Leon White
Acting
Biography
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.
Known For
A regularly scheduled, live, year-round program featuring some of the biggest WWE Superstars.
Raw
WWE's flagship show of the early-90s featuring great in-ring action, news from the world of sports-entertainment, and more.
WWF Superstars
The coming of age events and everyday life-lessons of Cory Matthews, a Philadelphian who grows up from a young boy to a married man.
Boy Meets World
Feel the heat of the Attitude Era as WWE Superstars such as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock compete in exclusive matches.
WWE Heat
Finding truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality in the veiled world of professional wrestling.
Dark Side of the Ring
Discover rarely-seen matches from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s featuring countless WWE Hall of Famers such as Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.
WWE Old School
The stories behind some of the most memorable WWE Superstars of all time.
Biography: WWE Legends
At a time when matches between big-name Superstars are usually only seen on pay-per-view, WCW presents Clash of the Champions on free TV.
Clash of the Champions
Three WWE personalities share stories over dinner.
WWE Table For 3
The American Wrestling Association takes its unique brand of sports-entertainment to locations around the world; these classic AWA events feature the top competitors in the Minnesota-based territory, and many were never broadcast on television.
AWA Arena Shows
The story of the one of the most distinctive and storied championships in the world of sports entertainment and the men who held it.
The History of the World Heavyweight Championship
January 13, 1993 in Milwaukee. This was the last Clash for announcer Jim Ross who shortly after this event was fired by WCW and joined the WWF. Originally, it was scheduled to be Sting, Dustin Rhodes, Ron Simmons, and Van Hammer against Big Van Vader, Barry Windham, The Barbarian, and Rick Rude; due to injuries, Hammer and Rude dropped out and Orndorff took Rude's place. Earlier on the show, Vader's team got rid of Barbarian, and Vader injured Simmons. Cactus Jack came in during the match, siding with Sting and Rhodes, thus turning face. Johnny B. Badd replaced Erik Watts, where the storyline was that he was suspended from WCW, due to an altercation with Arn Anderson. Tony Atlas replaced Hammer in the arm-wrestling contest.
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
Volume 1 of the 150 best PPV matches in WWE history.
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
The Undertaker takes on "Sycho" Sid Vicious in a No Disqualification Match with the WWE Championship up for grabs. Bret "Hitman" Hart faces Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission Match with special guest referee Ken Shamrock. Mankind and Big Van Vader challenge Owen Hart & The British Bulldog for the WWE World Tag Team Championship. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley takes on Goldust and more!
WWE WrestleMania 13
A collection of the greatest moments of the first 15 years of Monday Night Raw.
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Stone Cold Steve Austin puts the WWE Championship on the line against the demonic Kane in a brutal First Blood Match. The Undertaker and Mankind make history inside Hell in a Cell. Semi-Final matches to crown the WWE King of The Ring include Ken Shamrock vs. Jeff Jarrett and The Rock vs. "The Beast" Dan Severn. X-Pac battles Owen Hart and so much more!
WWE King of the Ring 1998
The temperature is rising as Kane faces The Undertaker in the first ever Inferno Match. Dude Love takes on Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWE Championship. The New Age Outlaws face LOD 2000 and much more!
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
Thirty Superstars compete in the annual Royal Rumble Match with the winner advancing to WrestleMania for a shot at the WWE Championship. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels challenges "Sycho" Sid Vicious for the WWE Championship. Triple H defends the WWE Intercontinental Title against Goldust. The Undertaker faces Big Van Vader!
WWE Royal Rumble 1997
A Cold Day In Hell features Hunter Hearst-Helmsley vs. Flash Funk, The Rock vs. Mankind and The Nation Of Domination vs. Ahmed Johnson. The Undertaker defends the WWE Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Plus, Vader faces Ken Shamrock in a No Holds Barred match and more!
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
The storied rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Bret "The Hitman" Hart comes to a shocking and dramatic conclusion in a main event bout for the WWE Championship. Stone Cold Steve Austin returns from a career-threatening injury to challenge Owen Hart for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Kane makes his in-ring debut against Mankind. All this and much more!