into the Jung Dragons. Helms also got sandwiched in the ladder and took a leg drop, putting him out of action. The match was later won after interference by Abbott cleared the way for Karagias to climb the ladder and get the contract, winning the match and apparently getting 3 Count a record deal. After the match, Abbott took the contract & the gold record and left. Later on, Abbott announced that he should be the lead singer, with 3 Count as his back-up band. This proved to be too much for 3 Count, who told Abbott that they were through. A minor feud with Tank soon erupted, which basically went nowhere, as Tank soon after left WCW.
3 Count next feuded with the MIA (Misfits In Action), signing a match against them at Fall Brawl '00. It was Helms, Moore, & Karagias vs. Corporal Cajun (Lash Leroux), Lieutenant Loco (Chavo Guerrero Jr), and AWOL (the Wall). 3 Count did well against Cajun and Loco, but had a lot of trouble with the massive AWOL, the only heavyweight in the match. Nearing the end, AWOL was going to chokeslam Helms through a table, until Moore & Karagias tried to make the save. Although AWOL got rid of them, Helms recovered enough to hit a superkick, sending AWOL into the table instead. This was about the only bright spot for Helms, as his team later lost the match due to Corporal Cajun getting his snow-plow finisher.
The core of 3 Count began crumbling after that. Karagias became more egotistical, taking over the center circle during 3 Count matches. In November '00, it all came to a head, when 3 Count was once again wrestling the Jung Dragons. After Karagias took the pinfall away from Helms & Moore, the duo turned on him, taking out their former leader. Three major tag-teams soon formed: Helms & Moore, still calling themselves 3 Count; Yang & Kaz Hayashi of the Jung Dragons; and Karagias & Jaime Knoble, who had been unmasked and kicked out of the Jung Dragons by Leia Meow, their manager. The three tag-team's wars with each other soon culminated in a Triangle Tag-Team match signed for Mayhem '00. The match was incredible, with spots coming from all angles, including a splash by Meow into all of the wrestlers. In the end, 3 Count emerged victorious, taking out Yang with their double-team neckbreaker.
The three groups continued to feud into the next month, when it was announced that there was going to be a Cruiserweight Contendership Ladder match at Starrcade '00. It involved all three tag-teams, which led to more insane action from all 6 wrestlers throughout the match, as they tried to reach the Cruiserweight Title contract hanging above the ring. Early on in the match, while the other two teams fought towards where the ladder was located, Helms & Moore broke off, getting a hidden ladder and sneaking into the ring with it. But they were seen by the Jung Dragons, who knocked them down. There were a lot of massive spots from all wrestlers, including the ladders being set up like scaffolding at one point. On top of the ladders, Shane & Shannon tossed Knoble & Yang off, then worked as a team, with both men grabbing the contract. They announced that they were going to have the Cruiserweight Title shot together. However, the people in charge disallowed it, saying that Helms & Moore had to have a match to decide who would get the shot. The two partners had a high-flying match, which ended up with Helms getting the victory. After the match, both men were attacked by the Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero Jr, but 3 Count fought him off.
Having earned the title shot, Helms feuded with Guerrero into 2001, leading up to WCW Sin. At the pay-per-view, Helms got his title shot, and had a nice match-up with Guerrero in the opening bout of the night. They went back and forth, with many reversals, but in the end, Helms found the short end of the stick, as Guerrero got his Tornado DDT to get the victory and retain the title. Helms then took a (very) short sabbatical with Moore, as the two went to NWA Wildside in Georgia and defeated Suicidal Tendencies (John Phoenix & Adam Jacobs) for the NWA Wildside Tag-Team Titles. Unfortunately, a day later, 3 Count lost to the Boogaloo Crew (Scotty Wrenn & J.C. Dazz) in a Triangle Tag match, with Suicidal Tendencies being the other competitors. Helms & Moore then came back into WCW, wrestling as if they had never left, but staying mainly in the cruiserweight division.
