Vampiro

Infobox Wrestler
name=Ian Hodgkinson


names=Ian Richards
Gene Anderson
El Vampiro Canadiense
Canadian Vampire Casanova
Vampiro Casanova
Vampiro
height= 188 cm (6 ft 2 in).
weight= 116 kg (255 lb)
birth_date =birth date and age|1967|5|31
death_date =
birth_place =Thunder Bay, Ontario
resides =Guadalajara, Jalisco
billed= "The darkest depths of Hell"
trainer=Abdullah the Butcher
debut=1984|

Ian Richard Hodgkinson (born May 31 1967) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name of Vampiro. He currently works for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración but has had his greatest success in the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre promotion during the early 1990s. He is best known in the United States for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he held the WCW World Tag Team Championship with The Great Muta. He has recently joined the Guardian Angels and will head the group's chapter in Mexico City. [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2007/12/05/2007-12-05_former_wrestler_vampiro_to_take_bite_out.html Former wrestler 'Vampiro' to take bite out of Mexico City crime ] ] He is also the lead singer of the metal band Droch Fhoula.

Early life

Hodgkinson claims that for a brief period of time, he was a bodyguard for the pop group Milli Vanilli. He was also drafted by Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League.

Career

Early career

Ian got his start in the business working for International Wrestling out of Montreal, Quebec. He often set up the ring before events and would train with the wrestlers before their WWC Umatches. He made his debut as a jobber in 1984 with little training, although he has credited Abdullah the Butcher as his trainer. Vampiro's first match was a tag team victory with Pierroth Jr. over Mogur and Huracan Sevilla in 1985.

World Championship Wrestling (1998-2001)

In the late 90s, Vampiro was signed by WCW. His first match was on the June 29, 1998 edition of WCW Monday Nitro, defeating Brad Armstrong. He would not return to WCW, until the March 18 1999 edition of WCW Thunder, when he defeated Prince Iaukea.

Later that year, he formed a stable with the Insane Clown Posse and Raven called the 'The Dead Pool' (initially called 'The Necro-Ward'). Even though the stable was short-lived, they gained popularity and had a heated feud with Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio Jr., and rival Konnan.

Vampiro would then feud with Berlyn. This feud began when Vampiro beat Berlyn in the WCW World Title tournament on Nitro. To exact revenge later in the night, Berlyn cost Vampiro his match against Buff Bagwell and, as a result, Vampiro was eliminated from the tourmament. This feud let into Mayhem '99 when the two fought in a Dog Collar match and Vampiro made Berlyn submit to the Camel Clutch. Vampiro would later bring The Misfits into WCW, and began a feud with Oklahoma and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. Vampiro had a match with Dr. Death at Starrcade '99, in which the stipulation was if Vampiro won, he would get five minutes alone with Oklahoma in the ring. Williams was disqualified, and Vampiro fought Oklahoma. Surprisingly, Oklahoma was able to mount a bit of offense. The ending came when Vampiro took Oklahoma's cowboy hat and then pinned him following the Nail In The Coffin. In early 2000, he formed an alliance with Sting, as the Brothers in Paint (after helping Sting defeat Lex Luger in a lumberjack match). This didn't last too long, with Vampiro turning on Sting when WCW split into the New Blood and the Millionaire's Club. They feuded throughout the spring, with Sting getting the upper hand on Vampiro in nearly all their encounters. This set up the Human Torch match, in which Vampiro won by setting Sting on fire. Vampiro then focused on The Demon due to his defection from the ICP formed stable, The Dark Carnival. He would kidnap his fiancee, Asya, in a skit resembling the 1988 film Spoorloos. Afterwards, he challenged him to a Graveyard Match, which sparked the return of Sting.

