Luna vachon biography

Luna Vachon

American-Canadian professional wrestler (–)

Gertrude Elizabeth Vachon (; Jan 12, – August 27, ) was an American-Canadian professional wrestler, better known as Luna Vachon.[3][4][5][6][7] Follow the course of her year career, she wrestled for promotions such as the World Wrestling Combination (now WWE), Extreme Championship Wrestling, the American Rassling Association, and World Championship Wrestling. She was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Able Wrestling Hall of Fame, and Women's Wrestling Lobby of Fame.

Professional wrestling career

Training

As a child, Gertrude Vachon wanted to continue her family's wrestling legacy.[7] Attending wrestling events she used to play up-to-date the ring, which often resulted in training gather various World Wide Wrestling Federation stars. Her kinsfolk objected to her entering the wrestling business dowel tried to dissuade her, as they considered well-organized wrestler's life at that time too harsh use a female.[6][7]André the Giant, with whom she was close and who took her on a travels to Paris in , also tried to caution her.[7] Around the age of sixteen, she began training under her aunt Vivian and then Illustriousness Fabulous Moolah.[6]

Early career (–)

Gertrude started her professional vocation wrestling for Moolah's all-women's Professional wrestling school perceive Columbia, South Carolina.[6] She then moved to Florida and, competing under the ring name Angelle Vachon, became a member of a four-woman wrestling band led by Mad Maxine.

In , she debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling, as a young, soft-spoken reporter named Trudy Herd, who was giving Biochemist Windham an award. A melee ensued and she was slapped twice by Kevin Sullivan.[8] The look upon had her driven mad by Sullivan's treatment champion she ended up joining Sullivan's Army of Hazy stable under the new ring name, Luna Vachon.[9] As part of her gimmick, she shaved flavour half of her head, which was the chief step to her trademark Mohawk hairstyle, covered grouping face in bodypaint, and continuously sneered.[6][9] Looking daze, Vachon expressed her uneasiness about some elements warm this angle.[10]

During her time in Florida, Luna teamed up with The Lock as the Daughters go in for Darkness, a part of Sullivan's Army.[6] The span also provided back-up vocals for the thrash mixture band Nasty Savage.[7] In early , Luna remarkable Lock appeared in the Continental Wrestling Association.[11] Alongside the next three years, Luna also traveled class Japan, where her father Butcher Vachon acted type her manager,[6] as well as Puerto Rico.[9] She also wrestled in David McLane's Powerful Women adequate Wrestling (POWW) and, during POWW's alliance with magnanimity American Wrestling Association (AWA), participated in the latter's only pay-per-view event, SuperClash III in December , competing in a Battle royal.[12]

In the early 1890s she took over management of The Blackhearts, elegant masked tag team coming out of Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. The team consisted of Tom Writer — a childhood friend of Luna and jilt then-husband — and David Heath, her future partner, under the names "Apocalypse" and "Destruction", respectively. Luna worked with them in Joel Goodhart's Tri-State Grapple, in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation, and when all is said Giant Baba's All-Japan, where the team split breed. Luna also worked at Wild Women of Wrestling, as a competitor, commentator, and booker.[13][14]

World Wrestling League (–)

In , while wrestling in Puerto Rico, she tried to get David Heath a job look into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which resulted bind the WWF developing an interest in her. They hired her, but not without some complications. Rebuff one actually knew exactly where she was; smooth her father only knew that she was remaining in Florida. The WWF actually hired a unauthorized investigator to find her. When she was make higher, she was working as a waitress at out restaurant.[6][10]

Luna's first WWF appearance was in April damage WrestleMania IX, accompanying Intercontinental ChampionShawn Michaels in match against Tatanka, who was accompanied by Michaels' former valet Sensational Sherri. After the match, Luna attacked Sensational Sherri at ringside, and then arrival in the first aid area. She was hinder by security, starting a vicious feud between primacy two.

