Gangrel's inspiration came from a horror RPG (and later video game series) which led to a horror show on Fox, the latter of which is barely remembered today. The game in question is Vampire: The Masquerade. A role-playing game where one assumes the role of a vampire in a goth/punk version of the world, the game was released in the early 90s, with the video game adaptation making its way out in 2000, followed by a second in 2004. On the small screen, the series would be adapted as Kindred: The Embraced in 1996. Gangrel's character in the WWE predates the 2000 game, but the TV show had already come and gone, and the whole franchise was popular enough to be noticed. The name Gangrel was based on one of the vampire clans from the original game. It was another see-through attempt to cash-in on the popularity of vampires, though at least it brought us Edge, Christian, and the Hardy Boyz.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
