Moments ago, the family of Leon White – best known to fans as the legendary big man Vader in WCW, WWE and Japan – passed away this past Monday night. Vader was 63 years old. The family stated that his death was due to complications from a recent bout of pneumonia, following heart surgery earlier this year.
It is with a heavy heart to inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night (6/18/18) at approximately 7:25pm. pic.twitter.com/dP4CNaMuXa
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 20, 2018
Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress. Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time. pic.twitter.com/hJYjumvxjH
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 20, 2018
Vader got his start in wrestling in 1985, when he joined American Wrestling Association (AWA) as “Baby Bull” Leon White. A former NFL player with the Los Angeles Rams and standout college footballer, White worked in the AWA for two years before making the move to head to Japan. He originally signed with All Japan in 1987, but Giant Baba ended up trading his contract to NJPW. It was there that Vader became the monster we all knew and loved.
Repackaged as Big Van Vader (named after a character from Japanese folklore), he was pushed as a gaijin monster and soon became a crowd favourite due to his size and athleticism (although his initial beat down on Antonio Inoki maked him a marked man and villain early on). He became an absolute force of power in NJPW, becoming a 3x IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
In 1992, he began to work with WCW full time, after sporadically appearing via a NJPW alliance, and when he arrived for good in 1992, he continued his dominance. He would go on to become a 3x WCW World Heavyweight Champion, feuding with the likes of Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and others.
In 1996, he jumped to the WWF, just prior to the Attitude Era starting, as a member of Jim Cornette’s camp. He would spent two years with WWF, but his time was most forgettable and after an early push with feuds against the likes of Shawn Michaels and Sid Vicious, he soon found himself being used to put over new “monsters” in the WWF like Kane and Mankind instead. He left the WWF in 1998.
He returned to Japan, the land of his greatest success and began to work with both Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan. Over the next few years, he would win the All Japan Triple Crown Championship twice, and the GHC Tag Team titles in NOAH with 2 Cold Scorpio.
He would go back to the independents for the remainder of his career, working Japan, the UK and North America. In 2012, he was brought back to WWE for one night only as one of the many legends that returned to beat up Heath Slater.
Two years ago, he famously got into a spat with high flyers Will Ospreay and Ricochet, which lead to a generational match up with Ospreay in RevPro in 2016.
The entire staff of LWOPW offers it’s condolences to the family and friends of Leon White during this hard time.
https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1009460259772096517
It's with sad condolences to hear that my long time friend @itsvadertime has passed away. He was a great person to manage and a great human being. pic.twitter.com/R7itvDEdpe
— Harley Race (@8XNWAChampion) June 20, 2018
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Vader. Our thoughts are with his family today. pic.twitter.com/7olr0V4NNR
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 20, 2018
RIP BIG MAN. 🖖#Vader pic.twitter.com/x55ovH1xAB
— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) June 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1009450980818243585
Vader changed the wrestling buisness
He set the tone for how a BIG man should wrestle
Celebrate his life
Watch his greatness in the ring#ItsTime pic.twitter.com/syCKHKeRcv— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) June 20, 2018
Vader’s last @WWE PPV was a match with me, he wanted me to kick out of his finish/he told me “today you get the old Vader, I want it to mean something when you win.” RIP big man, and thanks! #respect pic.twitter.com/t3FiP2jMmh
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) June 20, 2018
"I fear no man and I feel no pain!"
Vader terrified me as a kid and later fired me up as a rebellious teenager. I was such a pure fan of him. RIP big man. #VaderTime #RIPVader pic.twitter.com/Qm5OWcckRB
— Nick Aldis (@RealNickAldis) June 20, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkQPo6PgIvl/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=oq44o9mvp1mi
https://twitter.com/WWEMaverick/status/1009466050281426944
When I was a kid I was legit scared of Vader
Thanks for making me believe #RIPVader
— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) June 20, 2018
