The wrestling world was hit with devastating news on Thursday morning as Broderick Shepherd, known to fans as Australian Suicide, El Australiano, and Hexagon Black, tragically passed away at the age of 32.
The announcement came via lucha libre news source luchablog, and it sent shockwaves through the community, especially among fans of AAA, Lucha Underground, and the Mexican independent scene, where Shepherd made his name as an electrifying high-flyer.
A Journey from Australia to the World Stage
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Shepherd began wrestling as a teenager in 2008, competing in Melbourne Championship Wrestling before taking his talents to Canada in 2013. There, he caught the attention of Konnan, who helped bring him to AAA in Mexico, where he debuted under a mask as Australian Suicide.
For the next seven years, Shepherd became one of AAA’s most innovative high-flyers, often teaming with future AEW/ROH stars Angelico and Jack Evans, while also sharing the ring with Penta, Rey Fenix, and Santos Escobar. In 2016, he lost his mask to Daga but continued his rise, winning the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship in 2018 and holding it for 211 days before dropping it to Sammy Guevara.
Lucha Underground’s Lost Storyline
As his stock in AAA grew, Shepherd seemed poised to break into the U.S. scene, making his Lucha Underground debut at Ultima Lucha Cuatro as Hexagon Black—a mysterious character who was meant to be Vampiro’s master and a foil to Penta. Unfortunately, Lucha Underground was canceled after that season, leaving Shepherd’s potentially career-defining role in limbo.
The Pandemic, AEW Appearances, and a Return to Mexico
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Shepherd to leave Mexico, relocating to Puerto Rico with his wife, Vanilla Vargas, where they welcomed their daughter. During this time, he made two appearances on AEW Dark under the name El Australiano, including a match against his old rival Guevara.
Despite his efforts to return to Mexico, visa issues kept him sidelined until 2024, when he finally reemerged in AAA and the Mexican independent scene. His last major moment came in May, when he attempted a death-defying Shooting Star Press off a balcony in AAA. He also competed in BIG Lucha and DTU, reuniting with Jack Evans.
His final recorded match took place on November 16, 2023, in DTU, and he was scheduled to wrestle in San Jose, California, but pulled out for unknown reasons.
A Final Wish to Return Home
Following his passing, Shepherd’s wife Vanilla Vargas revealed that his final wish was to be buried with his family in Australia. She has launched a fundraiser to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of preserving and transporting his body home. Those wishing to help can find details in Vargas’ Facebook post.
Our condolences go out to Vanilla Vargas, their daughter, and all of Shepherd’s family, friends, and fans. His legacy as a fearless performer and beloved figure in lucha libre will never be forgotten.