Vance Nevada
Canadian professional wrestler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vern May (born December 31, 1975), better known by his ringname Vance Nevada, is a Canadian professional wrestler, author, professional wrestling promoter and wrestling historian.[3]
December 31, 1975
Black Ninja
Blue Power Ranger
Catastrophe
Fabius Maximus
Great Cletus
Insanity
Lucha Larry
Oriental Demon
Red Dragon
Vance Nevada
Vern May
XXX
May at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, BMO Centre on 28 April 2012 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vern May December 31, 1975 Souris, Manitoba, Canada |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Black Dragon Black Ninja Blue Power Ranger Catastrophe Fabius Maximus Great Cletus Insanity Lucha Larry Oriental Demon Red Dragon Vance Nevada Vern May XXX |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1][2] |
| Billed weight | 185 lb (84 kg)[2] |
| Trained by | Ernest Rheault |
| Debut | 1993[1] |
Professional wrestling career
Since his earliest matches in 1993, Vance Nevada has maintained one of the most aggressive touring schedules of his generation, appearing for 64 wrestling organizations from coast to coast in Canada and wrestling in almost every Province and territory in the country during his career. His passion for the sport and his exposure to the regional sub-cultures of professional wrestling and its fans have served to create an immeasurable appreciation for the sport and its history.
In addition to his success between the ropes which has included matches against ring legends and today's top stars from Jim Neidhart, Matt Borne and the Honky Tonk Man to Kenny Omega, Kyle O'Reilly and the Bollywood Boyz, Vance Nevada is regarded as one of the premiere historians of Canadian ring lore, having published three books on the topic and being awarded with the James C. Melby Historian Award by the U.S.-based Cauliflower Alley Club for his efforts.
Aside from his endeavours to preserve wrestling's past, while also actively participating in wrestling's present, Nevada is a life member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, a benevolent organization of wrestling professionals that provides funding and resource support for wrestling's alumni in the face of medical and personal hardship. In addition to his role on the advisory board and committee appointments, he has served as the editor for the club's international newsletter since 2020.
Between 1994 and 2009, Nevada was ranked in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine top 500 ten times. In February 2022, he eclipsed the all-time record set by Leo Burke for most Canadian wrestling title reigns at 44.[4][5][6]
Nevada has done four Canadian Death Tours.[7][8][9]
Personal life
Championships and accomplishments
- 365 Pro Wrestling
- PWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ice[16]
- All-Star Wrestling
- Canadian Wrestling's Elite
- CWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)[17]
- Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2025
- CanAm Wrestling
- CanAm Wrestling Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[16]
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- James Melby Historian Award (2010)[18]
- Canadian Wrestling Federation
- Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling
- ECCW Championship (1 time)[16]
- Gold Dragon Wrestling
- MainStream Wrestling
- MSW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Monster Pro Wrestling
- MPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Michelle Starr[16]
- National Wrestling Alliance
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Prime Time Wrestling
- PTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[16]
- River City Wrestling
- Canadian Unified Junior Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
- RCW Hardcore Championship (1 time)[16]
- RCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[16]
- RCW Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Robby Royce (3 times) and Bugsy Sluggs (1 time)[16]
- RCW Can-Am Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Canadian Cannonball and Sluggo Smith (1 time)[16]
- Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016[2]
- Thrash Wrestling
- Thrash Wrestling Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Adam Ryder (1), Bobby Sharp (1), and Sean Gaston (1)[16]
- Top Ranked Wrestling
- TRW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Disco Fury[16]
- Top Rope Championship Wrestling
- Wild West Wrestling/Hardcore Wrestling
- WWW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with JT Atlas (1 time) and Scotty Simms (1 time)[16]
Luchas de Apuestas record
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vance Nevada (hair) | Scarface (mask) | Winnipeg, Manitoba | RCW @ Winnipeg | May 11, 1995 | [21] |
Works
"(Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy" (2022, Friesen Press)
The Ear, Cauliflower Alley Club newsletter - editor (2020–2022)
CNWA Magazine - lead writer/publisher (2012–2013, nine issues)
History of Professional Wrestling Series #5 - researcher (2002, Crowbar Press)
- Wrestling in the Canadian West[14]
Central Canadian Professional Wrestling Almanac (1999, self-published)