Vampiro

Early life Hodgkinson used to be a bodyguard for the pop group Milli Vanilli. 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, part of the Canadian Hockey League, in the 10th round, 138th overall.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1984–1991) 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. 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.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1991–1998) 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.

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. 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. In 1991 he would continue to take part in CMLL and UWA joint promotion events and in 1992 he debuted for Universal Wrestling Association in a single promotion setting. On January 31, 1993, Vampiro defeated El Canek in a two out of three falls match to become the UWA World Heavyweight Champion. In June 1994, Vampiro would start on a two-month tour of Japan where he won almost all his matches and also took part in a tag team tournament where he teamed up with Lionheart and The Warlord and would be knocked out in the first round. He had also claimed that he planned on leaving WCW before he broke his neck.

Return to CMLL (2001–2005, 2007) With WCW out of business Vampiro headed back to CMLL and returned to action in June, 2001.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2001, 2006–2007)

On August 26, 2001, Vampiro would start his first tour of All Japan Pro Wrestling, having a 5-month run in the promotion. He quickly formed a heel tag-team alliance with George Hines, both of them younger AJPW midcarders seeking to rise up the ranks in the promotion, often calling out veteran wrestlers in their promos and Vampiro in particular criticizing American wrestling promotions like WCW. Vampiro and Hines would participate in a handful of TV tapings from August to December 2001 and two pay-per-view appearances, winning most of their televised matches. Vampiro would leave AJPW by mid December 2001 and return to the independent circuit. A few weeks later, Hines would go on to win the 2002 New Year's Battle Royal and its trophy on January 2, 2002, which aired two days later on the January 4 edition of AJPW TV.

Vampiro would go on two more tours of AJPW one in September 2006 and the second April 2007. He stated in interviews with the UK's Power Slam Magazine that he had no objection to joining TNA - although he suspected it would not happen due to the presence of Sting on their roster. On April 3, 2005, Vampiro returned to the AAA ring in a six-man tag match. Vampiro would team up with Shocker to help him deal with Abismo Negro and Cibernético after Cibernético attacked Shocker's father. In his two years with AAA, Vampiro would mainly appear on TV show tapings and rarely competed at house shows. On April 17, 2010, Vampiro turned rudo and aligned himself with El Zorro of La Legión Extranjera. On August 15, 2010, at Verano de Escandalo Vampiro unsuccessfully challenged Dr. Wagner Jr. for the AAA Mega Championship in a three-way match, which also included Silver King. After not appearing for the promotion again for four months, Hodgkinson gave his notice and quit AAA on December 20, 2010.

In January 2011, Vampiro was a guest at WrestleReunion 5 in Los Angeles, California.

Vampiro returned to AAA on December 16, 2011, at Guerra de Titanes, saving El Mesías from La Sociedad and pledging his loyalty to the promotion. Vampiro then started feuding with La Sociedad member Chessman. On October 7 at Héroes Inmortales, Vampiro and Joe Líder defeated Abyss and Chessman to win the AAA World Tag Team Championship. On December 2 at Guerra de Titanes, Vampiro lost his hair to Chessman in a six-way steel cage Lucha de Apuestas, which also included Cibernético, Dr. Wagner Jr., L.A. Park and El Hijo del Perro Aguayo. On May 22, 2013, Vampiro and Líder were stripped of the AAA World Tag Team Championship.

On May 24, 2015, Vampiro, along with Matt Striker, served as one half of the English language commentators for Lucha Libre AAA World Wide's Lucha Libre World Cup internet pay-per-view.

On February 17, 2017, Vampiro was named AAA's Director of Talent.

In the summer of 2017, Taya was stripped of her AAA Reina de Reinas Championship for an unknown reason. She later posted a comment on Twitter saying she was "backstabbed by AAA" and announced that she was no longer a part of the AAA Roster. At a TV taping, Sexy Star returned and defeated Big Mami, Lady Shani, Faby Apache, Goya Kong and La Hiedra for the title. Taya later stated she had lost all respect for Sexy Star which started a shoot feud between Johnny Mundo (Taya's husband) and Taya and Kevin Kross. With Mundo and Vampiro having heated conversations backstage, Vampiro chose Texano Jr. to face Mundo for AAA Mega Championship, with Mundo coming out victorious. At a Triplemanía XXV press conference, Vampiro announced that Mundo would face El Hijo del Fantasma and Texano in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the AAA Latin American, World Cruiserweight and Mega Championships.

In May 2020, he announced he would leave AAA.

Wrestling Society X (2007) On January 26, 2007, he was featured in a pilot for a new wrestling show produced for MTV called Wrestling Society X. He competed in a 10-man Battle Royal Death match, eventually securing one of two contracts earning him a shot at the inaugural Wrestling Society X Championship against 6-Pac (Sean Waltman). He won the WSX Championship, on the February 6th episode, after sending Waltman into an exploding coffin with a Tombstone piledriver.

Vampiro was involved in a what MTV claimed was a controversial angle which led to MTV canceling the fourth WSX show, due to air on Tuesday, February 20. In the (pre-taped) show, he was the recipient of a fireball to the face thrown by Ricky Banderas which resulted in Vampiro's head momentarily catching fire. The footage has since been leaked onto the internet. Later in his debut WSX match, Ricky Banderas defeated Vampiro to claim the WSX Championship.

