Luna Vachon

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Luna Vachon
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 2010(2010-08-27) (aged 48)
Pasco County, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathDrug overdose
Spouse(s)
  • Dan Hurd
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1980; div. 1985)​
  • Tom Nash
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1987; div. 1993)​
  • Gangrel
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1994; div. 2006)​
Children2, including Vincent "Van" Hurd
Family
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
"The Other Side of Darkness"
Trained byPaul Vachon
Vivian Vachon
The Fabulous Moolah
Debut1985
Retired2007

Gertrude Elizabeth Vachon (

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and Women's Wrestling Hall 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 in the ring, which often resulted in training with various World Wide Wrestling Federation stars. Her family objected to her entering the wrestling business and tried to dissuade her, as they considered a wrestler's life at that time too harsh for a female.[6][7] André the Giant, with whom she was close and who took her on a trip to Paris in 1974, also tried to dissuade her.[7] Around the age of sixteen, she began training under her aunt Vivian and then The Fabulous Moolah.[6]

Early career (1985–1992)

Gertrude started her professional career wrestling for Moolah's all-women's

promotion.[6] She then moved to Florida and, competing under the ring name Angelle Vachon, became a member of a four-woman wrestling troupe led by Mad Maxine. While in Florida, she shared residence with wrestlers Scott Levy (later known as Raven), and Denny Brown.[8]

In 1985, she debuted in

stable under the new ring name, Luna Vachon.[10] As part of her gimmick, she shaved one half of her head, which was the first step to her trademark Mohawk hairstyle, covered her face in bodypaint, and continuously sneered.[6][10] Looking back, Vachon expressed her uneasiness about some elements of this angle.[11]

During her time in Florida, Luna first wrestled

SuperClash III in December 1988, competing in a Battle royal.[8]

In the early nineties she took over management of The Blackhearts, a masked tag team coming out of

Giant Baba's All-Japan, where the team split up. Luna also worked at Wild Women of Wrestling, as a competitor, commentator, and booker.[13][14]

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1994)

In 1992, while wrestling in

World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which resulted in the WWF developing an interest in her. They hired her, but not without some complications. No one actually knew exactly where she was; even her father only knew that she was staying in Florida. The WWF actually hired a private investigator to find her. When she was found, she was working as a waitress at a restaurant.[6][11]

Luna's first WWF appearance was in April 1993 at

Tatanka, who was accompanied by Michaels' former valet Sensational Sherri. After the match, Luna attacked Sensational Sherri at ringside, and then again in the first aid area. She was arrested by security, starting a vicious feud
between the two.

At the same time Luna and Sherri were at odds,

midget side-kick Dink in 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 her eyes on the title and had a series of matches with Alundra, all resulting in victories for Blayze. It was during this time the relationship between Luna and Bam Bam first showed cracks after interference in a match backfired. In the summer, Luna sold Bam Bam's contract to Ted DiBiase, who was beginning to build his "Million Dollar Corporation".[10] Luna then picked Japanese wrestler Bull Nakano to win the Women's title from Blayze, which she eventually did.[10] Luna, however, left the WWF shortly after this title match.

In 1994, Luna was the first woman to appear in a WWF video game, when – despite previous objections[7] – she was included in WWF Raw.

Independents and Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1997)

After leaving the WWF, Luna wrestled on the

steel cage match, which she won.[6]

In the same year, she was rated #306 in the

PWI 500[16][17] – the second woman to be included in that list after Miss Texas
.

In 1996/97, she competed in Puerto Rico for the

IWA Mid-South.[18][19][20][21]

World Championship Wrestling (1997)

In early 1997, Luna had a short run with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), again going after her rival Madusa. Luna interfered in Madusa's matches against WCW Women's Champion Akira Hokuto, preventing a title win by Madusa. Luna and Madusa met each other in a series of matches, including a match at the 1997 Slamboree. Although Luna dominated the matches, Madusa managed to get the pinfall every time.

Return to WWF (1997–2000)

See also: The Oddities
Vachon during her second WWF stint

Later in 1997, Luna returned to the WWF, first as

gimmicks, often those of Goldust's opponents. At one point Goldust and Luna impersonated European Champion Triple H and Chyna in a title match against Owen Hart. What Triple H had intended as a joke resulted in Owen beating Goldust and Commissioner Slaughter
awarding the title to Hart, considering Goldust to be a legit replacement.

