Sometimes, having been on the mountaintop gives you a special perspective.
In particular, it can offer you a keener insight into those who likewise
enjoy the rarified atmosphere of supreme success in your chosen field.
Pippa L’Vinn and Angel “Riptide”Orsini are two women who know what
great success is. Pippa is one of the most dominant forces in European women’s
wrestling, and Riptide has been a major player in the American independent
leagues, as well as ECW, for years now. And both of them are past PGWA
Champions, with both having wrestled Luna Vachon in PGWA-sanctioned matches.
Each have thoughts about the late superstar they wanted to share with the
fans here at LadySports.
PIPPA L’VINN:”It’s funny, Luna and I didn’t wrestle one another in either the U.S. or
England, but rather in Germany. The PGWA had set up the match when she
was touring Europe a few years ago. Well, the day had finally come, and
that afternoon our first meeting took place in a small hotel room.
I rapped on the door, took a deep breath, and when the door opened,
there she stood… the Legend, Luna Vachon! Wild blonde hair, braided
all the way down ’til the ends touched the floor… heavy tattoos on the
side of her shave head.
Then she smiled the biggest smile that made the room light up.
She was a lovely woman, very kind, very supportive and so helpful backstage.
She looked after me while we were at the venue, just like a nervous mum!
Then they announced our hardcore match, we both went down to the ring, and
it was as if she had flipped a switch. The Beast entered the ring, ready
to annihilate me!
The match was a fantastic experience and I am just so honoured to have met such a
wonderful, charismatic lady, and an AWESOME wrestler and personality both in and out
of the ring. She will be sadly missed, but of course never, ever forgotten.
My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”ANGEL ORSINI:”Luna was a legend. It was in irreplaceable loss that Women’s Wrestling has suffered.
She was a brilliant star, a tremendous personality, a terrific teacher, and a loyal friend.
It’s a shame that she didn’t get the TV exposure that she deserved, and that her fans
wanted to see.
I always felt that Luna should have received more airtime and better storylines in the
WWE and WCW, but it’s those same misogynistic minds that still run wrestling today. So
it’s the same old story for fans of Women’s Wrestling who have grown accustomed to that
same old stupid recycled shit on television. Except, in her case, the fans
really missed out on experiencing the totality of her talent, because she was amazing!
By the way, Luna was always touched by her fans’ love and support, which she received
from people all over the world. She appreciated every gift, card, letter and picture.
Her fans are really terrific people and great wrestling fans,
who made a difference to her.
The most important thing that Luna taught me was to always keep the fans in mind
whenever I performed, and to never sandbag a match just because it was a small venue.
She felt obligated to give the best performance possible, because someone paid the
price of a ticket to see her, and they might not get to go to any other show but
that one.
So she passed that sense of obligation on to me, and I will always do my best to honor
her in that way.
Luna was a great heel in the ring, but in real life, she was one of the good guys.”
“It’s funny, Luna and I didn’t wrestle one another in either the U.S. or
England, but rather in Germany. The PGWA had set up the match when she
was touring Europe a few years ago. Well, the day had finally come, and
that afternoon our first meeting took place in a small hotel room.
I rapped on the door, took a deep breath, and when the door opened,
there she stood… the Legend, Luna Vachon! Wild blonde hair, braided
all the way down ’til the ends touched the floor… heavy tattoos on the
side of her shave head.
Then she smiled the biggest smile that made the room light up.
She was a lovely woman, very kind, very supportive and so helpful backstage.
She looked after me while we were at the venue, just like a nervous mum!
Then they announced our hardcore match, we both went down to the ring, and
it was as if she had flipped a switch. The Beast entered the ring, ready
to annihilate me!
The match was a fantastic experience and I am just so honoured to have met such a
wonderful, charismatic lady, and an AWESOME wrestler and personality both in and out
of the ring. She will be sadly missed, but of course never, ever forgotten.
My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”
“Luna was a legend. It was in irreplaceable loss that Women’s Wrestling has suffered.
She was a brilliant star, a tremendous personality, a terrific teacher, and a loyal friend.
It’s a shame that she didn’t get the TV exposure that she deserved, and that her fans
wanted to see.
I always felt that Luna should have received more airtime and better storylines in the
WWE and WCW, but it’s those same misogynistic minds that still run wrestling today. So
it’s the same old story for fans of Women’s Wrestling who have grown accustomed to that
same old stupid recycled shit on television. Except, in her case, the fans
really missed out on experiencing the totality of her talent, because she was amazing!
By the way, Luna was always touched by her fans’ love and support, which she received
from people all over the world. She appreciated every gift, card, letter and picture.
Her fans are really terrific people and great wrestling fans,
who made a difference to her.
The most important thing that Luna taught me was to always keep the fans in mind
whenever I performed, and to never sandbag a match just because it was a small venue.
She felt obligated to give the best performance possible, because someone paid the
price of a ticket to see her, and they might not get to go to any other show but
that one.
So she passed that sense of obligation on to me, and I will always do my best to honor
her in that way.
Luna was a great heel in the ring, but in real life, she was one of the good guys.”
