Scariest of All-Time: Luna Vachon

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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The first time I saw Luna Vachon was on the pages of an Apter mag back in the late 1980s. She was the manager of the Blackhearts at the time.  They wore masks and cloaks and wrestled on the independent circuit. 

But Luna had been involved in wrestling long before that article brought her to my attention.  Wrestling was in her blood.  She's the daughter of Butcher Vachon and the niece of Mad Dog Vachon.  Her Godfather was Andre the Giant.  Her ashes are actually scattered on the ranch Andre once lived on.  

In 1993 she arrived in WWE to manage Shawn Michaels. That relationship didn't last long and she ended up with Bam Bam Bigelow to feud with Doink and Dink. An odd combination but the fearlessness of Luna shined through. She eventually would receive a championship opportunity against Alundra Blayze but never won the gold.

She did strike some form of gold years later with Goldust. This was my favorite incarnation of Luna. She would go on to feud with Sable and eventually turn good and become part of the Oddities. Luna would also wrestle against Jeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental Championship as well.

Luna's appearance, voice, and willingness to get in the ring against men and women made her one of the scariest of all-time. She is sorely missed today as we recently marked the 10 year anniversary of her death. 

Foreign Object Friday: Doink's fake arm

Doinks in action with the arm
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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WrestleMania Week is in full swing and once again I'm keeping that theme with today's FOF. It's my favorite moment from WrestleMania IX. I don't know if that says something about me as a fan or the rest of the card that day from Caeser's Palace.

The match was Doink the Clown vs. Crush. Crush was the orange and yellow Kona Crush and not the darker bad ass Crush or Demolition Crush. Doink was an evil clown who was actually more over with the fans than the WWE probably intended him to be at the time.

Near the end of the match, Doink got caught in Crush's vice grip. As he flapped his arm's wildly, referee Joey Morella got hit and knocked down. Crush released the hold and Doink tried getting away. But he found himself again locked in the former tag team champion's finishing hold. That's when things got fun...

Wham!
Courtesy: WWE

A second Doink got into the ring, carrying a fake arm. Doink II whacked Crush across the back, which caused him to release the hold again. The original Doink grabbed Crush's arms and held him as the arm was smashed into the big man's head a couple of times. The new Doink disappeared in time for Morella to regain consciousness and make the three count for Doink.

"It was an illusion!"
Courtesy: WWE

The two clowns then posed together in the ring, in mime-like fashion. The original shouted the phrase "It was an illusion!" implying he was the only clown in the ring. That phrase made an impact on my wife (girlfriend at the time) as she was not a wrestling fan at the time, but perked up and watched the ending of this match. She would randomly use the phrase in the weeks after WrestleMania IX. It was kinda awesome.

SURVIVOR SERIES: Favorite team number 5: The Doinks (1993)

Doinks on a Mission and Bushwhacker Doinks
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm counting down to the 30th annual Survivor Series by looking back at my ten favorite teams in the history of the event. Survivor Series ranks among my favorite events every year and if you've read this blog in the past you know I'm a fan of the traditional elimination matches. 

I'm breaking a self-imposed rule of not using teams of the same year Survivor Series in this countdown. I'm also sure some people are cringing at this. But in 1993, WWE had some fun with Doink the Clown's popularity. Personally, I had been a huge fan of the evil version of the clown, watching in shock as he (and a double) beat Crush at WrestleMania IX. But I digress.

Battling it out
Courtesy: WWE

By the fall of '93, Doink was a good guy and feuding with Bam Bam Bigelow. As Survivor Series drew near, it was implied that Doink would summon the help of three look-alikes and do battle with Bigelow, Bastion Booger and the Headshrinkers. However when the music hit prior to the match fans quickly found out these were not realistic clones of Doink.

Instead, Luke Doink and Butch Doink made their way to the ring, one on a scooter, the other pulling a wagon. Moments later Doink's circus music turned to rap and Doinks on a Mission came out. Of course, this was Men on Mission (Mo, Oscar and Mable). The fans ate it up, myself included. Each man on the team had Doink's green hair and face paint but clearly kept their personalities through it.

