Thursday, December 2, 2010

Remember Your Classic Wrestlers: Mad Dog Vachon

Mad Dog
Photo Credit: WWE.com

Who?: Maurice Vachon
Promotions: AWA, NWA
Nicknames: Mad Dog

Classic Affiliations:

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 231 lbs.
From: Montreal, QC

After the jump...Signature Maneuvers

Can't find any Youtube isos, but his most feared move was the piledriver, which he got banned in three states. He was also fond of biting people in the head.

Classic Feuds:

Vachon's most famous rival was Verne Gagne, with whom he'd feud for the AWA World Championship over the 60s and 70s.

Titles Held:

AWA World Heavyweight Championship (5x)
AWA World Tag Team Championships (2x, 1x with Paul Vachon, 1x with Verne Gagne)
AWA Midwest Tag Team Championships (3x, 1x with Paul Vachon, 2x with Bob Orton)
NWA World Tag Team Championships (2x, 1x with Baron von Raschke, 1x with Paul Vachon)
Several other regional titles
WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2010

Promos:

Guest in Piper's Pit


Vachon's Legacy: Vachon was one of the most feared guys in wrestling in his hey-day. I mean, just look at him. He had a perfect look to play a super-villain back in those days, hell, even today too. Plus, he acted the part really well to the point where he probably would have people shitting their pants if they ever encountered him out of the ring.

Vachon was a very important part of the AWA as a rival for super-face and booker Verne Gagne. He was also influential in that his vicious style of brawling influenced guys like Abdullah the Butcher and in turn, through guys like Abby the 90s hardcore boom in ECW. Mad Dog's prosthetic leg, which he gained after retiring, also played a role in the WWF as Diesel famously used it in a title match against Shawn Michaels.

Mad Dog Vachon was one of a kind, a sadistic heel wrestler who used horriffic tactics and brutal sadism to get over and influence a whole generation of heel brawlers and bruisers. He's a true legend, and if he were around today, I bet he'd still be just as over as he was back then.


Remember you can contact TH and ask him questions about wrestling, life or anything else. Please refer to this post for contact information. He always takes questions!