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Leon White

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.

See more:
Biography: Chyna

Biography: Chyna

2023

as (archive footage)

WWE Hall Of Fame 2022

WWE Hall Of Fame 2022

2022

as Vader

Biography: Shawn Michaels

Biography: Shawn Michaels

2021

as Self (archive footage)

Biography: WWE Legends

Biography: WWE Legends

2021

as Big Van Vader (archive footage)

RevPro: Uprising 2016

RevPro: Uprising 2016

2016

as Vader

Sting: Into the Light

Sting: Into the Light

2015

as Vader

WWE Table For 3

WWE Table For 3

2015

as Vader

WWE: Presents True Giants

WWE: Presents True Giants

2014

WWE: The Best of Sting

WWE: The Best of Sting

2014

as Vader

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

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

2014

as Vader

WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1

WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1

2014

as Vader

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

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

2014

as Vader

Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader

Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader

2014

as Himself

WWE: The Best Of In Your House

WWE: The Best Of In Your House

2013

as Vader

Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection

Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection

2013

as Vader

JCW Bloodymania 6

JCW Bloodymania 6

2012

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

2012

as Vader

WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection

WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection

2012

as Big Van Vader

The Rise & Fall of WCW

The Rise & Fall of WCW

2009

as Big Van Vader

WWE: The History Of The World Heavyweight Championship

WWE: The History Of The World Heavyweight Championship

2009

as Vader

WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s

WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s

2009

as Vader

Ringside with Big Van Vader

Ringside with Big Van Vader

2009

as BIg Van Vader

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

2007

as Vader

WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005

WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005

2005

as Vader

WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream

WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream

2004

as Vader

WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling

WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling

2004

as Big Van Vader

NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9

NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9

2001

as Vader

NOAH: Great Voyage

NOAH: Great Voyage

2000

as Vader

AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals

AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals

1999

as Vader

Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows

Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows

1998

as Vader

WWE Breakdown: In Your House

WWE Breakdown: In Your House

1998

as Vader

WWE Heat

WWE Heat

1998

as Vader

WWE Heat

WWE Heat

1998

as Vader

WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House

WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House

1998

as Vader

WWE King of the Ring 1998

WWE King of the Ring 1998

1998

as Vader (Appearance)

WWE Over the Edge: In Your House

WWE Over the Edge: In Your House

1998

as Vader

WWE Unforgiven: In Your House

WWE Unforgiven: In Your House

1998

as Vader (Appearance)

WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House

WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House

1998

as Vader

WWE Royal Rumble 1998

WWE Royal Rumble 1998

1998

as Vader

WWE Survivor Series 1997

WWE Survivor Series 1997

1997

as Vader

WWE Badd Blood: In Your House

WWE Badd Blood: In Your House

1997

as Vader

WWE One Night Only

WWE One Night Only

1997

as Vader

WWE Ground Zero: In Your House

WWE Ground Zero: In Your House

1997

as Vader

WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede

WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede

1997

as Vader

Best Of Raw • Volume Six

Best Of Raw • Volume Six

1997

as Vader

WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell

WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell

1997

as Big Van Vader

WWE WrestleMania 13

WWE WrestleMania 13

1997

as Vader

WWE In Your House 13: Final Four

WWE In Your House 13: Final Four

1997

as Vader

WWE Royal Rumble 1997

WWE Royal Rumble 1997

1997

as Vader

WWE Action Zone!

WWE Action Zone!

1997

as Big Van Vader

Best Of Raw • Volume One

Best Of Raw • Volume One

1996

as Vader

WWE Survivor Series 1996

WWE Survivor Series 1996

1996

as Vader

WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive

WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive

1996

as Vader

WWE SummerSlam 1996

WWE SummerSlam 1996

1996

as Vader

WWE In Your House 9: International Incident

WWE In Your House 9: International Incident

1996

as Vader

WWE King of the Ring 1996

WWE King of the Ring 1996

1996

as Big Van Vader

WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog

WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog

1996

as Vader

WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies

WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies

1996

as Big Van Vader

WWE WrestleMania XII

WWE WrestleMania XII

1996

as Vader

WWE Royal Rumble 1996

WWE Royal Rumble 1996

1996

as The Man They Call Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI

WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI

1995

as Big Van Vader

WCW Bash at the Beach 1995

WCW Bash at the Beach 1995

1995

as Big Van Vader

WCW Slamboree 1995

WCW Slamboree 1995

1995

as Vader

WCW Uncensored 1995

WCW Uncensored 1995

1995

as Big Van Vader

WCW SuperBrawl V

WCW SuperBrawl V

1995

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXX

WCW Clash of The Champions XXX

1995

as Big Van Vader

WCW All Nighter 1995

WCW All Nighter 1995

1995

WCW Starrcade 1994

WCW Starrcade 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Halloween Havoc 1994

WCW Halloween Havoc 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Fall Brawl 1994

WCW Fall Brawl 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Bash at the Beach 1994

WCW Bash at the Beach 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Slamboree 1994

WCW Slamboree 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Spring Stampede 1994

WCW Spring Stampede 1994

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW SuperBrawl IV

WCW SuperBrawl IV

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI

1994

as Big Van Vader

WCW Starrcade 1993

WCW Starrcade 1993

1993

as Vader

WCW Battle Bowl

WCW Battle Bowl

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXV

WCW Clash of The Champions XXV

1993

as Big Van Vader

Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting

Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Halloween Havoc 1993

WCW Halloween Havoc 1993

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Fall Brawl 1993

WCW Fall Brawl 1993

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIV

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIV

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Beach Blast 1993

WCW Beach Blast 1993

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Slamboree 1993

WCW Slamboree 1993

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW SuperBrawl III

WCW SuperBrawl III

1993

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XXII

WCW Clash of The Champions XXII

1993

as Big Van Vader

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Vader (archive footage)

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Big Van Vader

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Vader

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Bull Power

WCW Starrcade

WCW Starrcade

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW Halloween Havoc

WCW Halloween Havoc

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary

WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW Great American Bash '92

WCW Great American Bash '92

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII

WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW/New Japan Supershow II

WCW/New Japan Supershow II

1992

as Big Van Vader

WCW Starrcade 1991

WCW Starrcade 1991

1991

as Big Van Vader

WCW Halloween Havoc '91

WCW Halloween Havoc '91

1991

as Big Van Vader

WCW WrestleWar 1991

WCW WrestleWar 1991

1991

as Big Van Vader

WCW Great American Bash '90: New Revolution

WCW Great American Bash '90: New Revolution

1990

as Big Van Vader

AWA The Brawl in St. Paul

AWA The Brawl in St. Paul

1986

as "Baby Bull" Leon White

AWA Blood on the Sand

AWA Blood on the Sand

1986

as "Bull Power" Leon White

WWF Superstars Of Wrestling

WWF Superstars Of Wrestling

1986

as Vader

Best Of Raw • Volume Three

Best Of Raw • Volume Three

as Vader

Best Of Raw • Volume Four

Best Of Raw • Volume Four

as Vader