Big Van Vader: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|American professional wrestler and football player (1955–2018)}}

{{~~redirects~~redirect|Vader (wrestler)|other uses|Vader (disambiguation){{!}}Vader}}▼

▲{{redirects|Vader (wrestler)|other uses|Vader (disambiguation){{!}}Vader}}

{{Infobox person

| birthname = Leon Allen White<ref name=NFL/>

| name = Big Van Vader

| image = Vader One Night Only.jpg

| caption = Vader in ~~September~~ 1997

| alma_mater = [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]]

| birth_place = [[Lynwood, California]], U.S.<ref name=Cage>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=132&gimmick=Leon+Allen+White|title=Big Van Vader|work=Cagematch}}</ref>

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| names = Baby Bull<ref name=rej/> Bull Power <ref name=rej/> Big Van Vader<ref name="PuroCentral"/> Leon White<ref name=Cage/> Vader<ref name="WWEalumni">{{cite news|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/vaderalumni/|title=Vader|publisher=[[WWE]]|work=WWE.com|access-date=January 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626093411/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/vaderalumni/|archive-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref>

| billed = [[Boulder, Colorado]], U.S. "[[The Rocky Mountains]]"<ref name="WWEalumni"/>

| height = 6 ft 5 in<ref name="WWEalumni" />

| weight = 450 lb<ref name="WWEalumni"/>

| trainer = [[Brad Rheingans]]<ref name=Cage/><ref name=PuroCentral>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/vader.html|title=Puroresu Central profile|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227070416/http://www.puroresucentral.com/vader.html|archive-date=February 27, 2012}}</ref>

| debut = 1985<ref name=Cage/><ref name=PuroCentral/>

| retired = ~~August~~May 2625, 2017<ref name="Cagematch"/>

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox NFL biography

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}}

'''Leon Allen White'''<ref name=NFL/> (May 14, 1955 – June 18, 2018),<ref name="AJPW">{{cite web|url=http://www.all-japan.co.jp/profile/bigb.php |script-title=ja:ビッグバン・ベイダー |access-date=December 11, 2012 |work=[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204023020/http://www.all-japan.co.jp/profile/bigb.php |archive-date=December 4, 2012 }}</ref> better known by his [[ring name]]s '''Big Van Vader''' or simply '''Vader''', was an American [[professional wrestler]] and professional [[American football|football]] player. Throughout his career, he performed for [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW), [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW), and [[Pro Wrestling Noah]] (NOAH) during the 1990s and 2000s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest super-heavyweight professional ~~wrestler~~wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/still-wrestling-despite-heart-issue-vader-prefers-to-die-having-fun-in-the-ring/|title=Still wrestling despite heart issue, Vader prefers to die 'having fun in the ring'|last=Burkholder|first=Denny|date=March 3, 2017|work=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=November 12, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113216/https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/still-wrestling-despite-heart-issue-vader-prefers-to-die-having-fun-in-the-ring/|archive-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

White performed as a monstrous wrestler, and he was capable of aerial maneuvers: his diving [[moonsault]] was voted the "[[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Wrestling Maneuver|Best Wrestling Maneuver]]" of 1993 by ''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' (''WON'') readers. Among other accolades in WCW, Mexico and Japan, he won the [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] and the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] three times each, the [[UWA World Heavyweight Championship]] once, the [[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship]] twice, the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]] [[List of WWE United States Champions|once]], and won the [[Professional wrestling battle royal|battle royal]] main event of the 1993 [[Battlebowl]] [[pay-per-view]] (PPV). He headlined multiple [[List of WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events|PPV events for the WWF]] and [[List of NWA/WCW closed-circuit events and pay-per-view events|WCW]]. Vader was inducted into the [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' Hall of Fame]] in 1996 and the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] in 2022.

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==American football career==

White was a nationally ranked [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] that was recruited by forty colleges. He played [[American football positions#Offensive (interior) line (IOL)|offensive line]] at the [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]], where he was named a second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] at [[guard (gridiron football)|guard]] by [[United Press International]] for the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Buffaloes]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite news|title=UPI All-America|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=December 2, 1977|page=2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4546267/notre_dame_trio_head_upi_allamerica/}}</ref> He earned a business administration degree.

