LadySports ::: Obituary: Luna Vachon

During the afternoon of August the 27th, the sad news raced across the Internet: Luna Vachon was dead.

After the shock came a sense of disbelief; in the course of her career, Vachon had seemed like such a sheer force of nature, it's almost as if no one possibly considered that she would ever be gone.

But after the surprise and incredulity, there must also come a recollection and recognition of the struggles she faced in building such a storied career for herself. Professional Wrestling has never been an easy place for women to thrive, and that was even more so the case in the 1980s, when Gertrude Vachon... Trudy to her family and friends... decided to step into some very big shoes.

It probably isn't news to anyone that Luna hailed from one of pro wrestling's most prestigious dynasties. Her family tree reads like a Who's Who of Wrestling: father "Butcher" Vachon, uncle "Mad Dog" Vachon, and aunt Vivian Vachon, three of the most successful wrestlers to ever emerge from Canada. Legends all.

One might think having such famous relatives would ensure success. And yes, it probably opened a few doors for Luna. But it also meant she was constantly being compared to them, often unfairly so. And while a legacy is something to aspire to, it's also something to emerge from... and all too many second generation wrestlers fail to do so.

But Luna soldiered on, learning her trade, paying her dues, building her credentials. It took a good decade or so, but she finally established herself as one of the most successful women in American wrestling, and during her WWF tenure of the 1990s, one of the most recognizable stars in the most successful wrestling organization during what was a true heyday for the sport. She had stepped out of the towering shadows of her vaunted family, and was casting a shadow of her own... the sort that came with the status of a superstar.

But perhaps her most endearing accomplishment was what she DIDN'T do. Given both her lineage and her success, it would not have been surprising to learn that she was a prima donna backstage; disappointing, yes, but not unheard of. However, away from the fans, Trudy Vachon was known far and wide among her peers for her honesty, her integrity, her kindliness and her sincerity. She was in many ways a gentle soul, and she seemed to make a very dedicated effort to not allow her ego to overwhelm her.

She made many, many friends in wrestling, and influenced many more. And we here at LadySports could not think of a more fitting way to pay tribute to this woman then to let some of her peers share a few words about her... .

Malia Hosaka has been one of the best known women in wrestling for quite a few years now, and she had always looked to Luna as a mentor over the years. "My first memory of Luna is her sticking her head around the corner of a doorway and growling at me... it scared the living hell out of me! However, she skipped across the room to introduce herself, in the softest voice. That was Luna, soft spoken until it was time to become ‘Luna', then is was the deep growling voice we all knew. Luna became my wrestling ‘mom' as it were for the next few years as she taught me the art of brawling, ‘Luna style', and teaching me to take craziness to a new level, all the while protecting me. Over the years she came and went like the wind in and out of my life, but she was never forgotten; each time we saw each other, it was like we had never been apart. Luna had a huge heart that was committed to carrying on the legacy of her family, and helping the women of the industry succeed. She was a beautiful person who will be missed by all whose lives she touched."

Jacqueline Moore certainly had her share of battles with Luna in the ring, but she had also gotten to know her well as a person. She says, "Luna was a caring and a wonderful person. One of the toughest persons to ever step in the ring. It was a pleasure to work with her. I will always remember Luna... I love her and miss her... rest in peace, my dear friend."

For reigning PGWA Champion Tracy Taylor, she acknowledges the debt she and so many other ladies owed Ms. Vachon: "Luna paved the way for women wrestlers everywhere. Thank you for being unique and showing women that there is room for us in this male dominated sport. You were loved by many and will be missed. Rest in peace."

And Nickla "Babydoll" Roberts remarks: "I only had the privilege of meeting her once, at the Fanfest in New York about four years ago. Loved her gimmick and how tough a lady she was... nobody messed with her! And I loved her bold promos... they scared even me!"

Luna's legend certainly traveled beyond the borders of the United States. From Great Britain comes a tribute from the legendary Klondyke Kate: "Luna was a consummate professional... a breath of fresh air from the normal female wrestler, and she was one of the funniest and kindest women outside the ring. We followed each other's careers over the years, as we were the same age. I was proud to have had the opportunity to wrestle her several times in the UK. Her presence in women's wrestling will be sorely missed and I, for one, am devastated by her passing."

And also from the United Kingdom comes this from the new generation of wrestlers, Tarnya Allen (whose own ring persona perhaps owes something to Luna), who says, "It's hard to pay tribute to such a vibrant and talented woman such as Luna Vachon, but I am deeply saddened by the news. She was the first female wrestler I ever loved, she ignited my passion for this business. Truly original and sadly missed."

One of the few women in the sport today who could rightly claim to be even more of a living legend than Luna was is Susan Green, who also currently happens to be the PGWA Commissioner. "Luna was a very young wrestler when we first met in the ring. She was still wrestling under the name of Angel Vachon. She was a natural at wrestling. Guess that came easy, in one sense; with the name Vachon following your first name, anyone should think twice before signing a contact to wrestle you! I'll tell you, Luna knew the rules... AND she knew how to break them and not get caught."

And last, but most definitely not least, this from Randy Powell, PGWA promoter: "I first met Luna in Florida through Molly McShane, Malia Hosaka and Mike Lano. Luna was wrestling Molly, and although McShane valiantly stood up to Vachon, she never had a chance... Luna had so much inexhaustible wrestling experience, she just tied Molly up into knots! Afterward, Mike and I interviewed her, and found she was very personable outside of the ring. She answered all of our questions with great sincerity, joked around with us, and even showed us her tattoos! I had been a fan of hers because of her ability, as well as for her family. But after that first meeting, I truly became a dedicated fan of Luna Vachon!"

Story by The Red Cardinal