Oct 27th 2026 03:37am

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Big Van Vader

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.

Supplemental Information

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming appearences.

Complete Calendar

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
  • 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
  • 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
  • 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
  • 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
  • 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title

Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31

  • 10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
  • 10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
  • 10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
  • 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
  • 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
  • 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
  • 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
  • 10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
  • 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
  • 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
  • 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
  • 10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
  • 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
  • 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
  • 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
  • 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
  • 10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
10-27
  • AWOL Oct 27th Today!
  • Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th Today!
  • Miss Linda Oct 27th Today!
  • Chris Smith Oct 28th
  • MVP Oct 28th
  • Jake Boulder Oct 28th
  • Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
  • D. J. Hall Oct 29th
  • Mischief Oct 29th
  • Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
  • George Wells Oct 30th
  • Debbie Combs Oct 30th
  • Danny McShain Oct 30th
  • Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
  • Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
  • Jayson Boss Oct 31st
  • Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
  • Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
  • Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
  • Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
  • Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
  • Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
  • Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
  • Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
  • Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
  • Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
  • Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
  • Max Leon Nov 4th
  • Assassin 1 Nov 4th
  • Chris Chaos Nov 5th
  • David Jason Rose Nov 5th
  • Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
  • Bill Decker Nov 5th
  • Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
  • Darin Matthews Nov 6th
  • Brian Faith Nov 6th
  • Ken Patera Nov 6th
  • Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
  • Lu Kim Nov 6th
  • King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
  • Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
  • Keith Watkins Nov 7th
  • Silverado Nov 7th
  • Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
  • Joey Ryan Nov 7th
  • Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
  • Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
  • Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
  • Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
  • Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
  • Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
  • Nick Patrick Nov 9th
  • Kolossus Nov 9th
  • Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
  • Gil Knutson Nov 9th
  • Joyce Grable Nov 9th
  • Lance Osburn Nov 9th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1

Current Champions

Texoma Pro Wrestling

RevolutionX

Tag Team Champions
RevolutionX

 
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