===Professional career===

In the [[1978 NFL ~~Draft~~draft]], White was drafted as a center by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] with the 24th pick of the 3rd Round (80th overall).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1978#round3 |quote=80 – Los Angeles Rams – Leon White – Colorado |title=NFL Draft History |website=[[NFL.com]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921192754/http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1978#round3 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="TO1">{{cite news|url=http://newsok.com/article/2916835|title=NFL career was ended by an injury Pro wrestler Vader has son playing with OU|last=Buckner|first=Brandon|date=October 23, 2005|work=The Oklahoman|access-date=January 15, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135009/http://newsok.com/article/2916835|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> White's [[1979 Los Angeles Rams season|second season]] saw the Rams go to the [[Super Bowl XIV|Super Bowl]] and earned White an [[NFC West|NFC]] [[championship ring]]. White spent the season on the injured reserve list due to knee problems. He did not play a single down and registered no statistics. White was forced into retirement by a ruptured [[patella]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dufresne |first=Chris |date=August 11, 1989 |title=CENTERPIECE : Doug Smith Quietly Gives the Rams an Anchor for the Offensive Line |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-11-sp-320-story.html |quote=In 1978, the Rams drafted Colorado center Leon White in the third round. He, not Smith, was to be the team’s center. But five knee surgeries in two years took White out of the picture,...}}</ref>

== Professional wrestling career ==

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In 1989, Bull Power returned to the CWA, to challenge Otto Wanz for the CWA World Heavyweight Championship. On August 21 in Vienna, Austria, he defeated Wanz to win his second CWA World title. He held onto the title for a little over four months before losing it back to Wanz in Bremen, Germany, on December 22. A year later, Otto Wanz retired and the CWA World title was held up. Bull Power defeated Rambo to win the vacant title for the third and final time. He held to the title for over six months, before losing it to Rambo in Graz, Austria on July 6, 1991. Five months later, he defeated [[Tatsumi Fujinami]] to become the inaugural [[CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship|CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion]]. He vacated the title in 1992 after signing with [[World Championship Wrestling]].

=== New Japan Pro-Wrestling (~~1987-1992~~1987–1992) ===

==== Early years (1987–1989) ====

Although originally signed to [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW), AJPW owner [[Giant Baba]] traded White's contract over to [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) in 1987 after consideration.<ref name=rej/> Upon joining NJPW, White was given the ring name '''Big Van Vader''' and began to wear a black [[wrestling mask]]. His new identity was based on a strong warrior of the same name from [[Japanese folklore]].<ref name="vader-folklore">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H-6DoPuiRkEC&pg=PA243|chapter=The Monsters|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels|last1=Oliver|first1=Greg|last2=Johnson|first2=Steven|location=[[Toronto]]|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|page=243|year=2007|isbn=978-1-55022-759-8|quote=Derived from Japanese folklore, where Vader was a top warrior who once fought for his village seventy-two hours straight, White was given a huge, black device for his head that shot smoke. }}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast|last=Steve|first=Austin|title=The Steve Austin Show – EP122 – Big Van Vader Pt 2|publisher=Podcast One|date=June 5, 2014|url=http://www.podcastone.com/embed?progID=436&pid=417258|access-date=June 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164829/http://www.podcastone.com/embed?progID=436&pid=417258|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> He was introduced as the crown jewel of the Takeshi Puroresu Gundan [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]] which was [[Manager (professional wrestling)|managed]] by [[Takeshi Kitano]]. Vader challenged [[Antonio Inoki]], who had already defeated [[Riki Choshu]], and defeated the worn-down Inoki. The pro-Inoki audience rioted, resulting in NJPW being banned from Sumo Hall, its home arena. The ban remained in effect until 1989, when NJPW did its first show back in Sumo Hall on February 22.<ref name="PWInsider"/>

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After winning the final match of an eight-man tournament against [[Shinya Hashimoto]] at [[Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome]], Vader was declared the new [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship|IWGP Heavyweight Champion]]. He was the first gaijin (non-Japanese) wrestler to hold the title.<ref name="rej"/> On May 25, one month after being crowned champion, Vader lost the title to Russian [[suplex]] master [[Salman Hashimikov]]. Hashimikov dropped the title to Vader's old rival, Riki Choshu, on July 12. On August 10, Vader defeated Choshu to become a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

