Profile of Ian Hodgkinson on Famous Like Me

Ian Hodgkinson (born May 30, 1967 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his stage name of Vampiro. He currently works in the independant circuit.

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, whom 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, 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 loudy scream for him to make his comeback and gain victory. He has won many hair matches during the height of his popularity.

While 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 debut, and he did not take well to Vampiro's superstardom. The two rivaled each other for several years until resolving their differences while working in WCW, where they became very close friends and business associates.

Vampiro, knowing his popularity would not last forever, trained in several forms of martial arts and worked hard to improve his in ring skills, which he did. In the late 90s, Vampiro was signed by WCW. He quickly gained popularity there, but due to backstage politics, was held down by the older stars like Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. He feuded with Sting but was buried by constantly losing to him. 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. While 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 has also been wrestling in Puerto Rico between tours of CMLL. However, he jumped to the AAA promotion with Konnan, in which both hold booking positions, as well. He also works occasional matches in Italy with the Nu Wrestling promotion.

Currently Vampiro can be seen wrestling for the Southern California promotion Full Contact Wrestling.FCW

Trivia

• 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.
• He was a former bodyguard of the pop group Milli Vanilli. However, he acted as a bodyguard for a brief period of time.
• He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens and played for 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.
• Prior to becoming a WCW Superstar (and a professional wrestler, for that matter), he begun working in the business by selling programs and assisting in setting up the ring for independant wrestling promotions in Montreal.

Finishing and signature moves

• Nail in the Coffin/Vampiro Spike (Michinoku Driver II)
• PowerBomb
• Flying Spinning Leg Lariat
• Chokeslam
• Sidewalk Slam

Championships and accomplishments

• 1-Time UWA World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time FILL Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WCW World Tag Team Champion (w/ The Great Muta)
• 2-Time JCW Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time IWA (Puerto Rico) Hardcore Champion

Awards

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 216 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

Luchas de Apuestas Record

1. Triple threat match involving Sangre Chicana
2. "Relevos Suicidas" match with Vampiro teaming with Grundy against Brazo de Plata and Sangre Chicana

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Ian Hodgkinson