History Wrestling / Vader

* CoolHelmet: For years he would wear a large smoke-emitting helmet to the ring that resembled an elephant's head.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Both good and bad. Originally, Vader was supposed to go over Wrestling/ShawnMichaels for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Championship]] at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 1996'', but Shawn vetoed that, as he was in ego mode at the time. And according to Wrestling/JimCornette, upon signing with WWE, Wrestling/VinceMcMahon wanted Vader to change his name to ''The Mastodon'', as that way they could trademark the name as they couldn't trademark Vader[[note]]Due to Creator/GeorgeLucas owning the name "Darth Vader."[[/note]] Cornette luckily talked Vince out of this move.

* AnimalMotifs: [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] wanted to rename him the Mastodon so that he could trademark the name. He has the ability to turn into one in the ''WWF In Your House Challenge'' video game.
* ArchEnemy: Antonio [=Inoki=], Wrestling/{{Sting}}, [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]], Wrestling/RicFlair, [[Wrestling/BigBossman The Boss/The Guardian Angel (Big Bossman)]], Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/{{Yokozuna}}, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, [[Wrestling/{{Goldust}} The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust]], Wrestling/{{Kane}}

* DemotedToExtra: What he eventually became in Wrestling/{{WWE}}. He went from challenging for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Title]] at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 1996'' to losing to a young Bradshaw in 1998.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment[=/=]DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Made his Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling debut in the Vader gimmick by [[SquashMatch squashing]] the promotion's [[TheAce biggest star]], Antonio [=Inoki=] at Year End in Kokugikan 1987, December 12, 1987 in a brisk '''2:49''', sparking a riot that led to the arena banning NJPW for fourteen months.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Both good and bad. Originally, Vader was supposed to go over Wrestling/ShawnMichaels for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Championship]] at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 1996'', but Shawn vetoed that, as he was in ego mode at the time. And according to Wrestling/JimCornette, upon signing with WWE, [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] wanted Vader to change his name to ''The Mastodon'', as that way they could trademark the name as they couldn't trademark Vader[[note]]Due to Creator/GeorgeLucas owning the name "Darth Vader."[[/note]] Cornette luckily talked Vince out of this move.

* WrestlingFamily: His son Jesse is currently training in WWE's development system ''[[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]]'' as Jake Carter.

** Was originally going to be on the Hulkamaniacs ([[Wrestling/HulkHogan Hogan]]/[[Wrestling/RandySavage Savage]]/Wrestling/{{Sting}}) team against the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom (Wrestling/{{Kamala}}/[[Wrestling/JohnTenta Shark]]/Zodiac Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake/Meng) in [[GimmickMatches War Games]] at the ''[=WCW=] Fall Brawl 95'' [=PPV=] on September 17. Vader got into a RealLife fight backstage with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul [=Orndorff=] after a taping of ''[=WCW=] Saturday Night'' on August 30. [=WCW=] suspended Vader and then released him from his contract, freeing him to negotiate with any other promotion. Lex Luger replaced Vader in the match, but Vader was still pictured on the VHS release box.

** Was originally going to be on the Hulkamaniacs ([[Wrestling/HulkHogan Hogan]]/[[Wrestling/RandySavage Savage]]/Wrestling/{{Sting}}) team against the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom (Wrestling/{{Kamala}}/[[Wrestling/JohnTenta Shark]]/Zodiac [Brutus Beefcake]/Meng) in [[GimmickMatches War Games]] at the ''[=WCW=] Fall Brawl 95'' [=PPV=] on September 17. Vader got into a RealLife fight backstage with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul [=Orndorff=] after a taping of ''[=WCW=] Saturday Night'' on August 30. [=WCW=] suspended Vader and then released him from his contract, freeing him to negotiate with any other promotion. Lex Luger replaced Vader in the match, but Vader was still pictured on the VHS release box.

* StillGotIt: On his '[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' appearance in June 2012, Vader went one on one with [[Wrestling/{{3MB}} Heath Slater]]. Despite being a little slower on his feet and at getting back up than he used to be, Vader actually pulled out a pretty good match against Slater, and the crowd showered him with praise for his effort, popping enormously when he hit the Vader Bomb for the win.

* ArchEnemy: Antonio [=Inoki=], Wrestling/{{Sting}}, [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]], Wrestling/RicFlair, [[Wrestling/BigBossman The Boss/The Guardian Angel (Big Bossman)]], Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, [[Wrestling/{{Goldust}} The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust]], Wrestling/{{Kane}}

'''Leon White''' (born May 14, 1957), known in the wrestling world as Big Van '''Vader''', is one of ProfessionalWrestling's legendary big men, having made a name for himself all over the world, including Wrestling/{{WCW}}, Wrestling/{{WWE}}, and Japan. Among his many achievements, He is a 3x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html WCW World Heavyweight Champion]], a 3x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-h.html New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Champion]], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-t.html New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Tag Team Champion]] with Wrestling/BamBamBigelow, and a 2x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/tc-h.html All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion]].

