Leon White aka Big Van Vader passed away Monday at the age of 63.
Vader was known as one of the best “big men” in the modern history of pro wrestling. His career spanned from New Japan to WCW to WWF in the 80s and 90s as well into the 2010s with a much famed Twitter feud with Will Ospreay and his final match being a multiman tag in Japan.
From dropping the WCW World Championship to Ron Simmons (the first nationally recognized black world champion in North America) to innovating the big man match against Sting to his brutal brawls with Stan Hansen to being one of the first wrestlers during the Monday Night War to change sides, Vader’s career is historic and remembered fondly by fans of that era.
