Big Van Vader
Leon White Vader than 1996
Leon Allen White ( born May 14, 1955 in Lynwood, California ) is an American professional wrestler. In the 1990s, White was one of the most successful wrestler and is best known under his ring names Big Van Vader and Vader. He is one of the few super- heavyweights, who are capable, despite its weight, to master acrobatic combat maneuvers and execute.
- 2.1 Title
- 2.2 Awards
Career
Background in sports
Before Leon White appeared as a wrestler, he had trained as a boxer in his school. He also played on the football team at school and was one of the few that could be used both in attack and in defense. After finishing school he was American professional football player. He played from 1978 for several years with the Los Angeles Rams.
Wrestling career
White began his wrestling career in January 1985 with the American Wrestling Association (AWA ) under the name Baby Bull, which was quickly changed to Bull Power. In his wrestling career White repeatedly emphasized his background as a boxer: his massive and almost approach -hitting blow attacks are feared by his opponents.
Earlier in his career he appeared often on abroad. 1986 White worked for Otto Wanz and his Catch Wrestling Association (CWA ), the heavyweight champion title he held from March to July 1987. Because of his achievements, he end of 1987, a contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling was offered, which he accepted.
Obligation in Japan
Before White Pro Wrestling began in New Japan, he received by the promoter Antonio Inoki his new ring name Big Van Vader, which is derived from a manga character. In this role, White wore a mask for the first time, a characteristic that he did not take off since then. Vader was introduced as a Heel and fulfilled this role well. On one occasion he brought the audience so that the wrestling promotion by the operator of the event hall got hall ban.
After Vader had given some respect from fans and press that he was sent on 24 April 1989 in a tournament for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which was played in a single wrestling event. Vader defeated Masa Chono after another, the previous title holder Tatsumi Fujinami and Shinya Hashimoto and received the title. He lost him after a month Salman Hashimikov, an excellent rings driven Russians. After Hashimikov had lost the title against Vader's opponents Riki Choshu duration, Vader won him back on August 10, 1989 by Chosu. White traveled back after the match to Germany, there to win a title match against the CWA Otto Wanz. His successes abroad made White interesting for American wrestling promotions. The promotion World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) took him under additional contract.
World Championship Wrestling
1990-1992
White in his usual role as a masked heel "Big Van Vader " debuted in 1990 with WCW, but was beside still in Japan and Germany under contract. He each won a third time the heavyweight title to his German and Japanese employers and beside still a heavyweight title in Mexico, but then finished at least the appearances for Otto Wanz, while his American and his Japanese employer agreed on a cooperation which, among other White made it easier to agree on its contractual obligations on two continents together. 1992 White suffered in a tag team match in Japan a knee injury that forced him to take a break. After this had healed, he focused on his work at the WCW.
1992-1993
Vader received on 12 April 1992, a title match for the WCW Heavyweight Title against Sting, which he won after he had his opponent dawned unintentionally several ribs. He did not get the title, as he had, as planned by the promotion hit the referee unconscious. In a rematch a few months later, Vader was given the title, after the re-emerging as a "sting" Bordon had hurt again. Vader had the title but leave after three weeks because he had re-injured the knee and had to undergo surgery. After his return WCW Vader took advantage reputation as a wrestler, the real hurt his opponent in multiple storylines. Vader was still one of the top stars of WCW, so he repeatedly received the WCW Heavyweight Championship.
1993-1994
A feud between White aka Vader and Mick Foley aka Cactus Jack led to several notable clashes that took effect on the entire wrestling business. On 6 April 1993 Foley scored a victory over Leon White by counting. This match ( and the subsequent rematch ) was one of the most brutal who had the WCW organized: in the first it had been agreed between the two that White Foley should cause swelling under one eye, but he added Foley a broken nose and numerous facial injuries to which had to be sewn with 27 stitches. Bloodshed was forbidden in the former WCW and so the match for the charisma needed to be significantly cut, but nevertheless paved the way for brutal match types like Street Fight or Ultimate match. In the rematch on 21 April 1993 White admitted outside the ring, the rubber mat to the side and Foley had a powerbomb on the cement floor of the hall accept. Foley suffered a severe neck injury, but this, by threatening him a permanent paralysis. Foley recovered from the injury and continued to feud with Vader continued until Foley was demolished one ear due to an accident during a match with White on a tour of Germany in WCW in 1994 in Munich.
The promotion turned Vader then in a long feud with Ric Flair, who was allowed to win the 1993 Heavyweight Title WCW Vader. Vader received the meantime the lesser- WCW International World Heavyweight title he was allowed to keep for several months. The promotion was Vader then play two matches against Hulk Hogan title that did not lead to title changes. A storyline that should lead Vader to the Hogans page was dropped. White was fired because he had attacked in the locker room the wrestlers Paul Orndorff.
World Wrestling Federation
White was the main competitor of WCW, the World Wrestling Federation quickly a new employer. He made his debut in his usual role as " Vader ", announced by several short recordings in other consignments at Royal Rumble 1996. The storyline stipulated that he should be blindly opponents such attack Official disqualified and leave a punishment, actually had White the break needed to be operated on because of a shoulder injury.
The promotion finally prepared a title match between Vader and Shawn Michaels. This match on August 18, 1996 SummerSlam 1996 did not end as planned with the title of the loss of Michael's storyline. Vader won first by Count -Out, which, however, the title could not change. After restarting Michaels provoked a disqualification, through which he also could not lose the title. This was followed by a second reboot, after Michaels defeated Vader with a handle.
Vader had then still several feuds in the WWF with the Undertaker, Goldust, Mankind and Kane. White's career was interrupted in April 1997 by a short stay in a Kuwaiti prison after White was asked in an interview with the Kuwaiti television by his interviewer whether Wrestling show was. White pushed the interviewer through the scenes to demonstrate the show, which earned him a charge of assault. This incident, as well as multiple injuries led to White's expiring contract was not renewed in 1998.
1998 - today
White continued his career for some time in Japan, where he won another wrestling title. In 2003, he appeared for a short time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, again in 2005 at World Wrestling Entertainment, where he stumbled into a show before an audience and crashed so hard that he had to help up colleagues. White is still active for smaller promotions. So he was out for a long time in the current roster of IWA East Coast Wrestling.
On June 11, 2012 White returned for two appearances for WWE. He denied initially on Raw a match against Heath Slater, a few weeks later, he joined the RAW anniversary show with other legends wrestlers on again.
In December 2012, he completed three appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling at their anniversary tour. In 2013 he made sporadic appearances for smaller leagues.
Achievements
Title
- World Championship Wrestling
- 3x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1x WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2x AJPW Triple Crown World Heavyweight Champion
- 1x AJPW World Tag Team Champion ( with Steve Williams)
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 3x IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
- 1x NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champion ( with Bam Bam Bigelow )
- Union of Wrestling Force International
- Catch Wrestling Association
- 3x CWA Heavyweight Champion
Awards
- World Championship Wrestling
- Winner 1993 WCW Strongest Arm Tournament
- 2002: # 54
- 2001: # 48
- 2000: # 11
- 1999: # 18
- 1998: # 65
- 1997: # 46
- 1996: # 14
- 1995: # 7
- 1994: # 4
- 1993: # 2
- 1992: # 15
- 1991: # 33