Leon White (Big Van Vader) passes away

[GongShowWilly]

RIP was a true beast that could wrestle

 

[Sheppy]

One thing i always liked about Vader was the way he threw strikes. It was like clubbing blows.

 

[Unholy Diver]

We all knew it was probably coming soon but this is still a real bummer, one of my all time favorites, such a great monster heel. He did things men his size weren't supposed to do.

As for the HOF, he definitely deserves to be there but I think he was a part of a concussion lawsuit against WWE which is probably what kept him out.

 

[reckoning]

I absolutely loved his run as WCW champ in '93. Had great matches with Sting, Davey Boy and Cactus, building an aura as an unstoppable monster heel. His moonsault amazed me the first time I saw it.

I thought he was misused in WWF. They should have given him the title win Sid got, then put him against the Undertaker.

Hope he gets a nice tribute on Raw next Monday.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

RIP to a legend.

 

[Shoalzie]

RIP to the man they call Vader...cheesy Vince catchphrase but that guy really was underrated. Such a skilled big man.

 

[Dr Pepper]

How many other big men could do a moonsault?

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

How many other big men could do a moonsault?

as a super heavyweight, none.

closest to his size i can think of is Brock. He was doing shooting star presses in OVW (and 3/4 of one on the main roster)

 

[Dr Pepper]

as a super heavyweight, none.

closest to his size i can think of is Brock. He was doing shooting star presses in OVW (and 3/4 of one on the main roster)

I was trying to think back to Jamal and Rosey, if one of them ever hit one. Couldn't remember.

Didn't Bam Bam Bigelow hit one, once?

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I was trying to think back to Jamal and Rosey, if one of them ever hit one. Couldn't remember.

Didn't Bam Bam Bigelow hit one, once?

oooh, forgot about Bam Bam, he may have.

quick youtube search shows that Jamal did do one from the 2nd rope

 

[JackSlater]

I'm a fan of Bam Bam Bigelow, but his typical "moonsault" was generally more of a twisting splash than a moonsault.

 

[Paris in Flames]

Not nearly enough talk about how the dude had his eye popped out, barely missed a beat, and finished his work.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It is bullshit he isn’t in the hall of fame. They knew his health was failing.

They had a chance to honor him before time ran out and they didn’t.

 

[Howie Hodge]

CBS News

WCW, NJPWJ, and WWF legend Vader — also known to audiences as Big Van Vader — has died. The pro wrestler, whose real name was Leon White, was 63. He passed Monday, June 20, his son announced.

Congestive heart failure, for which he had undergone surgery for in March.

RIP Leon White.

or as The Iron Shiek posts:
"GOD BLESS VADER FOREVER"

EDIT: See it's already posted, please merge.

 

[Scott Stevens]

My first exposure to Vader was when he came to the WWF. I'll never forget when he went crazy and beat up Monsoon. I thought he was an absolute psychopath at that point. Too bad they couldn't really figure out what to do with him beyond his initial monster heel push.

RIP, Big Man

This is what Ive always remembered. Vader going too far or something. Gorilla comes out to stop him. He roughs up gorilla. Gorilla coming back hard with the knife edge chops. Then Vader blowing him up. Damn. This one hurts.

 

[Ozz]

Incredibly underrated by most. Great on Boy Meets World, too, I loved seeing him on that show.

Not nearly enough talk about how the dude had his eye popped out, barely missed a beat, and finished his work.

I still get the heebie jeebies thinking about that.

 

[Sheppy]

I didn't even notice if RAW had a tribute, did they?

 

[Kimi]

I didn't even notice if RAW had a tribute, did they?

I've not seen Raw yet, but there was one on NXT last week.

 

[Paris in Flames]

He got an In Memory to start the show. Just so graphic. Don't recall an actual mention

 

[Edge]

Watching a pre-WWF Vader was truly something.

In an era of lumbering big men, Vader was in elite company for his ability to move, while still looking like a guy who could crack someone’s skull.