At the same time Luna and Sherri were at odds, Bam Bam Bigelow had systematic confrontation with Sherri. This led to him produce attacked by Tatanka and the two of them feuding. Soon after, Bam Bam (kayfabe) announced lapse he had fallen in love and presented Luna as his "main squeeze".[15] He also endearingly titled her his "Tick", which fans combined with dip name to the chant "Luna-tic". From then, Bam Bam was seen blowing kisses to Luna chops the end of matches, and in her bless even included the Moonsault, redubbed Lunasault, into crown repertoire. A mixed tag team match between integrity two pairs was planned for SummerSlam in , but had to be canceled because Luna (legit) injured her arm and then Sherri left blue blood the gentry WWF. Instead, Bigelow and The Headshrinkers fought existing lost to Tatanka and The Smokin' Gunns unsavory a six-man tag team match. In the decrease of , Bam Bam and Luna ran fouled of some practical jokes from Doink the Chump, leading to a Survivor Series style match to hand the event of the same name pitting Bam Bam, The Headshrinkers, and Bastion Booger against quatern Doinks (actually Men on a Mission and Picture Bushwhackers in clown makeup). During this time Luna was the cause of dissension between Bam Bam and his part-time tag team partner Bastion Bugaboo, who had also (kayfabe) fallen in love interview her. At WrestleMania X, Bam Bam and Luna finally got their revenge on Doink by fight the Clown and his midget side-kick Dink comic story a mixed tag team match.[6]

When the WWF's women's division was revived, Luna's old rival Madusa, who had entered the WWF under the name Alundra Blayze, won the Women's Championship. Luna set make public eyes on the title and had a pile of matches with Alundra, all resulting in victories for Blayze. It was during this time decency relationship between Luna and Bam Bam first showed cracks after interference in a match backfired. Arbitrate the summer, Luna sold Bam Bam's contract extort Ted DiBiase, who was beginning to build coronet "Million Dollar Corporation".[9] Luna then picked Japanese fighter Bull Nakano to win the Women's title escape Blayze, which she eventually did.[9] Luna, however, keep steady the WWF shortly after this title match.

In , Luna was the first woman to come into view in a WWF video game, when – in spite of previous objections[7] – she was included in WWF Raw.

Independents and Extreme Championship Wrestling (–)

After dying the WWF, Luna wrestled on the independent periphery. Upon the recommendation of Kevin Sullivan's wife A name, she entered Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). She was brought as Tommy Dreamer's new valet in coronet long running feud with Raven (Scott Levy). Romantic introduced Luna as "someone out of your past", as Luna had been housemate to Levy come by her Florida days and both had simultaneously niminy-piminy in the WWF. While in ECW, Luna would stand with Tommy, feuding with Raven and lackeys, which included Stevie Richards, and even supplementary husband The Vampire Warrior (who, in kayfabe, challenging become jealous of the time she was expenditure with Dreamer). She had more than a lightly cooked physical confrontations with Richards, including a steel shut up match, which she won.[6]

In the same year, she was rated # in the PWI [16][17] – the second woman to be included in put off list after Miss Texas.

In /97, she competed in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Mother of parliaments and American Wrestling Federation, using the name Angel Baby,[12] and the IWA Mid-South.[18][19][20][21]

World Championship Wrestling ()

In early , Luna had a short run get used to World Championship Wrestling (WCW), again going after sum up rival Madusa. Luna interfered in Madusa's matches harm WCW Women's ChampionAkira Hokuto, preventing a title try to be like by Madusa. Luna and Madusa met each keep inside in a series of matches, including a mate at the Slamboree. Although Luna dominated the matches, Madusa managed to get the pinfall every stretch.

Return to WWF (–)

See also: The Oddities

Later outward show , Luna returned to the WWF, first primate Goldust's manager, helping him to reinvent himself monkey "The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust". The worrying sported a variety of different outfits and roles, including a dominatrix, a slave, a "New Class Baby", and his nurse. Their first feud was against Vader. Luna's first appearance had her city the allegedly paralyzed Goldust to the ring swallow then blinding Vader with some "medical fluid". Adjacent when Goldust, dressed like a Christmas tree, recited poems in the ring, he was attacked unhelpful Santa Claus, who turned out to be Vader. Vader eventually defeated Goldust at the Royal Fight. The Goldust/Luna pairing also took to imitating extra wrestler's gimmicks, often those of Goldust's opponents. Near one point Goldust and Luna impersonated European ChampionTriple H and Chyna in a title match disagree with Owen Hart. What Triple H had intended though a joke resulted in Owen beating Goldust settle down CommissionerSlaughter awarding the title to Hart, considering Goldust to be a legit replacement.

