| Vachon Brothers | |
|---|---|
| Tag team | |
| Members |
|
| Name(s) | Alliance of Violence The Vachon Brothers |
| Billed heights | Pierre: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Damien: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] |
| Combined billed weight | 600 lb (270 kg) Pierre: 390 lb (180 kg) Damien: 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Billed from | Montreal,Quebec,Canada[1] |
| Former member(s) | Gino Martino |
| Debut | 2005 |
| Disbanded | 2007 |
TheVachon Brothers (sometimes simply billed asThe Vachons) was aprofessional wrestlingtag team composed of Pierre "The Beast" Vachon and Damien "The Pitbull" Vachon. They were one of the leading"heel" teams on theindependent circuit during the mid-2000s and, at one point, held the tag team titles of seven different promotions in botheastern Canada and theNortheastern United States, most notably, twice winning theNWA New England Tag Team Championship in 2005 and 2006.[1] Although both men have been reported as thereal-life youngest sons of legendary Canadian wrestlerPaul "The Butcher" Vachon,[2][3] neither are near relations of theVachon wrestling family.
They were occasionally joined byGino Martino, and collectively known as theAlliance of Violence, in CWA Montreal, the official eastern Canada affiliate forAWA Superstars, and other promotions; Martino and Pierre Vachon were the promotion's first-ever tag team champions upon winning the belts in 2006. The Vachons also worked for East Coast Championship Wrestling,Great Canadian Wrestling, theMillennium Wrestling Federation, theNational Wrestling Alliance, specifically NWA Green Mountain,NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, andNWA New England, andPaulie Gilmore's New World Wrestling.
A native ofBurlington, Vermont, Pierre Vachon (born Chad Peeters[4]) made his pro debut in 2003. He met Damien Vachon while wrestling inNWA Green Mountain and, in early 2005, the two began teaming together as the Vachon Brothers.[5] This was ahomage to the original Vachon brothers,Paul "Butcher" Vachon andMaurice "Mad Dog" Vachon. They gained early notoriety assecond-generation wrestlers of Paul Vachon.[2][3]
While wrestling for NWA Green Mountain, The Vachons also competed forNWA New England in theGreater Boston area where they were managed by Barry Ace. On May 22, 2005, Pierre and Damian Vachon defeatedNWA New England Tag Team Champions The Rough Ryders (Nyxx and Devin Raines) inEverett, Massachusetts, a three-way match also involving the Big Islanders (Makua and Ka Hoku).[6]
Representing Green Mountain Wrestling at NWA Top Rope's "Road to the Convention", held atNation Guard Armory inLebanon, the Vachons challenged Really Sensational ("Real Deal" Jay Davis and "Sensational" Sean Reed) for the GMW Tag Team Championship;[7][8] as a result of their victory over Davis and Reed, The Vachons became GMW's first-ever tag team champions in addition to holding the NWA New England titles.[9] They lost the NWA New England tag titles to The Elite (Sonny Roselli and Larry Huntley) at theNWA 57th Annual Convention inSpringfield, Tennessee the next day; this was also a three-way match with the Big Islanders.[10][11][12][13][14]
That summer, The Vachons feuded withGino Martino in NWA New England and various independents. On June 10, Pierre Vachon unsuccessfully challenged Martino in aFans Bring the Weapons match for theNWA New England Heavyweight Championship; he had previously wrestled Martino for the title in a barbed-wire chain death match four months earlier. Pierre also lost to Martino and Dave Donavan in a three-way "broken bottle"death match to crown the first All Star Wrestling Federation Hardcore Champion on July 16, 2005. On August 5, The Vachons wrestled Martino (withThe Iron Sheik) in separate singles matches at an event for theMillennium Wrestling Federation; Gino defeated Damian Vachon in a standard wrestling match and Pierre Vachon in anAnything Goes match.[15]
The Vachons continued to split their time between the independents in eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Quebec,[3] and the Northeastern United States. Pierre Vachon was also active on the New York independent circuit during this time. At a September 23 show for World Of Hurt Wrestling, he wrestled WOHW Hardcore Champion Punk inHudson Falls, New York.[16]
