Leon White
Leon Allen White better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or Vader, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. White is best known for his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, WWE and All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1990s. A super-heavyweight wrestler capable of aerial maneuvers such as the moonsault and the dropkick, White was both a face and a heel in several professional wrestling promotions. During his career, he became an eight time world champion, having won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three times, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship three times and the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice. Vader returned to Japan, wrestling at a NJPW Wrestle Land show. He also worked in the independent circuit as Big Van Vader, including a tag match against Samoa Joe and Dan Maff in Jersey All Pro Wrestling with Mike Awesome as his tag team partner. On May 12, 2007, Vader faced Brutus Beefcake at Spartan Slamfest, a World Wrestling Coalition charity show. The match was held at the Kingston Armory in Kingston, Pennsylvania. After wrestling his last match in 2007, White began working as a high school football coach. O April 29, 2010, White made a return to wrestling under his Vader ring name at the event Vader Time 5 Return of the Emperor. At the event, he teamed with his son Jesse and former tag team partner 2 Cold Scorpio to successfully defeat Makoto Hashi, Tamon Honda and Tatsumi Fujinami in the main event. In May 2016, Will Opsreay and Ricochet faced each other during the NJPW tournament Best of the Super Juniors. During the match, both wrestlers performed a high flying, fast paced sequence. When Vader saw the sequence, he complained in social media about the current direction pro wrestling is taking. During the following weeks, Vader and Ospreay feuded in Twitter, so England-based promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) booked a match between them. The match took place on August 12, 2016, where Vader defeated Ospreay. Two days later, he made an appearance in Colchester, England for the XWA Wrestling (XWA) promotion, where he defeated "Savvy" Sid Scala. On April 20, 2017, Vader made an appearance in Japan at Korakuen Hall as part of the Dradition show to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the debut of Tatsumi Fujinami. Following a six-man tag team match, Vader collapsed due to being dropped on his head during the match, but he was able to walk backstage under his own power and he remained in Japan as he was scheduled to work two more shows in Fukuoka and Osaka.[On April 22, Vader, Takuma Sano, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara lost a six man tag team match to Koji Kanemoto, Shiro Koshinaka and Tatsumi Fujinami. On April 23, Vader, Riki Choshu, and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Shiro Koshinaka, Takuma Sano, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. The final match of his career took place May 25, 2017 at WrestleJam V, where Vader defeated The Ironman. Return to AJPW (2011–2012) In the aftermath of the 2011 natural disasters in Japan, Vader and his son Jesse wrestled on special tribute cards for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Pro Wrestling Zero1. On December 7, 2012, Vader returned to AAJPW, teaming with Keiji Mutoh and Kenso to defeat Bambi Killer, Franz Dynamite and Mazada in a six-man tag team match.
Filmography
WWE Hall Of Fame 2022
as Vader
WWE Hall Of Fame 2022
as Vader
RevPro Uprising 2016
as Vader
RevPro Uprising 2016
as Vader
Sting: Into the Light
as Vader
Sting: Into the Light
as Vader
WWE: True Giants
WWE: True Giants
WWE: The Best of Sting
as Vader
WWE: The Best of Sting
as Vader
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
as Vader
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
as Vader
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
as Vader
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
as Vader
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader
as Himself
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader
as Himself
WWE: The Best Of In Your House
as Vader
WWE: The Best Of In Your House
as Vader
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
as Vader
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
as Vader
JCW Bloodymania 6
as Vader
JCW Bloodymania 6
as Vader
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
as Vader
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
as Vader
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
as Big Van Vader
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
as Big Van Vader
The Rise & Fall of WCW
as Big Van Vader
The Rise & Fall of WCW
as Big Van Vader
The History of the World Heavyweight Championship
as Vader
The History of the World Heavyweight Championship
as Vader
WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s
as Vader
WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s
as Vader
Ringside with Big Van Vader
as BIg Van Vader
Ringside with Big Van Vader
as BIg Van Vader
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Vader
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Vader
WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005
as Vader
WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005
as Vader
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
as Vader
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
as Vader
WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling
as Big Van Vader
WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling
as Big Van Vader
NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9
as Vader
NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9
as Vader
NOAH: Great Voyage
as Vader
NOAH: Great Voyage
as Vader
AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals
as Vader
AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals
as Vader
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
as Vader
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
as Vader
WWE Breakdown: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Breakdown: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
as Vader
WWE King of the Ring 1998
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE King of the Ring 1998
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
as Vader
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1997
as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1997
as Vader
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House
as Vader
WWE One Night Only
as Vader
WWE One Night Only
as Vader
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House
as Vader
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House
as Vader
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
as Vader
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Six
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Six
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Four
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Four
as Vader
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
as Big Van Vader
WWE WrestleMania 13
as Vader
WWE WrestleMania 13
as Vader
WWE In Your House 13: Final Four
as Vader
WWE In Your House 13: Final Four
as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1997
as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1997
as Vader
WWE Action Zone!
as Big Van Vader
WWE Action Zone!
as Big Van Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Three
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Three
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume One
as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume One
as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1996
as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1996
as Vader
WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive
as Vader
WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive
as Vader
WWE SummerSlam 1996
as Vader
WWE SummerSlam 1996
as Vader
WWE In Your House 9: International Incident
as Vader
WWE In Your House 9: International Incident
as Vader
WWE King of the Ring 1996
as Big Van Vader
WWE King of the Ring 1996
as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog
as Vader
WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog
as Vader
WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies
as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies
as Big Van Vader
WWE WrestleMania XII
as Vader
WWE WrestleMania XII
as Vader
WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage
as Vader (Appearance)
WWE Royal Rumble 1996
as The Man They Call Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1996
as The Man They Call Vader
WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence
as Vader
WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence
as Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI
as Big Van Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
as Big Van Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1995
as Vader
WCW Slamboree 1995
as Vader
WCW Uncensored 1995
as Big Van Vader
WCW Uncensored 1995
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl V
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl V
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX
as Big Van Vader
WCW All Nighter 1995
WCW All Nighter 1995
WCW Starrcade 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl IV
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl IV
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI
as Big Van Vader
WCW BattleBowl
as Big Van Vader
WCW BattleBowl
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
as Big Van Vader
Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting
as Big Van Vader
Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV
as Big Van Vader
WCW Beach Blast 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW Beach Blast 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII
as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1993
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl III
as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl III
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1992
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
as Big Van Vader
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
as Big Van Vader
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW WrestleWar 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW WrestleWar 1991
as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
as Big Van Vader
AWA Blood on the Sand
as "Bull Power" Leon White
AWA Blood on the Sand
as "Bull Power" Leon White