But it also made his popularity soar among the fans.[7]. “So the Dog walks outside the restaurant and goes across the street to the group of guys so he can walk through them. On July 14, 1973, Vachon had a match with Killer Kowalski for Grand Prix Wrestling at Montreal's Jarry Park. A legend. His considerable talents earned him many national championships and a trip to the 1948 Olympic Games where he finished 7th overall. Joseph Maurice Régis Vachon was born on September 14, 1929. HARLEY RACE: Tales of Toughness and Tenacity, STEVE BLACKMAN: Taking Names and Taking on Life, Bobby Heenan – The Gold Standard in Wrestling, 6 Wrestlers Share Painful Horror Stories Of Breaking Into the Business, 16 Unforgettable Andre the Giant Stories Told By His Friends, The Crippler Ray Stevens – The Story of One of Wrestling’s Greatest Heels, Batista and Booker T – Their Real-Life Fight Over Wrestlers’ Court, Randy Savage and Bill Dundee – Their Legitimate Parking Lot Brawl, 4 Shocking Times Fans Attacked Wrestlers During a Match, Kofi Kingston Challenges Vince McMahon to Fight After Drunken Flight, Canadians in Wrestling | 13 Individuals With a Rich History in the Sport, Wrestling Autograph Encounters in the Late ’60s and ’70s, Ken Shamrock and The Nasty Boys | The Barbaric Hotel Incident. While contracted with the WWF, Vachon was allowed to participate in events not featuring the WWF while in Canada. [4] In addition, Vachon would frequently buy local TV time prior to a weekend event, which he then used to boldly proclaim his supremacy while also deprecating his opponent. [14] Vachon was also included in Oliver's book on villainous wrestlers and was ranked fourth.[7]. Mad Dog Vachon was one of the old-school badasses of professional wrestling. While he wasn't the biggest man in the ring, Mad Dog used everything that wasn't nailed down to batter his opponents. Beginning of in-ring career: 1950.
“The guy goes across the street where four of his friends are waiting for him. He had knee surgery in 2008. "[8], In the book The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians, author Greg Oliver ranks Vachon fourth amongst Canadian wrestlers, behind Whipper Billy Watson, Yvon Robert and Killer Kowalski. At this point, Mad Dog had become such an enduring figure in sports-entertainment that his insanity now drew cheers from the audience. As a result, he soon took radical measures to differentiate his persona, bulking up to a more plausible 225 pounds while also shaving his head bald and growing a long goatee. His innovative portrayal of a snarling, bloodthirsty monster would inspire a myriad of future "psychotic" wrestlers. It was love at first sight. "[12], Vachon was known for his wild personality and uncontrollable character, as well as his unique interview style. He was married to Kathy Joe. Follow Pro Wrestling Stories on Twitter @pws_official, Facebook @prowrestlingstories, or reach out via e-mail at admin@prowrestlingstories.com. Of course, they always pick the biggest guy. A policeman tried to stop me and I hit him too," said Vachon. Upon debuting, Vachon immediately established himself among the promotion's top box-office draws as fans despised his vicious, mauling tactics; and he thus made the perfect opponent for the All-American Gagne, as the two rivals soon commenced an ongoing battle that would persist on for nearly 20 years. The godfather was Maurice Picard, his uncle and the godmother was Victoria Ouellet, his maternal grandmother; he was the second child of 13 children of Montreal policeman Ferdinand Vachon and Marguerite Picard.
He added, "[Vachon is] the best-known Quebec wrestler outside of Quebec. Born in a working class district of Montreal in 1929, Maurice Vachon was a standout grappler from a very young age. Pat LaPrade, author of the Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs, a book on Quebec wrestling history, considers Vachon one of the two most important Quebec wrestlers along with Yvon Robert. AWA World Heavyweight Champion; AWA World Tag Team Championship; 2010 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee. Born in a working class district of Montreal in 1929, Maurice Vachon was a standout grappler from a very young age. In the early 1970s he even appeared alongside Vivian in the motion picture Wrestling Queen.