The Vachons lost the NWA Green Mountain Tag Team titles to Franz and Hanz Roddy inHyde Park, Vermont on October 29,[9] however, they continued to win titles in most of the promotions they worked in (often as the inaugural champions). At one point, they held the tag team belts of seven different promotions in Canada and the US including the All Star Wrestling Federation, CWA Montreal, East Coast Championship Wrestling, NWA Green Mountain, NWA New England, New World Wrestling, and Revival Championship Wrestling. The Vachons also wrestled inMillennium Wrestling Federation[17] where they were members ofOx Baker's Army with The Outpatient and The Islanders. On November 5, Pierre Vachon and Ox Baker's Army lost to Todd Hanson, Beau Douglas,The Sandman, andPaulie Gilmore in a "Lynn Street Fight" match at MWF's "Soul Survivor III" inLynn, Massachusetts;[18] this match marked the official end to the two-year feud between Ox Baker's Army and Todd Hanson.[19] At an RCW show the following night, The Vachons wrestled Makua of the Big Islanders (with Joe Rules) in ahandicap match inPawcatuck, Connecticut.[20]
At the end of 2005, The Vachon Brothers made their debut in Championship Wrestling Association, or CWA Montreal, one of two Canadian affiliates forAWA Superstars. On December 10, 2005, they defeated The Enforcer and "Asian Nightmare" Kwan Chang in a Street Fight match inMontreal,Quebec.[21] It was in CWA Montreal that the Vachons resumed their feud with Gino Martino as, on January 16, 2006, Pierre wrestled their longtime rival in a Bloodbath match for the CWA Montreal Brass Knuckles Championship. Within two months, however, the Vachons unexpectedly joined Martino to form the "Alliance of Violence".[22]
Pierre Vachon and Gino Martino entered a championship tournament together to decide the first CWA Montreal Tag Team Champions. They defeated Karnage and Abdul Hannish in the opening rounds (March 5), The Hellraisers (Pain & Mizery) in the semi-finals (March 19), andNecro Butcher andSeXXXy Eddy in the finals at CWA Montreal's "kNOw FEAR" (April 8). Meanwhile, both the Vachons also took part in the title tournament for the CWA Montreal Internet Championship; Damien Vachon defeated Osirus and Pierre Vachon beat "Iron" Mike Lyons in the opening rounds[15] but were both eliminated in the semi-finals byBrick Crawford and Karnage (the latter in aDog Collar match) respectively.[22][23]
The Vachons returned to NWA New England in the summer of 2006. On May 11, they regained the NWA New England Tag Team titles by defeating 5–0 (Trooper Gilmore and Corporal Johnson) inFall River, Massachusetts.[24][25] They remained champions for over a month before dropping the belts to The Big Islanders (Makua and Kahoku) inRevere on June 24, 2006.[10][11]
The Vachons spent the next year or so on the Ontario and New England independent circuits. They briefly returned to CWA Montreal, both largely in singles competition, with Damian Vachon feuding with CWA Montreal iTV Champion Karnage. Though he defeated Karnage, via countout and disqualification victories, he was unable to capture the title.[23] They also appeared forNWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling in October[26] and Mecca Pro Wrestling's "Redemption" inCornwall, Ontario on November 11.[2] A few weeks later, after a five-month title reign, The Vachons dropped the NWW Tag Team Championship to The Slaughterhouse (Outpatient and Crazy Chainsaw Bastard) in a "Christmas Carnage"hardcore match inAttleboro, Massachusetts.[27] At the end of the month, they wrestled The HellRaisers (Payne and Myzery) atGreat Canadian Wrestling's "Seasons Beatings" inOshawa, Ontario.[28][29][30]
At the beginning of 2007, The Vachons were back in the US. At a February 17 show for Grapple Masters Wrestling inBristol, Vermont, The Vachons were supposed to appear for the show's openingpromo. When the team was introduced, however, their rivals The Hellraisers come out instead. The Hellraisers began picking on a fan in the crowd, Albert, but then invited him to join them in the ring. They continued talking to Albert until the young man said he was a fan of The Vachons causing The Hellraisers to attack him. The Vachons then ran to the ring to chase off The Hellraisers setting up two singles matches between the four wrestlers later that night. The match series ended in a tie with Hellraiser Misery defeating Damien Vachon in aTables match and Pierre Vachon winning aThumbtacks match against Hellraiser Pain. Both teams were scheduled to meet in aDog Collar match for the GMW Tag Team Championship on March 10.[31]