At this time, Goldust also teamed up with

Evening Gown match at Unforgiven and scored the victory by stripping her opponent down to her underwear. The animosity between Luna and Sable was not entirely kayfabe. As Sable's popularity increased, she adopted a presumptuous attitude towards other competitors. According to Luna, as the two trained in the preparation for their WrestleMania match, Sable refused to learn how to "take bumps", while Luna was threatened by WWF officials that hurting her opponent in the ring would put her job in jeopardy.[7] Sable also annoyed Luna with bragging about being promised the Women's Championship, a goal that had eluded Vachon. Luna was also hurt after she had carried Sable in their match, as Sable was universally congratulated while Luna was only consoled by Owen Hart.[15] Still, Luna described the match as a highlight in her career.[15]

In August 1998, Luna had apparently patched up her differences with Sable, as the latter, now split from Marc Mero, introduced her as the newest member of the

Tori. During the weeks prior to the Royal Rumble, Luna also defeated Gillberg, a WWF parody of World Championship Wrestling's star Goldberg. Luna was due to challenge Sable for another title shot several weeks later at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, but the match was canceled due to Luna's suspension for fighting with Sable backstage.[6]

Six months later, Luna returned at SummerSlam, chasing then Women's Champion Ivory backstage after a successful title defense against Tori. This started a feud between the two with Luna even scoring a pinfall victory during an impromptu, non-title match. At Unforgiven, however, she lost to Ivory in a Hardcore Rules match. During that feud, Luna also answered a challenge from then Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett and defeated him via disqualification, thanks to Ivory's interference.

From then on, Luna reassumed her role as manager for her husband, now working for the WWF under the name

Gangrel, participating in several mixed tag team matches and helping Gangrel beat his opponents.[10]

At

Impaler DDT on the champion. This led to a mixed tag on the following episode of SmackDown, in which Vachon and Gangrel defeated Moore and her partner Prince Albert. She was later released from the WWF in early 2000 due to another outburst backstage.[6][10]

Independent circuit (2000–2007)

After leaving the WWF, Luna continued to manage Gangrel during her

WSU in 2007.[30][31]

Whilst touring the UK with WWA in 2001 she was defeated by her husband Gangrel in a Black Wedding Match.

On June 9, 2007, Luna became the first Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Ladies champion defeating

Traci Brooks
. On December 5, 2007, Luna Vachon announced her retirement; her last match took place on December 7 for Great Lakes Championship Wrestling in Milwaukee. She successfully defended her GLCW Ladies Championship against Traci Brooks and then retired as champion.

Personal life

Born in

Atlanta, Georgia, to Charles Henry Wilkerson, a hotel owner and Rebecca "Van" Pierce,[32] Luna's biological father Charles Wilkerson committed suicide in his hotel in Atlanta in 1966. Paul "Butcher" Vachon, who was staying at the hotel that night, took care of a devastated Van while she was grieving in the hotel and married her, his second wife. He also adopted the four-year old Luna and continued to raise her as his daughter after the marriage split.[4] By virtue 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, with whom she had two sons, Joshua (born 1980) and Vincent "Van" (born 1982), who competed on

David Heath, Nash's tag team partner in The Blackhearts, and Vachon married on October 31, 1994.[34] During this marriage, she was stepmother to David's sons, David Jr. and Donavan.[35] The two divorced in 2006 but, according to Heath, remained best of friends.[34] She had three grandchildren, Lauren, Austin and Neila.[32][33]
She was featured in both Playboy and Hustler.[7]

Luna was diagnosed with

born again Christian in 2004, 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 2007, she worked as a tow truck operator in Port Richey, Florida.[7][15]

Final years and death

Wikinews has related news:

Luna was honored in April 2009 at the 44th annual

Las Vegas, Nevada.[37] One of her fondest memories about the wrestling business was being able to visit children as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[7] After her retirement, Luna took an interest in fellow Canadian wrestlers and especially monitored the career of Nattie Neidhart, the daughter of fellow wrestler and friend Jim Neidhart.[7]

Around Christmas 2009, Vachon's house was destroyed by a fire in which she lost her wrestling-related memorabilia and other possessions.[38] After the fire, she stayed at her mother's home[4] and joined her father and his third wife Dee on a cruise in February 2010.[39] The fire prompted a call from fellow wrestler and friend Mick Foley (and others) to fans to send Luna-related memorabilia to Vachon's post office box.[40] Foley also suggested that TNA bring her in to manage Tommy Dreamer at the Hardcore Justice pay-per-view in August 2010, but Vachon turned down the offer, stating that she had retired.[41]

On the morning of August 27, 2010, she was found dead by her mother at her home in Pasco County, Florida.[4][5][42] She was 48 years old. According to the District Six Medical Examiner's Office in Florida, she died from an "overdose of oxycodone and benzodiazepine". Investigators had previously found crushed pill residue and snorting straws at multiple locations inside Vachon's house.[43] Vachon had become addicted to medication at some point and underwent rehabilitation, paid for by WWE, which she completed in June 2009.[42]

Legacy

On April 7, 2015, The Mountain Goats released a pro wrestling concept album called Beat the Champ where one song, Luna, is named after Vachon.

