The Shane Twins


The Shane Twins are a professional wrestling tag team that consist of twin brothers Mike and Todd Shane. They were best known for their appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Gymini.

History

Independent circuit (1998–2005)

After being trained at the Malenko School of Wrestling in Tampa, Florida, The Shane Twins debuted in the Florida based IPW Hardcore Wrestling. They were originally known as "Biff Wentworth" and "Chaz Wentworth", collectively known as "The Wentworth Twins" or as "Phi De Kappa U". The Shane Twins held the IPW Tag Team Championship five times between 1998 and 2003. Their fifth reign began when they defeated The Road Warriors in Hokkaidō, Japan on a World Japan show. They also took on the Warriors, as well as feuded with The Nasty Boys, in the short-lived X Wrestling Federation in November 2001.
As Phi Dekappa U, they wrestled The Pitbulls in the main event of the Break the Barrier supershow at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 15, 1999. Also in 1999, the Shane Brothers traveled to New Jersey to work with Tommy Fierro's ISPW in matches with the Misfits and The Stormtroopers. In 2000, they worked in Combat Zone Wrestling with the Haas Brothers.
On January 13, 2001 Mike defeated The Dog to become the first IPW Hardcore Wrestling TV Champion. Todd, meanwhile, was out with an injury. On July 10, 2001 the Shane Twins won the vacant NWA Florida Tag Team Championship to become the Florida Unified Tag Team Champions beating The New Heavenly Bodies and The Market Crashers in a Triple Threat match. On May 3, 2002, the Shane Twins won the JAPW Tag Team Championship after defeating Da Hit Squad at IPW WrestlePlex. They were stripped of the title on July 13.
On June 8, 2002 The Shane Twins won the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Chris Nelson and Vito DeNucci in Lima, Peru. The twins appeared on the first Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view on June 19 under the ring names "Richard "Dick" Johnson" and "Rod Johnson", known collectively as "The Johnsons". The Johnsons were managed by Mortimer Plumtree until they left TNA after several weeks. The Shane Twins were then stripped of the NWA Tag Team Championships, as TNA had gained exclusive rights to that title on June 28, 2002.
On March 20, 2004 Todd defeated Steve Madison for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, which he lost back to Madison on September 4, 2004.
They then began working for NWA Florida, where they formed a stable with Steve Madison and Rod Steel known as "911 Incorporated." They won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championships on four occasions. In July 2008, The Shane Twins returned to the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico for promoter Carlos Colon.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005–2007)

In January 2005 the Shane Twins were signed to three year developmental contracts by World Wrestling Entertainment. On February 7, 2005 they were sent to developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling.They were later transferred to Deep South Wrestling, where they debuted under the name of "The Regulators". They immediately began a rivalry against High Impact, as well as Ryan Reeves.
On January 6, 2006, The Regulators debuted on SmackDown! as the proteges of Simon Dean, under a new team name of "Gymini". They were introduced to destroy Paul London and Brian Kendrick to the delight of Dean, and soon they became his henchmen under the pretext of being satisfied consumers of his nutrition system. Gymini also frequently wrestled on WWE web show, Velocity, usually against jobbers. During the April 14, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, their full ring names were revealed as "Jake" and "Jesse". Under the management of Dean, Gymini continued to dominate SmackDown!'s other tag teams before Jesse became injured.
After Todd recovered, Gymini made appearances in the WWE developmental promotion DSW. They entered a feud with commentator Bill DeMott after attacking him and smashing a computer over his head. DeMott allied himself with Freakin' Deacon to get revenge on Gymini, but they defeated them in a no-DQ match when Deacon abandoned DeMott. In May, Gymini challenged for the DSW Tag Team Championship, but they lost to High Impact. At the end of October 2006, although the team appeared in various dark matches before SmackDown! events. Gymini feuded with The Major Brothers for the DSW Tag Team Championship and introduced their new valet Angel Williams.
However, when Urban Assault captured the titles, Gymini began to feud with them. On December 14, 2006, Gymini captured the DSW Tag Team titles when Bill DeMott, burying his enmity with them, intervened in their match to attack G-Rilla, distracting Urban Assault enough to be defeated. DeMott became their manager and eventually replaced Williams. They wrestled a rematch against Urban Assault, who had turned on G-Rilla due to their loss and replaced him with Afa Jr., but Gymini won again when the former Urban Assault member attacked them. On January 18, 2007, WWE announced that they had released the twins.

Championships and accomplishments