PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

In late August of 1975, a new masked man suddenly appeared on the scene of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. This ominous looking newcomer called himself Spoiler # 2, and was on a mission of revenge for his friend the Super Destroyer, who had recently been run out of the area by a trio of the territory’s biggest name good guys.

At the time, in the late summer of 1975, nobody knew who this mountain of a man was. But what is much more amazing, in this current era of the Internet and the ready availability of information on almost any topic, is that the real identity of Spoiler # 2 is STILL to this day shrouded in mystery! The same can be said, perhaps even more so, about his partner Spoiler # 1, whose appearance in September of 1975 formed the formidable tag team duo of the masked Spoiler’s # 1 and # 2.

So, after nearly 29 years, let the speculation and conjecture about who was under the hoods of Spoiler # 1 and Spoiler # 2 finally come to an end! In this interview, Spoiler # 2 will unmask exclusively for the Mid-Atlantic Gateway! And during the course of the interview, Spoiler # 2 will unmask his partner for us as well!

Spoiler # 2 is a true wrestling legend, hailing originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who started his career in the mid-1950s, and continued on through into the mid-1980s. In the early 1960s, Spoiler # 2 wrestled for Jim Crockett Promotions, and he and his brother were the area’s tag team champions for a period of time. A world traveler, Spoiler # 2 was a champion many times over, including reins in Texas in the 1950s, Georgia in the 1960s and California in the 1970s. He and his brother had a long stint as the AWA World Tag Team Champions, which spanned from the late 60s to the early 70s.

During the early 70s, Spoiler # 2 was a successful promoter in Montreal, before returning to the ring and having a strong run in the WWWF, battling their champion Bruno Sammartino on even terms. Some of those bouts with Sammartino occurred just mere months before Spoiler # 2 would enter the Mid-Atlantic area. Somewhat surprisingly, about a decade later, Spoiler # 2 was back in New York and was one of the early figures in the crossover from wrestling to “sports entertainment,” getting “married” on the WWF’s Tuesday Night Titans television program in December of 1984. He retired from the ring a couple of years after that, but Spoiler # 2’s daughter would become a star in her own right with the WWF a little further down the road.

Thanks go out to Greg Price for allowing the Gateway access to the 1975 Day Planner of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling booker, George Scott. This true piece of wrestling history in Greg’s possession provided just enough clues to put me on the trail of the Spoilers. After that, it was just a matter of following that trail…and it eventually led to the man who is about to unmask, and also to his partner, Spoiler # 1.

And of course, my profound thanks go out to Spoiler # 2 for his willingness to talk about his career in Jim Crockett Promotions, and for ending the mystery of the identity of Spoiler # 2 by taking off his hood after all these many years! And for also exposing his partner as well! At Spoiler # 2’s request, this interview was conducted by written questions posed in advance by yours truly, and responded to in writing in kind by Spoiler # 2. Despite the relative brevity of the interview, I think everyone will agree that Spoiler # 2’s great wit, personality and French Canadian heritage still comes through in fine fashion! Spoiler # 2 has been, and continues to be, involved in many fascinating and inspiring things in his life---both inside and outside of wrestling. The Gateway hopes to hear more from Spoiler # 2 in the future; you know you are always welcome here!

Okay, the tease is over…have you figured out who it is?? The time is at hand. So, without any further ado, here is Spoiler # 2. I believe he has a mask to take off!

- David Chappell         

David Chappell: Paul ‘The Butcher’ Vachon, also known as Spoiler # 2, thank you very much for answering some questions for the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. It’s an honor to have you on our website.

Paul “The Butcher” Vachon: Bon jour, mon ami.

David---sorry about the delay. I have been on the road a lot  lately! I am both honored and impressed with your knowledgeable questions.

Chappell: You wrestled in Jim Crockett Promotions for stints in both the 1960s and the 1970s. The stint in the mid 1970s as Spoiler # 2 will likely surprise almost everybody!

But let’s start in the 60s…you and your brother Maurice ‘Mad Dog’ Vachon were teamed in the Crockett territory in the 1960-61 time frame. Tell us about that tour of the Charlotte territory.

Vachon: (Jim) Crockett, Sr. was a true visionary, and rasslin was the only  sport in the area at the time.

Chappell: You held the Southern Tag Team Titles in the Crockett territory with Mad Dog in early 1961. Describe the dynamics of wrestling with your brother then.

Vachon: We functioned well as a team, and had a great time together.

Chappell: Do you have any recollections of this title run in Charlotte that you’d like to share with us?

Vachon: George Becker and the Scott’s were formidable opponents then.

Chappell: You and Mad Dog dropped the Southern Tag Team Titles to the team of George Becker and Sandy Scott, who were mainstays in Crockett’s territory for years. Tell us your recollections of both Becker and Scott.

Vachon: They were decent guys, and excellent workers.

Chappell: What other tag teams did you and Mad Dog square off against while in the Charlotte territory?

Vachon: Brute Bemis and Mr. Clean.

Chappell: A lot of outstanding wrestlers were in Crockett’s area around the time you were in during the 60s. I’d like to get your comments on several of them.

Vachon: I have fond recollections of Klondike Bill and Johnny Heidman.

Chappell: Many fans who visit our website fondly remember Brute Bernard, who was around I believe during your first stint with Crockett. Tell us about Brute in those early days.

Vachon: He was a genuine ‘Wildman.’

Chappell: Your memories of the Great Bolo?

Vachon: A master of the squared-circle, with or without the hood.

Left to right: Paul "Butcher" Vachon (Spoiler #2),  Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon, and Danny Hodge

Cauliflower Alley, 4-17-04 (photo courtesy the collection of Paul Vachon)

Chappell: Tosh Togo was another big name on the heel side of Crockett’s roster back then. Describe Togo to us.

Vachon: Extremely powerful.

Chappell: Why didn’t you wrestle longer for Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1960s?

Vachon: I had a commitment elsewhere.

PART TWO