At Superbrawl: Revenge, "Sugar" Shane Helms was originally scheduled to be standing on the sidelines. But when Billy Kidman was taken out by Animal early on in the night, Helms was inserted in Kidman's place in the Cruiserweight Contenders Elimination match, which also featured Moore, Yang, Hayashi, Knoble, & Karagias. Of course, 3 Count worked together in the early goings of the match. After some hair-rising spots from most of the competitors, Helms finally scored the first elimination, taking out Karagias with the Vertebreaker. Next to go was Yang, being tombstoned by Knoble. Knoble then concentrated on 3 Count, but after knocking down Helms, he was eliminated by a "Bottoms Up" by Moore. This left 3 Count against Hayashi, putting the Jung Dragon at a distinct advantage. But after double-teaming the man, Moore suddenly turned on Helms, attacking him and breaking down the match into a Three-Way contest. After Moore & Hayashi battled for a time, Helms suddenly came back, knocking out Moore with the Vertebreaker and eliminating him. Then it was only a matter of time before Helms got the Nightmare on Helms Street, taking out Hayashi and once again becoming the #1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Title.
The fighting between Helms & Moore later proved to be 3 Count's downfall, as Moore suddenly rejoined Karagias, double-teaming Helms and taking him down. Helms then feuded briefly with the new formation of 3 Count, before concentrating on Guerrero Jr, whom he was getting a second chance against. At WCW Greed, the two had it out in another great match between the two. During the match, both the Tornado DDT and the Nightmare on Helm's Street showed up. But what won out after the long match-up was Helms reversing Guerrero into the Vertebreaker, hitting his finisher and gaining the WCW World Cruisrweight Title for the very first time. He retained the belt all the way to the closure of the Turner-ran WCW in March '01, defeating Chavo Guerrero Jr in another exciting match during the season finale.
Over the next few months, Helms competed in smaller organizations, keeping his skills high. In April '01, he teamed up with Lenny Lane in Texas Championship Wrestling to beat the Overboyz (Joey Corman & Samir) to win the TCW Tag-Team Titles for a time. In the later weeks of June '01, WCW wrestlers began invading WWF programming. This eventually led to Vince McMahon allowing WCW matches to take place during the WWF's television time. A match was signed for the first Smackdown of July '01 between Billy Kidman and the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, "Hollywood" Gregory Helms (taking on his real first name). Although Helms gave it everything he had, including scoring with the Nightmare on Helms' Street, Kidman was still able to reverse the Vertebreaker into a killer maneuver, locking Helms' head with his knees and dropping to the canvas. Kidman then made the pin to take away the Cruiserweight Title on the wrestler's first match on WWF programming. Despite losing the belt, Helms continued to be part of the Invasion force, joining the other WCW wrestlers, and later the ECW faction, in their "Invasion" of the WWF.
Gregory Helms wrestled as a low-card cruiserweight for a while in the WCW/ECW Alliance, but began to make waves after talking with the Alliance leader, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin pointed out Helms' tattoo, which was the symbol of the Green Lantern, a popular DC comic book character. Helms soon began acting differently, calling himself "Hurricane" Helms. He called the Green Lantern the second-greatest super-hero ever, behind Austin. On the final Raw of August '01, Helms came out to face the European Champion, Matt Hardy, wearing a green super-hero outfit. He had now become the Hurricane. During the match, Hardy's girl, Lita, was attacked by WWE turncoat, Ivory, who had a tire iron. When Hardy tried to protect Lita, he also got hit with the tire iron, which allowed Hurricane Helms to take Hardy down and become the European Champion.
As the unlikely European Champ, Hurricane Helms began to make a name for himself in the Alliance. With his new 'super' attitude, the Hurricane teamed up with Ivory and straight-man "Citizen" Lance Storm, as he fought for the American Way in his own fashion. Hurricane Helms would also occassionally appear as his 'alter-ego', reporter Gregory Helms, pretending not to be the character that everyone knew him to be. The Hurricane soon became known for his catch-phrase, "What's Up With Dat?"