Leon White (born May 14, 1957), known in the wrestling world as Big Van '''Vader''', is one of ProfessionalWrestling's legendary big men, having made a name for himself all over the world, including WCW, WWE, and Japan.

* AnimalMotifs: Vince [=McMahon=] wanted to rename him the mastodon so that he could trademark the name. He has the ability to turn into on in the ''WWF In Your House Challenge'' video game.
* ArchEnemy: Antonio [=Inoki=], Wrestling/{{Sting}}, [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]], Wrestling/RicFlair, [[Wrestling/BigBossman The Boss/The Guardian Angel (Big Bossman)]], Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, Wrestling/{{Kane}}

* DemotedToExtra: What he eventually became in the WWF. He went from challenging for the WWF title at Summerslam 1996 to losing to a young Bradshaw in 1998.

* EyeScream: In 1990, during an All Japan[=/=]New Japan supercard show, Vader faced fellow brawler Wrestling/StanHansen in a match. During the match, Hansen, who, like Vader, is known for his incredibly stiff style of fighting, landed a punch which caused Vader's right eyeball to pop out of socket. Fortunately, the eyeball was contained by the swelling of his eyelid.

* GentleGiant: Outside of the ring, anyway. JimCornette was once asked what the first thought to come to mind was when he thought of Vader. Jim's immediate response? [[spoiler: "A big ol' teddy bear"]].
* HeroicBSOD: Vader suffers one following his match with {{Wrestling/Kane}} at ''Over the Edge 1998'', to the point where he calls himself a "piece of shit." ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMBY3825kyc Clip starts at 2:58]])
* {{Homage}}: Some of Jack Swagger's moves are taken from Vader.

* MadeOfIron: He got right back up after a Samoan drop from the 600 pound Yokozuna.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: As noted by MickFoley in his first autobiography ''Have A Nice Day: A Tale Of Blood And Sweatsocks'', despite being a sadistic, merciless monster heel in the ring, Vader was very sweet and friendly behind the scenes, and on one occasion [[TearsOfRemorse cried inconsolably]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone after he believed he'd accidentally paralysed a rookie with a Vader Bomb when he couldn't feel his legs afterward]] (luckily this was not the case).
** In JimCornette's youshoot interview, Cornette describes Vader as being like "a big teddy bear backstage". This is one of the reasons that Cornette hates ShawnMichaels, as Michaels was a complete dick to Vader backstage, and even [[KickTheDog made the big man cry by threatening to have him fired]] [[DisproportionateRetribution because Vader pulled Michaels' hair during a match]].
* MegatonPunch: Delivers one to Ken Shamrock in one the latter's earliest WWF matches. Shamrock was one of the only ones who could legitimately tolerate Vader's stiff style[[note]]Although Shamrock was coming in from [[UsefulNotes/UltimateFightingChampionship the UFC]], he HAD wrestled professionally in the Carolinas-based independent promotion South Atlantic Pro Wrestling in the early [[TheNineties 1990s]] under the name "Mr. Wrestling" Vince Torelli. It had just been a few years since he'd been in a worked competition.[[/note]] After several minutes of Shamrock kicking Vader as hard as he could around the legs and thighs, Vader winds up and throws a punch/clothesline that ''levels'' Shamrock.

** FunnyBackgroundEvent: But what everyone remembers about that promo is Road Warrior Hawk entering in the background, realizing he was walking in on the promo, gawking in surprise, and walking back out.
** Another example for both came in 2005. Vader had been brought in by Jonathan Coachman (along with Goldust) for a beatdown on Batista (who was filling in for Stone Cold Steve Austin for a match at Taboo Tuesday.) Vader and Goldust laid Batista out (I know, right?) and then, as the villainous trio were making their exit, Vader jumped off the apron... only to lose his balance and promptly fall on his ass. Not that that match had much steam going into Taboo Tuesday as it stood, but that COULDN'T have helped.
* StillGotIt: On his WWERaw appearance in June 2012, Vader went one on one with Heath Slater. Despite being a little slower on his feet and at getting back up than he used to be, Vader actually pulled out a pretty good match against Slater, and the crowd showered him with praise for his effort, popping enormously when he hit the Vader Bomb for the win.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Both good and bad. Originally, Vader was supposed to go over Shawn Michaels for the WWE championship at SummerSlam 1996, but Shawn vetoed that, as he was in ego mode at the time. And according to Wrestling/JimCornette, upon signing with WWE, VinceMcMahon wanted Vader to change his name to ''The Mastodon'', as that way they could trademark the name as they couldn't trademark Vader. Cornette luckily talked Vince out of this move.

* WrestlingFamily: His son Jesse is currently training in WWE's development system FCW

* EyeScream: In 1990, during an All Japan[=/=]New Japan supercard show, Vader faced fellow brawler Stan Hansen in a match. During the match, Hansen, who, like Vader, is known for his incredibly stiff style of fighting, landed a punch which caused Vader's right eyeball to pop out of socket. Fortunately, the eyeball was contained by the swelling of his eyelid.

