Top 5 Most Memorable Vader Moments

In Loving Memory of Leon White. An inspiration to all us big guys, and one of the toughest SOBs to ever walk the Earth.

When I was but a wee lad there were several wrestling tough guys who were scarier than a person had a right to be. I’m pretty sure Ming can kill people by staring at them. However, the most intimidating of the lot was probably Big Van Vader. Vader was nearly 400 lbs of pissed off ginger in a weird mask. Seriously, what purpose did it serve outside of smooshing his nose?

It didn’t really matter though, because wrestling in those days was little better than a Saturday morning cartoon as far as character depth went, and Vader was one of the best villains ever. When Vader started his less than stellar run in the WWE it was many young fans first encounter with the Mastadon. It was frightening.

That’s not an exaggeration either. When Vader stepped into the ring things seemed to get real. I mean they already were to us kids, but somehow this was different, more visceral and violent. When he put people in a corner and started throwing those big ham hocks he called hands, you just knew he was gonna break someone’s ribs. And in the tradition of the Bonzai Drop and the Bigelosault, the Vader Bomb looked like a career ender.

Vader made an impact everywhere he went and was one of the greatest superheavies to ever lace up boots. Whether it was Japan, WCW, or WWE, Vader left a lasting impression on the fans and the men he wrestled. So, let’s take some time to appreciate the iconic moments the big man gave us.

And to you, Leon… Thank you so much. I can’t express in my limited vocabulary what you meant to all of us. Our hearts break with your passing and I know you’re looking down on us. When you get to St. Peter just tell him “It’s Vader Time!” and we’ll see you again someday.

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