On February 10, 1990, Vader faced [[Stan Hansen]] at an AJPW versus NJPW supercard show called [[Super Fight in Tokyo Dome]]. Before Vader entered the ring, Hansen accidentally broke Vader's nose with the bull rope Hansen carried to the ring for his matches. During an exchange of stiff punches, Hansen unintentionally poked Vader's left eye with his thumb during their brawl, which caused the eye to pop out of its socket.<ref name=HansenBio>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/hansen.html|title=Stan Hansen's Puroresu Central profile|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063956/http://www.puroresucentral.com/hansen.html|archive-date=October 22, 2013}}</ref> After removing his mask, pushing the eye back into its socket and holding it in place with his eyelid, Vader continued wrestling Hansen until the match was rendered a no contest.<ref name=HansenBio/> As a result of the injury, Vader required a metal plate to be surgically placed under his eye.<ref name=HansenBio/> Vader's success garnered the attention of [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), who convinced him to work for them while still the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and an active competitor in NJPW. He also beat Antonio Inokis streak on his debut.

In January 1991, Vader defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to earn himself a third IWGP Heavyweight Title reign. During this match, Vader began bleeding from his eye, which required surgery when he returned to the United States.<ref name=02251991WON>{{cite web|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-25-1991-wrestling-observer-newsletter-full-wrestlemania-card|title=February 25, 1991 Observer Newsletter: Full Wrestlemania card released|author=Observer Staff|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|website=F4WOnline.com|date=February 25, 1991|access-date=December 8, 2019}} {{subscription required}}</ref> This reign was short-lived, however, as Vader lost the title back to Fujinami on March 4. At this point, WCW and NJPW were reaching a tentative working agreement. This benefited Vader, as he could now have his schedule coordinated far more easily. This helped alleviate his difficulty in gaining notoriety in WCW, as his previously infrequent appearances did not allow the audience to see him very often.

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[[Jim Cornette]] campaigned for Vader's reinstatement, and by the time Vader returned, Yokozuna had left Cornette's management. At February's [[In Your House 6]], Vader appeared during Yokozuna's match against [[Davey Boy Smith|The British Bulldog]], and as Yokozuna was about to [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pin]] The Bulldog, Vader attacked him, handcuffed him, and delivered a severe beating. This led to what was supposed to be a one-on-one encounter between Vader and Yokozuna at [[WrestleMania XII]]. However, the match became a six-man [[tag team]] match pitting Vader, [[Owen Hart]], and The British Bulldog against Yokozuna, [[Ahmed Johnson]], and Jake Roberts, with the stipulation that if Yokozuna's team won the match, he would have five minutes alone with Cornette in the ring; this never occurred as Vader's team won the match when Vader pinned Roberts.

Vader then attacked the [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Champion]] Shawn Michaels after one of Michaels' matches, which earned him a spot in a six-man tag team match at [[In Your House 9: International Incident]], where Vader, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog teamed up against Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, and [[Sid Eudy|Sycho Sid]]; Vader pinned Michaels to win the match for his team. Vader faced Michaels again at [[SummerSlam (1996)|SummerSlam]], where ~~Michael's~~Michaels won by pinfall.

Following his feud with Michaels, Vader faced off against [[The Undertaker]] in a singles match at the [[Royal Rumble (1997)|Royal Rumble]], and during the match, The Undertaker's former manager, [[Paul Bearer]], attacked him and helped Vader win; Bearer then became Vader's manager. Both Vader and Undertaker went on to compete in the [[Royal Rumble match]], during which Stone Cold Steve Austin was eliminated by [[Bret Hart]]; however, the referees did not see this, as they were attending to [[Terry Funk]] and [[Mick Foley|Mankind]] on the floor, allowing Austin to sneak back into the ring and eliminate both Vader and Undertaker, then Bret Hart, who was busy eliminating [[Kane (wrestler)|Fake Diesel]], and win the Royal Rumble. As a result of this, Vader and the other men eliminated by Austin, Bret Hart and The Undertaker, were put into the [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|four-way main event]] of February's [[In Your House 13: Final Four]] for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, in which Vader, after bleeding profusely, was eliminated by The Undertaker. Bearer then persuaded his two proteges, Vader and Mankind, to go after the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]], despite the fact that the two men often brawled between themselves. They failed in their bid to win the tag team gold at [[WrestleMania 13]].

