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United States Vampiro, also known as Ian Hodgkinson, has transitioned from a prominent professional wrestler with a unique rock star image to a dedicated advocate for personal growth and spiritual exploration. He now openly shares his experiences with head trauma and mental health, inspiring others through his journey of recovery and self-discovery.
Vampiro was the main booker for AAA with help from Chris DeJoseph. He also currently works for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and was named AAA’s Director of Talent in 2017.
Vampiro is involved in 'Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse,' an ongoing comic book series produced in collaboration with Michael Kingston and Masked Republic.
Vampiro works for Lucha Underground as a color commentator. While there were rumors of a partnership between Lucha Underground and Impact Wrestling, Vampiro stated it would not happen.
In the late 90s, Vampiro was signed by WCW and formed a stable with Insane Clown Posse and Raven called 'The Dead Pool.' He held the WCW World Tag Team Championship with The Great Muta.
Lucha Underground, for which Vampiro is a color commentator, is one of the ventures of Tres Pistoleros Studios and Robert Rodriguez, which includes El Rey Network.
Epic Pictures released the Canadian documentary 'Nail In The Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro' in 2020 which features Vampiro and his daughter.
Vampiro officially came out of retirement and returned to Juggalo Championship Wrestling as both a wrestler and a company consultant in 2011, having previously appeared in 2000. He aimed to develop talent and expand the company internationally, specifically to Latin America.
In 2007, Vampiro featured in a pilot for a new wrestling show produced for MTV called Wrestling Society X. He won the WSX Championship and also held a backstage position as the main booker.
Vampiro made his NWA debut in March 2023, challenging for the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Blue Demon Jr. He later returned to assist La Rebelión in the Crockett Cup.
Vampiro made his acting debut in "La Mujer de Judas," a 2012 telenovela produced by TV Azteca.
In 2006, Hodgkinson formed the industrial metal band, Droch Fhoula. The band released its debut maxi-single 'Alter Deus' in January 2007 and a 6-track EP under the same title in June 2008.
Vampiro made a cameo on Vanilla Ice's 'Bi-Polar' and recorded an intro to Psychopathic Records Twiztid's 'Maniac Killa.'
Ian Richard Hodgkinson, born on May 31, 1967, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, is widely recognized by his ring name, Vampiro. His career began in 1984 in Montreal’s International Wrestling, where he initially worked as a jobber, performing under the names Ian Richards and Gene Anderson. In 1991, Hodgkinson moved to Mexico City and joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Despite limited formal training and a preference for a direct, impactful wrestling style, his distinctive look—featuring long, dreadlocked blue hair and numerous tattoos—quickly made him an overnight sensation as “Vampiro Canadiense.” He gained significant popularity, particularly among young female fans, which positioned him as a top star in Mexican lucha libre.
Throughout the 1990s, Vampiro’s career included notable achievements in Mexico and early international tours. In CMLL, he participated in several hair vs. hair matches, including wins against Bestia Negra II (1992) and Pirata Morgan (1992). He also reached the semi-finals of the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship tournament (1992) and the finals of the CMLL World Tag Team Championship tournament (1993) with Pierroth Jr. In the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), he captured the UWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1993, defending it for nearly a year before losing it to El Canek. His tours of Japan with Wrestle Association R (WAR) also saw him win most of his matches and compete in tag team tournaments.
The late 1990s marked a significant shift as Vampiro signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1998, debuting on “WCW Monday Nitro.” He formed the stable ‘The Dead Pool’ with the Insane Clown Posse and Raven, engaging in feuds with Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio Jr., and Konnan. A notable achievement in WCW was winning the WCW World Tag Team Championship in 2000 with The Great Muta. After WCW, he returned to Mexico, joining Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) in 2005, where he held booking positions and won the AAA World Tag Team Championship with Joe Líder in 2012. He also played a key role in Lucha Underground as a color commentator and a mentor figure, notably to Pentagón Jr. and Prince Puma. Hodgkinson has been public about his health, revealing a brain tumor, stomach cancer, and an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in 2019, but continues to pursue personal growth and share his experiences.
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