User:Delacourtc

Bernard Vandamme : Bernard Vandamme is a pro wrestler from Belgium, trained by "Exotic' Adrian Street in Florida, USA. He did main events in 16 countries, and is still a top contender all over Europe. He won the european heavyweight title three times, and defended them in over 10 countries. "Vandamme" is actually his real name, and is no stage name refering to the actor jean-Claude Van Damme.

THE BEGINNING Already at the early age of 5, Bernard loved pro wrestling. At the age of 6 he started judo, what kept him calm for 13 years. He quit judo when he was 19, and started wheight training, to realise his dream and become pro wrestler. In 1992 he went to Florida USA,  to become to professional wrestler. He was trained by multiple champion "exotic” Adrian Street". …Once returned to Europe, he won his first title, the Belgian middleweight championship in 1992. In 1993 Bernard returned to the USA for more training and matches in Florida, Alabama, Texas, Georgia... EARLY PRO CAREER Spring 1993 : Soon after winning jis 2nd belgian middleweight title, he received his first pro contract from CWA (catch wrestling association), to tour in Austria. Germany and Austria still had the annual tournaments of 4 to 6 weeks non-stop. In october 1993 he met french top fan favourite Flesh Gordon, who introduced in France, for the NEW CATCH organisation, which was well known for their weekly TV shows on eurosport in the early 90ies. In 1994, he returned once again to USA to compete in small independents and in GWF (Global Wrestling Federation) in Texas, which unfortunately was about to fold up at that tiime Back in Europe he signed monopoly with NEW CATCH, France (that later became WRESTLING STARS). THE HUNT FOR GOLD Since then he competed all over the continent, won main events in 16 countries and became fan favourite wherever he went. He became co-holder of the European tag team championship in 1996 (France) with Prince Zefy and in 1997 (Slovenia) with Flesh Gordon. On 16 May 2003 he beat the Spanish Dragon de Oro in a tournament final in Paris and won the European heavyweight championship. He defended the title monthly successfully against challengers from France, Italy, Turkey... In 2004, he lost the European title in Oslo, Norway, against the Norwegian Erik Isaksen. The very next day Vandamme promised on national norwegian TV that he would regain the title...5 months later he got a rematch, and regained the title (Vendôme, France, april 8th 2005). December 2006, Bernard defends the title in Vanta, Finland against the Finnish Starbuck. He loses the title and Starbuck becomes new European champion. Already two months later Bernard wins the title back in France (february 2007, Thaon Les Vosges, France). June 2007: In a tournament final Bernard defeats Erik Isaksen and wins the E.W.E. international title in Sevilla - Spain, and becomes "double crown champion". Radom, Poland, februari 2010, Vandamme defended the title succesfilm against the 180 kilo Colossos. On the same event, a 12 men battle royal was held to decide the new challenger for the European title, Cybernic Machine won and became nr 1 challenger for the european title. The match took place on april 2010 in Berck France, Vandamme defended the title succesfully and unmasked Cybernic Machine. Instinctly Cybernic covered himself and ran off. A rematch took place in June 2010 in Zawiercie, Poland, and Cybernic Machine won the European title from Vandamme. Meanwhile Vandamme continues to wrestle, but showed nomore interest in the gold. CHAMPIONSHIPS - Belgian middleweight title (june 1992) - Belgian middleweight title (may 1993) - European tag team title (France, april 1996) - European tag team title (Slovenia, september 1997) - I.W.W. Jr heavyweight title (Hannover, Germany, februari 2000) - European heavyweight title (France, june 2003) - European heavyweight title (France, april 2005) - European heavyweight title (France, februari 2007) - E.W.E. international title (Sevilla, Spain, july 2007) TV CAREER Due to his success in the sport, Vandamme got a deal to play the role of "Strong Man" in the french TV show FORT BOYARD, which plays in over 12 countries worldwide. He played the role of strong man during the seasons 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001. In Belgium Vandamme was best known for hosting WCW WORLDWIDE  on belgian channel KANAAL 2 (2B) with colegue Wim Coryn. Bernard played in some in music videos, TV reports, the Flemish tv show Matroesjkas… EXTERNAL LINKS official homepage : www.bernardvandamme.com eurostars homepage : www.eurostars-wrestling.com