==== Various feuds and departure (1997–1998) ====

Vader again received an opportunity to face The Undertaker, this time for the WWF Championship at [[In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede]], but lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/iyh16.html|title=WWF In Your House 16: "Canadian Stampede"|access-date=2008-03-10|work=CompleteWWE.com|archive-date=February 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229161059/http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/iyh16.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the following night's ''Raw is War'', Vader wrestled [[The Patriot (wrestler)|The Patriot]], who won the match and then went after Bret Hart, who came to ringside during the match; Vader attacked The Patriot and then brought him back into the ring, where he went for the Vader Bomb, but Hart came into the ring and laid the [[Flag of Canada|Canadian flag]] over The Patriot, so Vader got down, picked up the Canadian flag, broke it, and started a brawl with Hart. This [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Turn|turned]] Vader's [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] and served to bring Vader into the USA vs. Canada [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]], which culminated at [[Survivor Series (1997)|Survivor Series]], where Vader was the leader of Team USA, with [[Goldust]], [[Marc Mero]], and [[Steve Blackman]] (replacing the injured Patriot) as they faced Team Canada, composed of the British Bulldog, [[Jim Neidhart]], [[Doug Furnas]], and [[Philip Lafond|Phil LaFon]]; during the match, Goldust ~~and [[Terri Runnels|Marlena]],~~ walked out on his team and Team USA lost the match after The Bulldog pinned Vader after hitting him with the ring bell. Goldust and Vader feuded throughout the fall and finally faced off at the [[Royal Rumble (1998)|Royal Rumble]], in a match that Vader won. Goldust eliminated Vader from the Royal Rumble match later that night (Vader entered at number 30).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811511/results/|title=Royal Rumble 1998 Results|access-date=July 10, 2008|publisher=WWE}}</ref>

Following his feud with Goldust, Vader began feuding with Kane, and both faced off for the first time at [[No Way Out of Texas]], where Vader lost after a [[chokeslam]] and a [[Tombstone Piledriver]] before Kane subsequently attacked him with a large steel wrench, resulting in Vader being taken away on a stretcher and was kept off of television for a while.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/1998/results/|title=No Way Out of Texas Results|access-date=2008-07-12|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> Two months later, at [[Unforgiven: In Your House]], Vader returned during Kane's [[inferno match]] against The Undertaker; as Kane was attempting to leave the match, Vader appeared and fought him back to the ring to continue the match, which Kane lost.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unforgiven Results|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/1998/results/|access-date=2007-09-16|publisher=WWE|archive-date=June 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605025836/http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/1998/results|url-status=dead}}</ref> Vader and Kane had a rematch at [[Over the Edge: In Your House|Over the Edge]] in a [[mask vs. mask match]], in which Vader attempted to use a wrench on Kane like the one used on him months before, but Kane managed to recover and defeat Vader, costing him his mask in the process. In a post-match interview with [[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]], Vader said, "I made the biggest mistake of my life. Maybe Vader time is over. I'm nothing but a big piece of shit. A big fat piece of shit".<ref name=shit>{{cite web|last=Powell|first=John|title=Stone Cold Beats the Odds|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/jun1_overtheedge.html|publisher=Slam Wrestling|access-date=July 9, 2011|url-status=~~live~~dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925180546/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/jun1_overtheedge.html|archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>

Subsequently, Vader had a series of losses and was reduced to the status of a [[Job (professional wrestling)|jobber to the stars]], having a feud with [[Mark Henry]] which Vader lost. After considering retirement, Vader instead negotiated his own release from the WWF so he could once again wrestle in Japan.<ref name=rej>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingEditorial/jan5_molinaro.html|title=Vader rejuvenated in Japan|author=Molinaro, John F.|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 12, 2009|date=January 6, 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312022024/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingEditorial/jan5_molinaro.html|archive-date=March 12, 2005}}</ref> His final WWF pay-per-view match was a loss to [[John Layfield|Bradshaw]] at [[Breakdown: In Your House]] in a No Holds Barred match. He lost to [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] on the October 11, 1998, episode of ''[[WWE Heat|Sunday Night Heat]]'' in his final televised WWF match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/heat/981011.htm|title=Sunday Night Heat — October 11, 1998|work=pwwew.net|access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref> In a shoot interview, Jim Cornette said part of the reason that Vader's WWF run was not as successful as what was hoped was due to the failure to properly book ~~Vader~~him.<ref>{{YouTube|kUZizMxgSlY}}</ref>