The Hurricane & Citizen Storm had their first PPV match together at Unforgiven '01, where they fought in a "Four Corner Elimination" Match with Spike Dudley & the Big Show, the Hardy Boyz, and the WWF Tag Champs, the Dudley Boyz. Although the Hurricane had one of the more thrilling moves of the match, attaching his cape and flying off the turnbuckle with a cross-body onto Spike Dudley, they couldn't survive the WWF majority, with Storm falling to a Chokeslam from the Big Show. The Dudley Boyz went on to retain the titles. The Hurricane & Storm continued to feud with Spike Dudley & the Big Show in the next few weeks, as the Hurricane became obsessed with Molly Holly, saying that she would fall under his Hurri-Powers. At the end of September '01 on Smackdown, after Ivory defeated Molly in a match, the Hurricane came out and took Molly away in the Hurri-Cycle. On the next Raw, the Hurricane defeated Spike in a European Title Match (with some help from Mike Awesome), then revealed his new sidekick: Mighty Molly!
At No Mercy '01, the Hurricane & Storm faced off against the WCW Tag-Team Champions, the Hardy Boyz. Despite having both Ivory & Mighty Molly at ringside to aid them, though, the Alliance members couldn't hold up against the champs (who had Lita on their side), with the Hurricane falling to a Twist of Fate, followed by the Swanton Bomb. Things got worse for the Hurricane on the next Raw, when he was beaten by Bradshaw of the APA, who took away the European Title with his Clothesline From Hell. The Hurricane's luck wasn't any better at Rebellion '01, as he was beaten by WWF member Scotty Too Hotty.
The Hurricane tried to regain his European Title over the next month, but had no luck getting past the powerful Bradshaw, despite his much-vaunted Hurri-Powers (as well as Mighty Molly). Meanwhile, things were coming to a head in the Invasion, as the Alliance arranged a final end-all battle at the '01 Survivor Series with the WWF. Since wrestlers on either side of the battle would lose their jobs after the night, an Immunity Battle Royal was arranged, with wrestlers from both organizations competing to make sure that, no matter what, they could not be fired. The Hurricane made sure to participate in the match, but was unable to keep from being tossed over the top rope. Fellow Alliance member Test won the Battle Royal, which enabled him to keep his job when the WWF won the final "Elimination" Match, ending the Alliance.
Hurricane Helms was gone from WWF television for the next few weeks, due to the loss of the Alliance. Gradually, however, Alliance members began to get re-hired by Vince McMahon, allowing them to join the WWF as official members. The Hurricane earned his contract and reappeared at the end of 2001, challenging once again for the European Title, which was now around the waist of another former Alliance member, Christian. Christian had insulted the local football team, the Miami Hurricanes, before the match, but that led to the Hurricane himself coming out to try for the European Title. However, despite Helms' best efforts, Christian won out with the Unprettier, staying the champion. At least, however, the Hurricane was back in the WWF, going into the new year.
Unfortunately for the Hurricane, he had become more of a comedy act than an all-star for the WWF by this time, as he was considered crazy due to his beliefs in his powers. At the '02 Royal Rumble, the Hurricane got a late draw, coming out at #23. As he came out, the two men in the ring, Steve Austin & Triple H, clotheslined each other, giving the Hurricane the advantage. As he was known to do, however, the Hurricane tried to do too much, believing that he could get a double-chokeslam on both superstars. Instead, the two men beat down the Hurricane and sent him out of the ring, eliminating him. For the next few months, the Hurricane & Mighty Molly continued to try to succeed, without much to show for it.
