After wrestling Crazzy Steve in a casket match at WrestleCade 2018 this past weekend, Vampiro flew back to Mexico and posted an image of himself in a wheelchair.
Vampiro explained that flying takes a toll on his body due to his neck and back injuries. When he flies too often, his body gives out and he loses control of his legs, arms, and hands.
Vampiro wrote that he would do it again if he had the chance. Even though Vampiro is in a wheelchair, his smile tells me his words are true.
The good news is that Vampiro didn’t appear to have any problems walking around during Wednesday’s AAA Lucha Capital tournament.
You might be wondering why a 51 year old Vampiro continues to put his body through punishment. An unrelated interview in Spanish with Grupo REFORMA sheds light on that.
The following is my translation of Vampiro’s words in Spanish.
“I wasn’t a star of wrestling. I was an image that stuck. I had much in common with many youngsters, so my image and the scandals outside wrestling is why I am famous. I was never a good wrestler. I wanted people to say Vampiro was at the top of wrestling, but I wasn’t a good wrestler. I was a person that came from the world of music and knew how to move the people.”
Being famous was the worst moment of his life, because it was false fame. He didn’t earn it. It wasn’t something real. His actual personality was totally opposite of the character he portrayed. This caused him to escape using drugs.
Vampiro suffered an overdose. In that moment, he saw an angel that told him God was going to give a gift but Vampiro needed to show he deserves it. He tried to clean up his act and become a normal person. He then met the future mother of his child and thought that lady was supposed to be the gift from God. It turned out that the daughter they had was actually the gift.
“When I had my daughter in my hands for the first time, I understood why I’m here on this world. Not for Vampiro, not for music, not for gangs, not for any of those things. My reason for being was to take care of this girl. That was my mission.”
Vampiro changed his way of being because his daughter needs a positive role model in her life. She can learn that with sacrifice, positive energy, passion, and love she can achieve many things. Being rich is not economic. It is what is in your soul.
Seeing his daughter grow up, Vampiro now understands why he needs to wrestle as the Vampiro character. He is fighting for all the fans that have difficulties achieving their dreams and have issues in life. Vampiro is the same as they are. He also has problems. He has to wrestle, because he doesn’t know anything else. He has to support his daughter until she can fly solo. That is why Vampiro exists.
The riveting 25 minute Spanish interview also hits on topics such as how Vampiro entered the world of lucha libre, why he doesn’t watch wrestling, being inspired by Great Muta, life on the streets before lucha libre, passion for teaching self-defense, and working as a bodyguard for Milli Vanilli.