From 1993-2001, a third promotion in the Monday Night War between WCW and WWE emerged: Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Paul Heyman's vision of a more physical, hardcore, extreme wrestling promotion came to fruition with stars like The Sandman, Raven, Tommy Dreamer, and among others.

However, there was one group of wrestlers who made ECW a very competitive promotion. Comprised of a workhorse, the muscle, and a franchise. Their name: The Triple Threat.

Though an original incarnation was composed of Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Shane Douglas in 1995 (Malenko and Benoit left shortly after), this incarnation from 1997-1999 involved Douglas, Chris Candido, and Bam Bam Bigelow. Their purpose was to be the dominant force in ECW, and their intensity was matched with their ever-tempting valet, Francine. Their rivalries with Taz, RVD, and Sabu are regarded as some of the most intense matches in the company's short history. However, their stamp on the company is regarded as one of the greatest stables in pro wrestling.

(From L-R: Bam Bam Bigelow, Francine, Shane Douglas, and Chris Candido. Their dominance in ECW was unmatched.)

At one point, Douglas was ECW Champion while Candido was ECW Television Champion. Bam Bam Bigelow held the TV Title during his tenure in the group at one point, and both Candido and Bigelow challenged for the Tag Team titles. Candido, the workhorse, was an impressive wrestler who could go in the ring and make an instant classic. Bigelow's impressive matches with Taz made his status in the promotion just as dominating, and Douglas' microphone skills helped back his actions up as the group ran roughshod through ECW.

(Youtube: ECDUB 2.0; some foul language, discretion advised)

As 1998 rolled on, though, there was a changing of the guard as Rick Rude managed to turn Bam Bam Bigelow against his brethren and challenge Douglas for the ECW World Title. Bigelow's win (and exit from the group) left the future of the group bleak...until a new member emerged. Lance Storm, a technically sound wrestler, joined the group but was stand-offish with Candido, which made their chemistry weak even as they won the tag team titles together.

Though Storm's tenure in the group wasn't as impressive as Bigelow's, his in-ring skills made up for it. However, the group itself still deteriorated even after Storm's entrance and Douglas regaining the title. It was inevitable that group would fall apart, yet their legacy stayed. It was a very interesting group that had some great matches, incredible hype, and a name that simply... threatened the ECW locker room.

The group eventually moved to WCW in 1999-2000 before the company folded and was sold to WWE. But it was too late: the Triple Threat made a name for themselves, and for that, us wrestling fans thank them.

RIP Chris Candido and Bam Bam Bigelow. May you wrestle peacefully in the afterlife.