Leon White

Known for ActingBorn 1955-05-14Died 2018-06-18Lynwood, California, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection

WCW Beach Blast 1993

WCW Slamboree 1993

Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting

WCW Clash of The Champions XXII

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

WWE Ground Zero: In Your House

WCW Halloween Havoc 1992

WWE Over the Edge: In Your House

WWE: The Best Of In Your House

WWE In Your House 9: International Incident

WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage

WCW Spring Stampede 1994

WCW Starrcade 1993

WWE Unforgiven: In Your House

WWE SummerSlam 1996

WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies

WWE King of the Ring 1996

WWE Survivor Series 1997

WWE One Night Only

Dark Side of the Ring

WWE King of the Ring 1998

Boy Meets World

WWE Table For 3

WWE In Your House 13: Final Four

WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede

WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005

WWE Hall Of Fame 2022

WCW WrestleWar 1991

WCW Starrcade 1991

WWF Superstars

WWE: The Best of Sting

WWE Badd Blood: In Your House

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

WCW The Great American Bash 1990

Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows

WWE WrestleMania 13

Biography: WWE Legends

WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell

WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive

WWE Survivor Series 1996

Sting: Into the Light

WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog

The Rise & Fall of WCW

WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House

WWE: True Giants