=== All Japan Pro Wrestling (1998–2000) ===

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Vader made his in-ring return to the United States on January 28, 2012. He defeated Arik Royal and [[Adam Page]] in a handicap match at [[WrestleReunion|WrestleReunion: Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/DVDs_-_VGames_-_Books_25/article_61196.shtml|title=RADICAN'S PWS WRESTLEREUNION LA REVIEW 1/28 – Outlaws vs. Steiner Brothers, Legends Wrestle Royale, Smith-Richards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513043431/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/DVDs_-_VGames_-_Books_25/article_61196.shtml |archive-date=May 13, 2012|url-status=live|publisher=PWTorch.com|date=May 8, 2012|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> On May 11, 2012, at [[Resistance Pro]]'s event A Small Deadly Space, Vader defeated [[Jay Bradley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.resistancepro.com/events/|title=Events: Resistance Pro Wrestling|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611015917/http://www.resistancepro.com/events/ |archive-date=June 11, 2012|publisher=Resistancepro.com|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref>

In May 2016, [[Will Ospreay]] and [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] faced each other during the NJPW tournament Best of the Super Juniors. During the match, both wrestlers performed a high flying, fast-paced sequence. When Vader saw the sequence, he complained on social media about the current direction of pro wrestling, specifically about matches being too scripted and overly choreographed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.solowrestling.com/new/52728-vader-sobre-el-ospreay-vs-ricochet-me-entristece-la-direccion-que-esta-tomando-el-wrestling|title=Vader sobre el Ospreay vs Ricochet|last=Solowrestling|date=May 30, 2016|website=www.solowrestling.com}}</ref> During the following weeks, Vader and Ospreay feuded on Twitter,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.solowrestling.com/new/53172-nuevo-choque-entre-vader-y-will-ospreay-en-las-redes-sociales|title=Nuevo choque entre Vader y Will Ospreay en las redes sociales|last=Solowrestling|date=June 17, 2016|website=www.solowrestling.com}}</ref> which led to England-based promotion [[Revolution Pro Wrestling]] (RevPro) booking a match between them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.solowrestling.com/new/53373-revpro-anuncia-la-lucha-entre-vader-y-will-ospreay-para-uprising-2016|title=RevPro anuncia la lucha entre Vader y Will Ospreay para Uprising 2016|last=Solowrestling|date=June 26, 2016|website=www.solowrestling.com}}</ref> The match took place on August 12, 2016, with Vader defeating Ospreay. Two days later, Vader made an appearance in Colchester, England for the [[XWA (professional wrestling)|XWA Wrestling]] (XWA) promotion, defeating "Savvy" Sid Scala.

On April 20, 2017, Vader made an appearance in [[Japan]] at [[Korakuen Hall]] as part of the [[Dradition]] show to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the debut of [[Tatsumi Fujinami]]. Following a six-man tag team match, Vader collapsed due to being dropped on his head during the match, but he was able to walk backstage under his own power and he remained in Japan as he was scheduled to work two more shows in [[Fukuoka]] and [[Osaka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/vader-briefly-collapses-after-match-japan-234051|title=Vader briefly collapses after match in Japan|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=April 20, 2017|access-date=April 21, 2017|work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421045036/http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/vader-briefly-collapses-after-match-japan-234051|archive-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> On April 22, Vader, [[Takuma Sano]], and [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] lost a six-man tag team match to [[Koji Kanemoto]], [[Shiro Koshinaka]] and Tatsumi Fujinami. On April 23, Vader, [[Riki Choshu]], and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Shiro Koshinaka, Takuma Sano, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. The final match of his career took place August 26, 2017, for Top Rope Promotions with Vader coming out victorious.<ref name="Cagematch">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=201096|title=WrestleJam V « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>

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==Professional wrestling style and persona==

[[File:Vader-Michaels in 1996.jpg|thumb|right|Vader performing a ''Vader Bomb'' on [[Shawn Michaels]]]]

