Leon White
Leon Allen White (born May 14, 1957), better known under his stage names Big Van Vader or just Vader, is one of the most successful professional wrestlers of the 1990s. He is famous for being one of the few super-heavyweight wrestlers capable of significantly acrobatic and aerial maneuvers.
Table of contents |
Profile
- Height: 6'5" (195.6 cm)
- Weight: 450lb (205 kg)
- Birthday: May 14, 1957
- Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
- Trained By: Brad Rheingans
- Professional Debut: January 1985
- Previous Identities: "Baby Bull" Leon White, Leon "Bull Power" White, Little Bull, Big Van Vader, Super Vader, Vader
- Previous Manager(s): Harley Race, Jim Cornette, Jimmy Hart, Ric Flair
- Quotes: "It's time, it's time, it's Vader Time!"
Finishing/Signature Moves
- Vader Bomb (Slingshot Splash)
- Powerbomb
- Moonsault
- Chokeslam
- Big Splash
- Running Avalanche
- Face Eraser (Reverse Powerbomb)
- Vader Attack (Bell Clap)
- Short Arm Clothesline
- Front Powerslam
- Bearhug
Career
White started out playing football in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams.
Vader competed successfully in all major US wrestling leages, including the WWF (now the WWE) and the WCW. He had memorable matches with Sting, Lex Luger, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair. He was and is, however, particularly popular in Japan's New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling leagues. Vader also had a successful and highly regarded series of matches with Nobuhiko Takada in his UWFi promotion.
Titles and Accomplishments
World Championship Wrestling
- 3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- Winner 1993 WCW Strongest Arm Tournament
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2-time AJPW Unified Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion (with Steve Williams)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 3-time NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Bam Bam Bigelow)
Other Titles
- 1-time Pro Wrestling NOAH Global Tag Team Champion (with 2 Cold Scorpio)
- 1-time UWFI Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time CWA Heavyweight Champion
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 27 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. PWI also ranked him # 36 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Bam Bam Bigelow.
- Vader won the PWI Wrestler of the Year Award in 1993.