Scariest of All-Time Part 26: Bam Bam Bigelow

 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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One look at Bam Bam Bigelow and you knew he was a badass. With tattoos up and down his arm and more famously on his scalp, Bigelow was one of the scariest guys to set through the ropes. Early on in his career, he wrestled as Crusher Yurkov, a menacing man from Russia. 

When he arrived in the WWF during the summer of 1987, he came in with a lot of fanfare. He turned down the offers of all the heel managers to reveal Oliver Humperdink as his manager. While he wasn't scary as a babyface, he was quite impressive during that first run. I had actually picked him to win the WrestleMania IV tournament (I was a hopeful 15-year-old at the time). 

By the time he returned to the company in 1993 he was a much different character. The Beast from the East lived up to his name and dominated the competition. He joined forces with Luna Vachon and the usual duo showed us just how scary they could be.  Bigelow eventually joined the Million Dollar Corporation and even main evented WrestleMania 11 against Lawrence Taylor. 

Bigelow sadly died in 2007. As far as I'm concerned he was one of the all-time best big men in the ring.

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. 

Instead of Debra, how about Luna

Debra & Luna

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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New WWE fans are likely impressed with the state of women's wrestling in the company. But it hasn't always been this way. Long before Hell a Cell, the Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank, the ladies on the WWE roster competed in pillow fights, bra and panty matches and pools filled with pudding, mud or even gravy. I'm not discrediting anyone's work during the Attitude Era, but bust size played a bigger role in pushes than work rate.

Debra with Jeff Jarrett
Courtesy: WWE

Such is the case in 1999. Sable was the WWE Women's Champion at the time. She and Debra engaged in an evening gown match where the idea is to strip your opponent, not unlike the old tuxedo matches. In this instance, Debra was stripped down to her bra and panties and should have lost the match. However, Shawn Michaels, who was GM or commissioner at the time declared Debra the winner, I'm guessing because he was impressed with her 'puppies.'

Luna
Courtesy: WWE

Debra was never a regular wrestler in the ring. That's why I would have rather seen Luna Vachon have a run as WWE Women's Champion. She was one of the hardest working women in that era and a trailblazer for today's wrestling scene. She and Sable had feuded, but for some reason, the company never switched the title to Luna. 

She was a square peg trying to fit in a round hole at the time. Luna was not the cookie cutter 'diva'. She stood out and she had the skills to succeed. Luna would have made a wonderful champion and could have helped break the stereotypes of late 90s women's wrestling. That stigma took quite some time to break.

Previous 'Instead of' blogs

Instead of Slaughter, how about Jake?

Instead of Hart, how about Von Erich?

Instead of Garvin, how about Windham?

Instead of Diesel, how about Bulldog?

Click the pic for this week's podcast

Girl Fight coming to Cape Girardeau

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Look out southeast Missouri. The first ever Girl Fight Luna Vachon Memorial Tournament is coming to Cape Girardeau. It's part of the big Cape Comic Con celebration happening April 21-23. The Girl Fight kicks off the weekend. The show is Friday night at the AC Brase Building at Arena Park. 

Lil Bit vs. Sarah Summers (Stride Pro Wrestling)
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Eight of the best female wrestlers on the independent scene will be a part of this unique event. Scheduled to appear, familiar faces in CCW Sarah Summers, Lil Bit and Nikki Lane. Indy favorites like Amazing Maria, Miss Monica and Ruby Raze will be joined by former NXT Star "Blue Pants" Leva Bates and former TNA star Mickie Knuckles (who I once ate dinner with at Applebee's many years ago).

Mickie Knuckles
Courtesy: Mickie "Moose" Knuckles Facebook page

All eight of these women are highly talented and have what it takes to win this tournament. I've had a chance to see half of these competitors in action through the years. And picking a winner is not easy. But Mickie Knuckles has to be a favorite here. As Jim Ross would say, she's tougher than a two dollar steak and just as fearless. I know it's cliche, but the real winners will be the fans. They will witness eight of the best who will do what it takes to win this special tournament to honor of the wrestling's most unique and iconic women in Luna Vachon.