In addition to appearing as an on-screen talent, Vampiro held a backstage position as the main booker.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2000, 2011–2013, 2021-2022, 2025-2026) On February 23, 2011, Vampiro officially came out of retirement and returned to Juggalo Championship Wrestling as both a wrestler and a company consultant. He raised hopes of developing talent, taking the company international, and, more specifically, bringing it to Latin America. Raven interfered in the match and attacked Vampiro, resulting in him losing by pinfall. On August 14, Vampiro took on Corporal Robinson for the JCW Heavyweight Championship at Bloodymania V which Vampiro lost. Vampiro returned August 12, 2012, defeating Colt Cabana at Bloodymania 6. On August 11, 2013, Vampiro made his return at Bloodymania 7 teaming with 2 Tuff Tony defeating The Boogeyman and Kongo Kong.

On April 17, 2026, Vampiro would have his retirement match on Strangle-Mania: Viva Las Violence at Horseshoe Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada. The match would be a three way match against him, PCO and Big Vito and would be the main event for the show.

Lucha Underground (2014–2018) On September 5, 2014, it was announced Vampiro signed with Lucha Underground as the color commentator for the English and Spanish-language airings. He made his in-ring debut for the promotion at the Ultima Lucha tapings on April 19, 2015, where he was defeated by Pentagón Jr. It was revealed after the match that he is the master of Pentagon Jr. In a podcast interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vampiro revealed that he wasn't supposed to be Pentagon Jr's opponent at Ultima Lucha but after Pentagon Jr's original opponent backed out of the match, Vampiro went up to creative and requested to work the match with Pentagon Jr. and put him over because of how over Pentagon Jr. is with the fans despite being portrayed as a villain.

The following season Vampiro would mentor Pentagon until Ultima Lucha Dos where Pentagon (now renamed Pentagon Dark) turned on Vampiro saying that "he was the master now".

During season 3 of Lucha Underground, Vampiro started mentoring Prince Puma.

During Ultima Lucha Tres Vampiro turned on brand new champion Prince Puma during his match against Pentagon Dark, thus costing Puma his belt and his Lucha Underground career, as well as pairing him back up with Pentagon Dark.

National Wrestling Alliance (2023) In March 2023, Vampiro made his National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) debut, when he and Blue Demon Jr. challenged La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf) for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

On June 3 at Crockett Cup, Vampiro returned to NWA assisting La Rebelión against Flippin' Psychos (Flip Gordon and Fodder) in the second round of the Crockett Cup.

Personal life Hodgkinson grew up in a single parent home with his mother and two younger sisters. Hodgkinson is divorced from Kitsu with a daughter named Dasha, whose godfather is Norman Smiley.

Hodgkinson has stated his interest in world religions, particularly occult religions such as voodoo and vampirism. Hodgkinson also claims that two spirits from Guatemala are presently following him as the result of an unfinished ritual.

On July 5, 2017, Hodgkinson revealed via Facebook he has been a victim of identity theft and cyber hacking for 8 years. On April 12, 2019, Hodgkinson was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Other media During the height of his wrestling career in Mexico, Hodgkinson starred in an action film entitled Guerrero De La Noche, which was similar to the El Santo films of the 1960s and 1970s. He has also made a cameo appearance on Vanilla Ice's Bi-Polar as well as recording an intro to Psychopathic Records Twiztid's "Maniac Killa".

Vampiro was also featured in the video game WCW Backstage Assault, Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood and Lucha Libre AAA: Héroes del Ring.

The documentary film Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero was produced by Odessa Filmworks and Zed Jamaica and screened in Canada on November 12, 2008.

As of 2011, Hodgkinson made occasional appearances on the Mexican show Extranormal, which deals with paranormal activities in the world. He made his acting debut in La Mujer de Judas, 2012 telenovela produced by TV Azteca. Hodgkinson also appeared on Fuse's ICP Theater as a heckler to the Insane Clown Posse.

In 2020, a Canadian documentary "Nail In The Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro" was released by Epic Pictures, featuring Vampiro and his daughter.

Music Vampiro made his debut on the album Freek Show by the band Twiztid on the track "Maniac Killa" where he recorded the introduction of the song. On the Insane Clown Posse album Forgotten Freshness Volume 3 the spitball recording for that intro on the Twiztid album was released as one of the gag tracks on the CD.

In 2006, Hodgkinson formed the industrial metal band, Droch Fhoula. In January 2007, Carpatos Records released the band's debut maxi-single Alter Deus. A year later in June 2008, the band released its first 6-track EP under the same title as the single.

Championships and accomplishments Lucha Libre AAA World Wide AAA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Joe Líder Fiend Wrestling Germany FWG Championship (1 time) International Wrestling Association International Wrestling Revolution Group IWRG Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Juggalo Championship Wrestling JCW Heavyweight Championship (3 times) Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 31 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000 Ranked No. 216 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

1Even though CMLL still uses the NWA initials in the title's name, the National Wrestling Alliance itself no longer recognizes or sanctions the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship since CMLL is no longer an NWA affiliated promotion.

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesVampiro (hair) Bestia Negra II (hair) Xochimilco, Mexico City Live event Vampiro (hair) Rick Patterson (hair) Monterrey, Nuevo León Live event Vampiro (hair) Pirata Morgan (hair) Mexico City Live event Vampiro (hair) Aaron Grundy (hair) Monterrey, Nuevo León Live event Vampiro (hair) Sangre Chicana (hair) Monterrey, Nuevo León Live event Vampiro (hair) Pirata Morgan (hair) Houston, Texas Live event Vampiro (hair) Rey Bucanero (hair) Mexico City Sin Piedad (2002) Shocker (hair) Vampiro (hair) Mexico City 47. Aniversario de Arena México Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000 (hair) Vampiro and Pierroth (hair) Mexico City Sin Piedad Vampiro Canadienese (hair of Joaquin Roldan) Konnan (hair of Arturo Rivera) Guadalajara, Jalisco Rey de Reyes Chessman (hair) Vampiro (hair) Zapopan, Jalisco Guerra de Titanes