On March 24, The Vachons were booked to face each other in a four-way Gladiator Scramble match, also involving Hybrid Rain and Professor Adib Monsour, for Elite Wrestling Action "Reckon This" in Cornwall, Ontario, its first show after a three-year absence. This was one of two scramble matches held to decide the opponents for the main event with the winner receiving the EWA Heavyweight Championship.[32][33] The participants for both matches were changed prior to the event, however, which saw Soulrage pin Damien Vachon (also involving Dave Titan and Hellraizor Myzery) and Pierre Vachon pin "White Lion" Jim Tanner (also involving Prof. Adib Mansour and Hellraizor Payne). In the main event later that night, officiated byspecial guest referee Sakrilige, Soulrage ended up pinning Pierre Vachon to win the EWA Heavyweight Championship.[34] A week later, Pierre Vachon lost toKing Kong Bundy at a New World Wrestling event inEast Sandwich, Massachusetts.[35]
In the next few months, The Vachons also visitedGreat Canadian Wrestling,[29] Powerhouse Wrestling, Tri-State Wrestling, and Ultimate Ring Wars Wrestling. It was at URWW's May 19 show "In Your Face!" inSomerset, Massachusetts that the "Alliance of Violence" was reformed when Gino Martino turned on his tag team partner Crazy Chainsaw Bastard during a tag team match against the Vachons.[36] They also returned to East Coast Championship Wrestling where, under manager Julius Sweet, the Vachons unsuccessfully attempted to regain the ECCW Tag Team Championship from Nick Neighborhood and Chuck Deep. Both teams met at theBlackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School inUpton, Massachusetts on June 2, and after losing to Neighborhood and Deep,[37] attacked their opponents after the match.[38]
The Vachons spent their last months as a tag team in Slam All-Star Wrestling. Pierre Vachon had previously wrestled in a three-way tag match with Aftershock against Those 80's Guys (Vince and Reed) and TDS Inc. (Slick and Mackie Schrody) at their April 21 show "Intriguing Circumstances" inHighgate, Vermont. The Vachon Brothers made their SAW debut at the "Slam Summer Spectacular" on July 14, 2007, where they wrestled The Alden Brothers (Shane and Eric Alden) (with The Director) and Those 80's Guys for the SAW Tag Team Championship. This would end up being their last match together as Damien Vachon suddenly left the promotion. Left by himself, Pierre Vachon took on The Alden Brothers in ahandicap match at "Franklin County Face Off" on August 4. Pierre quickly formed a new tag team, The New School Wrestling Crew, with Jim Tanner and together defeated SAW Tag Team Champions The Alden Brothers by disqualification at the "September Super Show" on September 8, 2007.[39]
After parting ways in SAW, Pierre Vachon began competing on the local independent circuit inUpstate New York. On April 4, 2008, he participated in an interpromotional show for ADK Wrestling andTop Rope Promotions, wrestling against Joe Sidusky, at Fort Edward High School. That summer, Vachon reformed the New School Wrestling Crew with Jim Tanner and wrestled shows at the Adirondack Sports Complex inQueensbury, New York for both ADK Wrestling and Continental Wrestling Promotions.[40] He also made a brief return to SAW for its last show of the season, defeating "Shooter" Anthony Storm in a singles match, on September 27, 2008.[41] He also made occasional returns to the New England area forTop Rope Promotions.
On May 9, 2009, Vachon took part in a special benefit show, "Reality Rumble III", co-hosted by South Atlantic Wrestling and Entertainers That Care. It was held atLouisa County High School inMineral, Virginia to raise money for a 6-year-old boy suffering fromeosinophilic esophagitis; his medical expenses had exceeded over $2 million. In addition to the many wrestling stars performing at the event, includingRing of Honor's Damien Wayne andWWE'sAl Snow, a number of actors, fashion models, musicians,reality tv stars, and other celebrities were also in attendance; Ray and Deana Housteau fromThe Amazing Race 7, Team Kentucky fromThe Amazing Race 10,David and Mary Conley fromThe Amazing Race: All-Stars, Kim Fore fromABC'sDance Machine, Rebekah Cantrell fromA Double Shot at Love, Roq M ofFrom G’s to Gents, Steve "Chicken" Morris fromSurvivor: China, Billy Garcia and Cristina Coria fromSurvivor: Cook Islands,Jessica Kiper fromSurvivor: Gabon, Tracy Hughes-Wolf fromSurvivor: Micronesia, Jenna and Matsuflex fromVH1'sTool Academy, andAriel Tweto from ABC'sWipeout.[42]
