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Big Van Vader

Nickname: The Mastadon

Height: 6' 5"

Weight: 450 lbs

From: Denver, CO

Birthday: May 14th

Pro Debut: January 1987

Aliases: Leon White, Vader, Super Vader, Little Bull

Feds Worked For: AWA, DI2IW, IZW, JCW, MSWA, NEW, NWA-TNA, TNA, WCW, WWE, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Big Time Wrestling (SC), Catch Wrestling Association (Europe), FMW (Japan), Inoki Genome Federation (Japan), Jersey All-Pro Wrestling (NJ), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), New Era Frontier Wrestling (MA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Ring Warriors (FL), Pro Wrestling NOAH (Japan), Pro Wrestling Syndicate (NJ), Real Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Resistance Pro Wrestling (IL), UWA (Mexico), Shinjuku Face (Japan), Top Of The World Wrestling (Canada), Xtreme Wrestling Alliance (RI), Z1 Hustle-1 (Japan),

Finisher: Vader Bomb

Signature Moves: Powerbomb, Vadersault, Avalanche, Chokeslam, Face Eraser, Vader Punch, Vader Hammer, Short-arm Clothesline, Lariat, Falling Slam, Front Powerslam, Bearhug, Spinning backfist, Shoulderblock

Career Highlights: -AJPW Tag Team Champions (w/ Steve Williams)
-AJPW Unified Triple Crown Champion (2x)
-CWA Champion (3x)
-CWA Intercontinental Champion
-IWGP Champion (3x)
-IWGP Tag Team Champion (w/ Bam Bam Bigelow)
-IZW Champion
-NOAH Tag Team Champion (w/ Scorpio)
-UWA Champion
-WCW United States Champion
-WCW World Champion (3x)
-XWA Champion
-Winner of the 1991 Super Grade Tag League Tournament (w/ Tatsumi Fujinami)

Affiliates: Sid Vicious, Harley Race, Takeshi Kitano, Paul Bearer, Stan Hansen, Jim Cornette, Ric Flair, Jimmy Hart, Col. Robert Parker, Bam Bam Bigelow, Steve Williams, Scorpio, Tatsumi Fujinami, Team Vader, Jesse White

Notable Feuds: Ric Flair, Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna, Kane, Goldust, Aaron Neil, Striker, Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu

Other Facts: -Father of pro wrestler Jesse White
-Played for the Los Angeles Rams and was a member of the team during their Super Bowl XIV match. He is the only wrestler to win a World Title and compete in a Super Bowl.
-Wrestled his first match against King Kong Brody
-As Leon White, he used the nicknames "Baby Bull" and "Bull Power"
-Changed his nickname from "Baby Bull" to "Bull Power" because he didn't like being called a baby.
-The name "Big Van Vader" is the name of a manga character, much like Jushin "Thunder" Liger
-In his debut for NJPW, he demolished Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki. This ended Inoki's 4-year winning streak, causing a riot and resulting in NJPW being banned from promoting shows in the Sumo Hall until 1989
-Was the first person to hold 3 different titles for 3 promotions on 3 different continents (IWGP in Asia, CWA in Europe, UWA in North America)
-During the course of a match between Vader and Stan Hansen on February 10, 1990, Vader's eye was knocked out of its socket.
-Because New Japan Wrestling owned the copyright for the name "Big Van Vader", he began competing as simply Vader. New Japan then gave the name and gimmick of Big Van Vader to Sylvester Terkey.
-Forced Nikita Koloff into retirement
-Broke the back of WCW preliminary wrestler Joel Thurman
-Was Cactus Jack's opponent in Germany in the match where Jack lost part of his right ear
-Was supposed to be the wrestler who made the "surprise appearance" on the first WCW Monday Nitro. That spot eventually went to Lex Luger. Allegedly he was supposed to beat Hulk Hogan the next week for the WCW World Title on the 2nd episode of Nitro.
-In 1995, when the Horsemen were being reformed, Vader and Steve Austin were seriously considered for spots in that group.
-Was fired from WCW due to a fight backstage with Paul Orndorff.
-Was arrested for using foul language and charge with assault after an appearance on "Good Morning Kuwait". The presenter on the show asked Vader if wrestling was fake. Vader responded by grabbing the presenter, Bassam Al Othman, by the tie, using an expletive and then giving him a hard shove, knocking other chairs and a table over in the process. This was Vader's manner of getting the presenter to respect the work the wrestlers do in the ring. Vader spent 10 days under house arrest in Kuwait for his actions.
-Was the 1st man to ever hold both the IWGP Heavyweight Title & the All-Japan Triple Crown.
-Appeared on an episode of "Boy Meets World" and the live-action version of "Fist of the North Star"
-His son Jesse White played football at the University of Oklahoma until he sustained a career ending knee injury
-Former member of the Takeshi Puroresu Gundan
-Former member of the Dungeon of Doom
-Former member of Camp Cornette
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022
-Ranked # 33 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 15 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 2 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 4 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 7 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked # 14 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked # 46 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked # 65 in the 1998 PWI 500 (as Vader)
-Ranked # 18 in the 1998 PWI 500 (as Vader)
-Ranked # 11 in the 2000 PWI 500 (as Vader)
-Ranked # 48 in the 2001 PWI 500 (as Vader)
-Ranked # 54 in the 2002 PWI 500 (as Vader)
-Ranked # 30 in the 2005 Oklafan Top 50
-Passéd away June 18, 2018 at the age of 63, due to complications from pneumonia.