| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mark LeRoux[4] (1976-11-22)November 22, 1976 (age 48)[1] Anniston, Alabama, U.S.[4] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Corporal Cajun[1][2] Lash LeRoux[1][2] Mark LeRoux[3] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 213 lb (97 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | New Orleans,Louisiana |
| Trained by | WCW Power Plant[1][2] |
| Debut | July 25, 1998[2] |
| Retired | September 1, 2023 |
Mark LeRoux (born November 22, 1976) is an American cartoonist, caricature artist and retiredprofessional wrestler, better known by hisring nameLash LeRoux. He is best known for his appearances withWorld Championship Wrestling from the late-1990s to early-2000s.[4][1][2]
LeRoux grew up inOxford, Alabama. He attended Oxford High School, where he was ajunior high state finalist inamateur wrestling in two successive years. In his junior year he came third in the varsity state tournament. LeRoux also playedfootball for the Oxford High Yellow Jackets, and in 1993 his team won the Alabama State Football Championship. After graduating from high school, LeRoux attendedJacksonville State University, studying towards apre-meddegree. He later decided to take a year out in order to focus on his burgeoning career as acartoonist.
In 1997 LeRoux saw an advertisement for theWCW Power Plant (theprofessional wrestling school owned and operated byWorld Championship Wrestling) on an episode ofWCW Monday Nitro. LeRoux qualified to train in the Power Plant, meeting the arduous physical qualifications, and trained throughout 1998, with his first match being a loss toPerry Saturn in mid-1998. He was promoted to the main roster in July 1998, and wrestled onWCW Saturday Night,WCW WorldWide andWCW Thunder as "Mark LeRoux" for several months, often losingsquash matches.[3]
LeRoux debuted onNitro on February 1, 1999, as "Lash LeRoux", a take off of Cajunwestern movie starLash LaRue, losing to then-Cruiserweight ChampionBilly Kidman. It was this match that caught the eyes of WCW officials, and he was signed to an official contract with World Championship Wrestling.[5] LeRoux's character spoke with a broadCajun accent.[6]
LeRoux competed primarily in thecruiserweight division. Hefeuded withDisco Inferno over the Cruiserweight Championship, and lost to Disco in a title match atHalloween Havoc 1999.[7] Shortly afterwards, LeRoux and Disco joined forces against theNew YorkgangsterTony Marinara and his henchmen,The Mamalukes, who were owed money by the compulsivegambler Disco. They facedBig Vito andJohnny The Bull in atag team match atStarrcade 1999, but lost following a miscommunication between the partners. After the match, the unconscious Disco Inferno was carried from the arena inside abody bag and locked in thetrunk of a car.[8]
He appeared sporadically on television, teaming withMidnight and pursuing the Cruiserweight Championship once more.[9][10] He was fired instoryline by WCW PresidentEric Bischoff in April 2000 for not helping to protect him fromDiamond Dallas Page, whose wifeKimberly had betrayed him in order to align herself with Bischoff.
LeRoux and several other wrestlers who had been fired by the disgruntled President returned several weeks later as theMisfits In Action (M.I.A.), amilitary-themedstable who were unwilling to align themselves with either theheelNew Blood or thefaceMillionaire's Club. All of the Misfits were givenranks, with LeRoux known as "Corporal Cajun".[11]
The M.I.A. feuded with the New Blood, with LeRoux helpingLieutenant Loco retain his Cruiserweight Championship. LeRoux and Loco won theWCW World Tag Team Championship on October 9, 2000, inSydney, Australia, defeating New Blood membersMark Jindrak andSean O'Haire, but lost the belts just minutes later in an instant rematch ordered by commissionerMike Sanders (also a New Blood member).[12] The M.I.A. also feuded withTeam Canada, who had taken possession of theUnited States Heavyweight Championship and renamed it the "Canadian Heavyweight Championship", during which time M.I.A.'svalet,Major Gunnsturned on them and joined Team Canada.[13]
The M.I.A. gradually disbanded in late 2000 and early 2001, with the departure of Loco andSergeant A.W.O.L. precipitating the end of the stable. On January 23, 2001, the leader of the M.I.A.,General Rection, requested LeRoux's M.I.A.shirt, informing him that he had been "honorably discharged". LeRoux began wrestling as Lash LeRoux once more, and returned to the cruiserweight division. His last appearance on WCW television was on the February 19 episode ofNitro, where he challenged United States ChampionRick Steiner and was easily defeated.[14]
Following the purchase of WCW by theWorld Wrestling Federation in March 2001, LeRoux was signed to a three-year developmental contract by the WWF in April 2001.[15] Along with several other former WCW wrestlers, he was sent to theHeartland Wrestling Association to further his training. LeRoux was released in December 2001, later stating he preferred to pursue other options after it became apparent the WWF had no plans for him in the immediate future.[1][11][16]
LeRoux appeared on the inauguralTotal Nonstop Action Wrestlingpay-per-view on June 19, 2002, competing in theGauntlet for the Gold where he was eliminated byJeff Jarrett.[15] The following week, LeRoux suffered a neck injury while working on theindependent circuit, and was initially told that he needed surgery.[15] He consulted a second doctor, however, and underwent seven months of physical rehabilitation without surgery until his neck healed.[15] From April to July 2004, LeRoux travelled south toOrlando, Florida and appeared occasionally on TNA's secondary television showXplosion.
LeRoux also competed for a number of independentpromotions, includingGeorgia Championship Wrestling andNWA Wrestle Birmingham and made a number of appearances inDeep South Wrestling. He retired from wrestling in 2006.
LeRoux has also worked as a cartoonist, and his work has been featured in multiple publications and websites includingPro Wrestling Illustrated andThe Wrestler.[11] During his tenure in WCW, he drew a series of single-panel comics forWCW Magazine calledLashing Out.[11]
After retiring from professional wrestling, LeRoux became a pastor.[4]
LeRoux returned for a match on September 1, 2023 losing toJoey Janela atGame Charger Wrestling.
LeRoux has two brothers, older brother Joseph and younger brother James, and younger twin sisters, Terri and Sherri Creswell.[17] LeRoux married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth, on December 22, 1997.[17]
LeRoux is close friends with fellow WCW alumni andMisfits In Action stablematesBill DeMott andChavo Guerrero Jr., andJerry Tuite (until Tuite's death).[11] Growing up, LeRoux was a fan ofRic Flair,Hulk Hogan,Bob Armstrong,Arn Anderson, and theFour Horsemen.[11][15]
LeRoux is Christian.[4]
,Internet Wrestling Database