Biography
Leon Allen White better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or Vader, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. White is best known for his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, WWE and All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1990s. A super-heavyweight wrestler capable of aerial maneuvers such as the moonsault and the dropkick, White was both a face and a heel in several professional wrestling promotions. During his career, he became an eight time world champion, having won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three times, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship three times and the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice. Vader returned to Japan, wrestling at a NJPW Wrestle Land show. He also worked in the independent circuit as Big Van Vader, including a tag match against Samoa Joe and Dan Maff in Jersey All Pro Wrestling with Mike Awesome as his tag team partner. On May 12, 2007, Vader faced Brutus Beefcake at Spartan Slamfest, a World Wrestling Coalition charity show. The match was held at the Kingston Armory in Kingston, Pennsylvania. After wrestling his last match in 2007, White began working as a high school football coach.
O April 29, 2010, White made a return to wrestling under his Vader ring name at the event Vader Time 5 Return of the Emperor. At the event, he teamed with his son Jesse and former tag team partner 2 Cold Scorpio to successfully defeat Makoto Hashi, Tamon Honda and Tatsumi Fujinami in the main event.
In May 2016, Will Opsreay and 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 in social media about the current direction pro wrestling is taking. During the following weeks, Vader and Ospreay feuded in Twitter, so England-based promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) booked a match between them. The match took place on August 12, 2016, where Vader defeated Ospreay. Two days later, he made an appearance in Colchester, England for the XWA Wrestling (XWA) promotion, where he defeated "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.[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 May 25, 2017 at WrestleJam V, where Vader defeated The Ironman.
Return to AJPW (2011–2012)
In the aftermath of the 2011 natural disasters in Japan, Vader and his son Jesse wrestled on special tribute cards for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Pro Wrestling Zero1. On December 7, 2012, Vader returned to AAJPW, teaming with Keiji Mutoh and Kenso to defeat Bambi Killer, Franz Dynamite and Mazada in a six-man tag team match.
Filmography
all 99
Movies 95
self 4
TV Shows 4
WWE Hall Of Fame 2022 (2022)
Biography: Shawn Michaels (2021)
Biography: WWE Legends (2021)
Sting: The Lost Tape (2020)
Sting: Into the Light (2015)
WWE Table For 3 (2015)
WWE: Presents True Giants (2014)
WWE: The Best of Sting (2014)
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash (2014)
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1 (2014)
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1 (2014)
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader (2014)
WWE: The Best Of In Your House (2013)
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection (2013)
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions (2012)
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection (2012)
The Rise & Fall of WCW (2009)
WWE: The History Of The World Heavyweight Championship (2009)
WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s (2009)
Ringside with Big Van Vader (2009)
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary (2007)
WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005 (2005)
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream (2004)
WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling (2004)
NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9 (2001)
NOAH: Great Voyage (2000)
AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals (1999)
Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows (1998)
WWE Breakdown: In Your House (1998)
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House (1998)
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House (1998)
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House (1998)
WWE Royal Rumble 1998 (1998)
WWE Survivor Series 1997 (1997)
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House (1997)
WWE One Night Only (1997)
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House (1997)
WWF Friday Night's Main Event (1997)
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede (1997)
Best Of Raw • Volume Six (1997)
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell (1997)
WWE WrestleMania 13 (1997)
WWE In Your House 13: Final Four (1997)
WWE Royal Rumble 1997 (1997)
WWE Action Zone! (1997)
Best Of Raw • Volume One (1996)
WWE Survivor Series 1996 (1996)
WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive (1996)
WWE SummerSlam 1996 (1996)
WWE In Your House 9: International Incident (1996)
WWE King of the Ring 1996 (1996)
WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog (1996)
WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies (1996)
WWE WrestleMania XII (1996)
WWE Royal Rumble 1996 (1996)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI (1995)
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995 (1995)
WCW Slamboree 1995 (1995)
WCW Uncensored 1995 (1995)
WCW SuperBrawl V (1995)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX (1995)
WCW All Nighter 1995 (1995)
WCW Starrcade 1994 (1994)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX (1994)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 (1994)
WCW Fall Brawl 1994 (1994)
WCW Bash at The Beach 1994 (1994)
WCW Slamboree 1994 (1994)
WCW Spring Stampede 1994 (1994)
WCW SuperBrawl IV (1994)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI (1994)
WCW Starrcade 1993 (1993)
WCW Battle Bowl (1993)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXV (1993)
Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting (1993)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 (1993)
WCW Fall Brawl 1993 (1993)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIV (1993)
WCW Beach Blast 1993 (1993)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII (1993)
WCW Slamboree 1993 (1993)
WCW SuperBrawl III (1993)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII (1993)
WWE Raw (1993)
WCW Starrcade (1992)
WCW Clash of The Champions XXI (1992)
WCW Halloween Havoc (1992)
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary (1992)
WCW The Great American Bash (1992)
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII (1992)
WCW/New Japan Supershow II (1992)
WCW Starrcade 1991 (1991)
WCW Halloween Havoc '91 (1991)
WCW WrestleWar 1991 (1991)
WCW Great American Bash '90: New Revolution (1990)
AWA: Brawl in St. Paul (1986)
AWA Blood on the Sand (1986)
Best Of Raw • Volume Four
Best Of Raw • Volume Three
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1955-05-14
Deathday2018-06-18 (63 years old)
Birth NameLeon Allen White
Birth PlaceLynwood, United States of America
Height196-centimeter
ChildrenJake Carter
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsBig Van Vader, Baby Bull, Bull Power, Leon White, Super Vader, Vader, Vader 1
AwardsWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
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