Ian Dean

Ian Dean (3 July 1970 – 13 August 2018) was an English professional wrestler, best known as Doc Dean.^[1]

Career

Dean made his debut at the age of 14 in 1984 for All Star Wrestling. He later teamed with Robbie Brookside^[2] to form The Liverpool Lads, a successful tag team in Britain. Foreign tours of Japan, Africa and Asia arrived in the 1990s, along with a heel turn on partner Brookside, setting up an exciting feud between the two. On occasions, Dean would team up with the third member of The Liverpool Lads, Liverpool-born Frankie Sloan.

In 1997, Dean attended the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for New Japan Pro Wrestling. In what could be considered the apex of his career, he was allowed to get a rub by being allowed to defeat Jushin Thunder Liger because of his potential to become a spectacular junior heavyweight. Later that year, he signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In what might be considered ironic to some and sardonic to others after his success and support in Japan, he was made an immediate jobber with all of his matches being squashes. One of his more infamous jobs involved him being dominated and manhandled by female wrestler Jacqueline Moore. Dean worked for WCW until 1998, when he decided to retire from wrestling as "his head was battered" from the business.

Retirement

Dean used his US Green Card to his advantage and set up his own plumbing business in Florida shortly after retiring.

In 2000, he was reportedly working occasional events for a local wrestling promotion in Florida. Brian Dixon of All Star Wrestling had often tried to bring Dean back to the United Kingdom for a series of Liverpool Lads reunion tours but was unsuccessful.

Death

On 14 August 2018, the British Wrestlers Reunion reported that Dean had died the night before from a heart attack at his home in Orlando, Florida; he was 48 years old.

Female wrestler Klondyke Kate has since opened a fundraising page to raise £4000.00 GBP ($5077.30 USD) to send Dean's body across the Atlantic to be buried in his hometown of Liverpool.

Championships and accomplishments

• All Star Wrestling

• ASW British Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Robbie Brookside
• ASW British Welterweight Championship (2 times)

• European Wrestling Union

• EWU European Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Robbie Brookside

• Other Championships

• British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

References