Vampiro will be patient in WCW
By JOHN MOLINARO -- SLAM! Wrestling
El Vampiro is still alive and howling in World Championship
Wrestling, despite his lack of push since debuting last month on Thunder.
Vampiro, real name Ian Hodgkinson, flew to Las Vegas from Mexico
for Nitro on Monday, only to be told that he wasn't going to be used on any
upcoming TV tapings.
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El Vampiro during WCW Thunder on March 18, 1999.
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His infrequent appearances on TV notwithstanding, Vampiro feels
that the stake hasn't been driven through his WCW career just yet.
"I talked to Eric (Bischoff) Monday night and he pretty well told
me just to be patient," Vampiro told SLAM! Wrestling from his home in
Mexico. "He basically told me he likes what he sees in me and that I
can count on him to take care of me."
Vampiro remains unruffled over all the speculation that
management was intent on burying him, stating the reason why he hasn't
been pushed is because WCW doesn't know what to do with him yet.
"When I originally went in there eight months ago for the
audition, Terry Taylor was the one all gung-ho on me and was supposed to get
things rolling," said Vampiro. "Taylor had some conflicts in the office, he
left for the WWF and I just got put on the shelf."
Wrestling in Mexico for the past ten years and competing on several
tours of Japan each year have all been a precursor to his arrival in WCW.
"Mexico is over and done with and I'm not going back," said
Vampiro. "This is the home stretch. WCW is the big leagues and it's where I
want to end my career. When I'm done here it's over."
Problems with Konnan over the past eight years in Mexico have
also contributed to Vampiro's lack of push.
"I was Konnan's biggest rival in Mexico and he just doesn't like
me," explained Vampiro. "I don't like him, I never have. It really bothers
me to be near him but I'm a professional and I have no choice but to try and co-exist with him."
Perry Saturn is also reportedly upset with Vampiro over WCW's
decision to give Vampiro the Marilyn Manson-type gimmick they were going to give him.
"He hasn't talked to me about it but I can understand how he
might be upset," said Vampiro. "I don't have any problem with him personally."
Vampiro said that when he signed with WCW a clause was negotiated
into his contract stating they could not change his name or image in any way.
"I've had this gimmick for eleven years now," he said. "It's who
I am and it's my actual lifestyle. It's not just an image, it's really me."
Through it all, Vampiro remains excited about being in WCW and
won't let the petty bickering of others stand in his way of carving out a
reputation for himself.
"I'm there to earn my place. I'm there to do the best I can.
I've worked too hard and it hasn't been easy, so I'm not going to play the (political) games."