Vachon continued wrestling in the Northeast US wrestling for Slam All-Star Wrestling, where he won the SAW Heavyweight Championship in 2009, and New York's In Your Face Wrestling[43] where he teamed with Jim Tanner and Vigo during 2010. He joined forces with Vigo while engaging in a two-on-one feud with then IYFW Tag Team Champions The International Ego Trip (The Northern Studd and Fronz Roddy). Vachon defeated both Roddy and The Northern Studd in singles matches at IYFW's "Hanging By A Thread" (February 6) and Unsportsmanlike Conduct! (March 20) respectively before challenging the two men to a title match at the next show.[44] The New School Wrecking Crew were scheduled to wrestle IYFW Tag Team Champions The Grindhouse (Maxx Burton and CJ Scott) and The International Ego Trip (The Northern Studd and Fronz Roddy) in a three-way match at April 17 "Amsterdamage" show inAmsterdam, New York, however, both Vachon and Tanner were unable to wrestle due to injuries; it was during the match that The Northern Studd and Fronz Roddy won the tag titles.[45] Vachon chose Vigo as his partner to wrestle the new tag team champions at the 2010 Coronation Cup tournament on June 12. Vachon and Vigo defeated Fronz Roddy and The Northern Studd via disqualification, however, the team retained the championship.[44] Vachon, egged on by Maxx Burton, blamed Vigo for costing them their chance to win the belts and attacked his tag team partner after the match.[46]
Pierre Vachon and Maxx Burton continued feuding with Vigo throughout the year. On December 11, 2010, he and Burton wrestled Vigo andTito Santana at IYFW's "Controlled Chaos!" inSaratoga Springs, New York.[47] They lost the bout when Santana made Burton submit to afigure four leglock.[48] On January 14, 2012, Vachon defeated Drake Evans at an IYFW show inBallston Spa, New York.[49]
Damien Vachon returned to Canada and took a year off before resurfacing on the Ontario independents in late 2009. On November 13, 2009, he appeared at Stellar Wrestling Showcase's "November Reign" show inPrescott, Ontario where he andPortia Perez lost to Jaguar and Josianne The Pussycat (with special guest manager Persephene) in amixed tag team match; after their loss, Vachon attacked Josianne and put the female wrestler in apiledriver. That same month, he wrestled Myzery The Barbarian in a "VIPdark match" at C*4's "Only The Best" inOttawa and teamed with Bull McGuire against The Incredible Hunks (Cheeky and Deeno) at Ontario Championship Wrestling's "Wreckage" inKingston, Ontario. He later interjected himself during the main event to rescue Myzery the Barbarian from a gang attack by "The Don" Sak Daddy and his allies.[50]
The two men soon began teaming together as "The Barberians". On January 2, 2010, at OCW's "Hangover" show, he and Mysery were disqualified in their match against the 5th Avenue Mob. Vachon was similarly disqualified when he refused to release achokehold on his opponent at Stellar Wrestling Showcase's March 20 show "Tik Tok" inPrescott. That same month, he and Mysery entered a championship tournament to crown the first OCW Tag Team Champions. At OCW's "Tag Team Turmoil" on March 27, the team defeated The Incredible Hunks (Cheeky and Deeno) in the semi-finals and Lonely At The Top (with Persephone Vice) in the tournament finals to win the belts. On May 29, Vachon wrestled at two shows on the same night; a tag team title defense against the 5ifth Avenue Mob (McGuire and Manson) (with Sak Daddy and Savannah) ended in a no-contest at OCW's "Aftermath" in Kingston and at "Eat This" for Mecca Pro Wrestling inCornwall Vachon defeated "The Fabulous French Canadian" Eric Mastrocola.[51][52][53]
On July 30, 2010, a reunion of sorts occurred at "Summer Bash" for Morrisburg Pro Wrestling when The Barbarians took part in aTriple Threat match against Pierre Vachon & Firestorm and The Incredible Hunks (Deeno & Cheeky) to earn a shot againstDemolition (Demolition Ax andDemolition Smash) in the main event, a match with both Vachons lost. Also at the show were formerWorld Wrestling Federation starsBrutus "The Barber" Beefcake,Doink the Clown, andRick "The Model" Martel. The following night, Damien Vachon defeated Eric Mastrocola (with Frank Couture) at Mecca Pro Wrestling's "Damage Control" to become the first-ever MPW Heavyweight Champion.[51][54] He defended the belt for almost five months, as well as wrestling for Ontario Championship Wrestling and Acclaim Pro Wrestling,[55] until being stripped of the title by General Manager Nic Paterson at MPW's "Backfire" on November 20, 2010, when he was unable to compete due to injury.[56]