Vampiro entered into the vacant WCW United States Title tournament, with his first round opponent being The Great Muta, whom Vampiro lost to. Vampiro later joined up with Muta to attack Ernest 'The Cat' Miller. Vampiro won his first and only title in WCW with The Great Muta, by defeating KroniK in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on August 13, 2000. However, this reign was very short lived, as they lost the Tag Team Championship the very next night to Rey Mysterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Vampiro later turned his back on Muta, setting up an 3 Way match at Fall Brawl with himself, Sting and Muta, which was won by Sting. Vampiro then took time away from the sport as his wife had a baby. He returned a month later, where he defeated Crowbar in a Hardcore Match. Vampiro then challenged Mike Awesome at Halloween Havoc, losing via pinfall after a top rope Awesome Bomb. He was put out with an injury and, unfortunately, didn't recover before WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation. Thus, facing Awesome was his last match in WCW.

Indies

With WCW out of business, Vampiro headed back to CMLL. He also took tours with All Japan Pro Wrestling, teaming with his idol, The Great Muta. Vampiro also wrestled in Puerto Rico between tours of CMLL.

In 2001, Vampiro made several appearances in Rob Black's XPW. He debuted on May 26, 2001, teaming with Insane Clown Posse member Shaggy 2 Dope. He unsuccessfully challenged for the XPW World Heavyweight Championship several times, including his final appearance with the company in January 2002 when he lost to then-champion Johnny Webb.

Vampiro had a short run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He made his debut with TNA on September 17, 2003 during a hair vs. hair match between Raven and Shane Douglas. Vampiro joined "Father" James Mitchell and The New Church in their attempt to rid TNA of Raven. After losing to Raven in a Blood Gallows of Retribution match, Vampiro left TNA.

In 2005, he jumped with Shocker to the AAA promotion, in which both he and Konnan hold booking positions. During that time, he stated that he had no plans to return to TNA or work for WWE. [ [http://www.ipwuk.com/newsboard/headlines/132957108.shtml IPW UK: International Pro Wrestling ] ] He stated in interviews with the UK's "Power Slam Magazine" that he had no objection to joining TNA - although he suspected it would not happen due to the presence of Sting on their roster.

When not working for AAA, Vampiro was seen wrestling in the US for the Southern California promotion Full Contact Wrestling, in Puerto Rico for IWA, IPW: UK in the United Kingdom and Nu Wrestling Evolution across Italy. On March 10, 2006 Vampiro became the Rey de Reyes (King of Kings) of AAA by winning a 12-Man-Elimination Match.

WSX

On January 26, 2007 he was featured in a pilot for a new wrestling show produced for MTV called Wrestling Society X. He competed in a 10 man Battle Royal Death match, eventually securing one of two contracts earning him a shot at the inaugural Wrestling Society X Championship against Syxx-Pac (Sean Waltman). He won the WSX Championship after defeating Syxx-Pac on the February 6 episode after sending him into an exploding coffin with a Tombstone piledriver.

Vampiro was involved in a what MTV claimed was a controversial angle which led to MTV canceling the 4th WSX show, due to air on Tuesday February 20. [http://www.wrestlemag.com/news/index.php?p=4579] In the (pre-taped) show, he was the recipient of a fireball to the face thrown by Ricky Banderas which resulted in Vampiro's head momentarily catching fire. The footage has since been leaked onto the internet. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3oK6e2xyqY YouTube - WSX Fire Ball ] ] Later in his debut WSX match, Ricky Banderas defeated Vampiro to claim the WSX Championship.

In addition to appearing as an on-screen talent, Vampiro held a backstage position as the main booker.