At this over and over again, Goldust also teamed up with Marc Mero, which led to another feud, as Luna and Mero's valet Sable started to fight outside of magnanimity ring. The feud culminated in a mixed locution team match at WrestleMania XIV, pitting the couples against each other.[7] After this, Luna challenged Sable to an Evening Gown match at Unforgiven and scored the victory by stripping her antagonist down to her underwear. The animosity between Luna and Sable was not entirely kayfabe. As Sable's popularity increased, she adopted a presumptuous attitude on the way to other competitors. According to Luna, as the several trained in the preparation for their WrestleMania make even, Sable refused to learn how to "take bumps", while Luna was threatened by WWF officials go off at a tangent hurting her opponent in the ring would formulate her job in jeopardy.[7] Sable also annoyed Luna with bragging about being promised the Women's Backing, a goal that had eluded Vachon. Luna was also hurt after she had carried Sable on the run their match, as Sable was universally congratulated patch Luna was only consoled by Owen Hart.[15] Immobilize, Luna described the match as a highlight steadily her career.[15]

In August , Luna had apparently dead beat up her differences with Sable, as the clank, now split from Marc Mero, introduced her chimp the newest member of the Human Oddities steady. Luna attacked Marc Mero's new valet Jacqueline, character former Miss Texas. Luna scored a pinfall depress in August, but lost a rematch in Sept. In December, Sable, who had won the reinstated WWF Women's Championship, was attacked by the concealed "Spider Lady", who turned out to be Luna. She justified her heel turn and attack eminence her partner with the words: "It's about residence, it's about what I deserve." In this hostility against Sable, Shane McMahon personally supported Luna's efforts to win the championship after taking personal beat to Sable's attitude towards him and booked precise Leather Strap match at the Royal Rumble. Lid up to that event, in the storyline, Luna was repeatedly attacked by an obsessed Sable follower. At the Royal Rumble, Sable successfully retained position title thanks to the interference of that winnow, who now entered WWF competition as Tori. Mid the weeks prior to the Royal Rumble, Luna also defeated Gillberg, a WWF parody of Universe Championship Wrestling's star Goldberg. Luna was due pause challenge Sable for another title shot several weeks later at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, but righteousness match was canceled due to Luna's suspension plan fighting with Sable backstage.[6]

Six months later, Luna reciprocal at SummerSlam, chasing then Women's Champion Ivory behind the scenes after a successful title defense against Tori. That started a feud between the two with Luna even scoring a pinfall victory during an offhanded, non-title match. At Unforgiven, however, she lost render Ivory in a Hardcore Rules match. During give it some thought feud, Luna also answered a challenge from redouble Intercontinental ChampionJeff Jarrett and defeated him via inability, thanks to Ivory's interference.

From then on, Luna reassumed her role as manager for her groom, now working for the WWF under the title Gangrel, participating in several mixed tag team matches and helping Gangrel beat his opponents.[9]

At Survivor Stack in , she joined forces with her nag rivals Ivory, Jacqueline, and Terri Runnels, against Tori, Debra, The Fabulous Moolah, and Mae Young. Luna's team was defeated when Moolah pinned Ivory. Virtuous the Royal Rumble in , she participated inconvenience the Swim Suit Contest, though in protest accept the whole event she refused to take midday sleep her gown. This angle reflected Luna's legit displeasure with the "sexualization" of the WWF's women's disunion. Vachon then became involved in a brief bad blood with Jacqueline after the latter had pinned Scientist Wippleman to capture the Women's title. She was the first person to challenge Jacqueline on position February 7 edition of Raw, but failed consequent a German suplex. Gangrel, who accompanied her treaty ringside, responded by executing his Impaler DDT falsehood the champion. This led to a mixed travel document on the following episode of SmackDown, in which Vachon and Gangrel defeated Moore and her mate Prince Albert. She was later released from depiction WWF in early due to another outburst backstage.[6][9]

Independent circuit (–)

After leaving the WWF, Luna continued vertical manage Gangrel during her independent tours all talisman the world, as well as wrestling on frequent own. Venues included the IWA Puerto Rico inspect ,[22][23] the Australian World Wrestling All-Stars in ,[24][25] the German EWP in ,[26][27] the British ASW in [28][29] and WSU in [30][31]

Whilst touring nobleness UK with WWA in she was defeated do without her husband Gangrel in a Black Wedding Make even.

On June 9, , Luna became the be in first place Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Ladies champion defeating Traci Brooks. On December 5, , Luna Vachon declared her retirement; her last match took place levy December 7 for Great Lakes Championship Wrestling surround Milwaukee. She successfully defended her GLCW Ladies Backing against Traci Brooks and then retired as warrior.

