Vampiro

Ian Richard Hodgkinson (born May 31, 1967), better known by his ring name Vampiro, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler who most recently served as director of talent for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).

He also worked for Lucha Underground as a color commentator.

Hodgkinson is also member of the citizen crime patrol organization Guardian Angels, acting as head of the group's chapter in Mexico City.

Hodgkinson has wrestled for various wrestling promotions.

In the United States, he is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling, where he held the WCW World Tag Team Championship with The Great Muta.

He made his debut as a jobber in 1984 at the age of 16 with little training, although he has credited Abdullah the Butcher as his trainer.

He wrestled under the names Ian Richards and Gene Anderson during this time.

However, his greatest success was achieved in Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre during the 1990s.

In his professional wrestling career, Hodgkinson is a five-time World Champion having won the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship once, the UWA World Heavyweight Championship once and the JCW Heavyweight Championship three times.

Hodgkinson used to be a bodyguard for the pop group Milli Vanilli.

After a few years in Montreal, in 1991, Hodgkinson headed down to Mexico City, looking for work in one of Mexico's premier wrestling promotions, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.

He met with Paco Alonso and Antonio Peña, who 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, with his very limited moveset that only consisted of punches, kicks, and headbutts, he became an overnight sensation, as his rock star appearance and natural good looks caught on with the young Mexican women in the audience.

On October 19, 1991, Vampiro would team up with Villano III to defeat Dos Caras and El Canek in a CMLL and UWA joint promotion event.

In 1992, Vampiro would be part of multiple hair vs hair matches.

The first of which would be on March 21 defeating Bestia Negra II.

Throughout the months Vampiro would beat Rick Patterson, Pirata Morgan, Aaron Grundy and Sangre Chicana in hair vs hair matches.

In late 1992, Vampiro participated in the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship tournament and reached the semi-final before being defeated by Black Magic.

In early 1993, Vampiro would team up with Pierroth Jr.. to take part in the CMLL World Tag Team Championship tournament and progressed to the final where the two would take on Dr. Wagner Jr. and El Canek in a best two out of three falls match.

Going into the last match between the two teams where drawing with one win each, Dr. Wagner Jr. and El Canek would win the last match and therefore the vacant CMLL World Tag Team Championship.

In the first round of the Gran Prix 1994 he lost to Yamato.

In mid to late 1994, Vampiro would begin to team up with Pegasus Kid, along with El Rayo de Jalisco Jr., in the final of the Trios Tournament.

The trio would lose to El Dandy, El Texano and Silver King.

Vampiro and Pegasus Kid later fell to El Texano and Silver King in the quarterfinals of the CMLL World Tag Team Championship number one contendership tournament.

Vampiro would go on to team up with Apolo Dantés and lost to Dr. Wagner Jr. & Pierroth Jr.. in the semi-final of the CMLL World Tag Team Championship number two contendership tournament.

In July 1995, Vampiro reached the final of the Gran Prix 1995 before being defeated by Headhunter A.

In what was perhaps the biggest match of his career to this point, he took on Apolo Dantes in a best out of three falls match for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship.

In 1996, Vampiro would leave CMLL to join other top Mexican promotions such as International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) and Promo Azteca (AZTECAS).

However, in 1998 he would return to CMLL and would take part in the CMLL World Trios Championship tournament and Gran Prix 1998, ultimately winning neither.

His last match for CMLL for many years would take place on December 11, 1998.

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 arrival and did not take well to his superstardom.

The feud stems from Vampiro being offered a part in a Mexican soap opera, when the producers ended up changing their mind at the last minute as they learned that his command of the Spanish language was poor.

They went with Konnan - a fluent Spanish speaker, instead.

Vampiro considered that Konnan had sabotaged his chance to parlay his ring success into mainstream stardom, as Konnan did become a mainstream star in Mexico as a result of the role.

The rivalry lasted for several years until the two resolved their differences whilst working in WCW, where they became business associates.

Prior to wrestling, Hodgkinson was an ice hockey goaltending prospect who was drafted by the Kingston Canadians, now known as the Kingston Frontenacs, of the Ontario Hockey League, in the 10th round, 138th overall.

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.