White is considered one of the greatest super-heavyweight professional wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/6/20/17486696/big-van-vader-leon-white-obituary|title=Remembering Big Van Vader|last=Bateman|first=Oliver Lee|date=June 20, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2019|publisher=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story|last1=Race|first1=Harley|last2=Tritz|first2=Gerry|isbn=1-58261-818-6|publisher=[[Sports Publishing]]|date=2004|quote=In fact, he might be the best big man to ever enter the ring.}}</ref> He used his size and weight as part of his moves making them look much more painful than when performed by someone half his size. For example, his finishing move, called the Vader Bomb,<ref name="WWEalumni"/> which is a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Corner slingshot splash|corner slingshot splash]], when he would bounce off the middle rope and land on a prone opponent.<ref name=PuroCentral/> He was also noted for his impressive agility, as he can perform a simple [[dropkick]] despite his {{convert|450|lb|kg|abbr=on}} frame.<ref name="WWEalumni"/> One of his signature moves was the ''Vader Sault'',<ref name="WWEalumni"/> [[Moonsault#~~Rounding_moonsault~~Rounding moonsault|a moonsault or a backward somersault jump off the top rope]],<ref name=Cage/><ref name=PuroCentral/> a move that requires significant agility and is usually performed by much smaller wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2018/06/20/22780104.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203745/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2018/06/20/22780104.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2018|title='Vader' Leon White dead at age 63|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canoe.com|Canadian Online Explorer]]|first1=Steven|last1=Johnson|first2=Greg|last2=Oliver|date=June 20, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>

==Other media==

===Filmography===

* ''[[Fist of the North Star (1995 film)|Fist of the North Star]]'' (1995) as 'Goliath'<ref name=IMDB>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113074/|title=Fist of the North Star (1995)|work=IMDb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915232904/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113074/|archive-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref>

* ''[[Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows]]'' (1998) as himself<ref>{{cite web|title= Quick Daily Review #128: Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998)|publisher=vortexeffect.net| url= http://vortexeffect.net/2015/06/11/quick-daily-review-128-hitman-hart-wrestling-with-shadows-1998/|access-date=August 17, 2019|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331021752/http://vortexeffect.net/2015/06/11/quick-daily-review-128-hitman-hart-wrestling-with-shadows-1998/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* ''The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling'' (1999) as himself<ref name=IMDB/>

~~Leon was also in the movie Major Payne.~~

===Television appearances===

* ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' (1995, 1996) as Francis Albert Leslie 'Frankie' Stecchino, Sr. (3 episodes)<ref name=IMDB/>

* ''[[Baywatch]]'' (1996) "Bash at the Beach" as himself (1 episode)<ref name=IMDB/>

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==Personal life==

White and his wife Grace Connelly, married in 1979.<ref name=Part2/> Together they have a son, [[Jake Carter (wrestler)|Jesse White]], who was born on April 19, 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&qf=Jesse&qmi=&qn=White&qcs=Boulder%2C+CO&focusfirst=0|title=People Search from Intelius searches billions of public records instantly. Search free now!|publisher=Intelius.com|access-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=1996706|title=Jesse White profile|publisher=Hscolorado.scout.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502152628/http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=1996706|archive-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref> In July 2009, Jesse began training ~~him~~ to become a professional wrestler in Japan.<ref name="wrestlingtruth">Balderson, Keelan (July 3, 2009) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090705071422/http://wrestlingtruth.com/news/tna-game-doomed-vader-training-junior-tara-blogs-lance-hoyt-update/ TNA Game Doomed, Vader Training Junior? Tara Blogs, Lance Hoyt Update]. wrestlingtruth.com</ref> He originally committed to the [[University of Oklahoma]] and was touted for the [[National Football League]], but was taken out with a hip injury.<ref name=Cage/><ref name="NFL">[http://nfldraft.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=26405 Rivals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820013355/http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jesse-White-26405 |date=August 20, 2012}}. Nfldraft.rivals.com. Retrieved February 20, 2016.</ref> In April 2011, he signed a developmental contract with WWE,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1304176563 |title=WWE signs Vader's son to a developmental deal |date=April 30, 2011 |last=Tedesco |first=Mike |access-date=April 30, 2011 |publisher=WrestleView |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930182606/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1304176563 |archive-date=September 30, 2012 }}</ref> and used the name Jake Carter, until September 16, 2013, when he was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=80314|title=Three Wwe Releases Today Including Son Of Hall Of Famer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061121/http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=80314 |archive-date=September 21, 2013|publisher=PWInsider.com|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref>

