Joseph Maurice Regis Vachon (1929 - 2013)

Born 14 Sep 1929 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died 21 Nov 2013 at age 84 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

Joseph Vachon is Notable.

Maurice Vachon was a Canadian Professional Wrestler better know by the ring name Mad Dog Vachon.

Joseph Maurice Regis Vachon grew up a wrestling fan, idolizing Montreal legend Yvon “the Lion” Robert. He wrestled amateur, and by the time he was 14 years old, he was already regarded as one of the country’s best wrestlers.

He represented Canada in the 1948 Olympics, finishing seventh in the 174-lb. division. He was 18 years old.

He was short, billed at 5’7” but likely a couple of inches less than that, so he needed the extra size to look believable in the ring against larger competitors. Looking for a gimmick that would push him into the main event, Vachon shaved his head and grew a goatee. He relied less on his grappling and took on a vicious, brawling style. Suddenly, Mad Dog Vachon was born.

Vachon would hold the AWA world title five times between 1964 and 1967 trading the title back and forth between himself, Gagne, Mr. Wrestling (Tim Woods), the Bruiser, and the Crusher.

His matches set the tone for the AWA as one of the dominant organizations in professional wrestling at the time, secondary only to the NWA. Vachon was part of a wrestling family, forming a tag team with his brother, Paul “The Butcher” Vachon.

He was the adoptive uncle of former WWE superstar Luna Vachon, and his legacy for brutality is still well-respected in the industry. He’s a member of the WWE Hall of Fame 2010 inductees.

He was married three times and had six kids.

He passed away in his sleep November 21, 2013.

Sources

• "United States Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2MVK-8WR : 6 March 2020), Maurice R Vachon, 1993-2008.

• Obituary "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK53-T23V : accessed 7 October 2023), Maurice R Vachon, Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States, 23 Nov 2013; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Daily Nonpareil, The, born-digital text.

• Burial "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGH-X1CD : 10 September 2021), Mad Dog, ; Burial, Louisville, Cass, Nebraska, United States of America, Riverview Cemetery; citing record ID 120639562, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

See also:

• Wikipedia:Maurice Vachon

• Family Search:Maurice R Vachon