Ouch
Courtesy: WWE

The clowning around continued through the match and the good guys quickly started racking up the wins. Each member of Bigelow's team was eliminated through mostly comedic means. The real Doink appeared on the TitanTron at the end of the match to rub in the fact that Bigelow's team lost and all four Doinks survived.

Yes, it was cheesy as hell, but this was still before internet spoilers were out there and the Bushwhackers and MOM in makeup was a surprise. It was because of that unexpected aspect that I hold this team in high regard. 

Top 10:

Team 6: Team HBK: Survivor Series 1995

Team 7: Team Piper: Survivor Series 1991

Team 8: The All-Americans: Survivor Series 1993

Team 9: Team WWF Survivor Series 2001

Team 10: New Day, King Barrett and Sheamus: Survivor Series 2015

Rest In Peace Big Daddy V

Big Daddy V in action
Photo courtesy: WWE 

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I woke up this morning to the news that Nelson Frazier, Jr. had died.  For those who aren't wrestling fans and are reading this, Frazier was a wrestler known as Mabel, King Mabel, Viscera, and Big Daddy V through the years.  He was only 43 years old, just two years older than me.

Mabel as Doink
Photo courtesy: WWE

I first discovered Frazier when he entered the WWF in 1993 as Mabel.  It was his rookie year in the business.  He and his partner Mo were paired with a manager named Oscar and the trio was known as Men On a Mission.  They wore purple and gold and rapped their way to the ring.  I'll admit I wasn't huge fans of the team, but I did enjoy when they showed up at Survivor Series 93 dressed as Doink the Clown.

King Mabel
Photo courtesy: WWE

Even when they turned heel I was still luke warm to the team. Mabel went on to become the King of the Ring and challenge guys like then WWF champion Diesel and The Undertaker, but he never really excelled with the gimmick.  He eventually became a demonic character and joined Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness, teaming with Mideon.  

Squeal like a pig...
Photo courtesy: WWE

It wasn't until he evolved into another character a few years later that I really began enjoying him.  The silk-pajama wearing love machine Big Daddy V provided some entertainment in the mid 2000's.  He found himself teaming with another ladies man in Val Venis.  Big Daddy V had a brief fling with Lilian Garcia.  Eventually he would turn on her after she told him they could only be friends.

Big Daddy V & Matt Striker
Photo courtesy: WWE

Matt Striker soon stepped in and managed repackaged and less fun loving version of Big Daddy V.  He participated in the Monsters Ball on ECW and feuded with Kane.  I feel like that gimmick and the PJ wearing ladies man were his two best.  I know he did a lot of indy work in between his stints with the WWE.  Frazier entertained crowds for more than 20 years and he will be missed. Our condolences to his family, friends, and fans.  Rest in peace Big Daddy V.

In Memory (2013)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

We've lost several wrestling greats in 2013.  As we prepare to wrap up the year and look ahead to 2014, I wanted to take a moment to honor those who died this year.  May they all rest in peace.

Boo: The Beast from the East

Bam Bam Bigelow
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Bam Bam Bigelow's WWF debut in 1987 was one of my favorites growing up.  Billed as the Beast from the East, Bam Bam weighed in at nearly 400 pounds.  His black tights were covered in bright orange and red flames.  His bald head was tattooed flames as well.  Bigelow's look was unique to say the least.

I had heard of Bigelow and seen him wrestle prior to his debut in the WWF in World Class Championship Wrestling.  In those days, he was known as Crusher Yurkov, a big, Russian monster.  He didn't stick around long in WCCW and made a big splash on the WWF, but this time as a baby face.

I loved Bam Bam.  I was in high school when he came to New York as all the heel managers scouted this intimidating monster.  Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart, and Slick among others promised Bigelow the moon and beyond if he'd sign on with them.  In a somewhat surprising move, Bigelow chose the equally oddly dressed Oliver Humperdink as his manager.