After the winner is crowned, Final Drive and Eurydice will take the stage and perform a concert. Tickets for both shows are just $10. Head here for more details. And come back the next night for the CCW Super Show.

A 'Little Bit' about Marni Gras

Marni Gras ready for action
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Long before the Divas Revolution/Women's Evolution in WWE, women's wrestling has been a big part of the independent scene. Stride Pro Wrestling is building a roster of women too. Sarah Summers will step into the ring Saturday night and team with Farmer Billy Hills to battle three other teams in a Fatal Four Way Tag Team Turmoil match for the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles. 

Marni vs. Summers
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Last month, Summers did battle with Stride newcomer Marni Gras. For fans who think Marni looks familiar, there's a good reason. She also wrestles in Cape Championship Wrestling as Little Bit. She's already put it out there that she's returning this Saturday night, but says "I just can't figure out which personality is going to show up." We do know the opponent will be the always dangerous Alexxa Flood. We've seen here in battles with not just Summers, but Farmer too. 

Marni gets aggressive
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Marni will need to come to Stride with her A game. Last time she was her, she gave Summers a very competitive match. I've also seen her compete at CCW and have been impressed. Her downfall in March though was when she tried to take a shortcut. Summers turned the tables on an attempt to throw glitter and Marni ended up being blinded and pinned.

The women of Stride Pro Wrestling
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

It'll be interesting to see which woman goes to the well for something underhanded first because both Flood and Marni have a reputation for bending the rules. It's all good though as adding more women to the Stride Pro Wrestling roster is definitely a good thing. Little Bit will be a part of Cape Championship Wrestling's first ever Girl Fight. It's the Luna Vachon Memorial Tournament and part of a huge weekend of wrestling coming to southeast Missouri (April 21 & 22). Listen to Monday's podcast for more details on that show. 

Ladies Night: Please Add These Women to the Hall of Fame

Three Hall of Fame worthy women
Elizabeth, Cyndi Lauper and Luna Vachon

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Before I get too far into this post, I'm going to start off by saying I know that there are likely circumstances that we don't know about that are keeping some of these women out of the WWE Hall of Fame.  I'm not posting this as a criticism to the WWE, these are just a few of the names I'd like to see enshrined sooner rather than later. 

Randy Savage & Elizabeth at Wrestlemania IV
Photo courtesy: WWE

Miss Elizabeth was often referred to as "The First Lady of Wrestling."  I remember when she burst onto the scene in WWF back in 1985.  All of the managers in the company had been trying hard to sign newcomer "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  The Macho Man turned down the likes of Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart and Freddie Blassie.  Finally, Savage introduced his manager/valet, a beautiful brunette simply named Elizabeth.  She made history in the WWE and paved the way for the likes of Sunny, Sable and Marlena.

Liz saves the day
Photo courtesy: WWE

Savage and Liz were made a great pairing.  I'm sure it had a lot to do with the fact that they were married in real life.  The couple had its ups and downs and finally split during the Mega Powers explosion in 1989.  Liz faded out of the spotlight, showing up briefly a year later at Wrestlemania 6 to "manage" Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire against Savage and Sensational Sherri.  Then a year after that, the "first couple of wrestling" reunited when Liz jumped the barricade and charged the ring to save Savage from Sherri's beating.  I along with many others cheered in front of the TV as these two embraced and rekindled their romance.  Randy and Liz were "Ross and Rachel" long before Friends ever premiered.

Elizabeth confronts Ric Flair
Photo courtesy: WWE

Liz stuck by Macho Man after their TV wedding and the couple survived Ric Flair's allegations of a previous romance with Elizabeth.  The couple divorced behind the scenes a short time later, but Elizabeth stayed involved in the business after Savage appeared in WCW.  She played a role in several story lines there including one of the worst handcuff jobs I've ever seen.  Sadly Elizabeth died in 2003 at the age of 42.  I've read that surviving family members are the ones keeping her out of the Hall of Fame.  I remain optimistic that an agreement will eventually be reached and she'll take her rightful place in wrestling history.