White was a [[Born again|born again Christian]].<ref name=Part3/>

While in [[Kuwait]] during a WWF tour in April 1997, White appeared on the television program ''Good Morning Kuwait'' along with [[The Undertaker|Mark Calaway]], who was WWF World Heavyweight Champion at that time.<ref name=Cage/><ref name=kuwait>{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1997-12-31/news/18047941_1_kuwaiti-fined-kuwait-kuwait|title=Wrestler Vader Fined|work=New York Daily News|date=December 31, 1997|access-date=November 12, 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> During the interview, the host asked both of them if wrestling was fake.<ref name=Cage/><ref name=kuwait/> In response, White flipped over the table they were sitting at and grabbed the host by the tie, asking him if it seemed fake while using foul language. He was then arrested and detained by Kuwaiti authorities for two weeks.<ref name=Cage/><ref name=kuwait/> In December, White was fined 50 [[Kuwaiti dinar]]s (about $164) for this incident. In a later interview, it was revealed that this incident was in fact scripted, as it was pitched to both White and Earl Hebner by the producers of the show in an attempt to boost viewership numbers; however, the host was not apprised of the plan, which resulted in him filing for charges against White.<ref name=kuwait/>

===Health problems and death===

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In November 2016, White was involved in a rollover car accident that left him unconscious for 35 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/772329-former-world-champion-vader-involved-in-car-accident-photos|title=Former World Champion Vader Involved in Car Accident (Photos)|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=WrestleZone|access-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110164624/http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/772329-former-world-champion-vader-involved-in-car-accident-photos|archive-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref> Being diagnosed with [[congestive heart failure]], he consulted two heart doctors, who told him he had two years to live.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wildpitchsports.com/2016/11/15/doctors-tell-big-van-vader-two-years-live/|title=Doctors tell Big Van Vader he has two years to live|date=November 15, 2016|website=wildpitchsports.com|access-date=November 15, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022006/http://www.wildpitchsports.com/2016/11/15/doctors-tell-big-van-vader-two-years-live/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He later received another opinion that was more optimistic.<ref>{{ cite web|url=http://dailyddt.com/2016/12/14/wwe-news-vader-health-status-update/|title=WWE: Vader Provides Good News on His Health Status|date=December 14, 2016|access-date=February 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180235/http://dailyddt.com/2016/12/14/wwe-news-vader-health-status-update/|archive-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref> In a March 2017 interview on the ''Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling'' podcast, White explained that he regretted tweeting about his diagnosis.<ref name="podcast"/> He said he would continue to wrestle and if the tests were proven to be true, he would like to die in the ring.<ref name="podcast">{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=YFo6YqnFEeg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/YFo6YqnFEeg| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Vader Emotionally Shares His Legacy Left In Professional Wrestling - March 2017|author=Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling|date=June 20, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2019|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In March 2018, White went in for heart surgery<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2018/0313/637851/former-wcw-and-wcw-star-vader-undergoing-heart-surgery/|title=Former WWE And WCW Star Vader Undergoing Heart Surgery - WrestlingInc.com|date=March 12, 2018 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314175743/http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2018/0313/637851/former-wcw-and-wcw-star-vader-undergoing-heart-surgery/|archive-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref> followed by another to treat an arrhythmia.<ref name=Johnson/> White died on June 18, 2018, after a month-long hospitalization for [[pneumonia]]. He was 63 years old.<ref name=Johnson>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2018/06/20/22780104.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203745/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2018/06/20/22780104.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2018|title='Vader' Leon White dead at age 63}}</ref> In the months before his death, White was frequently visited and supported by fellow wrestler [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2018/06/24/vader-sting-jesse-white-comfort-final-days/|title=Sting Comforted Vader In His Final Days, Vader's Son Says|website=TMZ}}</ref>

== Championships and accomplishments ==

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** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Wrestler of the Year|Wrestler of the Year]] (1993)<ref name="PWI Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|title=PWI Awards|work=[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]|publisher=[[Kappa Publishing Group]]|access-date=June 20, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121172943/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref>