Bam Bam in the Survivor Series main event
Courtesy: WWE

Bigelow seemingly rose the ranks of the company pretty quickly.  I had high hopes for him, as the man to end the long running streak of the Honky Tonk Man.  Then, I banked on him to win the WWF title in the Wrestlemania IV tournament.  When he was eliminated in the first round, I was crushed.  So, remaining optimistic, I hoped he and Hulk Hogan would team up and beat Demolition for the tag team titles.  But alas, it never happened.

Bam Bam left the company and headed to WCW, where continued to work as a face (I think he did) and I thought he'd beat Barry Windham for the U.S. title, but that didn't happen.  I think at some point, they turned him, but he eventually left there too and bounced around some lesser known companies and did a stint overseas too.

The Doink feud
Courtesy: WWE

In 1993, Bigelow returned to the WWF as the monster heel he probably should have always been.  He and Luna Vachon joined forces in one of wrestling's oddest (yet most destined to be together) duos.  After feuds with Tatanka and Doink the Clown, Bam Bam ended up in a huge match against Lawrence  Taylor at Wrestlemania XI.  He lost, but ended up turning face and feuding with his ex manager Ted DiBiase and his Million Dollar Corporation.

Soon he was on the downward slide and left again.  Eventually he signed on with ECW and won several titles there.  His brutal image helped he reign supreme in the land of hardcore wrestling.  Bigelow went back to WCW too and stuck around until the company was bought by Vince McMahon in 2001.  I had hoped he'd get another shot at glory with the WWE, but it never came to be.

Bigelow retired a short time later and sadly died in 2007.  He was 45 years old.

Boo: Send in the Clowns

Doink the Clown
Photo courtesy: WWE

Editor's note:  The man behind the original Doink character, Matt Borne passed away on June 28, 2013.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.  Rest in Peace.

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I may be one of the few people out there who actually enjoyed Doink the Clown.  When he first showed up in the WWF in late 1992, a lot people criticized the gimmick.  I loved the idea of an evil clown terrorizing not just the fans, but the babyfaces too.

Doink for those who don't know was played by Matt Bourne, who wrestled on the very first Wrestlemania against Ricky Steamboat.  He worked in regional promotions like Pacific Northwest and World Class, achieving success in tag team competition. In the early 90's he was WCW's Big Josh, a babyface lumberjack who held the 6 man tag team titles at one point.

Doink vs. Crush
Wrestlemania IX

I feel like Doink really allowed Bourne's personality to shine.  It's similiar to how Goldust brought out the best of Dustin Rhodes.  Doink's feud with Crush was quite memorable to me.  The two battled it out at Wrestlemania IX.  I figured Crush would crush (pardon the pun) his opponent.  But the clown outsmarted the big man and a second Doink helped secure the win.  Nearly 20 years later, I still mutter the phrase "It was an illusion" the same way Bourne did after the second Doink scurried back under the ring.

Like all good things in wrestling, the heel Doink finally came to an end.  It was on an episode of Monday Night Raw in the fall of 93 when the clown threw a bucket of water or confetti on commentator Bobby Heenan.  A feud with Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon would follow with Doink picking up a little sidekick Dink.  By this point the gimmick jumped the shark and was painful to watch.

Doink vs. Heath Slater

There's still a version of Doink on the indie scene and we've seen some form of him on Raw recently, returning to battle Heath Slater.  It was the one match the One Man Band won in his battle with the legends.  Yes, I just used legend to describe Doink.  Some may disagree, but I was down with the clown, and one of these years for Wrestlemania I'd love to dress up like him.

It's Slater Time

Heath Slater finishes off Doink the Clown
Photo by WWE.com

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I have to admit, Heath Slater has grown on me in recent weeks.  I wasn't a real big fan of his during NXT, although I wasn't completely against him.  Then when the Nexus angle was born and died and morphed into the Corre, I put Heath among my least favorites.

Now as the Legends' whipping boy, I'm impressed.  I can't put my finger on why.  Even with Vader and Sid and Diamond Dallas Page and Cyndi Lauper and Roddy Piper and Wendi Richter all making him look like a chump, he's not as annoying as I once found him.  Is it the way a former tag team champion (but does that really mean anything anymore) should be treated?  Probably not, but let's face it, this is wrestling and not everyone is going to be in the main event and not everyone is going to be a champion (or at least they shouldn't be).

