Richard Charland
Richard Charland | |
---|---|
Richard Charland [right] as Blast with Ax in 1991. | |
Birth name | Richard Charland |
Born |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada | September 26, 1956
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) |
Blast (1) Richard Charland Richard 'Le Manifique' The Tempest Garth Vader Mauler Malone |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Billed weight | 271 lb (123 kg) |
Trained by |
Edouard Carpentier Mad Dog Vachon |
Debut | 1972 |
Richard Charland (born September 26, 1956) is a Canadian professional wrestler.
Professional wrestling career
Richard Charland became a wrestler with the encouragement by Mad Dog Vachon. The mat legend had met Charland, as a youngster, who was studying judo, and told him to consider professional wrestling as an option. Charland listened, and took up amateur wrestling for a few years before turning pro in 1972, at the young age of 16. He was trained by Mad Dog Vachon, Omer Marchessault, Luigi Macera and Edouard Carpentier.
Charland debuted in the Montreal-based Grand Prix, and beat Pat Gerard Jr. in his first match.
In 1985-86, he became International Wrestling Association International tag team champion, in Montreal, with King Tonga, who is more well-known today as Meng and Haku. He would later hold the title with Sheik Ali and also Chuck Simms.
In the late 1970's, Charland wrestled as Garth Vader for The Sheik's Detroit promotion. He would wrestler as Mauler Malone for the old WWWF; and he was The Tempest on his initial tour of Japan, at the age of 18.
When Charland wrestled as Richard 'Le Manifique', he had the unique position of being managed by both Eddie 'The Brain' Creatchman and his son 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Creatchman and the legendary Tarzan 'The Boot' Tyler.
Wrestling is just "a sideline" for Charland these days. He works in construction and wrestling is "a hobby, just to meet friends once in a while." He's scheduled to work the next Rougeaus show in Montreal on May 7.
In late-1991, Chartland adopted the moniker "Blast", in an attempt to resurrect the Demolition name and gimmick, with Bill Eadie as Ax, but were eventually sent a cease and desist letter by the WWF.
He gave up the full-time wrestling dream in 1991.
In wrestling
- Nicknames
- "Le Magnifique"
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
- IWA (Montreal) International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with King Tonga
- International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
- IWA (Montreal) International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sheik Ali
- International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
- IWA (Montreal) International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chuck Simms
See also
References
- "Demolition Profile" Retrieved October 30, 2016
- Richard Charland profile "Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall Of Fame" Retrieved October 30, 2016
- Richard Charland profile "Cagematch.net" Retrieved October 30, 2016
- Richard Charland profile "Online World of Wrestling" Retrieved October 30, 2016
External links
- Richard Charland's profile at [http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBios/charland.html>Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall Of Fame]
- Richard Charland's profile at [http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=9025>Cagematch.net]