AAA

In April 2008, Vampiro made his return to AAA by challenging El Mesias to a match at TripleMania XVI. The match took place on June 13, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico. The two fought each other in a Hardcore match which ended in a draw.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Nail in the Coffin" / "Vampiro Spike" (Sitout scoop slam piledriver, sometimes from the top rope)cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/wsx/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=8451|title=Vampiro's cast bio|publisher=MTV.com|accessdate=2008-01-13|date=2006] :*Pumphandle sitout powerbomb:*Kneeling belly to belly piledriver:*Powerbomb:*Spinning leg lariat:*Chokeslam:*Sidewalk slam

*Entrance themes:*"Destroyer" (WCW):*"Assassins (Instrumental)" by The Insane Clown Posse – WCW:*"Take It" by The Insane Clown Posse – WCW:*"Kong at the Gates" by The Misfits – WCW:*"Abominable Dr. Phibes" by The Misfits; WCW:*"Dead American" by Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards – Independent circuit:*"You Eclipsed By Me" by Atreyu – WSX and JCW:*"Peep Show" by Droch Fhoula – WSX:*"Back in Black" by AC/DC – AAA

Championships and accomplishments

*"'Asistencia Asesoría y Administración:*Rey de Reyes (2006)
*"'Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre:*NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)¹
*Federación Internacional de Lucha Libre:*FILL Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*International Wrestling Association:*IWA Hardcore Championship (3 times):*IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Juggalo Championship Wrestling:*JCW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
*Nu-Wrestling Evolution:*NWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Nu_Wrestling_Evolution.htm | title=Nu-Wrestling Evolution | accessdate=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com]
*Universal Wrestling Association:*UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*World Championship Wrestling:*WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Great Muta
*World Wrestling Council:*WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*"'Wrestling Society X:*WSX Championship (1 time) (First) (Longest reign)
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 31 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000.

¹Even though CMLL still uses the NWA initials in the title's name, the National Wrestling Alliance itself no longer recognizes or sanctions the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship since CMLL is no longer an NWA affiliated promotion.

Luchas de Apuestas record

Personal life

Ian grew up in a single parent home with his mother and two sisters.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/12/12/779540.html|title=Vampiro comes out of the shadows|author=Mark Keast|publisher=Toronto Sun|accessdate=2007-08-11|date=December 12, 2004]

Ian is divorced from Kitsu with a daughter named Dasha, whose godfather is Norman Smiley.

A documentary following his life was produced by Odessa Filmworks and Zed Jamaica and was planned for Fall 2008 release. [ [http://zedfilmworks.com/films_vampiro.php Zed Filmworks: "Vampiro"] ] [cite news | url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/2008/02/14/4846683.html | accessdate=2008-02-29 | date=14 February 2008 | title=Vampiro shoots up the screen in The Dead Sleep Easy | first=Greg | last=Oliver | publisher=CANOE/Slam! ] [ [http://www.vampiromovie.com/contact.html Vampiro: A Canadian Vampire in Mexico] ] He was involved in a relationship with Mexican/USA Rock Singer and Songwriter Ana Sidel co-star of the movie "The Dead Sleep Easy".He has a tattoo on his left arm that reads "Mexico City", citing where he had many of his matches. He is fluent in Spanish.

During the height of his wrestling career in Mexico, Vampiro starred in an action film entitled "Guerrero De La Noche", which was not unlike the El Santo films of the 1960s and 1970s. He has also made a cameo appearance on Vanilla Ice's Bi-Polar (album) as well as being a short lived member of Psychopathic Records' supergroup Dark Lotus and recording an intro to Twiztid's 'Maniac Killaz'.

Notes

References

* [http://www.wrestlemag.com/news/index.php?p=4579/ Wrestlemag.com news site article on Vampiro fireball angle controversy]
* [http://www.wrestlemag.com/news/index.php?p=4587/ Wrestlemag.com news site article featuring leaked video of Vampiro fireball angle]

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/drochfhoula Droch Fhoula official website]
* [http://www.vampiromovie.com/ VampiroMovie.com - a documentary about Vampiro]
* [http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/wsx/series.jhtml?source=TLD_wsx.mtv.com#/ontv/dyn/wsx/cast_member/bio.jhtml?personalityId=8451/ Wrestling Society X Profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/v/vampiro.html OWW Profile]