The segments are brief, they're good comedy relief to help with the pacing of the show, and who doesn't like to see a legend return from time to time?  I was a bit surprised that Slater pinned Doink on the most recent Raw.  Does anyone know who was the clown?  I'm not sure that it was Matt Bourne (no relation to Evan) this time around.  Also, one quick correction from what Michael Cole said about Doink.  He claimed the clown wrestled at Wrestlemanias 9 and 17.  This is true, but he was also on the Wrestlemania X card, teaming with Dink and losing to Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon.

Vader Time!!!!
Photo by WWE.com

I assume these returns and beatings will continue until Raw's 1,000th episode later this month.  Let it run its course and maybe by the time it's over, Slater will be more over with the fans and this will result in some kind of a push.  I think this could have been a good position for a heel Zack Ryder to have been in.  He peaked too soon, Broski.

Which WWE Legend would you like to see come out next?  Weigh in here or on our Facebook page.

Mania Memories: New Beginnings

Bret wins the title back (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Wrestlemania 10 in my view was the start of a new era for the WWF.  Main stay main eventer Hulk Hogan was gone from the company.  Randy Savage was on his way out.  Roddy Piper was merely a special guest referee.

Workhorse Bret Hart proved to be the man that night by wrestling (and losing to) his younger brother Owen in what may be the best opening match in the history of Wrestlemania and later going on to defeat Yokozuna for the World heavyweight title.  I'm not a fan of repeat matches or main events for that matter at Wrestlemania, but the outcome of the match at 10 was much different than at 9, and with Piper as the special guest referee it added something different to the mix.

Close, but no cigar for Luger

Lex Luger had received a shot earlier in the night against Yoko, but lost when the special guest ref for that match, Mr. Perfect, disqualified Luger, thus turning heel.  I had really thought they'd go with a Luger win over Yoko and then have Hart beat Lex in the main event, just to have said Luger had a run as champ.  But that never happened, and Luger's push essentially died that night.

Doink and Dink teamed up against Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon.  Let's never speak of that match again.  Savage ended up beating Crush in a falls count anywhere match.  This would be one of the Macho Man's final appearance in the WWF/E forever.  Kinda sad to think about that.  Men on a Mission nearly won the WWF tag team titles, beating the Quebecers by disqualification which should tell you something about the state of the tag team situation back in 1994.  Women's wrestling was back on the card for the first time years, with Alundra Blayze beating former champion Leilani Kai.  The Undertaker, who had started his impressive streak 3 years earlier, wasn't on the show.  He was selling the beat down he took at the hands of Yokozuna a couple months earlier at the Royal Rumble.

Shawn comes crashing down (WWE)

Yes, Wrestlemania 10 had a different look and feel than previous Wrestlemanias, and the match that probably set it apart the most was the ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels.  This was the first time a ladder match had been done on WWF television, much less at a pay per view.  Ramon and Michaels put on a contest for the ages, it's a ladder match that has certainly stood the test of time and is one of the best ever.  In the end, Ramon was the winner, walking out with the Intercontinental title. That match, along with Bret's win and Owen's earlier in the night set a new tone for the WWF.  The big man didn't have to be at the helm as champion.  It truly was a new generation.

What are your thoughts of Wrestlemania 10?  Share them here or on Facebook.

It's a Sin

From WWE.com

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Sin Cara has been less than exciting since his debut in the WWE back in the spring.  On the first ever Super SmackDown! Sin Cara apparently turned heel.  He had a pretty good match with Daniel Bryan and afterwards, instead of accepting Bryan's handshake, the superstar from Mexico kicked the former NXT performer in the head.

The heel turn by Cara baffles me.  I thought the original plan for him was to be the PG rated fan favorite to fill the shoes of Rey Mysterio, who will undoubtedly be hanging up his mask sooner rather than later.  Now that Rey is off the shelf for an undetermined amount of time because of his knee surgery, I thought Cara would get a push as being one of the top babyfaces.

