Triple Threat Theatre - Vader
It’s been three full years since we lost Leon White, better known as Big Van Vader. A true innovator in the sport of professional wrestling, Vader was an anomaly in many ways. At over 400 pounds, Vader had an almost inhuman agility for a man his size, pulling off Vader Bombs and moonsaults with ease. On top of that he was also incredibly stiff and realistic in the ring, something he no doubt picked up during his time in Japan, learning the art of pro wrestling and what would go on to become strong style. Prior to his unfortunate passing in 2018 from pneumonia, Vader was a force to be reckoned with, tearing his way through New Japan, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation. While his greatest run was inarguably in WCW, he made an impact wherever he went and gave us some absolute classics along the way. Today we take a look at the three best bouts that the big man gave us.
Honourable Mentions:
WCW SuperBrawl III 1993 - Vader vs Sting (Strap Match)
WWF SummerSlam 1996 - Vader vs Shawn Michaels
NJPW Wrestling World 1996 in Tokyo Dome - Big Van Vader vs Antonio Inoki
NJPW Violent Storm in Kokugikan Day 2 1991 - Big Van Vader vs Keiji Muto
3) WCW Starrcade 1992 – King Of The Cable Tournament Finals – Vader vs. Sting
Much like the number one entry on this list, Vader would be on the losing side of this endeavour, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t one of his greatest matches. For a big man, Vader could bump and make his opponent look great, and Sting may have been his greatest opponent in all regards. As almost all of their matches went, this bout was mostly Vader absolutely dominating his colourful opponent, with the Stinger showing his never-give-up attitude and continually asking for more and taking a ton of punishment until he would capitalize on a critical mistake to take the win. This match was sadly not for the WCW Championship like many of their bouts, as this was during the Ron Simmons experiment by booker Bill Watts but was instead the finals of the King Of The Cable tournament. While a silly concept in retrospect, it gave us one hell of a final match to conclude the tournament, and I would also implore everyone to check out the semi-final match between Vader and Dustin Rhodes from an episode of WCW Saturday Night leading into Starrcade.
2) WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 – Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal Texas Death Match – Vader vs. Cactus Jack
Let’s be honest, the whole Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal gimmick was kind of ridiculous, especially when you factor in the mini-movie made the prior year for the match between Sting and Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts leading to their Coal Miner’s Glove match at Havoc ’92. But Vader and Cactus Jack sure as hell made it mean something with their Texas Death Match at the 1993 PPV. An absolutely brutal brawl, at one point there was even a spot where Vader squashes Jack on his back into the classic WCW ramp. Mick Foley actually revealed later that he had one of the infamous Lloyd’s Of London insurance policies and he was hoping that spot would end his career so he could cash out, but when it wasn’t as bad as he thought, he got up and continued the match. While the convoluted ending involved Vader’s manager, another legendary figure in Harley Race, using a taser to take out Cactus Jack, everything that came before was absolutely bonkers and certainly needs to be seen by any fan of Vader, or Mick Foley for that matter.
1) WCW Starrcade 1993 – Vader vs. Ric Flair
Although Vader was on the losing end of this classic, it’s still a match that belongs in the number one spot. This was absolutely of one Ric Flair’s true masterpieces. Going into the match, the storyline was that if Flair lost he would have to retire from the sport. Keep in mind, Flair was older and this was 10 years after the first Starrcade where he dethroned Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. So many believed this could legitimately be Flair’s last match, even though we all know he would continue for another 15 years (16 or so if you count his TNA run). Also at this time, Vader was an absolute monster in every sense of the word. He had broken the back of enhancement talent Joe Thurmann in addition to staving off all incoming challengers, like Cactus Jack in the number two match on this list. But somehow, Flair would manage to roll up the big man for the win in one of Flair’s greatest moments, as well as a great moment for Vader. An absolute classic from bell-to-bell.
