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Vampiro
 

Portuguese words "Vampiro" means Vampire.

Ian Richard Hodgkinson (born May 31, 1967 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name of Vampiro. He currently works for AAA in Mexico as well as many other independent promotions across the world.

Career

Hodgkinson 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 matches. He made his debut as a jobber in 1985 with little training, although he has credited Abdullah the Butcher as his trainer.

After a few years in Montreal, Hodgkinson headed down to Mexico City, looking for work in the CMLL promotion. He met with Paco Alonso and Antonio Peña, who took him as a joke because of his unique look (he had long dreadlocked blue hair and several tattoos). They decided to throw him in the ring as Vampiro Canadiense (Canadian Vampire) because he told them he liked vampires. To their surprise, with his very limited moveset that only consisted of punches, kicks, and headbutts, he became an overnight superstar, as his rock star appearance and natural good looks caught on with the young Mexican women in the audience. Although he didn't have much skill in the ring, he quickly became the biggest superstar in the promotion, as the women would scream loudly for him to make his comeback and gain victory. He won many hair matches during the height of his popularity.

Whilst working in Mexico Vampiro began a real life feud with fellow CMLL headliner Konnan. Konnan had been the top star in the promotion prior to Vampiro's arrival and did not take well to Vampiro's superstardom. The two were bitter rivals for several years until resolving their differences whilst working in WCW, where they became very close friends and business associates. The feud stems from Vampiro being offered a part in a Mexican soap opera, but then the producers changing their mind at the last minute when they learned that Vampiro's command of the Spanish language was poor, and went with Konnan, a fluent Spanish speaker, instead. Vampiro considered Konnan to have sabotaged his chance to parlay his ring success into mainstream stardom, as Konnan did become a mainstream star in Mexico as a result of the role.

Knowing his popularity would not last forever Vampiro trained in several forms of martial arts, working hard to improve his in ring skills. In the late 90s, Vampiro was signed by WCW. 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, and rival Konnan. His popularity was on the rise, but due to backstage politics was held down by older stars such as Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. Konnan also constantly buried him to bookers by fabricating stories about substance abuse. His situation was not helped any by his outspoken attitude and complaining about the way he was booked, making him unpopular among the other wrestlers, who considered him a whiner. It was commonplace to hear him on WCW Live! where he would air his grievances. He constantly called the Insane Clown Posse to complain about working for WCW and ICP would then broadcast these phone calls on the Internet, which didn't help him.

In the Fall of 1999, he brought the Juggalo Championshit Wrestling Championship belt with him to WCW Monday Nitro which was surrendered to him by former JCW Champion Evil Dead. He proclaimed the JCW Title as being the only title in Professional Wrestling that mattered and challenged all comers. This angle was dropped soon afterwards. He then feuded with Sting but was buried by constantly losing to him. In 2000 at the Great American Bash PPV he finally defeated Sting in a Human Torch Match, setting Sting ablaze in victory. After his feud with Sting, Vampiro would team with an aging Great Muta to win the WCW World Tag-Team Championship from Bryan Clark and Brian Adams, the team of Kronic. They would hold the belts just 24 hours, losing them to Rey Misterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera. He would then have a falling out with the ICP after their impromptu resignation from WCW and take on The Misfits in their place as his ring valets for a time. His WCW tenure would come to an end when he suffered a severe concussion in a match with Mike Awesome at the WCW Halloween Havoc 2000 PPV from Las Vegas. Whilst injured his pay was cut back but he remained with the company until it was sold to the WWF in March 2001.

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 2003 Vampiro had a short run in TNA, joining Father James Mitchell and The New Church in their attempt to rid TNA of Raven. After losing to Raven in a Dream Blood Blood Gallows of Retribution match he was never seen in TNA again.

In 2005 he jumped with Shocker to the AAA promotion in which both he and Konnan hold booking positions. Currently he has no plans to return to TNA or work for WWE * although he has stated in interviews with the UK's Power Slam Magazine that he has no objection to joining TNA - although he suspects it will not happen now that Sting is on their roster.

When not working for AAA Vampiro can be seen wrestling in the US for the Southern California promotion Full Contact Wrestling, in Puerto Rico for IWA, in Ireland for Irish Whip Wrestling, IPW in the United Kingdom and Nu Wrestling Evolution across Italy.

