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Big Van Vader dead: WWE legend known as 'the best big man in wrestling history' passes away at 63

Posted: Jun 20th 2018 By: Neil Docking - Mirror.co.uk

WWE legend Big Van Vader - arguably the best big man in wrestling history - has died, according to his Twitter account.

The 63-year-old, real name Leon White, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2016 and doctors said he had just two years to live.

The superheavyweight had twice undergone heart surgery this year, revealing on May 9 that he had successfully gone under the knife again.

But this afternoon his Twitter account tweeted: "It is with a heavy heart to inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night (6/18/18) at approximately 7:25pm."

A second post, added: "Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress. Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time."

Vader competed with WWE in the mid-1990s after becoming a major household name with WCW, following an incredible spell in Japan.

Nicknamed The Mastodon, the former NFL star battled with fellow icons such as The Undertaker, Sting, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels.

Despite being 6fft 4in and nearly 500lb, he could perform stunning high flying moves, such as his corner slingshot splash, the Vader Bomb, and rolling moonsault or Vadersault.

Before pulverising his opponents, the giant masked star would declare "It's time, it's Vader Time."

Among his many achievements, during his time in Japan from 1987 to 1996, he became three-time NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Champion, an NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champion with Bam Bam Bigelow and a two-time All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion.

Famously, in February 1990 at an AJPW versus NJPW supershow, Stan Hansen unintentionally poked Vader's left eye with his thumb, causing hus eyeball to pop out of its socket.

After removing his mask, Vader pushed 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.

Such was his success in Japan, he was signed by America's WCW while still the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and an active competitor in NJPW.

He became a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and waged epic battles with the likes of Mick Foley, then working as Cactus Jack.

Vader eventually signed with WWE in 1996, but his run with the company was plagued by controversies and poor booking and is widely perceived as one of the most disappointing examples of WWE failing to capitalise on a talent.

His heart condition was found after he visited two doctors after he was knocked unconscious for over half an hour following a car accident.

Vader later spoke of his regret at publicly revealing the length of time he had been given to live and declared that he would like to die in the ring.

Then in April 2017, he passed out during a match in Japan due to a head injury and had not wrestled since.

Speaking to Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling last March, Vader said: "I really kind of regret tweeting it out.

"In other words when I got diagnosed and was told, 'Leon, you have a bad heart and you have congestive heart failure and we feel your time is limited and you have maybe a couple of years left... two years or less to live'.


"I remember getting very angry and said this has gotta be bull because I don't feel bad and I remember getting extremely angry."

Vader revealed in March this year that he had undergone heart surgery again.

Tributes have begun to flood in from those within the wrestling business and fans of the superheavyweight.