** In JimCornette's youshoot interview, Cornette describes Vader as being like "a big teddy bear backstage". This is one of the reasons that Cornette hates ShawnMichaels, as Michaels was a complete dick to Vader backstage, and even [[KickTheDog made the big man cry by threatening to have him fired]] [[DisproportionateRetribution because Vader pulled Michaels hair during a match]].
* MegatonPunch: Delivers one to Ken Shamrock in one the latter's earliest WWF matches. Shamrock was one of the only ones who could legitimately tolerate Vader's stiff style[[note]]Although Shamrock was coming in from [[ UsefulNotes/UltimateFightingChampionship the UFC]], he HAD wrestled professionally in the Carolinas-based independent promotion South Atlantic Pro Wrestling in the early [[TheNineties 1990s]]. It had just been a few years since he'd been in a worked competition.[[/note]] After several minutes of Shamrock kicking Vader as hard as he could around the legs and thighs, Vader winds up and throws a punch/clothesline that ''levels'' Shamrock.

* MegatonPunch: Delivers one to Ken Shamrock in one the latter's earliest WWF matches. Shamrock was one of the only ones who could legitimately tolerate Vader's stiff style[[note]]Although Shamrock was coming in from [[ UsefulNotes/UltimateFightingChampionship the UFC]], he HAD wrestled professionally in the Carolinas-based independent promotion South Atlantic Pro Wrestling. After several minutes of Shamrock kicking Vader as hard as he could around the legs and thighs, Vader winds up and throws a punch/clothesline that ''levels'' Shamrock.

Not to be confused with [[StarWars Darth Vader]].

** Hogan not selling the [=VaderBomb=] AT ALL helped kill his drawing power in WCW.

* MegatonPunch: Delivers one to Ken Shamrock in one the latter's earliest WWF matches. Shamrock was one of the only ones who could legitimately tolerate Vader's stiff style (despite Shamrock himself [[{{Botchamania}} being green as goat shit at the time]]). After several minutes of Shamrock kicking Vader as hard as he could around the legs and thighs, Vader winds up and throws a punch/clothesline that ''levels'' Shamrock.

** A few years prior, his career took another hit when in a match with HulkHogan, Hogan (who was at the height of his BoringInvincibleHero stage) [[NoSell no sold]] the Vader Bomb, a move that has legitimately caused concussions and broken backs.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Both good and bad. Originally, Vader was supposed to go over Shawn Michaels for the WWE championship at SummerSlam 1996, but Shawn vetoed that, as he was in ego mode at the time. And according to JimCornette, upon signing with WWE, VinceMcMahon wanted Vader to change his name to ''The Mastodon'', as that way they could trademark the name as they couldn't trademark Vader. Cornette luckily talked Vince out of this move.

Leon White (born May 14, 1957), known in the wrestling world as Big Van '''{{Vader}}''', is one of ProfessionalWrestling's legendary big men, having made a name for himself all over the world, including WCW, WWE, and Japan.

Leon White (born May 14, 1957), known in the wrestling world as '''{{Vader}}''', is one of ProfessionalWrestling's legendary big men, having made a name for himself all over the world, including WCW, WWE, and Japan.

* WrestlingFamily: His son Jesse is currently training in WWE's development system FCW.

* HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath: Vader suffers one following his match with {{Wrestling/Kane}} at ''Over the Edge 1998'', to the point where he calls himself a "piece of shit." ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMBY3825kyc Clip starts at 2:58]])

** In JimCornette's youshoot interview, Cornette describes Vader as being like "a big teddy bear backstage". This is one of the reasons that Cornette hates ShawnMichaels, as Michaels was a complete dick to Vader backstage, and even [[KickTheDog made the big man cry by threatening to have him fired because Vader pulled Michaels hair during a match]].

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: As noted by MickFoley in his first autobiography ''Have A Nice Day: A Tale Of Blood And Sweatsocks'', despite being a sadistic, merciless monster heel in the ring, Vader was very sweet and friendly behind the scenes, and on one occasion [[TearsOfRemorse cried inconsolably]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone after he believed he'd accidentally paralysed a rookie with a Vader Bomb when he couldn't feel his legs afterward]] (luckily this was not the case).

* HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath: Vader suffers one following his match with {{Wrestler/Kane}} at ''Over the Edge 1998'', to the point where he calls himself a "piece of shit." ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMBY3825kyc Clip starts at 2:58]])

* TheWorfEffect: Was used to help {{Kane}} get over at a Pay Per View, and in order to build credibility for Kane as a monster heel, Kane had to annihilate Vader. Notably very controversial at the time, as Vader had built up a huge amount of credibility as a monster heel in WCW and Japan over the years. His career never truly recovered from such a devastating loss.

* {{Homage}}: Some of JackSwagger's moves are taken from Vader.