On the 9th of February 2006 he featured in a pilot for a new wrestling show produced for MTV- 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 Sean Waltman.

Combatants in this ladder match included Vampiro, Sean Waltman, Teddy Hart, New Jack, Lone Star, Kaos, Puma, Al Katrazz, Justin Credible and Chris Hamrick. Vampiro also holds a booking position within the company; it is undecided at the time of writing whether the pilot is going to be accepted.

On March 10th 2006 Vampiro became the Rey de Reyes of AAA by winning a 12-Man-Elimination Match

A documentary following his life is due for release in 2007 and is being produced by Zed Jamaica. The official website of the movie is www.vampiromovie.com

Championship Succession

WCW World Tag-Team Championship Preceded by:
Bryan Clark & Brian Adams First, with The Great Muta Succeeded by:
Rey Misterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera

Trivia

  • Attended Port Arthur Collegiate Institute in Thunder Bay, ON
  • Despite being born in Canada, he is much respected in Mexico and considers Mexico his "Home away from home".
  • When wrestling in Mexico, he was named as El Vampiro Canadiense, which translates to The Canadian Vampire.
  • For a brief period of time, he was a bodyguard for the pop group Milli Vanilli.
  • He was drafted by Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League at one stage of his life.
  • His musical influence and passion saw him become a frontman for a local punk band for a brief period.
  • His biggest fanbase comes from Mexico.
  • In Tribute to Mexico, he has a tattoo on his left arm that reads Mexico City, citing where he had many of his matches.
  • In 2004 he received a $20,000 bonus for losing his hair to Shocker in a hair vs. hair match.
  • He began working in the business by selling programs and assisting in setting up the ring for independent wrestling promotions in Montreal.
  • Vampiro is friends with US Punk band Rancid, Doyle and Dr. Chud of The Misfits, and Detroit based Rap Metal band the Insane Clown Posse.
  • While wrestling in the WCW, Vampiro's first entrance music was "Play With Me" performed by The Insane Clown Posse off their Amazing Jeckel Brothers CD. During his "Dead Pool" era, it was then changed to ICP's "Take It", made especially for the WCW Theme Song CD , "WCW Mayhem". Then later, the song was replaced "Kong At The Gates" by The Misfits, While in most indie promotions his song is Dead American by Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards.
  • Had a falling out with The Misfits over money owed on the sale of T-Shirts while in WCW.
  • After setting Sting on fire in the Human Torch Match, there was a vignette on WCW Monday Nitro of Vampiro reporting his success to a dark, hooded figure. That figure was "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels.
  • In WCW, he changed his facepaint regularly to match the style of the band that would accompany him to the ring. His face was painted Juggalo style when ICP was with him and painted his face up like a human skull when Jerry Only of The Misfits was in his corner.
  • His character was supposed to be "killed off" on December 31, 1999 by The KISS Demon on a New Year's Eve show that was to be produced by WCW and the rock band KISS. His demise called for him to be thrown into a vat of holy water. This plan, as well as the event were cancelled once WCW head Eric Bischoff was ousted from power in September of that year.

Finishing and signature moves

Championships and accomplishments

Awards

Luchas de Apuestas Record

Luchas de Apuestas
Wager lost/wonWinnerLoserWhereDateNote
Hair Vampiro Bestia Negra II Xochimilco, Mexico City 3/21/92 -
Hair Vampiro Rick Patterson Monterrey, Nuevo León 6/28/92 1
Hair Vampiro Pirata Morgan Mexico City 7/17/92 -
Hair Vampiro Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) Monterrey, Nuevo León 8/23/92 2
Hair Vampiro Sangre Chicana Monterrey, Nuevo León 12/10/92 -
Hair Vampiro Pirata Morgan Houston, Texas 9/1/98 -
Hair Vampiro Rey Bucanero Mexico City 12/13/02 -
Hair Shocker Vampiro Mexico City 4/4/03 -
Hairs Cien Caras & Máscara Año 2000 Vampiro & Pierroth, Jr. Mexico City 12/17/04 -
  1. Triple threat match involving Sangre Chicana
  2. "Relevos Suicidas" match with Vampiro teaming with Grundy against Brazo de Plata and Sangre Chicana

References

External link

1967 births | Canadian professional wrestlers | Living people | Ontario sportspeople | Thunder Bayers

Ian Hodgkinson

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Vampiro".

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