Lauper with Wendi Richter
Photo courtesy: WWE

I've blogged before about Cyndi Lauper and why I think she belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame.  Simply stated: Cyndi was a major factor behind the Rock n Wrestling Connection in 1984.  She showed up on Piper's Pit after Capt. Lou Albano took credit for her success (Albano had appeared in her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun video).  Eventually Piper got involved, which brought in Hulk Hogan and Mr. T and leading to Wrestlemania.  In the meantime, Lauper managed Richter to her two WWF Women's Title reigns.  I was a huge fan of Cyndi's at the time and seeing her on WWF programming sealed the deal for me.  Her work in those early days have more than earned her the right to be the first female inductee into the Celebrity Wing of the Hall of Fame.  

Luna at Monday Night Raw
Photo courtesy: WWE

Luna Vachon is one of the first true bad ass women of wrestling. My first memories of her are from my Apter magazines, when they'd written up something about her and the tag team she managed The Blackhearts.  She looked just as scary and tough as the men she managed.  Later, she surfaced in WWF and joined the likes of Shawn Michaels and Bam Bam Bigelow.  She and Bigelow feuded with Doink and Dink the Clown at a time when women's wrestling frankly sucked in WWF.  She'd later return and join Goldust during a period when Goldie had gone rogue.  Luna feuded with Sable in the ring and in real life.  Despite her talent, Luna never won the women's title.  Even with her ups and downs behind the scenes, I think she too has earned her a chance at immortality in the Hall of Fame.  May she rest in peace as well.

Seasons Beatings: Gold Christmas

The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust
Merry Christmas
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The Attitude Era created some very memorable characters and storylines.  One of my favorite stars before the era official started was Goldust.  By 1997, after a face turn, Goldie went back to his heel ways, but changing his name to the Artist Formerly Known as Goldust.  He broke away from his traditional garb, but had that air of mystic about him still.  He also dumped Marlena (or Terri) and added Luna Vachon as he valet/sidekick.

In late 97, the two were feuding with Vader.  The couple had come out to the ring during a Raw in Christmas gear.  TAFKAG was dressed liked a Christmas tree.  He paraded around the ring with lights that lit up and was even topped with a star. Luna was a deranged looking Mrs. Claus.  TAFKAG started reading Twas the Night Before Christmas when Santa interrupted by handing out gifts to the fans.

The aftermath

The two heels didn't appreciate the interruption and when they asked St. Nick to leave, he came into the ring and blindsided the former golden one with a sack full of goodies.  Santa then pulled off his beard and hat and revealed himself to be Vader.  It was a short segment as Goldie and his companion quickly left the ringside area.

Props to Dustin Rhodes for playing the Goldust character so well.  Without a doubt he was one of my favorite characters ever.  Click here to watch the segment.

Boo: They're a Bit Odd

The Oddities

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The end of the 90's saw a big boom in the world of professional wrestling, due to the Monday Night Wars.  WCW and WWF were pulling out all the stops to get the leg up.  Part of the competition included bringing in talent outside of wrestling to attract crossover appeal.  The WWF (and eventually WCW) went after the Insane Clown Posse.

The rapping clowns become the cornermen for a group of wrestlers known as the Oddities.  Golga (who was played by the late, great John "Earthquake" Tenta), Giant Silva, the late, great Luna Vachon, and Kurrgan were all a part of the group.  It was kinda weird seeing these former monsters embrace the fans and work as faces. ICP performed the entrance tune for the group and even wrestled a few times.

The Oddities, originally booked as heels, were over with the fans and became faces.  They would dance before and after matches, and even though I'm not a big face of the ICP, I must admit the entrance theme is quite catchy.  I still play it in my iPod from time to time.

