Luna Vachon, 1962-2010. R.I.P.

Former professional wrestler Luna Vachon has died. Her cause of death is presently unknown. She was 48.

Born Gertrude Vachon, Luna is best known for her time in the WWE (then known as the WWF) mostly during the 1990s. With her undiva like look and sound she was generally booked as a heel.

Luna came from one of Canada's best known wrestling families. She was the adoptive daughter of Paul "Butcher" Vachon and the niece of Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon and Vivian Vachon. Sadly, her aunt was killed by a drunk driver in 1991.

Believe it or not, I actually met "Butcher" Vachon. It was in June 1995 at an NDP Federal Council Meeting in Ottawa. This was the same meeting where Dr. Herb Dickieson, the leader of the Prince Edward Island NDP, convinced me to support Alexa McDonough's bid for the NDP leadership.

In any event, Butcher was there as he had run as an NDP candidate in Quebec in both the 1988 and 1993 federal elections and would run again in 1997. Needless to say, like most NDP candidates, Vachon received little support. But he was always good for a photo-op whether it be putting NDP leaders like Ed Broadbent in a headlock or arm wrestling with Audrey McLaughlin.

As for Luna, she recently fell on hard times. Earlier this month, her home in Florida was destroyed in a fire taking with it all her wrestling memorabilia. Whether this contributed to her demise remains to be seen.

As with the recent death of former WWE wrestler Lance McNaught (who wrestled under the name Lance Cade), I am sure Vachon's death will be used as fodder against Linda McMahon in her bid for the U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut.