On November 21st, 2013, the city of Montreal, and wrestling world, were rocked with the news of the passing of Mad Dog Vachon. Vachon, 84, died in his sleep, leaving behind six children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
To Quebec, it was a sad loss. Vachon, born in Montreal, Quebec, was a popular figure in the Quebec scene. As Pat Laprade, co-author of Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw-Jobs, puts it; “(Vachon is) the best-known Quebec wrestler outside of Quebec. A legend.” Indeed, he was. Mad Dog’s unique style and frightening intimidation, were just two parts of his overall persona. He was the first person in wrestling to look at the camera while he talked, and communicate directly with the fans watching. It was his way of making fans feel like the wrestler was looking them straight in the eyes, and addressing his message to them, telling everyone what he would do to his opponent.
What he did to his opponent, that’s what separated him from the crop. In addition to shaving his head bald, growing thick facial hair, and bulking up to over 200 pounds, Vachon bought TV time in order to cut his own promos, which at that point, was somewhat revolutionary. His in-ring style was like none other. Battling the roster of faceless wrestlers, mostly with generic gimmicks, Mad Dog would scare the crowd by beating his opponent to a bloody pulp, while throwing in dirty tactics such as biting, clawing, and choking. Vachon was, in a way, an animal in the ring. A beast.
After a successful career in the American Wrestling Association, which saw him win the AWA Heavyweight Championship on five occasions, MidWest Tag Team Championships three times (twice with Bob Orton, once with Paul Vachon) and the World Tag Team Championships twice (once with Paul Vachon, once with Verne Gagne), arguably his biggest accomplishment came at a time where he wasn’t a Champion. In his home of Montreal, in Jarry Park, Vachon took on Killer Kowalski in front of just under 30,000 fans – the largest wrestling crowd in Quebec history. The stipulation was simple, yet horrifying: if Vachon did not win, he would commit suicide. Vachon did win, and the next morning, newspapers in Montreal circulated with the headline on the front page, “Vachon triumphs in front of 30,000 people and gives up on suicide!”
After his wrestling career, Vachon became a popular food critic in Quebec, and starred in some beer commercials. Unfortunately, he was also faced with tragedy when, on a jog one morning, he was hit by a car. The damage done forced doctors to amputate one of his legs, bounding him to a wheelchair. This injury, of course, was highlighted a few times on WWE programming, including the infamous moment when Diesel tore off his prosthetic leg, which was later used by Shawn Michaels.
In 2009, Vachon was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and one year later, he received an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Part of the 1996 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame already, Vachon’s list of accomplishments extend to a 2004 induction into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Mad Dog was named the fourth best Canadian-born wrestler, behind Whipper Billy Watson, Yvon Robert and Killer Kowalski in the book Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians, written by Greg Oliver. He was also ranked fourth all-time in villainous heels, in the same book.
With such a fantastic career and a retirement that included inductions everywhere, Last Word On Sports sat down with Pat Laprade, co-author of Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw-Jobs, a book which includes the story of Vachon, among other Quebec-born wrestlers. He shared some of his thoughts on the man and the wrestler, after following his career, and getting the chance to meet him in person.
“I met Maurice on a few occasions. The first time was during his last stay in Montreal in 2009 when he was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame. I think the very next day, I got to play cribbage with him, his brother Paul The Butcher, and Paul’s wife. What a thrill it was for me to befriend Maurice and Paul, (who treated me) as if I was a longtime buddy of theirs.
The day before he went back home, Paul had asked me to organize a dinner with all of their family members and friends. He made sure to invite my parents, which I thought was a nice gesture.
My dad was 78 at the time, and Maurice had just turned 80, so it was important to me to get a picture with both of them, since they were about the same age. Maurice was sitting on his wheelchair, I introduced him to my dad, Guy, and as we were ready to take the picture, Maurice told my dad with, his rocky voice: “Guy, Guy, put your hand on my shoulder!”, and so, he did! Who can argue with Maurice?!?
I saw him for the last time last July (2013), and I was glad to speak with him, gave him a copy of my book, and took some pictures.
Writing this make me realize how privileged I am to have bonded, for a short period of time, with one of the all-time greats!”
One year later, the province of Quebec and the entire wrestling world, for that matter, still mourns the loss of one of the greatest to ever lace a pair of wrestling boots. He may be gone, but never will he be forgotten.
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Photo Credit: TVA Sports