The Oddities with Sable
Photo courtesy: WWE

Even though the fans did love them, the Oddities weren't much more than a flash in the pan gimmick and mostly used to help get others over.  At one point Sable was involved with the group before feuding with Luna over the women's title.  ICP would eventually turn on the group too and join forces with the Headbangers.  But the clowns didn't stay in the WWF long and headed south to Atlanta and WCW.  Even George "the Animal" Steele briefly worked with the Oddities, proclaiming himself as an original.

The Oddities were odd and scary, but in a good way.  They were like the circus freaks, just as their song implies, but they meant no one any real harm.  I always found them fun to watch and entertaining as well.

Boo: Heart Breakers

Luna & the Blackhearts

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

In the early 1990's a tag team by the name of the Blackhearts was taking over the Stampede area.  The wrestler we all know now as Gangrel sported a mask and wrestled as Destruction.  His partner, Tom Nash was known as Apocalypse.  They were managed by Luna Vachon.

The original idea behind the gimmick was the masked twosome were the illegitimate sons of Stampede founder and promoter Stu Hart, hence the Black Hearts moniker.  (At least I read this part somewhere online, so take that with a grain of salt)  The trio eventually left Stampede and wrestled in a handful of other organizations, including the reincarnated UWF.   I never saw them on TV, but remember seeing pictures and reading about them in the Apter magazines.  I found all three of them to be beyond bizarre, which makes them a perfect fit for this series of blogs.

Luna leads the Blackhearts
UWF on EPSN Classics

They wore white masks on the outside of their regular masks when they headed to the ring.  But the black masks they wore in the ring wasn't your traditional mask.  It was a plain black one with no eye, nose, or mouth holes.  Luna not only managed the team, but would get involved in their matches and helping beat up opponents.  She also carried a snake to the ring, at least during the UWF days.

Luna and Nash were married at the time, but eventually split up.  Of course that lead to the end of the tag team, and Luna ended up marrying Gangrel (David Heath).  Ironically (or maybe not) they tied the knot on Halloween 1994.  He became the Vampire Warrior in USWA and eventually Gangrel in the WWE, leading Christian and Edge in the Brood.

Mania Memories: Gold for Stone Cold

The new champ (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

For several years the WWF was struggling in the Monday Night Wars with WCW.  Ted Turner's deep pockets were able to lure some of Vince McMahon's top talent away.  By the time Wrestlemania 14 rolled around, the pendulum was starting to swing back into Vince's favor.  Mike Tyson, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin are a big reason why that happened.

In the main event of Wrestlemania 14, Austin challenged the Heartbreak Kid for the WWF title.  Michaels was cockier than ever, having scored impressive wins over the Undertaker in the months leading up to Mania.  He had also beaten Bret Hart in the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" and fans were still a little bitter to say the least.  Austin was the anti hero, who really picked up steam and fan support the year earlier at Wrestlemania 13.  Having won his second consecutive Royal Rumble, Austin was the number one contender and going to Mania.

1-2-3 

Mike Tyson was brought in as an enforcer for the match.  But weeks before the big bout, Tyson pledged his allegiance to DX (Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna) thus stacking the odds against Austin.  Little did we know, Tyson had a trick up his sleeve and was actually in cahoots with Austin and when the ref in the match took a bump, Iron Mike jumped into action and made the three count.  A new champ was crowned and a new era was about to officially get underway.  When HBK came to from the Stone Cold Stunner he'd received, he argued with Tyson before the former boxing champion cold cocked Michaels and knocked him out.  Fans at the time had no idea this would be the last wrestling match HBK would be in more than four years.

Other talent would soon start rising to the top as a result of the events at Wrestlemania 14.  The Rock was the Intercontental champion and successfully defended against Ken Shamrock.  The Rock was months away from his own run as the WWF champion too.  Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie (Terry Funk in a stocking over his head) beat the New Age Outlaws in a dumpster match for the tag team titles, however the decision was reversed.  I don't remember what the technicality was, but it happened the next night on Raw. Triple H was successful in defending the European title against Owen Hart.  These two had a pretty good feud going on at the time.  It was a pleasant surprise.