** Ranked No. 2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]]'' in 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profightdb.com/pwi-500/1993.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1993|publisher=The Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=June 20, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114083926/http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/1993.html|archive-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>

** Ranked No. 27 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref name=PWI>{{cite web|url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|title=PWI Years 500|work=Willy Wrestlefest|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=fr|archive-date=December 5, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205003511/http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

** Ranked No. 36 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Bam Bam Bigelow in 2003<ref name=PWI />

* '''[[Pro Wrestling Noah]]'''

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** [[Battlebowl|BattleBowl (1993)]]<ref>[http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/bbwcw.html Solie's Title Histories: WCW] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313120903/http://solie.org/titlehistories/bbwcw.html |date=March 13, 2016}}. Solie.org. Retrieved February 20, 2016.</ref>

* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/WWE]]'''

**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2022)|Class of 2022]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mundowrestling.es/vader-entra-al-hall-of-fame-de-wwe/ |title=Vader entra al Hall of Fame de WWE |~~lang~~language=es |website=Mundo Wrestling|date=March 7, 2022 }}</ref>

** [[Slammy Award]] (1 time)

*** Crime of the Century ([[1996 Slammy Awards|1996]])<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110908073222/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/slammy.htm WWE Slammy Awards]. 100megsfree4.com</ref> – {{small|Assault on WWF President [[Gorilla Monsoon]]}}

Line 250 ⟶ 249:

{{See also|Lucha libre#Luchas de Apuestas|l1=Luchas de Apuestas}}

{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="text-align: center"

!width=20% scope="col"|Winner (wager)

!~~style="background: #e3e3e3;"~~ width=20% scope="col"|~~Winner~~Loser (wager)

!~~style="background: #e3e3e3;"~~ width=20% scope="col"|~~Loser (wager)~~Location

!~~style="background: #e3e3e3;"~~ width=20% scope="col"|~~Location~~Event

!~~style="background: #e3e3e3;"~~ width=2015% scope="col"|~~Event~~Date

!~~style~~class="~~background: #e3e3e3;~~unsortable" width=155% scope="col"|~~Date~~Notes

~~!class="unsortable" style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=5% scope="col"|Notes~~

|[[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] (mask) || Vader (mask) || Milwaukee, Wisconsin || [[Over the Edge: In Your House|Over the Edge]] || {{dts|1998|05|31}} ||

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==See also==

* [[List of premature professional wrestling deaths]]

* [[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]

== References ==

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{{GHC Tag Team Championship}}▼

▲{{GHC Tag Team Championship}}

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[[Category:1955 births]]

[[Category:2018 deaths]]

[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]

[[Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers]]

[[Category:American football offensive linemen]]

[[Category:American male film actors]]

[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]

[[Category:American male television actors]]

[[Category:Bell High School (California) alumni]]

[[Category:Christians from California]]

[[Category:Christians from Colorado]]

[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players]]

[[Category:~~IWGP~~CWA World Heavyweight ~~Tag Team~~ Champions]]▼

[[Category:~~GHC~~CWA ~~Tag~~Intercontinental ~~Team~~Heavyweight Champions]]▼

[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Colorado]]

[[Category:Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan]]

[[Category:~~World~~GHC Tag Team Champions ~~(AJPW)~~]]▼

[[Category:IWGP Heavyweight champions]]

[[Category:IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions]]

[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]

[[Category:Masked wrestlers]]

[[Category:NWA/WCW/WWE United States Heavyweight Champions]]

[[Category:~~Sportspeople~~Players of American football from Lynwood, California]]

[[Category:Professional wrestlers from California]]

[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Colorado]]

[[Category:Sportspeople from Boulder, Colorado]]

[[Category:~~WCW~~Sportspeople ~~World~~from ~~Heavyweight~~Lynwood, ~~Champions~~California]]

[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]]▼

▲[[Category:IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions]]

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[[Category:Triple Crown Heavyweight Champions]]

[[Category:UWA World Heavyweight Champions]]

[[Category:~~Bell~~WCW ~~High~~World ~~School~~Heavyweight ~~(California) alumni~~Champions]]

[[Category:World Tag League (NJPW) winners]]

[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (AJPW)]]

▲[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]]