At Wrestlemania X-8 in March '02, the Hurricane and Mighty Molly were not even scheduled on the card. Early on in the event, Maven, the Hardcore Champ, and Goldust were having a match. Spike Dudley came down during the match and pinned Maven, which, due to the 24/7 Rule, made him champ. As Spike tried to leave the arena with the belt, however, the Hurricane suddenly appeared, swinging on a rope and smashing into the new champ! The Hurricane then called over a ref and made the pin, becoming the WWF Hardcore Champion! The Hurricane then tried to hide from the competition, ending up in the Godfather's ladies' dressing room. The Godfather, finding him there like a peeping tom, quickly chased him out. The Hurricane then looked for somewhere else to go, with Mighty Molly coming up and telling him to watch out from the other side. When the Hurricane turned to look, though, Mighty Molly hit him with a frying pan, then pinned him to take the Hardcore Title away! Molly would later lose the belt that night to Christian, who would lose it back to Maven to complete the circle.
With the 'union' dissolved between the Hurricane and Mighty Molly (who went back to being Molly Holly), the Hurricane continued to work as a singles wrestler. When it was announced, after Wrestlemania, that the brands were going to be splitting up, the Hurricane was drafted to Smackdown, which turned out to be a good place for the young cruiserweight, since the Cruiserweight Title went there as well. In April '02, the Hurricane got involved in the feud between Tajiri, the Cruiserweight Champ, and Billy Kidman, over Torrie Wilson's apparent 'servitude' to Tajiri. A Three-Way Title Match was set up in the middle of May '02 on Smackdown between the three men. Before the match, "Ace Reporter" Gregory Helms tried to interview Funaki about his thoughts on the bout. When Funaki turned away, though, Helms found a letter on the back of Funaki's shirt, wishing the Hurricane luck. The match was furious, with Kidman nearly winning with his Shooting Star Press on Tajiri. But the Hurricane broke it up, got rid of Kidman, then shockingly got his Chokeslam to finally work on Tajiri, getting the pin and the Cruiserweight Title.
For the next few weeks, as the Cruiserweight Champion, ace reporter Gregory Helms continued to find letters towards him regarding the unknown person from his past. One night, he found a letter next to beef jerky. The next week, a picture was shown on the Tron of the Hurricane standing next to the mysterious individual, which distracted the Hurricane enough for him to lose the tag-team match he was involved in. Finally, on the first Smackdown of June '02, a letter led the Hurricane to his locker room, where Nidia (the Tough Enough I winner was waiting). Nidia confessed to being the one leaving the notes, and talked about her past with "Helms". Apparently the two had been an item, but Helms had dumped Nidia due to her cheating ways. Nidia was thus there for some revenge, with her new boyfriend, Jamie Noble (known as Jamie-San in WCW), who attacked Helms from behind.
On the next Smackdown, with the Hurricane's mind on Nidia & Noble, he was unable to defeat Test in the KOTR Qualifying Match. Afterwards, a hurting Hurricane was easy pickings for Nidia & Noble, with Nidia unmasking the super-hero and stealing his cape. Noble would later win a #1 Contenders Match to earn a shot at the Hurricane's Cruiserweight Title. The two faced off at King of the Ring '02, with Nidia wearing the cape she had stolen. The Hurricane came close several times to beating Noble, taking him out with the Eye of the Hurricane at one point, but Noble, with Nidia running interference, was too strong. At the end, Noble got a massive Powerbomb on the Hurricane, then went for the pin. The Hurricane got his foot on the ropes, but before the ref could see it, Nidia shoved the foot off, leading to the 3 count and costing the Hurricane the Cruiserweight Championship.
The Hurricane would continue to feud with Noble & Nidia for the next month, trying to regain his Cruiserweight Title, but was unable to regain the prize, and was soon out of the title picture. The Hurricane then rejoined his old 3 Count mate, Shannon Moore, reforming their tag-team on Smackdown. This team only lasted for a month, though, before the two men started going their separate ways again. The Hurricane then faded a little into the background, at least for the time being.