Painful...

Goldust was going through some changes at that point, and was known as The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust.  He was no longer with Marlena and instead hanging out with Luna Vachon.  The two were feuding with Marc Mero and Sable and came up short in their match against the married couple.  Taka Michinoku beat Aguila in a WWF light heavyweight championship match.  And the Undertaker returned after being in a casket set a blaze to defeat his brother Kane.

LOD 2000 (WWE)

Another surprise at 14 was the return of the Legion of Doom.  This time Hawk and Animal were known as LOD 2000 and their new manager was a bikini clad Sunny.  The legendary team won a tag team battle royal that included 14 other teams including the original Rock n Roll Express and a new version of the Midnight Express (which didn't hold  a candle to "Sweet" Stan Lane and "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton.)

Kane meets Pete (WWE)

The stars were also out at Wrestlemania 14 with former Bill Clinton (alleged) lover Gennifer Flowers and Pete Rose.  This would establish the running gag of Rose and Kane having issues at Manias to come.  It also lead to Rose being the first celebrity inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Overall, I loved this card.  It was the start of a new era in wrestling.  I think after a lame Wrestlemania 13, 14 definitely gave the company and the business for that matter a much needed shot in the arm which ultimately ended up changing wrestling forever.

What are your thoughts on Wrestlemania 14?  Am I overselling it?  Share your impressions 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.

Freak of the Week: Luna Vachon

Courtesy: wwe.com

This post is meant as a tribute, not a slam at the late, great Luna Vachon.  The second generation star died a couple of months ago.  She was only 48.  It appears Luna died from an accidental overdose of painkillers and anti-anxiety medication.  I know the last couple of years had been rough for her.  May she rest in peace.

I remember the first time I saw Luna Vachon.  It was in a wrestling magazine.  Pro Wrestling Illustrated.  I used to buy a new copy each month when I was growing up.  Luna was managing the Blackhearts at the  time.  They wore masks and cloaks and wrestled on the independent circuit.  They were bizarre.  All three of them.  And until just now, I never realized Gangrel (Luna's eventual husband) was one of the Blackhearts.

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.  

From what I've read Luna started off in the business soft spoken and not quite so "freaky."  It was an angle with Kevin Sullivan that turned her into the character we all remember.  Her first main stream exposure came in 1993 when she showed up at Wrestlemania 9 as Shawn Michaels' valet.  Shawn and Sherri Martel had just "broken up" and HBK needed someone to have his back.  It was an odd pairing and it didn't last very long.

She soon took a shining to Bam Bam Bigelow.  The two were a match made in hell with all their tattoos and crazy markings.  They feuded with Doink the Clown and his little sidekick Dink.  The inter gender duo beat the clowns at Wrestlemania 10.  Luna also had a go with women's champion Alundra Blayze.  She never won that title.  

Luna left the WWF, but would eventually return.  She managed Goldust and the two had some very unusual costumes.  One that sticks out was when Goldie had pink or purple hair and wore some sort of wet suit and had a ball gag in his mouth.  Bizarre.  Around this same time I believe Luna was feuding with Sable.  

The two actually feuded a couple of times, as Luna eventually turned face and managed the Oddities.  No explanation needed there.   Sable played the snotty b*tch and Luna was the freak.  Classic high school conflict that everyone can relate to, whether you're the stuck up one or the freaky one.

Somewhere along the way too, she challenged Jeff Jarrett for the intercontinental title and beat him by disqualification.  Luna left the WWF and hit the indy scene again. Of course I glossing over some of her accomplishments and writing most of this from memory.  Some of it with the help of the "magic box."

Luna had recently lost everything in a house fire, so I'm sure that added to her stress and anxiety levels.  Again, may she rest in peace and thanks for the memories.