She was posthumously inducted into the

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020,[45] and into the Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame
in 2023.

Vice TV's docuseries Dark Side of the Ring aired an episode about Vachon on October 14, 2021.

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ "Trudy Gertrude Elizabeth "Luna" Vachon Obituary (2010) Tampa Bay Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Luna Vachon". Wwe.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Trudy Gertrude Elizabeth "Luna" Vachon Obituary". Tampa Bay Online. September 18, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e Oliver, Greg (August 27, 2010). "Luna Vachon Found Dead". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Lisa S. Davis, "Ex-wrestler Luna Vachon, 48, found dead Archived 2010-09-02 at the Wayback Machine", Tampa Bay Online (August 31, 2010).
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Oliver, Greg (January 12, 1999). "Canadian Hall of Fame: Luna Vachon". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Johns, Fred (August 7, 2008). "A visit to Luna's "Little Land of Lunacy"". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ a b c Profile at Online World of Wrestling.
  9. ^ "Kevin Sullivan Prince of Darkness Disk 2". YouTube. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Brett Hoffman, "Catching up with Luna Vachon", WWE.com (March 14, 2007).
  11. ^ a b Feinstein video Shoot interview, Summary at TheSmartMarks.com.
  12. ^ "CWA (Memphis) Championship Wrestling-January 24, 1987". YouTube. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Brody, Howard (September 20, 2009). "Swimming with Piranhas: Surviving the Politics of Professional Wrestling". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ a b c d e f Brett Hoffman, "Catching up with Luna Vachon", WWE.com (March 14, 2007).
  16. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Genickbruch.com". Genickbruch.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  18. ^ 1996 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  19. ^ 1997 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  20. ^ 1996 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  21. ^ 1997 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  22. ^ 2000 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  23. ^ 2000 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  24. ^ 2001 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  25. ^ 2001 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  26. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  27. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Genickbruch.com". Genickbruch.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  28. ^ 2006 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  29. ^ 2006 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  30. ^ 2007 matches at WrestlingData.com.
  31. ^ 2007 matches at Genickbruch.com.
  32. ^ a b "Trudy Vachon Obituary (2010) - Tampa, FL - TBO.com". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Into The Fire Hell's Kitchen contestant has ties to Terrell". Terrelltribune.com (August 19, 2009).
  34. ^ a b "AdultFYI – Conversations with Gangrel; Gangrel on "Prince of Porn" Evan Stone: It's the Little Man Complex". Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  35. ^ RAW Magazine, February 2000.
  36. ^ "Pictures from the 21st AIM Conference in 2005". Athletesinternational.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  37. ^ "Cauliflower Alley Club: 2009 Honorees". Caulifloweralleyclub.org. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  38. ^ Brody, Howard (August 28, 2010). "Saying Farewell to My Friend Luna". Slam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  39. ^ Oliver, Greg (August 20, 2010). "No Public Funeral for Luna Vachon". Slam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
  40. ^ "Countdown to Lockdown: The REAL MICK FOLEY". Mickfoley.typepad.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  41. ^ Steve Gerweck, "Luna Vachon turned down TNA gig last month", wrestleview.com (September 2, 2010).
  42. ^ a b Steve Gerweck, "Update: Vachon was found dead in pool of blood", wrestleview.com (September 1, 2010)
  43. ^ "Ex-WWE Star Luna -- Death Ruled 'Accidental'". Tmz.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  44. ^ "TEN NEW WWE HALL OF FAME LEGACY INDUCTEES - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  45. ^ https://www.pwhf.org/ Archived December 27, 2021, at the Wayback Machine (accessed: January 16, 2022)
  46. ^ "2022 Class". Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  47. ^ "FIRST INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED FOR WOMEN'S WRESTLING HALL OF FAME | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  48. ^ "Luna Vachon vs. Jessicka Havok- Missing Wrestling Classics". YouTube. February 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

External links

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