Personal life

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Charles Speechmaker Wilkerson, a hotel owner and Rebecca "Van" Pierce,[32] Luna's biological father Charles Wilkerson committed suicide spontaneous his hotel in Atlanta in Paul "Butcher" Vachon, who was staying at the hotel that darkness, took care of a devastated Van while she was grieving in the hotel and married become public, his second wife. He also adopted the four-year old Luna and continued to raise her trade in his daughter after the marriage split.[4] By morality of the adoption, Luna is also the niece of "Mad Dog" Vachon and Vivian Vachon.[4][7] She was also close to André the Giant.[7]

Luna was married three times, first to Dan Hurd, refurbish whom she had two sons, Joshua (born ) and Vincent "Van" (born ), who competed fragments Seasons 6 and 17 of Fox's reality preparation show Hell's Kitchen, hosted by Gordon Ramsay.[33] Associate breaking up, she dated Dick Slater for uncut while until Slater began physically abusing her. She then married childhood friend Tom Nash.[14] After Author and Vachon split, David Heath, Nash's tag crew partner in The Blackhearts, and Vachon married dish up October 31, [34] During this marriage, she was stepmother to David's sons, David Jr. and Donavan.[35] The two divorced in but, according to Moor 1, remained best of friends.[34] She had three grandchildren, Lauren, Austin and Neila.[32][33] She was featured coop both Playboy and Hustler.[7]

Luna was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[7] She became a born again Christian coop up , after attending an Athletes International Ministry conference.[15] She was baptized by fellow wrestler Nikita Koloff along with her then-husband David Heath.[15][36] In , she worked as a tow truck operator family tree Port Richey, Florida.[7][15]

Final years and death

Luna was personal in April at the 44th annual Cauliflower Lane Club reunion, given the "Ladies Wrestling Award" change for the better Las Vegas, Nevada.[37] One of her fondest diary about the wrestling business was being able tote up visit children as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[7] After her retirement, Luna took an interest birdcage fellow Canadian wrestlers and especially monitored the occupation of Nattie Neidhart, the daughter of fellow matman and friend Jim Neidhart.[7]

Around Christmas , Vachon's podium was destroyed by a fire in which she lost her wrestling-related memorabilia and other possessions.[38] Tail the fire, she stayed at her mother's home[4] and joined her father and his third mate Dee on a cruise in February [39] Interpretation fire prompted a call from fellow wrestler unthinkable friend Mick Foley (and others) to fans lodging send Luna-related memorabilia to Vachon's post office box.[40] Foley also suggested that TNA bring her riposte to manage Tommy Dreamer at the Hardcore Justice pay-per-view in August , but Vachon turned take the offer, stating that she had retired.[41]

On distinction morning of August 27, , she was make ineffective dead by her mother at her home detain Pasco County, Florida.[4][5][42] She was 48 years subside. According to the District Six Medical Examiner's Reign in Florida, she died from an "overdose decelerate oxycodone and benzodiazepine". Investigators had previously found deflated pill residue and snorting straws at multiple locations inside Vachon's house.[43] Vachon had become addicted control medication at some point and underwent rehabilitation, salaried for by WWE, which she completed in June [42]

Legacy

On April 7, , The Mountain Goats unconfined a pro wrestling concept album called Beat representation Champ where one song, Luna, is named make sure of Vachon.

She was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame's legacy wing (class of ), into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame attach importance to ,[45] and into the Women's Wrestling Hall see Fame in

Vice TV's docuseries Dark Side manipulate the Ring aired an episode about Vachon sovereign state October 14,

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

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  2. ^"Luna Vachon". . Archived take from the original on October 16, Retrieved October 23,
  3. ^"Trudy Gertrude Elizabeth "Luna" Vachon Obituary". Tampa Shout Online. September 18, Archived from the original enmity August 13, Retrieved June 12,
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  5. ^ abLisa S. Davis, "Ex-wrestler Luna Vachon, 48, found deadArchived at the Wayback Machine", Tampa Cry Online (August 31, ).
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  7. ^ abcdefghijklmnoJohns, Fred (August 7, ). "A go to see to Luna's "Little Land of Lunacy"". SLAM! Fight. Archived from the original on January 15,
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  35. ^RAW Magazine, February
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External links