Double vision... (WWE)

I know that this Sin Cara isn't the original one signed earlier this year.  Mistico first signed with the WWE in January.  Six months later he found himself being suspended for a wellness violation.  Then the company brought in Hunico.   While I don't mind the change, I do wonder if the character is going to become a modern day Doink.  Originally Matt Borne played the role.  Eventually, Steve Keirn, Nick Dinsmore, and a handful of others wore the makeup and colorful tights.

Undertaker vs. Underfaker (WWE)

I don't think it will become that ridiculous with Sin Cara, but as I write this I had the thought of the WWE bringing Mistico back in to feud with Hunico over who gets the gimmick.  Remember when that horrible Undertaker vs. Underfaker match at SummerSlam 94?  There was also the silliness of two Kanes.  Luckily that one didn't last long either.  I don't think a matchup between Hunico and Mistico would be nearly that bad, but it's just the idea that makes me shake my head.

Mistico as Sin Cara at Wrestlemania Axxess

Back to the heel turn, or apparent turn... Some could argue that they're planting the seed for a matchup between Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania 28.  My opinion is that it's not necessary to turn either man heel.  I think the fans could get behind a face vs. face match with the two masked superstars.  Now if they are planning a match between the two at Mania, they need to start pushing the heck out of Cara.  Maybe the win over Bryan is the first step in a new direction for Sin Cara.

Regardless of what happens, we'll keep an eye on it and share our thoughts.  We want to know what you think too.  Post here, or on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Six Crazy Clowns

Doink!

On the sixth day of Wrestling Christmas my true fans brought to me... six crazy clowns.  All named Doink, but played by six different men.

Okay, I struggled with this one.  I'm not even sure we'll make it to day 12, but I'm still working on that.

Doink the Clown was brought in to the WWF back in 1992.  When you hear wrestling clown, you probably assume a good guy brought in to bring cheer to young fans.  But that was not the case at all.

You see, Doink was an evil clown.  His music was even scary when he came to the ring.  He played pranks on fans, and not nice ones.  He was played by former WWF jobber Matt Bourne, who had been successful in Portland and World Class.  Bourne had come to New York after a stint as lumberjack Big Josh in WCW.

Doink's most notable feud was his first big program in the WWF against Crush.  The big Hawaiian himself had just gone through a gimmick change after Demolition disbanded.  He kept the name, but changed his look, still sporting the mullet, but lost the make up and black leather.  Instead he wore an orange singlet, looking like a can of Orange Crush.  It all made sense.

I think most people expected Crush to, pardon the pun, crush Doink when the two met at Wrestlemania 9.  But of course, the clown had a plan.  When the ref went down, a second Doink appeared.  This one was former Fabulous One Steve Keirn (who was also Skinner).  He named Crush with a fake arm and the "real" Doink got the pin.  The clown told fans it was all an illusion.

Bourne eventually left the WWF, but the clown stayed behind.  This time, former WCCW wrestler Ray Apollo filled those giant floppy shoes.  But this time, Doink was a good clown.  Big mistake in my opinion.  I wasn't a big fan of his face turn, and then when he adopted his little sidekick Dink, the gimmick was pretty much dead to me.

During that time, the Doink gimmick spread to Men on a Mission and the Bushwhackers at the 1993 Survivor Series and again at the 1994 event when Doink was joined by three little clowns in two of the worst matches in the history of the pay per view.

Steve Lombardi who wrestled as the Brooklyn Brawler, also donned the makeup and bright colored costume.  Other jobbers Dusty Wolfe and John Maloof played the character too.  Those are the six guys who remained unnamed as Doink.  Other superstars like Jeff Jarrett and Chris Jericho did the gimmick, but it was obvious who was under the green wig.


Doink is still on the indy scene as well as "Son of Doink".  A gimmick that started nearly 20 years ago, still having some popularity out there.  Again, the original gimmick was one of my favorites from back then.


So here's the Wrestling Christmas count:
A Red Rooster in a wrestling ring
2 Turtle jobbers
3 French Canadians
4 Wooing Horsemen
5 Brass knuckles
6 Crazy clowns


Stay tuned for tomorrow.  We'll come up with something.